lets go back to gas milage

[Jess Tolbirt]

is 28 to 30 mpg at 75mph about right for an interstate?
i sold my tourer that got 38 constanstly and bought this interstate...i am getting 30 mpg at hiway speeds...

will a trigger wheel cause the mpg to drop? and does the stock trigger wheel have a honda mark on it?
i need to find out so i can get this thing back to stock...if it aint,,,

also i cant take off like i did on my tourer,,sometimes i kill it and have to reastart it,, other than that it runs like a scalded dog,, in fact it runs so good that i think something has been done to it,,, i dont need the power i need the mpg because we ride every week end and at least 500 miles a day,,,

anyway thanks for any input,,,

[Red Diamond]

Answer to first question, no, not good, they usually get 36-40 depending on riding style. The scolded dog part, they are tuned for long distance riding.

[BigAl]

Don't ride a Valk if you want mileage.

Because that ain't what it was designed for.

It was designed for fun.

When you quit having fun and want mileage, go get a KLR650, at about 55 miles per gallon.

Or a sportster at 52, or a scooter at about a 100mpg.

If you want to keep your fun quotiant up,, keep your Honda.

[Challenger]

MY 2000 STD two up @ 70  gets 36, My 99 I/S two up and loaded @ 70 gets 38  YMMV

[toetruck21]

I weight enough to be considered riding two up, maybe even 3 up.  I ride her hard and fast and can't seem to get her below 34 mpg.  I often wonder if I would take it easy and not ride WOT how high the mpg would actually get.  I keep trying to calm it down but fail every time.  I think the Valk just doesn't want it that way!

Mike

[Detn8er]

Scalded dogs shy away from Boomer the Fast Black Valk....She runs more like a Monkey with his ass on fire looking for a river to jump in.

Last 2 milage checks...

Left Asheville NC 2up and loaded for a weekend trip. 159 miles 3.66 gals to fill up = 43.44.

Local early morning ride 1 up no extra gear...98.9 miles 2.36 gals to fill up = 41.90.

She is mine and I ride the snot out of it....the speed limit is simply a guide line to avoid.

Standard with an I/S ICM Carolina bike and Trike Stainless steel exhaust, K& N air filter and a 6* trigger wheel...(yes6*)No problems.

[Jess Tolbirt]

Don't ride a Valk if you want mileage.

Because that ain't what it was designed for.

It was designed for fun.

When you quit having fun and want mileage, go get a KLR650, at about 55 miles per gallon.

Or a sportster at 52, or a scooter at about a 100mpg.

If you want to keep your fun quotiant up,, keep your Honda.

howdy Al,,
I have had Valkyries since day one,, this is my third one,,,and I think it may have had some aftermarket trigger wheel or something done because mileage is WAY down from my last 2 valks.,,,,

No i dont want any other bike,, i just would like to see 36 mpg like on my other ones,,,

[old2soon]

I see nothing out of the ordinary on fuel mileage reports. Some of these folks get decent mileage some don't. If i keep it under sixty i can get about 36 38 or so. One up 75 80 M P H gets me into low 30s. Throw in a head wind or a quartering wind from the front AND maintain the 75 80 M P H you will get into the 20s. There are a lot of fuel economical motorcycles out there for sale every day. I chose a valkyrie. If you saw my post about the poker run yesterday-i was the LONE valk in a sea of v-twins(50 or 60 bikes.) Kinda nice bein THAT unique. Duz ya really wanna put a price on FUN??? It has to many factors to say it is this or that. Would i like to get the higher mileage figures DUUUUHHH. Am i worried about the milage i am getting. See previous answer. I ride as long as i can afford it. Hope i was some help. Iffin i weren't-that's just my 2 pence worth. RIDE SAFE.

[Willow]

To answer the original two questions, no and no.

Just so you know, my friend, Big Al, is a know-it-all who doesn't.       

[Red Diamond]

To answer the original two questions, no and no.

Just so you know, my friend, Big Al, is a know-it-all who doesn't.       

Didn't ask the question, but, Thanks anyways.

