1980 Honda Goldwing vs. newer models

 I recently purchased a lovingly cared for 1980 Goldwing with 35,000
miles.  No complaints, but am curious about it's top end.

I find that it cruises best at 60-65 mph and gets the best fuel
efficiency.  When I push it to 75 mph for the interstate, it feels
like it's "pushing" - rpm's are at ~5100 and fuel efficiency drops by
8-10 mpg.  My assumption is that it was made for a time when lower
speed limits were in place, so the gearing is made for lower speeds.
Am I right?

And what about newer models (2001 and newer)?  Do they cruise better
at interstate speeds?

Many thanks in advance from a new rider (kids are out of the house
(finally) so the wife and I can have fun again),

Mike
Nebraska

 Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:

Your GL1100 should be perfectly happy at 75 mph.  Gas mileage will go
down a bit, but an 8-10 mpg drop from your 60-65 mph mileage sounds
excessive to me.  My GL1200 would get close to 50 if I rode *very*
slowly (50 mph max), 45 mpg at normal highway speeds (60-65), and
about 40 mpg at freeway speeds (~75 mph).  These numbers are in US
gallons.

I have no first hand experience of gas mileage, other than short test
rides on GL1500s and GL1800s, but from what I hear they get no better
mpg than the four cylinder wings.

I suspect you may have a carburetor issue.  I would check fuel levels,
perhaps strip and clean the carbs, verify the jets haven't been swapped
for bigger ones, and check the air filter to see if it's dirty.

--
'01 SV650SK1  '99 EX250-F13  '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7

 Thanks for the input.  My mileage is about 44-48 mpg at 60-65 and
drops to 35-37 at 75.  Hadn't thought about carbuerator issues; I'll
get it into the shop for a check.  I could certainly be wrong, but I
feel that bike should just purr at interstate speeds - and it doesn't;
it purrs at 60-65.

 
Mike_in_Nebraska wrote:

Are you using the Stock dimension sized tires, nothing too different?
Bg

 wrote:

First off, try some Seafoam in the gas to clean any easy to remove
gunk from the carbs.  Your mileage is about spot on from my
experience.  I've owned a GL1100, 1200 and 1800 at some point.  The
1100 was purchased with 21k on the clock and got what you're
describing for mileage.  The 1200 was a little hard to estimate, as it
had a sidecar attached.  ;)  The GL1800 got 44mpg at any speeds over
65 and if I kept it under 65, it was a tad better.  The best I ever
got was riding with the GWRRA Chapter out to Americade.  One tank
netted 51mpg!  Yeah, they were that slow.  To answer the last
question, yes, it cruised all day at 75+ without breathing hard and
got 40 mpg at those speeds.  There might be another in my near future
if the two current bikes sell by spring.  Its either that or a new
Connie.  <g>