Set Phasers to "Slightly Annoying"

Should do better than that: 40-45mpg or thereabouts.

 

That's very poor, but then it's 20 years old, so all sorts of things
could be going on. I'd check the carbs, make sure all the jets and
tubes and pipes and stuff are clear, and the diaphragms are good. If
you're having to open the throttle more than you 'ought to', then
that'll make a big difference - I recall mine cruising on what felt
like a whisper of throttle once it got up to speed.
--
Champ

ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R 600 racer
My advice as your attorney is to buy a motorcycle
To email me, neal at my domain should work.

 

It picks up fine and cruises ok. It's good for 125. I suspect it may be
because I've wringing it's little Kawasaki neck.

I'll take it for a sensible run, about 40 miles, and see how much fuel
its uses.

 

From my experience of holed diaphragms, the bike just goes up to a
certain speed, and won't go any faster whatever you do to it. Economy
isn't really affected.

I'd check air filter, balance the carbs, put new plugs in, and try
again.

I once put my GT750 - well, this self-same GT750 - head-to-head against
an immaculate original air-cooled GPz750. In top gear roll-ons from
about 50mph, the GT out-dragged it until about 90mph, when the GPz came
on the cams. Just to check it wasn't an illusion the two of us swapped
bikes and tried again. Same thing.

The GT's lower gearing helped as well, I think. Surprised both of us,
that did, because the GPz just felt faster everywhere. The old GT750 had
the GPz engine from the original twin-shock GPz750R1, so it was actually
quite pokey. Later models got the Zephyr engine (distinguishable by the
round cap end caps) and were nowhere near as quick.

 

Nothing wrong with the diaphragms, then.

Probably. Good man )

 

It's just been serviced and has new fluids, filters, leads and plugs.

I also balanced the carbs. The only thing I'll check is its possible I
may have over-oiled the filter but a quick look at the plugs tomorrow
will show that.

 

Then you are to be commended!

I recall Mike Scott (or it might have been John Cutts), writing back
in the early 80s about what he had discerned as a 'Kawakaki character'
- a feeling that the bike always wanted to be revved harder, and to go
faster.

No wonder I love them.
--
Champ

ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R 600 racer
My advice as your attorney is to buy a motorcycle
To email me, neal at my domain should work.

 

Try changing up sooner and keeping the revs down. It makes a big difference
on any vehicle. Friction is proportional to the square of velocity so high
revs are _expensive_ on both fuel consumption and wear.

OTOH little engines usually need thrashing to actually get anywhere.

 

Are you *sure* the filter should be oiled?

 

er, possibly.

 

...and possibly not.

 

Good point....

 

If all else fails check the instructions...

Neither Haynes or the OE handbook mention oiling the foam filter. On
examination the plugs are pretty black. Oooops.

I used to do it with my old GS550 so checked the manual just to see if I
was imagining it - the Suzuki you *do* oil the foam.

We'll see if the MPG improves now I've cleaned the filter.

 

Heh. YTC.