Miles per before reserve?

[pstelter]

Had to switch to the reserve setting on the way to work this morning.  Mileage on the tank was about 105.  So far the bike has been only used as a local commuter, approx. 10 miles per leg. 

Is this normal?  When I had Valk 1.0 (99 Standard), I seem to recall getting to about 110 miles before having to switch.  So while 105 is lower, it is not out of the ball park.  What do other people get for strictly city driving?  The bike is 99 Tourer.

Thanks.

[Davemn]

I hit reserve at about 135. 98 tourer. Moderate riding.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Depends. Sometimes I don’t bother taking the extra time to squeeze in that last 1/2 gallon.

[Jess from VA]

Depends. Sometimes I don’t bother taking the extra time to squeeze in that last 1/2 gallon.

And IMHO, that explains the majority (though not all) of the reports of varying mileage between our bikes.  Filling on the side stand vs sitting on a centered up bike should be an easy half gallon (though most people use one way or the other consistently).

[Motodad71]

She sure gets thirsty at 70/75 MPH, that's unfortunate too. 

[Gideon]

I hit reserve at about 135. 98 tourer. Moderate riding.

I have a 2003, and that is what usually get 

[Pete]

Std, I usually get 150 to 155 if speeds kept at 65 or slower.
105 may indicate a vacuum leak on the petcock vacuum side.

[savy265]

[2000 interstate, i  just  got 175 ,two  people  70 mph steady  cruise

[Glaserbeam]

My '02 standard gets 24 mpg consistently.  With the stock fuel tank I'd go on reserve anywhere between 100 and 110 miles; I put on an Interstate tank and get 145 to 155 miles before going on reserve.  I like twisting my throttle 

[Steel cowboy]

Savy, the interstate has a bigger tank.

[pstelter]

Thanks for the replies. 

I don't think I am particularly heavy on the throttle, but I'll try to keep her in check.

How would one check for a vacuum leak on the petcock?  And what would the repair be? 

Also, how much would carb synchronization help?  What about desmog? 

So much to get to know...

[Motodad71]

Savy, the interstate has a bigger tank.

Savvy..........

[mrgeoff]

I have a 99 Tourer and I usually drive mostly around 3000RPM ( 65 mph ), and I have yet to need the reserve on my bike...I will get around 150 miles before I decide to fill her up...and I usually have to put in around 4 gals...So I feel blessed to go bout 150-160 miles before filling her up...I guess I should just hit the Interstate and drive 75mph till I have to use my reserve...But I just make it a habit to fill her up around 150 miles...!!! A good habit I hope...!!!

[sdv003]

98 tourer, big windshield.  I get about 125 before reserve with a pingle.  Sidestand fill.

[Relax]

It is my impression the air resistance is what gives a bit higher consumption, probably caused by the windscreen. 50-55 mph in averadge gives more miles than 65  mph. 

[Pete]

Thanks for the replies.  

I don't think I am particularly heavy on the throttle, but I'll try to keep her in check.

How would one check for a vacuum leak on the petcock?  And what would the repair be?  

Also, how much would carb synchronization help?  What about desmog?  

So much to get to know...

Replace the vacuum hose and the vacuum petcock diaphram to repair.
Use you mouth or a vacuum pump to pull a vacuum on the hose (carb end) and see if it holds the vacuum.

[Chrisj CMA]

98 tourer, big windshield.  I get about 125 before reserve with a pingle.  Sidestand fill.

That's really low for a Pingel. The reserve is only a couple drops. Both my standards are 97 models, most powerful least gas mileage and they go on reserve around 155 miles on Pingles

[greggh]

1998 standard dressed as a tour.
125 to 130
Have gotten as good as 145
I ride it like I stole it 60% of the time.
Never really cared or purchased her because of miles per gallon.

Just ride and enjoy the Beast!

[Harryc]

'97 Tourer, Pingel. At 140 miles I am flipping to reserve.

[Mtn Valk]

'97 Tourer, 158 miles yesterday after filling with bike NOT on side stand.

[Alberta Patriot]

I just refilled last night after I rode 336 Km's(208 Miles) before the engine began to stutter. Refilled at 356 Km's(221 Miles)...23.9 L(6.3 Gallons) for 35 miles per gallon...mixed riding(mostly highway).
I did brim the tank on both fill and refill holding the bike level.
I do use Lucas Fuel Additive to keep the fuel system varnish/trouble free.
https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Cylinder-Lubrication-Injector-Cleaner/dp/B000ARPVOI/ref=pd_sim_263_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000ARPVOI&pd_rd_r=0R07J0QECSXAEDK6PTP6&pd_rd_w=Ytuml&pd_rd_wg=CU2SR&psc=1&refRID=0R07J0QECSXAEDK6PTP6

[Fazer]

I am 36 mpg consistently around town.  Gets better on the highway at 65 mph or less.  Got 42 mpg of way to Morgantown Inzane on secondary roads.  98 Tourer with Batwing.  ATT gives me a little help on the MPG. 

[Paladin528]

99 I/S and I usually hit reserve around 200 Miles. Sometimes more and on a good day less 
Mixed highway and city.  If I run 55Mph steady with the cruise on It will be well over the 200 Mile mark. (note: This NEVER happens)

[oldsmokey]

MPG on I/S squeezes close to 40 if well behaved.

