Bike mileage

[nugz]

Went this weekend to red lodge this weekend and the total trip the bike made 29 mpg. Was just wondering if this is the norm for the valk. There were two of us and 75 lb pack, with some interstate riding and of course mountain riding. Not complaining just trying to see if this is the norm.
Any feedback would be great.
Nugz
Sturgis sd

[designer]

Sounds within range

[Farther]

That seems a little low.  Last summer I rode a similiar route and got between 33 and 41 mpg but it was totally speed dependent.  I did make a speed run from Sisseton to Vermillion on I-29 and went on reserve at 200 miles and that is with my 3 gallon belly tank which gave me about 28 mpg.  The only time I went below 90 was when a state trooper pulled out in front of me.  When I keep it 40-50 I get in the 40s.

[Mildew]

The wrist is it. I went riding with some crusty old men and got 44.5 mpg the 1st fill up and 49.5 the 2nd time. I couldn't believe it. I've never come close to those numbers in the past. I clean air filter made a difference. I run mine between 3 and 4k rpms everyday and fill up everyday at 34mpg average. My bike used to get 29 or 30 all the time. I ddont know what happened. My speedometer cable is broke now so I can't calculate it anymore. One of these days I'll be putting a new one on.

[Momz]

49.5 MPG!
I've been known to get 40+ MPG, but that close to 50 MPG is pretty amazing.
I enjoy a brisk or sporting pace and have gotten close, but then my bike is modified to help me achieve better mileage. However at 70+ MPH or greater than 3.2K RPM will take its toll.

[Ricky-D]

If 29 mpg is within the range, it is at the lower end of the range for sure.

35 mpg to 40 mpg seems to be what most Valkyries are getting.

And it is very dependent upon riding style and throttle control.

***

[ricoman]

common, let's hear from the guys who get 40+, 2 up, 75mph, uphill, yada, yada?

[thunderbass53]

40-ish, two up at a nominal 65 mph. Around town (stop and go) or faster than 65 and she drops to 36-37. Never got worse than 36....yet.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

you 35mpg guys must get board wile ridding. 

[Paxton]

Unquestionably, my riding style qualifies as down right boring! 

I do not engage on hard take offs; I ride 25-35 MPH in town; I hardly ever encounter stop and go traffic to speak of;
I take 55-70 MPH... smooth and steady rides on the highway...


No matter how I ride, it is always 30 MPG... not 29 or 31.
I did push it a little when I first got it. Rode a steady 75 - 80 MPH... for 275 miles...
got 30 MPG!
???

I own the bike since March.
 
The "seller" representing the estate of the P.O. is a Motorcycle mechanic.
The bike was under his personal care since the P.O. passed. 


He said that all the services where up to date.
That the carburetors were recently serviced and sync'd... etc
but that it might need new spark plugs.


So, I took out the plugs. 
The "old" spark plugs looked to be 'bout 1K mile old.
Notwithstanding I replaced them 150 miles ago. No change. 


I have now completed riding the first 1K mile while showering her with cosmetics.
She rides strong and beautiful. 

The ONLY basic services that I've done has been
changing the plugs and adding Techron to the gas tank.

What would you check for increased gas mileage on a beautifully running bike?
 

 "If you have no intention of loving or being loved by your Valkyrie,
 then the whole journey is pointless."

[The Anvil]

The other Valk rider I know gets a little better than I get at 35mpg. I get 33 to 34 typically but have seen as low as 24 during a particularly aggressive stretch of riding.

[designer]

If 29 mpg is within the range, it is at the lower end of the range for sure.

35 mpg to 40 mpg seems to be what most Valkyries are getting.

And it is very dependent upon riding style and throttle control.

***

Interstate and mountain with a load. Sounds right. I run 75 to 80 on the way to work 30 miles each way and I get 30 to 32 constantly. Others get more, others get less, within range!

[Ferris Leets]

Throttle control is the biggest factor.  From my experience and what I have seen here- 34 to 37 is not uncommon.  If you are not riding hard I would start with.  In order of ease.   Check the carb. connections for leaks, check for vacuum hose leaks, choke lever and linkage for binding, air filter(replace with K&N while you have it apart I feel that that is a good investment on any vehicle), have someone who KNOWS what they are doing sync  and valve adjust.
   Run it after every change so you know what actually made a difference.
P.S.  Change your oil to something that has no viscosity, lose weight, increase your psi in tires to 100#, get rid of fat girl friend, remove all unnecessary stuff like front brake pads, only fill liquids to minimum levels (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid), ride on reserve all of the time, ride naked. On the extreme side -shave all body hair. You need to get rid of any parasitic weight.  These will all increase you mpg

[nugz]

yep i think you guys are right cause on the trip at one time it made 42 mpg going 35mph through yellowstone. So between speed weight and 100 degree days i think thats what made the old valk hungry.

nugz
sturgis sd

[Mildew]

49.5 MPG!
I've been known to get 40+ MPG, but that close to 50 MPG is pretty amazing.
I enjoy a brisk or sporting pace and have gotten close, but then my bike is modified to help me achieve better mileage. However at 70+ MPH or greater than 3.2K RPM will take its toll.

