Small road trip and some observations.

Rod1 with my bike It may be a bit different. Being the Maxim X my bike I normally cruise at 6500 rpm in whatever gear I am in. So going like 70-75 in 4th or so. That rpm puts me around 80-90 mph if I remember correctly. The mileage I got was from going consistently around 85mph with several blasts into much higher speeds. Doing under 60 you should do better mpg wise. I know when I first got the bike and wouldn't get on it. I was getting around 120+mpg on my bike. My tank is right around 3 gallons.


I haven't had to do carbs yet. but I know that everyone on this site says mechanics kind of have a bad rap with our bikes and not being farmiliar with them. It may not be a bad idea to go through the "church of clean" and re do your carbs. The only way to know it was done and done right is to do it with your own hands.


I had a reputable mechanic work on my bike after a werck and when I went to pick it back up I asked how it ran. He said he test drove it in his drive way..... If I am going to be doing 60-80mph on something I'd prefer it was tested at those speeds... Not 3mph for 10 feet in the drive way.

 

120+ mpg??

Bullshit. There's just no way.

 

I think he meant per tank, which would sound about right if you take it easy.

 

Damn my bad! YES per TANK! lmao 360 miles on a tank... don't I wish...

 

Ok... guessing my mechanic did the carbs like he should (I mean right!!) I have no doubt he did, my bike is now running about 100 miles per tank, I'm not including reserve. Anyway afters saw this post I started to pick up some speed when the road allows me to do so. That mileage is riding about a 65-75 mph. I guess is pretty good. Carbs run ok at high speed. Since is my first Maxim I'll like to know if you can ride this bike, let's say at 35 mph in 3rd or 4th gear and still have a very good response when you open the throttle, because mine's not, due maybe to the joint carbs...

 

You're not really in the power band. It would be like trying to race someone and starting out in 6th instead of first. It will get up to speed just feel sluggish and take awhile. What bike do you have? My bike will hit 70 mph at redline in 2nd gear. On the highway I am normally around 6500 rpm in 4th gear to be at like 60. These bikes really come alive over 6k.

I would think 3rd would be so so even at that speed. I normally get up to like 20 or so in 1st shift up and out of second at 40ish. In 3rd gear 6000 rpm is like 50-60 mph.


Maybe try cruising in a lower gear at higher rpm? And If you're getting 100 miles to a tank before reserve you're fuel economy is pretty good. Mine was including reserve.

 

Hi Ryancdossey, no way... I'm in 5th at 5000 rpm riding at 70-75 mph. My doubts cames since is my first bike with a racing kind of engine type. My bikes were always choppers style and Hondas, 2 vlx 600, shadow 1100, and 1 a.c.e. 750. I didn't have many bikes because I'll like to keep them for long time. I've been riding for 17 years and this is my first bike with 4 carbs and 4 cil. and took my a lot to get used to the sound of the engine cause seems like you are a over the revs all the time if you compare it with a chopper/custom style. My guide is the sound of the engine and in this bike (maxim xj700 1985) is not a roaring sound but a high peech sound that make me think all the time that I'm forcing the engine, though I love it...I'll try your way of riding and I'll let you know...

 

Yeah man the power bands on these bikes is OVER 6000 rpm. Anything less and boy are you missing out. I rode for over 50 miles at 6500 rpm in 5th doing around 85mph and it was so buttery smooth. When I am getting on it I have no worries pushing it up towards redline.

 

What about the fuel mileage riding at 85 mph? still good or go over the roof?

 

Your fuel mileage will drop no matter what when you exceed 65mph, but not enough to be bothered on an XJ. Wind resistance is exponential and so even though it is doubling and quadrupling etc. what you are increasing is a small force to begin with, over 65mph and especially over 85mph that becomes a large force, even so gas mileage won't change by much-maybe 10-20% less.

A twin, or Harley type will always get better mileage for the size of the engine, less carbs, longer stroke, lower rpms. But an XJ is truly a gas mizer for a 4 carb, rel. high revving motor and should get you more than 100 per 'on' tank, but not much more. Are you tires properly inflated, brakes not dragging, plugs good, air filter clean? One thing-you should never smell raw gas, if you do there is some leaking somewhere.

Rod is it hot in Argentina right now?