Terrible MPG

[motogummer]

I have a new to me 97 Tourer.  6 to 6 Cobra pipes that have a very slight popping on deceleration.  The bike seems to run great.  Idles great, accelerates great no missing or accelerating problems but I only get about 25 mpg.  Yes when I'm on the highway I cruise around 70-75 so I'm right at 3000 rpm.  I'm not really hard on the throttle just a steady pull up to speed so I don't think I'm really jumping on it.  I purchased it from a guy that only rode it once when he took it in trade for a business he was selling and then it sat for 6-8 months only getting started once in awhile.  I spoke with the previous owner that rode it the most and he said he usually got around mid 30's for mpg.  Does it just need a tune up or is there something else?

[GeoffreyB]

I also have a 97 tourer with Cobras, and also get 25 MPG.

You have two choices:
1. Accept the fact and revel in it.  I didn't buy the bike for gas mileage, but "smileage"
2. Fix it.

If you opt for #2, I'd be willing to bet that your bike runs a bit rich and you NEVER need to use the "enhancer" (choke).  Could be that you're running a K&N with prefilter (I removed mine, and got less gas smell, but no better mileage).  Highly likely that the previous owner changed the carb jets to 38's to offset the HP loss of the Cobras (I've not opened mine up to see - yet).  I did a dyno run, and I'm at 100HP, and 100 ft-lbs at the rear wheel, but run rich everywhere except 3200-4500 RPM.

Bob -AKA "Attic Rat" here is a master of carbs, located in OK, and will be getting a call from me as soon as time and budget permit.  I have every confidence he can fix the issue (and more, if there's budget!).

Welcome to the madness!

[bassman]

U can also check ur tire pressure.   Shud be 40# front and 42# rear MINIMUM.   Just my 2 cents

[salty1]

Welcome to the "asylum" motogummer and congrats on the Valk purchase.  Your mpg is pretty bad. I understand the bike is  running okay, but I would run a full can of Chemtool B12 to a full tank through it first thing, check for vacuum leaks and snug all the intake runner clamps, top an bottom. You may have to overhaul the carbs. I wonder if somebody increased the main jet size or messed with the needle valves. I have a 97 std with cobras, K&N air filter, and everything else is stock. I turned my pilots out 3 turns and it gets mid to high 30s for mpg. FWIW  

[old2soon]

The popping on decal like stock exhaust MAYBE vacuum leaks. If it has NOT been desmogged those vac lines and fuel lines if O E M are 18 years old. I just did a desmog on my 99 I/S as all those lines mentioned are 16 years old on mine. As to the fuel mileage mine stays in the low 30s IF I'm nice to her.   MOST of the time I'M NOT nice to her!   Once I get out on the highway I tend to ride er like I stole er.   RIDE SAFE.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

At 3000 rpms I'm doing 65. I bet you're heavier on the throttle then you realize. We all usually are 

[motogummer]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  I'm not sure about the jets but I suspect that somethings was done because the paperwork that came with the bike had something about Dynojet kit.  I also do not know if there is a K&N filter since I haven't looked yet.  Tire pressure is right where suggested. Also don't know about the desmog yet so I'll check for vac leaks.   I just put some seafoam in the take yesterday and will run it through over the week.  I guess the good thing about the bike and the poor mpg is that I have a 4 gal belly tank so I have 9+ gallons to burn up.  Also I use to  have a 950 KTM Adventure and I was lucky to get 30mpg.  Hope to see you on the road.

[salty1]

Dynojet kit sounds like poorer gas mileage. They may have oversized the low and  high speed jets, and messed with the needle valves.        Totally agree with the desmog suggestion to eliminate future issues. Chemtool and Techron  are better cleaning agents than Seafoam IMO.

[Pappy!]

One thought that has not been brought up yet is to check for additional shims under your needles.
Simple to check and can decrease mileage.
One of the Valks I have worked on had a similar mid-20's mileage and I pulled the needles and found two #4 lockwashers and a shim under each needle.

[sandy]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  I'm not sure about the jets but I suspect that somethings was done because the paperwork that came with the bike had something about Dynojet kit.  I also do not know if there is a K&N filter since I haven't looked yet.  Tire pressure is right where suggested. Also don't know about the desmog yet so I'll check for vac leaks.   I just put some seafoam in the take yesterday and will run it through over the week.  I guess the good thing about the bike and the poor mpg is that I have a 4 gal belly tank so I have 9+ gallons to burn up.  Also I use to  have a 950 KTM Adventure and I was lucky to get 30mpg.  Hope to see you on the road.

Dyno Jet recommends the circlip on the 3rd notch down from the top. I was getting about 32 at that setting. I dropped to the 2nd notch and set the pilot valves at 2 1/4 turns out. I get 37+ now and it still runs good: Thunder Valley headers with baffles.

[heavyd]

I have a 97 Standard with Cobra 6x6, 38 slow jets, and a k+n with prefilter. If I am cruising the back roads with a group at 80km/h I can get mid to low 40's, but my record is 17 liters per hour, I hit reserve in around 50 minutes. I forget what that worked out to in mpg but it was 150km/h+ with a passenger and luggage.

[Firefighter]

Mid 30 mpg is normal mileage for 70-75 mph, I sometimes get 28 at those speeds !

