I had my stock 400 on the interstate for about 80 miles yesterday. Indicated speeds 65-80 (I know it reads 5mph high). 4500-5500 rpm. Stock everything, gearing, air box, filter and carbs except a 120 main. Whole trip was 115 miles. 25 mpg and blew through 1/2 tank of oil. Couldn't make the 115 miles without a stop for fuel. It's funny the service manual says they get more than double that for mileage. :umm:
they were probably rating the mpg at 40 mph or something. they used to do that pretty regular. 35 seems to be about the max i ever saw out of a stock rd.
think thats bad? a stock kawasaki S2 got 15. FIFTEEN. they actually got better mileage with chambers and tuning. lol.
Probably a UK gallon as well :)
Yea, it's also a baby motorcycle, where ringing its neck is the norm for freeway speeds. I blew mine up (as Mark might remember) a few years back on the freeway, just trying not to get run over.
This does remind me of the college classmate who rode his '74 RD350 from New York to school in Texas.
It boggled our minds.
He later became a pilot and published author, so there must be something to being able to do that.
It seems my hot rod with 34mm carbs and chambers, gets better milage than the stock bike.
My RD350B with Moto Carerra chambers and TM32 flatslides gets in the 30s flogging it. It is stock motor wise and also has a Vintage Smoke ignition. It has 14/39 gearing.
My 3 2 stroke bikes all get less than 30 in normal riding and in the low 20's if I flog them.
30MPG US from Kalamazoo to Southfield
1/2 rain so I took it easy.
H1 500 w/stock carbs.
Our 76 RD400 in normal riding on the back roads gets around 35-38 mpg. I'm so glad i took the supertune "tune" stock mod on it, got soft breathable foam on the airbox hose ends. Still runs great w/ the XR700 crane ignition (thanks again Mark!). No problem running the newer plugs either. Non ethanol 92 octane gas most of the time. Normally, just doing 80 mile round trip back road rides.