[Galex]

I have a 2003 Standard with a windshield, deflectors and saddle bags. Most often riding 2-up with my wife.  About 50% of the time its stop and go traffic lights.  On the highway I accelerate hard to get 75 mph and hold it there. When I fill her up I use ethanol-free 89 octane gasoline exclusively and hold it upright.  I average 125 miles before I feel the stutter and need to flip to reserve then I get at least another 15 miles easy but I bet it can get 25 miles on reserve if i stay under 3000 rpm. I carry a litter of fuel with me just in case.  On long, planned, nothing but highway journeys I have exceeded 150 miles on main before flipping to reserve. Like someone above said, I also didn't buy her for fuelk economy :-) my sexy fat girl needs her nourishment given the way I ride her... LOL

[pstelter]

Well, I got the answers I'm looking for, just not what I wanted to hear.  I'll fill the next tank with her centered up - should be interesting as I don't have a center stand.  This is going to bother me until I figure out what's causing the low miles...I better get to work emptying the tank!   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well, I got the answers I'm looking for, just not what I wanted to hear.  I'll fill the next tank with her centered up - should be interesting as I don't have a center stand.  This is going to bother me until I figure out what's causing the low miles...I better get to work emptying the tank!   

When you fill up as you normally do, how much gas does it take ?

[Bighead]

I have had to go to reserve in as little as 100 miles and as much as 150 on my standard just depends on conditions.
On my Interstate riding across Nebraska and Kansas had to hit reserve on day at about 120 miles (about a 40 mph headwind riding at 75 )but have gone as far as 220 before hitting reserve.

[pstelter]

First time I filled it was 4.32 gallons (side sand).  Not sure how many miles it was because I'm pretty sure the trip ODO was reset at some point before I bought it - I think it was at about 60 miles when I went to Reserve.

When I filled it on Monday - side stand again - was able to squeeze 4.7 gallons. 

[pstelter]

And, for the record, I didn't buy her for the fuel economy, either.  However, most of my friends have HD bikes which get really good mileage (180 miles per tank).  Would hate to be "that Guy" who has to keep stopping for gas on a road trip...

[The emperor has no clothes]

First time I filled it was 4.32 gallons (side sand).  Not sure how many miles it was because I'm pretty sure the trip ODO was reset at some point before I bought it - I think it was at about 60 miles when I went to Reserve.

When I filled it on Monday - side stand again - was able to squeeze 4.7 gallons. 

Sounds like you are getting the full amount of fuel in the tank. For some reason your mileage is at about 20 mpg. Which in my opinion is really low for city riding. I've gotten down to that hauling ass on the freeway, but generally about 35 mpg in town.

[cookiedough]

15-20 miles tops once goes from 2 bars to flashing is all I get on I/S before having to switch to reserve, seems pretty common/normal to me. 

[MarkT]

First time I filled it was 4.32 gallons (side sand).  Not sure how many miles it was because I'm pretty sure the trip ODO was reset at some point before I bought it - I think it was at about 60 miles when I went to Reserve.

When I filled it on Monday - side stand again - was able to squeeze 4.7 gallons.  

Sounds like you are getting the full amount of fuel in the tank. For some reason your mileage is at about 20 mpg. Which in my opinion is really low for city riding. I've gotten down to that hauling ass on the freeway, but generally about 35 mpg in town.

Yeah that's low.  Might want to do some carb tuning.  See if you can get on BigBF's schedule.  You might want to look into a belly tank too, if you don't want to be "that guy".  Or an IS tank if you can find one.  Either option costs about the same.  The IS tank has less range than getting a belly tank but the install is easier too.  I hit reserve about 250 with a belly tank.  On Deerslayer generally around 195 to reserve with an IS tank.

[sdv003]

98 tourer, big windshield.  I get about 125 before reserve with a pingle.  Sidestand fill.

That's really low for a Pingel. The reserve is only a couple drops. Both my standards are 97 models, most powerful least gas mileage and they go on reserve around 155 miles on Pingles

Agreed that its low, but no matter what I do, 125 before reserve.  Changed the petcock, 125.  Changed the windscreen from OEM to big Clearview, 125.  Set the pilot screws correctly (out 2.25 instead of about 3.5), 125 miles.  I've gotten 140 once on a freeway run where I was especially easy on the throttle, but I can count on 125 miles on a tank +/- not more than 2.  Usually get something around 4.5g in it at refill.

[The emperor has no clothes]

98 tourer, big windshield.  I get about 125 before reserve with a pingle.  Sidestand fill.

That's really low for a Pingel. The reserve is only a couple drops. Both my standards are 97 models, most powerful least gas mileage and they go on reserve around 155 miles on Pingles

Agreed that its low, but no matter what I do, 125 before reserve.  Changed the petcock, 125.  Changed the windscreen from OEM to big Clearview, 125.  Set the pilot screws correctly (out 2.25 instead of about 3.5), 125 miles.  I've gotten 140 once on a freeway run where I was especially easy on the throttle, but I can count on 125 miles on a tank +/- not more than 2.  Usually get something around 4.5g in it at refill.

Hey, Sam. Next time we are at a ride remind me to bring the DigiSynch. I don't know if that's the issue, but it can't hurt. 

[sdv003]

I have one, and I've got them synch'd dead nuts on.  125...

Thanks for the offer though!

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have one, and I've got them synch'd dead nuts on.  125...

Thanks for the offer though!

[pstelter]

So Valk 2.0 may not be as thirsty as version 1.0...

After the weather cleared here in New England and riding could begin again, finally burned through that tank of gas and switched to reserve at just under 125 miles this morning - much better than the 105 miles I previously had.   Going to try and refuel with the bike centered up tonight to see how much more fuel I can get. 

[Mapper]

I usually get right about 130-135 riding back and forth to work daily 30-70mph for <10 miles on my '97 tourer. 

On some rides lately I've been getting about 150 before reserve. 

When I fill up shortly after reserve, I usually can put 4.1 - 4.3 gallons in without too much energy trying to top off, bike upright (not on kickstand).