[cheeseman1969]

Want to add and a "wonder". I have noticed on mine (97 Standard), 65 I get 35.. but if I go over 70 to 75, interstate starts getting about 30 maybe but around 28-29. I always thought that was normal but sounds like should be getting better than that. I have it on cruise (manual) and get 1-2 better but I live in Nebraska. Flat as a board here.

[Jess from VA]

Everyone would get better mileage if they would pound 10% corn up their bungholio, and get it out of gasoline.

[SteveBC]

Motogummer,

                      you say you have not inspected the air filter as yet, surely that should be the first thing to check. Whatever type it may be, OEM or otherwise, if it's blocked up with dust / crud then it's much the same as riding with the choke partly on...........Get the tank off and have a look mate, it's an easy job.

[vicnelson]

I drove my '99 Tourer mid-west to west at 80+ mph and on those stretches I got 24 MPG. Here in the Arizona mountains at sane driving speeds up to 70-75 MPH I get  30-33 mpg. My best mileage ever is 40 MPG in the Florida Keys at terribly frustrating speeds of 30-35 mph. Best I can tell the bike is TOTALLY stock. While most of my riding buddies get 40- 50 on a regular basis, I am good for 100-130 miles before a required fill up. I am usually ready for a break by then. Do I wish I got 40 mpg consistently, you bet. But, I don't think it is worth the money. I love the power that it has. I can hit 110 mph just accelerating to get on the freeway. What do you expect out a motor with 6 carbs?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Everyone would get better mileage if they would pound 10% corn up their bungholio, and get it out of gasoline.

I think I'll stick with decreased mileage thank you

[R J]

An early 97 Tourer.

Best mileage was 41 MPG.    On a Poker Run with a bunch of Gold Wings just a pessing along.

Worst was 17 MPG coming home from IZ1.   I had gotten a phone call Saturday morning early that my wife was involved in a fatal accident.

So, I hauled ass for home.     Got home and the wife stuck her head out the front door and said what are you doing home so early.   I didn't expect you until Sunday evening.   I about had a heart attack.

The fatality was some lady with the same name as my wifes.

That is the problem when you have friends for LEO's.   My buddy, got wind of the accident, tried to check it out best he could and everything pointed towards my wife, so he called my cell phone to let me know.     I don't hold anything against him on this, as I'd of probably done the same thing had I of been in his situation.

[Ken Tarver]

Stopped up air filter will make a lot of carbon build up on spark plugs also

Ken

[Jess from VA]

Everyone would get better mileage if they would pound 10% corn up their bungholio, and get it out of gasoline.

I think I'll stick with decreased mileage thank you

They & their , was referring to the G (not everyone);  excuse my poor heenglish.

[Woton]

I had gotten a phone call Saturday morning early that my wife was involved in a fatal accident.

So, I hauled ass for home.     Got home and the wife stuck her head out the front door and said what are you doing home so early.   I didn't expect you until Sunday evening.   I about had a heart attack.

The fatality was some lady with the same name as my wifes.

That is the problem when you have friends for LEO's.   My buddy, got wind of the accident, tried to check it out best he could and everything pointed towards my wife, so he called my cell phone to let me know.     I don't hold anything against him on this, as I'd of probably done the same thing had I of been in his situation.

I HAD to respond to this...just to say DAMN!

[Woton]

Everyone would get better mileage if they would pound 10% corn up their bungholio, and get it out of gasoline.

   Oh, me... Tell us what you REALLY think, Jess!

That being said, I DID have a feeling that reduced gas mileage in our 15+ year old motorcycles is somehow Obama's fault.

[Jess from VA]

As I'm sure you're aware, ethanol predates the Zero. 

[Pappy!]

Yep, ethanol was indeed around before the zero took office.........

[Ricky-D]

Ethanol enriched gasoline can account for some drop in MPG figures,

but not to the extent that some would think. It's more like in the

range of zero to two mpg's total affect.

***

[98valk]

Ethanol enriched gasoline can account for some drop in MPG figures,

but not to the extent that some would think. It's more like in the

range of zero to two mpg's total affect.

***

R-D disagree on the zero mpg. studies I've read and my own experience is always 1-2mpg loss. it will always be less due to lower BTU's of ethanol.

and it was bush jr and the democrat controlled congress and senate that approved ethanol.
it was clinton that gave billions of our tax dollars to the auto manufacturers to develop electric cars while gas was $0.89/gallon

[Woton]

Wasn't meaning to turn this into a political thread - just picking with my buddy Jess after his hilarious comment.

The wife's Stratoliner (1854 cc V-Twin) likes premium fuel, so we typically fill up at a pure gas stop just up the road from the house.  Feel like the Valk performs perfectly fine on regular, but The Boss wants premium and we both fuel up at the same time to make things easy.

RE: the politicians - a pox on both their houses.

[Hoser]

I'm betting on a really dirty air filter.  Hoser

[Farther]

Yes when I'm on the highway I cruise around 70-75 so I'm right at 3000 rpm.

If memory serves me at 3000 rpm you are going about 60-65 mph.  So that might be part of your fuel useage.  My mileage drops considerably at the 70-75 rpm range.

[salty1]

At 3000 rpm, my bike is at 68 mph. At 3200, the indicated speed is 70 mph.