[Super Santa]

2000 I/S; 108,000 miles; 6* trigger wheel; never had the carbs off; never changed the plugs; normally ride one up, 230#, and bags pretty well loaded, normally a little over posted speed limits.

Normal mileage is 38-40 mpg.  I am normally right around 200 miles at fill up.

Last four tanks before Tucumcari trip: 215.8 - 5.270 gal - 40.94977; 202.9 - 4.694 gal - 43.22539; 207.8 - 5.083 gal - 40.88137; 204.4 - 5.424 gal - 37.68437

[Jess Tolbirt]

thanks guys,, both my tourers one a 97 and the other a 98 with harley fairings got 36 to 38 mpg,,at 75 mph,,,i didnt think the interstate would be that much different,,but this interstate will smoke both my other bikes,,this think flies!!! so good in fact i think it has had a trigger wheel or something done to it,,,maybe jets? i have to remember to gas it when taking off or it dies,, my others just took off,,,getting used to it tho,,,
again thanks,,,

[dubsider]

Hopefully this is not a dumb question.. What is a "trigger whee"l.. ?

she is new to me so I am just finding out the mpg.. first few tanks were mid 30s.. this last tank I took it kinda easy.. kept to the speed limit and shifted at ~2500 and sometimes skipped a gear and got almost 41..

[solo1]

My average gas mileage for 13 years on my '97 was 32mpg.  My sons '97s got better.
My Valk always needed a choke to start, my sons didn't.  Two of the Valks had trigger wheels, mine was a 4 degree and my one son's was a 6 degree. (timing advance). My third son's Valk did not have a trigger wheel.

MPG varies from one Valk to another even the same year, maybe I should add IMHO as I don't want to sound like a wise arse. I never lost any sleep over it, just rode it.

[kybigmac]

A friend of mine had his rejetted for cobra pipes and killed the MPG!

[designer]

I've went through 5 tanks in various driving conditions and got 31mpg average.  I've sinced activated my ECT at about 50% and will report the next 5 tanks.  I have an '02 standard.

[Willow]

Hopefully this is not a dumb question.. What is a "trigger whee"l.. ? 

They all have trigger wheels.  People just abbreviate after market trigger wheel.  Two after market trigger wheels have been used to replace the OEM trigger wheel.  One advances timing four degrees and one advances timing six degrees.  Valkyrie riders have used them to increase fuel mileage and low end performance, sometimes causing the engine to require a higher octane fuel.

The only stupid question is ... well, you know.   

[BigAl]

Owned two and both got and get crappy mileage.

Where you all are getting numbers is beyond me.

Gordon, Joe , Greg and I all fill up and keep track of our mileage and they all four get less milage than

our family cars.

Maybe yall have the special mileage bikes that none of the rest of us were lucky enough to get.

Thanks Willow , for your input.

I guess you don't have fun on your Valk like I said.

Only if you want a great mileage bike the Valk ain't it.

The best I have gotten is 34mpg local.

Hammerin between the mile markers on the superslab at say between 80 and 90 about 27 or 28. But I ain't complainin

cause it is a fun bike.

Fun



Al

[KW]

I’m NOT calling anyone ‘out’ and I’m certainly NOT calling anyone a liar, but I just plain don’t believe our six cylinder hotrod bikes can get mid-40 mpg. I just don’t believe it. I’ve even seen people posting before they get 50+. It’s ridiculous. It would be like me saying my 69 Big Block can break double digits in the mpg race. It can’t. No matter how I drive it. Part of the reason is the ‘performance monster’ it is, (I’ve ran mid-12’s. In a street legal pickup truck, that’s hauling the mail) but an equal part is you can’t sit behind the wheel and not every once in a while goose the pedal. Our Valkyries are the modern ‘muscle car’ equivalent, only on two wheels and even quicker! So, if you really are getting mid-40’s or heck, even OVER 40, God bless you and hang onto your bike. It’s a rare one that I’ve never seen in person!

[Bobbo]

I have a Valkyrie appropriate helmet sticker:

Sucks Gas, Goes Fast!

