Is 41 mpg on my 2001 ST1100 a bit on the low side?

I'm into only my 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] tank of gas on my “new to me†2001 ST1100 with 71k miles and the first two tanks came in at 41 mpg with fairly mild riding mostly back hi-ways and interstate at the legal speed limit. (Although I did accidently see 105 mph - and realized the tires are balanced nicely) I have been under the impression that I would expect the upper 40's or maybe even 50 mpg if being very easy on the throttle.

The brakes are not dragging so I can rule that out. My next thought is to look at the carbs and perhaps get lucky with just a sync. Any thoughts?


Thus far all I've done on the bike is changed, oil, tires, and rebuilt the calipers and add new pads.

I average about 38-40, with K&N air filter installed.

I average between 45 and 50mpg. I'm pretty easy on this bike, it's not ridden aggressively.

I have another bike I beat on pretty hard.

-Dirty air filter?
-Tire pressure low?
-Lots of short trips?
-Enrichener not fully released?


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My 1991 is stock. I get low 40 mpg on combined city, rural riding, very high 40 mpg highway only riding. I do see low 50 mpg when I can catch zero alcohol content gas on trips.

fuel economy is more a function of the number of times you stop/start than anything else, so its hard to pin it down to any particular mileage figure. And when in touring mode with little or no stopping it becomes a function of speed (and wind, if any).

I get about 40-42 with mine for general around town riding with a mix of freeway and sideroads, so if that's what you were doing it sounds about right. If I ride at a steady speed my mileage rises up to as high as 50, and is never less than 45. If you weren't stopping at all, or very rarely, then 41 sounds a little low.

168K on my 2002 ST1100A & I average 41mpg. I've been anal about checking at every fillup. Highest I've seen out west, where they have better fuel, is 48 mpg. I have found no difference between using 10% ethanol & undiluted dino juice. I have heard earlier models get a little better fuel mileage.

I did a couple long rides with dwalby and he always got 2 - 3 mpg more than me. He likes to say it's because he slows down less for turns which may explain part of it. I also had a slightly larger windscreen which I believe had more to do with it. When commuting on I-10 in California probably averaging 75 mph, I averaged just under 40 mpg. When in a meandering mood on lower speed 2 lane highways, I got as high as 50 mpg. Truly ymmv

I only get 33 Miles/Gallon on my St1300 2007. (0.72liter/mil). Love fast accelerations and have a short ride to work.

PhotoDoctor said:

I’m into only my 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] tank of gas on my “new to me” 2001 ST1100 with 71k miles and the first two tanks came in at 41 mpg with fairly mild riding mostly back hi-ways and interstate at the legal speed limit.

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So , at what speed were you mostly riding at ? I get about 42 mpg @75 mph, and about 56 mpg @ 58 mph.

My 99 averages 45 mpg, my 98 is getting 53 mpg, I'm happy with that!!

I never did better than 35 on my '11. But my right hand never really got out of the "happy zone" when riding it.......(get your minds out of the gutter)
I probably do better on the '13, around 40, once again, happy zone.......

caddyman said:

My 99 averages 45 mpg, my 98 is getting 53 mpg, I'm happy with that!!

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These guys are talking about US mpg,so 45mpg is around 37.5 mpg US,
I can never get the mpg they get, shorter journeys and too much throttle are the likely causes!!
I get around 42 mpg avg I suppose,thats 35mpg US.

Hal and I would compare mileage between our ST1100s and later our ST1300s on WeSTOC trips. On both bikes I always seemed to squeeze out a few more MPGs than Hal. I always wondered what would be the effect if we switched bikes over a few tanks of fuel.

I get around 42mpg when the bike (1990 ST11) is ridden in a "brisk and spirited" manner on twisty roads with plenty of braking and acceleration, usually in the 70-80 mph range. I'm sure I could get a much better result on a long highway run but I'd probably die of boredom first. No ethanol in our fuel.

The two tanks of fuel were back hi-ways in flat Florida - well I did hit an elevation of 240' : ) - and speeds where mostly around 50 -60 mph thus from what I'm seeing in your post I have some sorting to do, but it's not urgent. I also should check out my Odometer and speedometer with my gps phone to be sure my numbers are right.

Thanks for the info.

on a 4k trip, heading west got 42 mpg. Heading home, east, got 48mpg. Best I can figure is tail wind.

42 combined on the st1100s for us.

Al st1100 said:

on a 4k trip, heading west got 42 mpg. Heading home, east, got 48mpg. Best I can figure is tail wind.

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that and the fact that its a gradual uphill traveling west and gradual downhill traveling east.

My 92 got 47mpg at 85 mph indicated like money in the bank on trips and 40-42 riding seven miles to work...