Yea, I was riding with 2 Kawasaki Nomad riders and one Harley. We came out of Franklin, Tn and down through Highlands, NC. Stopped by Lake Burton in GA to see the tornado damage then I filled up in Athens, GA. I guess it was nearly all down hill and I remember just drifting down the twisties for many miles. The Harley guy was struggling in the curves so we couldn't get too throttle happy (no kiddin). I remember being real patient all day and that must play a huge part in getting outstanding fuel milage. I just can't ride like that all the time. I  stay in the left lane going to work each day because it's safer but 80+ mph around here just to stay out of the way as I ride well over 100 miles a day at 34 mpg average. It sure beats the 21 mpg mini van and the 3/4 ton diesel at 19 mpg

[Paxton]

Ferris,
C'mon dude... You've been right down offensive...

My fat girlfriend saw your post and now I'm stock with the bill for frikin' Jenny Craig... again!
The last time she did that, (inspired by Oprah), it cost me a fortune! To be fair, she did go down to 195 lbs (goal was 200),
but she was 195 for 'bout 15 minutes... just like Oprah!

On a more serious note, since I purchased the Valk (a stripped down Standard), like many of you I've added at least 100 pounds on accessories like;
hard bags, stack pipes, biggest c/t, seat rail, Torpedo bullets, Batwing, etc.

Besides, my Glutinous Maximum keeps getting NOTICEABLY LARGER... but I know that isn't true... the Mustang seat is to blame!
All these things do add up... yet, the extra weight has not made a difference. Naked or fully dressed it's always been the same (like my fat girlfriend).
Always 30 MPG - no better not worse... even riding solo...  err... no pun!

After I finish this post I'm letting the air out of the tires and will fill 'em with helium. Then, I'm gonna' fly around for a while!

At any rate, I did not buy the Fat Lady to save on gas. Instead, I want her to get fatter until she decides the time to sing has arrived. Then it'll be over!

"It is always the false that make you suffer, the false desires and fears,
the false values and ideas, the false relationships between people.
Abandon the false and get yourself a Valkyrie… truth liberates."

[fantsybikr]

I think your valk is right in the neighborhood with that load and speed...I dont know what these guys that get over 40 are riding? musta been a special batch...my best tank was about 37 mpg...since my re jett 30-31 if I dont have fun & then I think I  no worse that 27-28

[CajunRider]

It all depends on your right hand....

I've gotten 40+ while carrying a passenger and a trailer.  Of course, most of that was 55-60 mph on back roads. 

I've also gotten 25 - 30 while running by myself at 90 mph for long runs, or riding with a couple of buddies of mine (drag race light-light kinda silliness). 

Average about 32 - 35 commuting to and from work.

[Mildew]

38 mpg was my biggest number before i had to drag arse waiting for the harley guy. I went to work one morning, then realized I forgot my wallet. I had no money and 118 miles on the valks last fuel up. I had 55 miles to the house. I took it real slow all the way home and didn't stop at any stop sign or light to safe fuel. I got 38 mpg that day. I drove around 80 mph to work because I thought I had my wallet. Anyhow I think I would have gotton a lot better than

[Relax]

The speed is the clue, I believe...
With a RPM over 3000 the   fuel consuption start encreasing  quiet a bit

[John U.]

The only real tip to improve fuel mileage is to either install a 4 or 6 degree trigger wheel or do the ECT mod. My mileage improved by 2 to 3 mpg with the ECT mod. I installed the potentiometer to reduce the timing advance to about half of the 10 degrees provided by the simple ECT mod.
Of course the bike accelerates faster now so my mileage only improves if I control my primal urges. 

[Paxton]

  Well, I must eat my earlier words.

Today, I did 595 miles w/the So Cal Chapter folks... beautiful Valks!
I rode my "Dragonfly" like I stole it. I resigned myself to go for it... To drive it hard, darn be the MPG.

Well, I rode it like a wild Dragon 85 - 105 MPH... all on the open road. The shocker is that I got 40 MPG; and I still can believe it.

It always runs out of gas at the 150-mile mark, before going into reserve. Today it ran out @ 178 before going to reserve.

When I got to the gas station, the total reading was 201-miles. I filled up to the brim... it took exactly 5 gallons! 

So check my arithmetic. Isn't 40 MPG the result of 200 (M) divided into 5 gallons? ???

I am a happy camper.

"What happens is fact, not truth.
Truth is what we think about what happens."
— Robert McKee

[Dougs2000IS]

mine now gets 34-38, but I have gotten 41 when riding with group cruising at 55. Before I desmogged it was 2-3 below that. Desmog and all vac lines are a must for all of our bikes Oh yes and intake o-rings. Besides the gas milage the fat lady is noticeably more power.

[Ricky-D]

Riding with a group will usually get you more miles to the gallon regardless of speed.

Reason being the drafting effect produces less solid (uniform) headwinds.

Also have to consider possible tailwinds.

***

[highcountry]

I have a '98 Tourer with Cobra pipes and it only gets 30-31 mpg.  I just got another Tourer, '97, with stock pipes and I got 40 mpg on it.  Both bikes have less than 20K on them.  All of my riding is above 6000' elevation.

[PhredValk]

Two 5000 mile trips, a year apart. Last year the Valk was new to me, more fun, passing everything in sight; 31MPG average. This year, less fun, more just eating miles and enjoying the scenery; 35-36MPG. Same trip, same route just about the same weather.
Fred.