I think the Valk was made for towing a trailer!! Almost Unbelievable Mileage!!

[gordorad]

After my first and only trip pulling a trailer with a wimpy 2 cylinder motorcycle, my mpg was so horrendous, I contemplated never pulling one again.  I was averaging around 20MPG with a 1500 Vulcan.  

After reading many posts on this forum that pulling a trailer with a Valk didn't effect mileage very much, I was both encouraged and skeptical. Many reports claim that they only dropped from 0-5mpg.  

After obtaining a hitch from a great member on this board, I saddled it up and took a test ride today.  

Here is the rig....




HF Tagalong, with tongue extended, Loaded with about 60#'s of cargo.  (18# bag of charcoal, two full cases of beer, and some other crap I found in the garage.)  Tank filled with 87 octane and Starbrite / Startron Fuel Treatment.

Rode 64.3 miles averaging about 55mph, over gently rolling hills along the Missouri River.



Returned to the same station where I started, filled exactly to where I had it before......1.93 gallons!!  I couldn't believe it!!  33.33 MPG!! Woohoo!!

Almost no discernible difference from my normal average!  Of course I was a little easier on the throttle, but I'm amazed with the added weight of a trailer how little the MPG was effected.  RPM's at 60 mph were right at 3000.   Needless to say I'm very happy!!  

[Dubsvalk]

Good report!  Going slower is a good idea too, although you should be able to keep your speed up on the interstates. 
Dubs

[MacDragon]

Good report... Tha's a helluva long tongue ya got there.  Would make Gene Simmons green with envy.

[BonS]

As always - great photo! Oh, and nice trip report. Does your map represent where you went or your planned route? What program are you using? Regards!

[fon1961]

 

[Jess Tolbirt]

wait till you hit the interstate pulling that trailer at 85 mph...you wont even know its there until you stop for gas..

[sugerbear]

love that route, beautiful, especially in the spring with the trees leaved out.

how did you lengthen the tongue?

[fon1961]

very cool picture  

[gordorad]

Hello....Wow, lots of questions....I'll do my best to answer them all....

As to the lengthening, I had it done by my mechanic.  Several places online  (a Herb comes to mind??)  had recommended adding some length to aid in the towing.  I believe he welded on a piece, or just got a longer bar.  I can't remember.  He also fabricated the cooler rack. 

As to the map, it represented where I went today.  Made it with google maps.  I  plotted my route when I returned home to check the accuracy of the odometer and it was spot on to the google map mileage. 

Thanks for the compliments on the photo.

G.

[R J]

With that trailer setting back that far, watch out for cages trying to cut in between ya.........

Good report.....

The best I ever got out of MGM was 35 coming across Nebraska, worst was 17.6 or somewhere in that neighbor hood.         Buddy of mine I rode with till he passed, got pissed off at me for some childish thing and opened his Yamaha up across, South Dakota.      I staid right on his tail till we hit Sioux Falls, SD, I pulled out, guietly down shifted 1 gear and rolled up along side of him, waved bye bye, popped the throttle and as I got ahead I up shifted.

Till his dying day, he thought I had been running a gear lower all the way to keep up.    I never told him any different.   Didn't want to embarrass his Yamaha Venture.

[BF]

What's the purpose of extending the trailer's tongue?

[R J]

Some people believe it makes the trailer tow easier.   Others say they can back it up easier, so pick a reason and stick with it.

Somewhere someplace a long time ago, I read that a tongue on a little trailer should not be more than 6 1/2 '  from the bike to the front of the trailer.

When I was pulling trailers I know I had maybe 4 1/2 ' from a cooler to the bike, towed good.    My bike hauler has a 6' tongue from the factory.    It is all Air Ride and you can forget real easy it is not back there.

I loaned it to my buddy when he blew the engine in his Harley coming home from Washington DC Rally.      He said he couldn't see it with the tailgate up and could only see the outer tip of the fenders.    He made a comment at lunch the other day, he pulled out to pass a vehicle and damn near cut them off coming back in.    He also said the guy give him the bird and then hung on the trailer like he was a hemorrhoid.     Finally Chuck pulled off for gas, the guy came off with him but when he pulled into a Diesel truck stop, the guy took off.

[BigAl]

Yes I too had a Vulcan 1500 Classic.

Worst Gas Mileage of any bike I have ever owned.

25 Hwy, 30 City.

It is phenomonally bad on Gas the Vulcan that is.

Valk is a little better and much more Horse Power.

[eric in md]

  my bike wont get 33 mpg if it was on a trailer .. my bikes a hog.... had it out of gas pulling a trailer at 89 miles out of gas shut off . out reserve and all.  love my bike just ride it like crazy