Gas Mileage - Not complaining just some figures

[Colin]

Yesterday I went for a ride with a couple of friends up in the mountains, me on a Valk, Ray on a Harley 883 Sportster and Don on a VT750DC. Had a great time up in the twisty bits and at 200km's (124 miles)the Harley was desperate for fuel. We pulled into a gas station. We all started at a gas station and filled up to the brim before we started to ride.

Valk €21 of gas ($30.50)
VT750DC €12.50 ($18.12)
Sportster €8.40 ($12.18)

I did some calculations for me I got 31mpg, the VT got 51mpg and the Sportster 77mpg all  US gallons.

I'm not complaining I had a great day but for me it was all 2nd 3rd and 4th certainly on this if I wanted economy I would buy a carb'd 883 but there is no way I would trade my Valk. 

As I said at the start not complaining just a comparison, it was a great day 27C with great company, fabulous roads and plenty of refreshment stops.

[R J]

Colin, take into consideration the difference in weight, & cc's of each bike and you will come out almost equal in mileage.

Good group to ride with, if they need help back home, ya got enough umph to drag em in.

Ride safe over their in God's country.   Only time I was there was in the service in the early 50's and it was nice scenery.    Had hopes of going back, but time has got away from me and now I'm afraid it is out of the picture.

[Wolfgang1952]

Hell the Valk off the Shoe Room floor was only rated at 35mpg.    For one thing the Valk wasn’t built for Gas Mileage period.    Why do you think they put a larger tank on the Interstate?     My wife calls mine a GAS HOG.    I’m lucky I see 30 mpg.    When I hook up the trailer that goes by by.   The wife has a 2000 Dyna, and she gets between 45 too 59 mpg, but I can run circles around her.
You also got to remember that you are feeding a 6 cylinder engine through 6 carbs.   Your stock Valk is pushing around 105 horse at the crank, about 85 horse at the rear wheel.    Now you figure mpg.

[gwise]

You've got twice the engine, twice the power, and at least twice the look. I know you said you weren't complaining, and how could you riding a Valk. Don't forget you looked way cool too.
   Ride on,
     Gregg

[HayHauler]

Now you need to calculate the "smiles per gallon" and I think you will find that you are waaaay ahead of the others. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Cost me around $300.00 for a 2,300 mile ride to Texas last week. I was getting 26 / 27 miles per gallon. I had ( 5 ) other Valk's in my group and at every fill up I would take between 1/2 to 3/4 gallon more than them   My friend Paul and I rode the entire way together cost me about $75.00 more than him 

[MP]

Hoser and I averaged about 33-35 mpg on the 1660 miles round trip to GOTF in Houston.  We ran pretty hard.  I thought that was pretty good, considering our speed.

MP

[3fan4life]

Cost me around $300.00 for a 2,300 mile ride to Texas last week. I was getting 26 / 27 miles per gallon. I had ( 5 ) other Valk's in my group and at every fill up I would take between 1/2 to 3/4 gallon more than them   My friend Paul and I rode the entire way together cost me about $75.00 more than him 

Were you running triple digits most of the time?

The only time that I've seen #'s that low out of mine was pulling a trailer.

I consistently get 36-38 mpg,

If most or all my miles are on the BRP I'll even see 40 mpg.

I even got 42 mpg once.

Of course those #'s drop quickly if most of the day was spent dragging the floorboards.

[Gear Jammer]

I feel a lil better about my 30-32mpg now.  Pulling the Stinger trailer, I get around 28-29 at Superslab speeds 75-80mph. 

[98 T]

My mileage is about like everyone else's - high 20's...sometimes 30 or 32 mpg on trips...

I think of it a little like having a  '62 Cadilcac Convertible in the garage.  When you get it out on a sunny day for a ride you don't think about the gas mileage..   It's the comfort, the uniqueness, the power....it's ALL about gettin' there in the style you want - gettin' around in a great classic. It's the Smiles per gallon!!


If all anyone cared about was mileage, we'd all  drive  a Honda 250 or Kawi  Ninja 250 or a scooter. Of course my belly tank gives a little extra peace of mind for long rides.

So... how do we attach huge tail fins to the back of a Valk anyway??

[RainMaker]

Been riding in the piney woods with another rider who isn't trying to scrape metal but takes his time to look at the scenery.  When riding with him, the rpms stay under 3K. When that happens, the mileage goes into the 40s.  Normal riding - 33-35.

[flcjr]

This thread comes out about once a month is seems like and I am always amazed at the difference in mileage everyone gets. I have only seen over 30 once and that was a slow day on the valk almost painful. I get 24-28 and thats it all the time I ride with the one and only other valk I know in the area and he gets the same but we sure have fun

[rrmdeuce]

6 hungry little mouths to feed, 33 to 35 average day riding.
 

