Overdrive question

[Roughridercog]

My OD light doesn't come on, but I think it's due to a burned out bulb. If my bike is in 5th gear (overdrive) then it should be fully functional, shouldn't it.

It just seems my bike isn't getting the mileage it should. About 30 mpg all around.

Sorry for my ignorance. But I'm always trying to learn.

[Rambozo]

30 is actually about average for that bike.

[offcenter]

Really?
I'm getting 42 mpg day in and day out.
Mine is a '99, if that makes a difference.

[Happytrails]

33 avg here, if the od light isn't coming on then it could be the bulb.

[AZgl1800]

I have seen reports of the 1500s "always getting over 40 mpg" and I say it cannot be done, IF, you are anal about recording every fillup.

I rode a '98SE from Tampa, FL to Corpus Cristi, TX and then to Phoenix, AZ and then around Arizona where I lived, and faithfully recorded every drop of gas for more than 4,000 miles.

the Overall average was 33 mpg....
it all depends on terrain, rider habits, how fast you ride, headwinds or not, and throttle habits...

The per trip/fillup MPG values ranged from a highs of 40 to lows of 25.

take a look at this Spreadsheet, in just that one trip are fillups below 25 mpg, and over 40 mpg.
The 4th Column "D" is the MPG per fillup.

[AZgl1800]

the nice thing about Spreadsheets is you can make it like you want, extra long Description Field like I did here.
I Recorded the details of each trip.
Like headwinds, speeds, and where I was on that tank of gas.

Folks who live in wide open spaces, the deserts, do NOT ride slow, we go the limit plus some....
in this spreadsheet you will see comments of 85 mph sometimes.
Or heavy headwinds and both at the same time, which results in poor MPG reading/fillup.

if anyone wants a copy of this spread sheet, I can email it, you can zero out all the info and start afresh.

[MikeB]

My average on my GL1500 for 2018, 6265.7 Miles and 38.180 MPG.
My average on my GL1500 for 2019, 4833.5 Miles and 37.487 MPG.
My average on my GL1500 for 2020 so far, 2287.3 Miles and 39.815 MPG.

My average on my 2003 GL1800 for 2018, 9406.90 Miles and 38.237 MPG.
My average on my 2003 GL1800 for 2019, 10608.20 Miles and 38.705 MPG.

My average on my 2017 GL1800 for 2019, 3307.60 Miles and 37.069 MPG.
My average on my 2017 GL1800 for 2020 so far, 6456.1 Miles and 39.400 MPG.

[joeincalif]

I always got around 40 MPG on all 3 of my 1500's. the only time I didn't was when I was pulling a trailer and riding 2 up. Once you go over 3000 RPM's your mpg's will drop real fast.check your plugs and air filter and tire pressure.

[TwoTone Trike]

I have a 99 1500se with a Hannigan trike conversion that I get 35 mpgs consistently. Knock on wood .