[Steve K (IA)]

When I ride conservatively,  55-60mph, I get 40 mpg.  (2000 I/S)    I have gotten 20 mpg running 70 into a hell of a headwind.     I have never bothered to actually check my '97 Std, but every time my wife and I fill up, she puts the same amount in the Std. as I put in the I/S.  And, as always....10% ethanol. 

[BigAl]

For some strange reason Steve my 2001 Black Interstate will not run in those low digits like others.

It loves anything above 3200 rpm and even more above 4000 rpm.

Gotta give it what it wants and that is rompin and stompin the pavement without mercy.

[F6Dave]

When riding in Western Kansas several years ago, running about 80 into a very strong headwind, my Tourer hit reserve at just over 80 miles.  When I filled up the mileage was only 17 MPG.  I've seen teens on my IS a couple of times in similar conditions.  Typical mileage is low to mid 30s.  Like other have said, if you want fuel economy buy something else.

[Jess Tolbirt]

Geeeeeze,,,,If I wanted Fuel economy I would have kept my gold wing back in 97,,,what do you call fuel economy? to me that would be 45 to 50,, all I was asking was about the mileage and I would at least like to have what my other two Valks got if its possible,,,that would be 36 average, right now i am getting about 30,,,yes i can live with that if i have to,, but why does it warrant a smart ass comment like if you want fuel economy get something else? that wasnt the olny time it was mentione,,If i ride 600 miles and i was to get 30 miles to the gallon thats 20 gallons of gas, now if i was to get 36 miles per gallon that would be 16.6 gallons, lets say a difference of 4 gallons,,,and at 4 bucs a gallon thats supper for the 2 of us...
also some of us dont have an unlimited supply of dollars and we need all the help we can get...
Now after thinking about this i think i know what the problem is,,,mobil one

[Willow]

The original question asked was whether 28 - 30 mpg running at 75 mph is "about right for an Interstate".

While I agree that a bike with six carbs shouldn't get great mileage and that if mileage is your reason to ride a Valkyrie shouldn't be your choice, truthfully, fuel mileage abnormally low is a symptom of a poorly tuned machine.

I ride two Valkyries regularly.  My good mileage Valkyrie normally gets mid thirties right up to somewhere near 4000 on the tach.  I have gotten above forty on a few occasions, but they were anomalies and were on two lanes in the hills.  My poor mileage Valkyrie (which needs work) seems to get around 29 no matter how I ride it.

That's my personal experience.  My experience is unique to me, so one should gather observations from many to determine a consensus.

Fuel mileage is influenced by a lot of factors such as riding style, content of the fuel, wind, terrain, among others.  Each bike is different.  However, if your Valkyrie is regularly getting lower than mid thirties you should be able to understand why.  If you're happy with the explanation that's good, but to just say it's a Valk so it gets poor mileage is a lot like riding a poorly handling Valkyrie and accept it just because it's not a sport bike.

YMMV.          

[Jess Tolbirt]

Again this is not my first rodeo,,,its my 3rd...121,000 miles on the first one,, 92,000 on the second one,,,
i thought if i posed the question i could find out what is sort of the average for interstates verses tourers,,
if it was normal to get 30 then i would not do anything to it, but since i found out its not normal than i plan on milling down the head and decking the block about 2 thousandths,,,with this engine it already has most of the goodies in it,,,
o wait that was my sprint car,,,,nevermind,,,

[michaelyoung254]

I'm still new to the Valkrie family, and was able to make a switch from 1100 Shadow Spirit to our '98 Standard back in late March. I've pretty much tracked my mileage since getting the bike, and always get just under 30 mpg. The ol' girl seems to run just fine, but it'd be nice if the mileage was a little better. Whenever I see the numbers from others claiming high 30's to low 40's in mileage, I'm curious as to why I don't see numbers like that. Maybe it's because my my wife (she always rides with me) and I are a lot thicker (notice I didn't say she was fat!!!) than ya'll are.

[KW]

I ride two up. . . . almost always. And, I'm a big fat guy. I get between 32 and 38, but a 'typical' ride is 33. I can bank on it. I guess because my 'throttling,' riding habits and load are all fairly consistent. I got that same mpg 10 years ago and I still get it. . . It does go down when the rpm's goes up, but in general, I agree with what Willow said about road/conditions etc.