[bigfish_Oh]

another riding with friends...
   I haven't been out really riding for years(I got mine in Oct). I remember sometimes we would switch bikes for a few miles, but I always wanted mine back really quick(82 CBX), nothing else was quite as distinctive/smooth/etc...., the same as a Valk today, I am not looking foward to my bosses VTX 1300?, he's already rode mine, his trip around the block was about 10 miles. I think he realized they are not comparable.

[Valkhound]

I just got done figuring my gas mileage for the GOTF's trip. After 2000 miles on my 2001 I/S which was heavily loaded down I averaged 34.23 MPG.Alot of that was 75 MPH interstate riding and mostly with favorable tailwinds.That was probably some of the best mileage I have gotten with a loaded down I/S and I was riding it hard too. 

[Hazman]

Wow, I like my mpg then. I average around 36 mpg on the 2 track road. Once in a while will see 38 mpg.  It is funny that there is such a range of different mpg's ou there.

[Super Santa]

My last 984 miles (5 tanks) were: 37.9; 38.4; 38.0; 40.2; 36.3

2000 Interstate with 6* trigger wheel with over 100,000 miles on regular fuel.

I love my bike!

[GotValk]

Just yesterday,I did 270 smiles with a group , at our first stop I put in 3.75 gal for 138 miles do the math, Not to bad for a 6 carbs  and close to 800#,+ 260# rider and at a  ripping up the highway pace .
Love that Valkyrie!

[Jess from VA]

I really don't care so much about my mileage, but my last fill-up of $22.00+ made me think...... who knew you could ever get $22 of gas in a motorcycle?  

[Spirited-6]

I really don't care so much about my mileage, but my last fill-up of $22.00+ made me think...... who knew you could ever get $22 of gas in a motorcycle?  

Jess, I hear you. $3.76.9 here today. Wait, might have changed while I was here. 

[Colin]

I really don't care so much about my mileage, but my last fill-up of $22.00+ made me think...... who knew you could ever get $22 of gas in a motorcycle?  

I wish I had got away so light  I'd be really happy at $22 to fill up instead of $30 for only 4 gallons. 

[GotValk]

Question, Why do Interstate's get better gas mileage than the Standard's?
Just Asking

[X Ring]

I really don't care so much about my mileage, but my last fill-up of $22.00+ made me think...... who knew you could ever get $22 of gas in a motorcycle?  

I know your pain.  With the belly tank, Sandman holds 8.3 gallons.  If I end up putting one on the Interstate, it'll be roughly 9.4-9.9 gallons.  don't even want to thin how much that'll cost me.

Marty

[Willow]

Question, Why do Interstate's get better gas mileage than the Standard's?
Just Asking

They don't always, but if it seems they sometimes do it could be because of the difference in the ICMs or the wind management due to the fairing and a windscreen more efficient than some of the relatively flat screens on Tourers.

It could also be that riders with all that extra tupperware tend to ride more serenely.    

[PhredValk]

Trip to Ontario (2500 miles each way) last summer; stock 99 I/S with full tools, compressor, 4 L gas, etc in the bags and clothing for 5 days, me at 290lbs, mostly 75 MPH. Averaged 31MPG (American Gallons, no ethanol).

Full disclosure, people. I'd like everyone here to report speeds and load, along with MPG. Apples to apples, not oranges. Average speed, type of bike, grade of fuel, ethanol percentage, mods, windshield, weight of rider and cargo and changes in elevation.

I'd bet that the 150 pounders at 65 MPH solo on Standards in the prairies get way better mileage than the 300 pounders (450 2 up) with trailers at 75 MPH in the hills on Interstates.
Fred.

[3fan4life]

I'd bet that the 150 pounders at 65 MPH solo on Standards in the prairies get way better mileage than the 300 pounders (450 2 up) with trailers at 75 MPH in the hills on Interstates.
Fred.

I'd say that bet is like money in the bank. 


My 99' Interstate consistenly gets 36-38 mpg riding one or two up (the wife doesn't weigh alot).

Rides on the BRP tend to get closer to 40 mpg.

But, if my right wrist gets the better of me that will drop significantly. 

I've only pulled my trailer twice, and averaged  28-29 mpg runnig around 70 mph.

[flcjr]

99 tourer clearview shield  195lbs 75++ average speed  24-28mpg 85octane no ethanol elevation 4500-6000

[22Dasher]

Most of my riding are back roads speeds from 45-60 MPH and i get around 36-38 MPG om my tourer and I'm weiging in at 200 lbs.
 My last bike trip mostly interstate with bag full clothes running 75-80 MPH I got 23 MPG kinda made me sick when the harely guys still had over 1/2 tank fuel left. Hell even my 500+ HP charger gets 23 MPG at those interstae speeds

[BF]

My Valk gets three times the milage my Expedition does.  I ain't complainin'.