My findings on my own fuel question

[artyc264]

First, thanks to everyone who took time to respond to my original fuel question. Again, tons of great information. This site is so awesome! I ran one tank of 87 octane. I really didn't notice any difference in performance. However there is a huge difference between 87 and 93 on cold starting. My bike was so difficult to fire up cold with the 87. It would require 3 to 5 long spins with the starter. I switched back to 93 and one quick tap of the starter and it fires right up. I would have needed a starter and ring gear if I stayed with 87. I tried a 1/2 of a can of Sea Foam with 87. That got it down to three long cranks to start cold. Just my findings, Thanks Arty

[Jess Tolbirt]

i wonder why it is that only a handfull of bikes require premium fuel?

[valkyriemc]

When your engaging the choke on a cold start, are you sure your getting full travel on the choke lever?

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,25677.40.html

[csj]

I usually don't visit this issue, cuz it's been beat to death. However,
it got down to near freezing last couple days, in order to get my
fat lady to start, the enricher Must be pushed down hard all the way,
AND, I must give it a little hit of throttle as I hit the starter.

If I don't give it a hit of throttle, it'll sit there and spin and spin,
and will not start. I only use 87 octane.

[Jess from VA]

Full choke is essential...... give the throttle a single twist, wait 2 seconds, then hit the starter.  

[Ricky-D]

Full choke is essential...... give the throttle a single twist, wait 2 seconds, then hit the starter.  

The twisting the throttle of the Valkyrie does nothing when the motor is still.

Reason being that the carburetors have no accelerator pump.

All that is happening when you do that is open and close the butterfly valve. Nothing else.

Now, that is a different story when you do that when the motor is cranking prior to starting.

***

[Jess from VA]

Full choke is essential...... give the throttle a single twist, wait 2 seconds, then hit the starter.  

The twisting the throttle of the Valkyrie does nothing when the motor is still.

Reason being that the carburetors have no accelerator pump.

All that is happening when you do that is open and close the butterfly valve. Nothing else.

Now, that is a different story when you do that when the motor is cranking prior to starting.

***

Really, I stand corrected. 

[SANDMAN5]

Last winter I replaced my slow jets with 38s. Haven't
used the choke lever since.

[Ricky-D]

Last winter I replaced my slow jets with 38s. Haven't
used the choke lever since.

That seems to be the consensus of those that have made that change to larger slow jets.

There are many that say the Valkyrie is by design, made to run lean so changing to 38's is to get the Valkyrie into a better running state and to a better mixture configuration in the slow circuits.

I can't really relate to that but most of those that have made the change usually expressed a desire to attempt to eliminate clogging in the jets as the reason for changing them to 38's.

However that may be, I feel that bypassing the enrichment circuit and still starting good (to me) indicates the motor when warm could be running somewhat more richly than needs to be.

Since I do not run ethanol enriched gasoline I do not have all the problem associated with the ethanol gasoline and do not see any need to install larger jets in an attempt to avoid the accompanying clogging.

Larger slow jets will affect your gas mileage, to what degree is dependent upon personal driving habits but for sure, the change will reduce the mpg that you previously were getting.

***

[John U.]

If the pilot screws are adjusted to 1 3/4 out from lightly seated you will still need the choke in cold weather and will likely not notice a reduction in fuel economy. That has been my experience. I get 35 to 37 mph generally. If I am behaving myself I might see 39, using midgrade E10 due to the ETC mod.
Of course if you run 38 slows with the pilots at 2 1/4 out then Ricky is correct.

[John Schmidt]

I've had #38 slow jets in place for about four years now. I originally set the pilots at 1 3/4 out and it was a bit lean, so reset them to 2 out and all's well. As for mileage, it didn't have any affect on it but I'm a fairly conservative rider these years. It may well have affected my in-town mileage but since I don't run out a tank on just in-town driving it's impossible to know. But, as a mix of in-town and highway riding, that's where I can relate. Before the #38's, overall per tank I got in the mid-upper 30's mpg. Now, with thousands of miles both in-town and highway, including trips both on/off the interstates, I still get mileage in the same range. If most of my riding is on the backroads, I'll go over 40mpg. This past weekend I spent some time on the road, the last half of it was interstate speeds in the low 70's. Over the first 185 of a 250 mile total, at fill up it took 4.5 gal. which computes to just a tad over 38mpg. The first 100 miles was mostly backroads at speeds in the 50-60mph range. I use a K&N with no prefilter, 4 deg. TW, an I/S ICM and I/S carb springs. Plus, an OEM muffler modified by Mike Townsend of Viper Creations. The bike has a Harley fairing and I/S radiator pods, and the rider has big feet sticking out in the wind, all of which create drag.

Do the #38's affect mileage? Maybe so, it's like the storeroom in a nursing home...all Depends!