[alph]

I look at it like this, my truck gets about 15 mpg.  my cycle gets around 33 mpg, what's more fun to ride??  yep, it's the truck (in 8 inches of snow or mud).  but in the summer time (you know, that breif two months of warm weather here in wisconsin) i'm taking the cycle!!!  don't care much for taking the truck to work when i've got a perfectly nice cycle in the garage!!

[Jabba]

My car is a 2005 Dodge Hemi Magnum.  I get about 16 MPG commuting in it. 

I have a 99 Interstate.  I get about 31-32 on it.  I have an '02 Standard.  I get between 27-31 on it.

My standard will flat EAT my IS.  I have a dyna 3000 on the Std.  Other than that... it's dead stock.

The BEST I ever got?  37 on a local VERY twisty trip with the SO on board.

Jabba

[Ferris Leets]

'99 IS 40K miles.  I check the mpg every fillup.  I get from 32 to 38, a direct correlation to how hard I accelerate.  I have not had to run into any stron headwinds but I would bet on mid 20's for that.  Also have not run with a strong tailwind, would not be suprised to see low 40's.  Once on the Nomad I got 20 going one direction and 45 coming back.

[3fan4life]

My 99' Inerstate consistently gets 36-38 mpg.

It will dip into the low 30's if I am riding hard in the mountains.

The lowest I've ever seen was 29 mpg, that was riding 2 up and pulling a trailer.

The best that I've ever seen is 42 mpg, that was all BRP at 45-50 mph.

This weekend riding 2 up with average speeds around 60 mph she consistenly got 40mpg on every fill up.


My experience has been that the "less" I twist the throttle the better the mpg's.

If I let my right wrist have at it the mpg's go way down, but the spg's (smiles per gallon) go way up.   

[SANDMAN5]

My 98 Std (Mem Shades w/s and fork deflectors, Baker wings
usually closed, bottoms open on hot days) stock except for
K&N air filter. I CONSISTENTLY get upper 30's to lower 40's
in mpg. MOST of the time I ride fairly easy, with occasional
bursts of superhuman speed. Most I ever got was 43, least
was 25. Sure, the 25 was more fun, but I don't enjoy riding
that way for very long. YMMV.

[Scott in Ok]

The problem with mileage posts is there way to many factors for a fair comparison.  Riding styles vary.  Riding conditions vary.  Carb adjustments vary.  Clean air filter?  Is that 70-75 indicated on the speedo, or actual 70-75mph(70 on the speedo is only about 66mph)?  Is the wind blowing 30 mph like it does pretty much all the time where I live?  Does it have the stock windshield or taller?  Baker Air wings?

I'd say if you get an average of 30mpg at an actual 75 mph on a GPS for a FULL tank of fuel there is absolutely no cause for alarm.  Can it be improved?  Probably so, but not to the 36-40 some people claim on AVERAGE at 75mph actual speed for a full tank of fuel.

Riding styles also vary ALOT.  I've heard guys talk about "Riding it like a scalded dog", but when I've ridden with them a more appropriate saying would be "Riding it like I'm sniffing the flowers along the roadway".  I've seen it  the opposite just the same.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, just realize your reality and someone elses could be two different things.

For reference, my 97 Standard got an AVERAGE of 33 mpg over the long term.  Sure I got some good mileage tanks(38-40) on the occasional flower sniffing ride, and some bad ones in heavy winds.

My Interstate gets on average just over 30.  Sometimes higher and sometimes lower...depends on how I ride and the conditions.

I challenge anyone with an Interstate to ride from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Tx  on I-40 with me, riding 75 mph actual speed and show me that 38-40 MPG they get.  

-Scott

[Scott in Ok]

My 98 Std (Mem Shades w/s and fork deflectors, Baker wings
usually closed, bottoms open on hot days) stock except for
K&N air filter. I CONSISTENTLY get upper 30's to lower 40's
in mpg. MOST of the time I ride fairly easy, with occasional
bursts of superhuman speed. Most I ever got was 43, least
was 25. Sure, the 25 was more fun, but I don't enjoy riding
that way for very long. YMMV.

