Fuel economy

[elraque]

I've been asking questions about my exhausts. You guys were great with pertinent information and links. So here are my first questions about fuel economy:

I made a 300 mile ride today, got about 32 mpg... does that sound right? Does it sound like the carbs weren't rejetted when the exhausts were changed? I'm running at 5000 to 8000 feet above sea level -- would that make a difference in fuel economy and would changing the jets or the exhausts help with the fuel economy?

Is there a combination of exhausts and jets that gets me the "best" combination of performance and economy? (I mean one that lets me keep the Valk )

[9Ball]

that sounds like a good average.  My Valk was bought in Denver and spent the first 7 years in Colorado and Idaho.

The best measure of how everything is running is to pull the plugs and check them.  They should all be the same uniform color.  There's spark plug diagnostic charts available online...I believe NGK website still shows them.

updated...here's one chart there are others with more pictures....

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/p3.asp?mode=nml

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/faqread.asp?mode=nml

[2 Many]

I weigh over 250lbs and had been getting 36 mpg. Then I ren a bottle of Techron cleaner thru 3 tanks of gas and switched to 93 octane and picked up 2.4 mpg in the process. Don't know if that works for everybody, but it worked for me.

[MP]

Need more info.  Was that at fast speed?  Then, with a 97, you did very good.  If you were sight seeing, rarely going over 62 o so, no jack rabbit starts, then a little low.  If I am on a ride with others, not dawdling, but not screaming down the road either, I will get between 30-35 mpg.  Again, it seems like the 97's get a little lower mileage, but a little more power.

Remember, you did not buy the Valk because of its great gas mileage!  LOL

MP

[Jabba]

I tend to get 27-32 on the standard.

30-35 on the IS.

I got a "heavy" throttle wrist though.  I might need to go to the Dr. about that.

Jabba

[ricoman]

I'm right there with Jabba.
I would love to see 35+. The guys who get near and above 40 must never hit above 2500 rpm.
I have the same wrist ailment that Jabba has but I don't want to be cured.

[solo1]

I had my Valk for 13 years, a '97 standard.  

Over the years, I averaged 32-33 mpg.  I also didn't ride it like a little ole lady.  If I would've ridden it easy, I might've done better but that's not what i do.  My son, Mark synched the carbs twice (didn't really need it).

I now ride my '91 750 Nighthawk the same way, I get 45-47 mpg on it.  It's much lighter than the Valk, less wind resistance because of the narrow transverse four than the Valk but not even close in comfort or smoothness.

Most will tell you they don't ride a Valk for the gas mileage but it makes up for it in everything else.

Rereading your post it sounds like you might value gas mileage quite a bit.  IMHO, no matter what you do, you're not gonna improve your gas mileage much with any mods.  If the Valk were computer controlled fuel injected, it might've done better, especially when riding at higher altitudes but that's not an option.  Enjoy the Valk for what it is.

[big turkey]

Tourer, 1998, got as low as 28 mpg and as high as 40 mpg.

All in the Wrist.

Wind direction, no wind  all makes a diff.

Run the same route at a set constant speed and change the speeds you run this route.

That will tell you a lot.

Increasing the air flow i.e. free flowing muffler systems does not really affect the jetting or

stock setup that much.

Increase the flow through the air box and jetting is a must due to rideability issues.

The tip off of rejetting needs is usually a lean condition , that in fact will increase your fuel mileage.

So if your fuel milage after a change to your normally aspirated engine icreases dramatically

then you need to rejet.

Dynojet says even if no changes are made to the air box or exhaust they can still increase

horsepower with their jet kit.

I would suggest you tune your bike up.

New plugs, air filter, get someone to sync the carbs, carb cleaner through a couple tanks of petrol.

Running synthetic oil in the crank case should net a 1 or 2 mpg increase.

Make sure what you have is operating efficiantly.

Big AL

[big turkey]

In short your fuel mileage should have gone up not down if the pipes have leaned the fuel

mixture out or increased the flow of exhaust.

And if the jetting was changed to compensate for this then you are right back to stock fueling range.

Probably and it has been my experience most people on a Valkyrie do not rejet just for a

muffler change.

A few do and claim an improvement of the power, but it is not a must.

Big Al

[Westernbiker]

I tend to get 27-32 on the standard.

30-35 on the IS.

I got a "heavy" throttle wrist though.  I might need to go to the Dr. about that.

Jabba

HAHAHA! Ya Jabba, that comes from our dirt biking days, full throttle or standing on the brakes there was NO in between!

[T.P.]

Who was thinking about fuel economy when you buy a motorcycle with 6 carbs ?? 

[R J]

Who was thinking about fuel economy when you buy a motorcycle with 6 carbs ?? 

10-04 on Tom's statement.

If you bought this bike for fuel mileage, ya might just a well list it in the classified or Craig's list.

Evil-Bay costs ya too much to use it.....

I have kept a record of the fuel into MGM since I got him.. 87 to 89 (gasohol) octane as much as possible. That be 242,000 + miles ago.      Average MPG is 33.6.   It has been desmogged and it seems to of raised it a little, but I bought it for pleasure, not economy.........  The highest mileage I ever had was 40.4 in the desert out West.  Had to slow way down, I was on that Hwy 50 and no services.    Worst was coming across South Dakota pulling a trailer and into a head wind at about, well we won't go there, and I got 22.9.   

[Jabba]

HAHAHA! Ya Jabba, that comes from our dirt biking days, full throttle or standing on the brakes there was NO in between!

When in doubt... GAS IT brother.  That's what dirt biking taught me.  Among other things... but that one rule applies to a LOT of spots in life.

Jabba

[Big Rig]

This weekend, in mixed riding some times 80+ about 100 miles and sometimes 60+ for about 50 miles I got about 40 miles per...I did do about 10 miles in 90 minutes...rolled in neutral last night...