Pan European (MPG???)

[Oletimer]

Howdy all, since my last post my Goldwing is still in the 'engine rebuild & bike overhaul' stage. I've just bought a Pan ST1100, which goes well, etc, etc. What I'd like to know is: what would a fair MPG for this bike be? I've done a couple of motorway miles = 150mile round trip twice and the first trip was er 'quick' (I was only doing 70ish ossifer) seriously, I did the first trip at about 120 - 130, it returned about 30 odd mpg, which I thought is a bit low. The 2nd trip was a more sedate 70 - 80mph with a marked improvement. The bike was bought off my brother, so I can trust his word, which was: Its fast but don't cane it and expect good mpg. Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge about this, because I had visions of using the Pan for my Thailand trip in May, in preference to the wing.
Cheers, Oletimer (George)

[mcdarbyfeast]

I ride a Pan at work. Average MPG is around the high 30's low 40's. When When ridden very hard MPG drops to high 20's low 30's. All my riding is around town, so 'am unable to comment on touring mileage.

I love the Pan compared to the BM's, but the tank range could have been better for a touring bike.

[SteveL]

I owned a Pan a couple of years ago. I averaged about 50mpg over 3,000 miles.

[thehondas]

well ive been riding my pan for the last 6 years and go to france /spain 4 times a year and always get around 53mpg and i dont hang about.

[Oletimer]

It would appear from your posts that a good service and retune on the carbs wouldn't be wasted. I do like the Pan but my wing seems a lot more economical at the moment (well, it would, wouldn't it - it can't use a lot of juice whilst its in bits in the garage ahem!) Thanks again friends. Oh, by the way, I'm thinking of using GPS for the trip, any views would be appreciated regarding cost, user friendliness etc. Oletimer (George)

[PanEuropean]

Hello George:

I have no idea what the MPG is on my ST1100, but if I ride at a legal speed, I have to fill the tank up about every 300 km, more or less. I have never found fuel costs to be excessive, except at speeds well north of 100 mph in Germany, where it does go through the fuel pretty quick.

As for GPS on the PanEuropean, there is TONS of info to be had at this website: www.my-mc.com Just go there and do a search on the keyword "Garmin". You will have hours of reading to do.

[PanEuropean]

PS: By the way, that website is more or less the 'unofficial' PanEuropean hangout on the web, so if you want any kind of information about worldwide touring on the ST1100 (air freight, etc.) or modifications of any kind on the ST1100, that is the place to find it.

Use the search feature, because there are thousands of posts, and thousands of photographs - you will have trouble finding what you want unless you do keyword searches.

[Oletimer]

Howdy Pan,
Thanks for your help and info, looks like I'll have to set some time aside to venture into the site. I really do enjoy riding the ST, it feels more 'playful' than the Goldwing - but I sure do love that Wing, haha.
Cheers, Oletimer (George)

[Deamon]

At quiet rate of 70-80 miles at one o'clock of a fuel tank on my "Pan-Evropean" suffices on 280-290 miles.
At speed more than 110 miles at o'clock, a tank dry up for 200 miles.
At driving in mountains or city (Moscow) approximately on 250 miles.

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+ 7 910 456 40 20 Dmitry

[stguy]

I've only had my ST for a year. Longest trip so far about 2500 miles. At hiway speeds (65-70 mph) I get in the low 40's mpg. Get on the interstate and hold 80-85 mph and the mileage drops to 35-38 mpg. Most of my riding is local at about 6000' so altitude is a factor.

[Oletimer]

Hi STGuy,
Thanks for your input. I can never work out the difference between the American Gallon and the UK Gallon ( I know one is not as much as the other) but a quick bit of brain? activity tells me that I should be getting a bit more than I am right now.
I'll check it again after it has had a full service and see how it goes.
It doesn't pay to under estimate the miles/kms per tankful when you have Iran in front of you, I don't fancy running dry miles/kms from anywhere. A 4 or 5 litre spare can will be a useful bit of insurance I think.
Cheers George

[PanEuropean]

Oldtimer:

I just read your last post (above) and your reference to travelling to Iran.

Although I really like my ST1100, and have travelled quite a bit through lesser developed countries (Poland, former Yugoslavia, etc.) on it, I don't think I would ever consider riding it in areas like the Middle East or rural Asia. It's a big, heavy bike - once it starts to tip, so long, it's gone, you can't stop it. It's also not well suited to off-pavement use - hard packed dirt is OK, but wet mud or sand is just plain suicide. Plus, you would have no hope at all of finding any kind of parts for a ST1100 outside of Western Europe. Heck, I rode through Portugal last year, went into a fairly large Honda dealer, and they had never seen one before!

I think for a RTW trip, or even a half-RTW (UK to Asia), I would choose a much lighter bike, probably one of those BMW things with the two-cylinder engine - the ones with one cylinder sticking out each side. That design has been around since the old King died, and you probably would not have as much of a problem getting parts for them. Heck, it's sometimes hard to find tires for a ST1100 in major cities, because they use an uncommon tire size.

Plus, with a simpler, much lighter bike, you wouldn't have to worry about taking all that "Tupperware" (the fairings) off whenever you wanted to service the bike.

I know there are people who have done RTW's on big Harley dressers in the past - but they have also had deep, deep pockets.

PanEuropean

[This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 17 February 2004).]

[Oletimer]

Pan, thank you for your opinions and commonsense. What has brought the size and weight of my bike home to me more than anything was a little incident on Sunday morning...
Getting the bike out for a Sunday run with my local club, I have to 'reverse it' (ie: push it backwards) out of my driveway, this normally is not a problem but, on Sunday it was raining gently - a sort of light drizzle enough to leave the grass wet but not 'mudded', I usually cut the corner of my lawn whilst pushing the bike back and then left-lock and roll it onto the street. On Sunday I had turned a bit earlier so had the wheels still on the grass before the usual left-lock and forward routine. When I did it the whole bike started sliding away from me and only the timely intervention of my next door neighbour saved the bike from going over, it made me think what would happen if I had been riding off-road or maybe dirt road riding, how would I have fared then?
You are right to suggest a lighter bike and I am now on the look out for something that will do the job.
Whatever bike I get will never replace the PAN or the WING but, will maybe allow me the pleasure of a successful end to my venture.
How can you find a bike that is as reliable, comfortable and such fun to ride?
Cheers Oletimer (George)

[mcdarbyfeast]

Africa Twin!

[bayonet]

Yeh, Africa Twin. You know it makes sense. I think even the chains last longer than the new BMW shaftdrives.