Low MPG on 1500 Goldwing Trike?

[papaBryan5522]

I have a 98 Goldwing 1500 SE trike with MotorTrike conversion. I average 17-25 mpg with normal riding; 15-17 with a trailer or in terrain. A friend just said he gets 32-35 mpg and something must be wrong. Any suggestions for what I should check?

[ct1500]

What is the mileage on the odometer and what is the maintenance history?

[Up&Downer]

We'll be following this because I get about the same mileage, mine isn't a trike.

[TwoTone Trike]

Have you tried a can of seafoam in your gas tank? Your carbs could be dirty. I have 1999 Hannigan trike and I ran some through mine and it increased my mileage about 3 mpg. It couldn't hurt. Hope this helps. Tony

[welmack]

I have a 98SE with a Motor Trike conversion and I usually get about 23-24 mpg. Not as good as I might like but considering the bigger body riding 2-up I can live with it. I also have a tall Tulsa windshield and that doesn't help either. Mine is also a solid axle.

[TwoTone Trike]

Yea those things will have an effect on your mileage. Also how heavy handed you are will affect it. I'm somewhat heavy handed and I average about 30-33 mpgs but, I often ride solo. Have a blessed day, Tony

[Golfr]

Hopefully this topic is still looked at. I have a 97 GL1500 with Motortrike kit 90318 miles. I have owned it for 2 1/2 years. In that time I have 1) had carbs rebuilt; 2) installed timing belts; 3) new plugs;4) had clutch slave cylinder rebuilt; 5) replaced all 3 filters AND each time I had it ithe shop it cost me mpg. Oil changes have been done at 3000 + or -. At the time of purchase the dealer said carbs would need to be rebuilt so he discounted the price. On my 100 mile ride home I averaged 32 mpg, I now get 24 to 25. Very disheartening to say the least.
Any help out there???

[Rambozo]

Honestly, I wouldn't expect all that much more. Typical 2 wheeled 1500s only get in the mid 30s on average, and I'm sure a trike will do worse. Any chance you have one of those giant oversized aftermarket windshields, too?
Make sure you have no fuel leaks like from the vacuum petcock (known for leaks), or carb overflow lines. Then measure the exhaust hydrocarbons and check that you are not too rich. Best done on a dyno, but even a stationary test at 3000-4000 will let you know if things are amiss.
32 seems about right, but 100 miles is not ideal for a GoldWing, barely warmed up. Short trips with city driving is murder on the mileage on these bikes. I can sometime get under 20 hot dogging around town, but high 30s or better out on the highway, as long as I keep the speed down. (Hard to do on a GoldWing.)

[Golfr]

I'm do have a tall(er) windshield. I try to stay around (mostly under) 70 mph if it is safe. Most of our riding is open road, very little city. I have /do check for leaks every time shop removes any Tupperware. I can't figure out getting 30+ and told carbs need rebuilt. The people I bought it from advertised 32mpg then get a 3 to 4 mile drop. Driving me nuts. Thanx for your insight and suggestions.

[Crusty1]

My 2000 gl1500se would average around 37-38 mpg. Not a trike. I don’t see it mentioned often but I believe the ECM has a vacuum ignition advance built in. It needs a good vacuum source. I found several failed vacuum lines on mine and replaced the hoses. It would also be a good idea to see if the ECM diaphragm/sensor will hold vacuum. I suspect this could be the cause of low mpg on many undiagnosed mileage complaints. This ECM has NO self diagnostics so if it has a failure direct testing of components per the manual is the best way to go about finding the culprit.

Chuck

[Golfr]

Thank you. Will bring this up to mechanic.

[Megreenusmc1969]

Thank you. Will bring this up to mechanic.

@Golfr, I have the same issue with my 1991 GL1500A with a CSC Trike kit. Let me know what your mechanic may say. There is no one to work on my Goldwing unless I drive 150 miles to the south, so I try to figure out things myself. If I am running fast, then I am lucky to get 100 miles on a tank. If I keep my speed down, I still get 120 miles at the most. Everyone I ride with is on 2 wheels, and they are getting over 200 on a tank. Kind of a drag when we have to keep stopping to fill mine up. She still runs good with 108,000 miles on her, when I say fast I am talking 85-100 for long periods of travel.

[Golfr]

Me. Green (?) I will most assuredly share any INFORMATION I find. I normally run 65 to 70 in East Texas, (hills and such).
I was USN (64-68). Thank you for your service.

[joecoolsuncle]

Me. Green (?) I will most assuredly share any INFORMATION I find. I normally run 65 to 70 in East Texas, (hills and such).
I was USN (64-68). Thank you for your service.

and thank you for YOUR service. those were tough years u were in. thank you HERO!

[Megreenusmc1969]

Me. Green (?) I will most assuredly share any INFORMATION I find. I normally run 65 to 70 in East Texas, (hills and such).
I was USN (64-68). Thank you for your service.

Our standard run is from the Memphis, TN area down through southern Alabama and occasionally over to the Dallas area.

I was USMC (90-98), but spent my fair share of time on ship. USS Belleau Wood, USS Germantown, USS Debuque. Thank you for your service as well.

[Golfr]

That's a lot more time than I spent aboard ship. I was all shore duty in Corpus Christi playing softball. Was on ship for a week for carrier qualification with a squadron out of New Iberia, LA.

[Megreenusmc1969]

Yeah I spent over a year on ship total, attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and with the 7th Comm Battalion. I was ground radio repair, so I maintainted all of the radios, telephones and eventually PC's for the unit, as well as fixed all of the radios on the ship as they no longer had anyone to work on them.

[Golfr]

Thank YOU for your service to our vountry