VF500 fuel mileage

yes it would i'll be posting the results in my thread when i get the carbs and go through them i think most of the people here are just hung up on MPGs and not just having fun

 

32 vs 30

Good deal, I look forward to your post.

FYI - I've attached a Service Bulletin (3 pages) from August '85 suggesting some carburetor mod's for the '84 model year. Looks like they recommend downsizing to 90 Main Jets and 35 Slow Jets - but where's the fun in that?

 

I was kidding but thanks for the information!

Hey, I merely wanted to know if I was getting reasonable gas mileage after rebuilding my VD 59 A's. Remember I drive a '500C not a '500F. I was trying to make the bike get 55 mpg without sacrificing "fun". Now I know that 55mpg is really nearer to impossible than I wanted to acknowledge, especially while it carries my weight. I believe that on a long trip where there is a minimum of low speed/stop and go driving that I could expect the '500C to get 50 to 52 mpg.

I have already gotten 50 mpg on a 100 mile round trip that included some driving on city streets, so I am content that my rebuild was done correctly (to service manual spec) and that I am getting what I might expect to be 'normal' gas mileage using the 500C for in town driving exclusively (@ 40-2 mpg).

I gets my kicks on Route 66 (nearby in San Berdo). I have fun on the 500C and get good gas mileage too. An tha's a fac' jack. But I will read the bulletins with interest and considering the reaction that TinkerinWstuff had when he swapped his #90 mains for 102 mains I doubt that I'll be trying the reverse trick of removing my 108's and installing 90's. However, I might try installing 95's or 102's if I have that kind of time to spend on the '500C. Besides,I have other fish to fry.:biggrin: Now I need to get a Highway Crusier going that will get my wide ass down the highway and still get me around 50 MPG.

DKC

 

jet needles

On a side note the jet needles are different for the front and rear cylinders. I've enclosed a specification for the '84 model year.

Stock main jets for the '84 are 102F/105R and the '85 90F/90R. Both have a 32mm throttle bore. The '86 jets are 90F/90R with a 30mm throttle bore.

 

Keep in mind that this service bulletin is aimed at hot start issues. If your bike isn't having these problems then you should not make these changes. Only one of my 500's has ever had trouble with hot starting, but I know it's been a problem for others.

 

The emulsion tubes are different as well:

 

model year carburetor differences

Nice photo!

Is this on the VF500F '84 model year only?

 

Based on the fiche, it looks like the 84's were like this, the 85's then went with all four emulsion tubes the same, then in 86 went back to the same as 84. Weird.

 

fairing mod

Interesting idea. I look forward to reading the thread. :thumbsup:

 

Well Howdy

I'm new to this forum so go easy.
Been lookin for a forum to yak about Honda V4's for a while. I've owned a 1987 Honda VF500F2F for the past 13 years. I used to work as a Mechanic for Honda UK preping the test bikes that the MC press would test.

Thought I'd add my pennies worth to the fuel Mileage thread.
My bikes a stock 1987 VF500F2F, Interceptor to some folk. It has the smaller carbs, milder cam, beefed crank of the last VF500's and a redline set to 11,500rpm. Only changes are front of the tank raised by 1/2 inch, Motad n-Eta silencers and front forks dropped by 10mm.
I get 50 mpg, thats Imperial gallons (4.546 litres) and around 125 miles +/-1 before she goes onto reserve.
It does this wether I poodle around town all day, on the motorways or canning it through Europe where there not so anal on speed limits, upto an indicated 135mph.
The bikes covered 54,000 miles and all I do is service it regular and clean the carb float bowls and emulsion tubes every couple of years.

What I do know is lots of owners take off the airbox intake snorkel. It does give a slight power boost but messes up the delivery, big flat spot around 8,500rpm. The other thing they take out is the airboxes flame trap. Leave it in, it gives smoother torque at lower rpm's.

When fuel consumption drops it usally indicates a problem and one of the biggest culprit's is the diaphragm inside the vacuum fuel cock. This is usually accompanied by a raise in engine temp. You can fix em with a puncture repair kit.

Cheers all
Cyclone

 

Thanks for your input Cyclone.

I've seen the snorkle being removed also. I'd much rather leave mine on too.


Lately my mileage has been around 5.5L/100km (about 43-45mpg)

 

I got

I got 47 per mile with a total of 148 on main reserve . that was riding at 60- 75 mph ,didnt want to go and get gas later so I filled up and got back on the road soon after.

 

I got 6.86 L/100km (34.6 US MPG, 41.5 imp MPG) on my first tank of supreme (13.6L for 196.8km / 122.2 miles ), at the end of the tank the tire pressure was, front: 17psi (of a max 41psi), rear: 33 psi (of a max 41psi), with half highway (6-7k rpm), half city stop and go (4-5k rpm).

From reading through all the posts, proposed solutions for better fuel economy are:
- check tire pressure
- try regular fuel if your bike doesn't specifically call for supreme (where do i check this if i don't have a manual for my '85 500?)
- check engine overall
- clean carbs
- repair diaphragm inside the vacuum fuel cock

what about rpm's? does running to low an rpm actually eat up more gas?

 

I broke 200km on the last tank, ended up with something in the low 5L/100km (the average is slowly coming down) with some better driving habbits, topping up the fluids, and keeping an eye on the tire pressure.

you guys should be putting your numbers up on fuelly.com, i'm only the second VF500 on there!

 

I find using Ethanol free gas helps alot with Mileage as well.

 

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

 

VF500F fuel mileage

My 85 vf500 went approximately 110 miles before i had to go the gas station but my fuel mileage was much higher than yours. I was averaging around 46mpg. That was with mainly city driving sparingly going up to red line. My bike still isnt running properly as it is a rebuild project for me.