Now THERE is an honest mileage post.  Great mileage, while riding "fairly easy".

When you twist the heck out of the throttle on a Valkyrie...the mileage is gonna go down.

-Scott

[dubsider]

The problem with mileage posts is there way to many factors for a fair comparison.  Riding styles vary.  Riding conditions vary.  Carb adjustments vary.  Clean air filter?  Is that 70-75 indicated on the speedo, or actual 70-75mph(70 on the speedo is only about 66mph)?  Is the wind blowing 30 mph like it does pretty much all the time where I live?  Does it have the stock windshield or taller?  Baker Air wings?

I'd say if you get an average of 30mpg at an actual 75 mph on a GPS for a FULL tank of fuel there is absolutely no cause for alarm.  Can it be improved?  Probably so, but not to the 36-40 some people claim on AVERAGE at 75mph actual speed for a full tank of fuel.

Riding styles also vary ALOT.  I've heard guys talk about "Riding it like a scalded dog", but when I've ridden with them a more appropriate saying would be "Riding it like I'm sniffing the flowers along the roadway".  I've seen it  the opposite just the same.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, just realize your reality and someone elses could be two different things.

For reference, my 97 Standard got an AVERAGE of 33 mpg over the long term.  Sure I got some good mileage tanks(38-40) on the occasional flower sniffing ride, and some bad ones in heavy winds.

My Interstate gets on average just over 30.  Sometimes higher and sometimes lower...depends on how I ride and the conditions.

I challenge anyone with an Interstate to ride from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Tx  on I-40 with me, riding 75 mph actual speed and show me that 38-40 MPG they get.  

-Scott

... Only if we can head to Lubbock !!  my Alma Mater TT/1977 ..   

[Jabba]

My car is a 2005 Dodge Hemi Magnum.  I get about 16 MPG commuting in it. 

I have a 99 Interstate.  I get about 31-32 on it.  I have an '02 Standard.  I get between 27-31 on it.

My standard will flat EAT my IS.  I have a dyna 3000 on the Std.  Other than that... it's dead stock.

The BEST I ever got?  37 on a local VERY twisty trip with the SO on board.

Jabba

What I forgot to say was... everyday I ride the Valk... I save at LEAST 2 gallons of gas.  That's me doing my part to screw the terrorist middle east.

Jabba

 

[Detn8er]

I’m NOT calling anyone ‘out’ and I’m certainly NOT calling anyone a liar, but I just plain don’t believe our six cylinder hotrod bikes can get mid-40 mpg. I just don’t believe it. I’ve even seen people posting before they get 50+. It’s ridiculous. It would be like me saying my 69 Big Block can break double digits in the mpg race. It can’t. No matter how I drive it. Part of the reason is the ‘performance monster’ it is, (I’ve ran mid-12’s. In a street legal pickup truck, that’s hauling the mail) but an equal part is you can’t sit behind the wheel and not every once in a while goose the pedal. Our Valkyries are the modern ‘muscle car’ equivalent, only on two wheels and even quicker! So, if you really are getting mid-40’s or heck, even OVER 40, God bless you and hang onto your bike. It’s a rare one that I’ve never seen in person!

It's OK you can call me a liar....You don't know me so you have no way to judge me as honest or not.....I HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE HERE. However if you ever get down this way look me up and I'll prove it to you. You would be shocked at how I do ride the bike and the mileage it gets.
There are a few on here that do know me and how I ride my bike..... I don't know you so I will not call you a Fat Bastard....You may not be one.
 

[BigAl]

33 sounds like the average.

Degree wheels I do not know about.

I know they will take a little off the topend run according to those that run them.

But you can lean a bike out a little and your mileage will go up.

This can be done most cheaply by modifying the air box, an old old trick.

But beware too much lean will make you mean, and even meaner when you skin a piston to the fryed side.

A K&N air filter by itself will lean it a little.

If you want a Dyno Jet Kit can fine tune the carbs even more.

Even a stock bike with a Dyno jet kit will benifit from a rejet.

S&S makes a airbox for a Harley with the right venturi length and will bolt on 8-9 horses on a bone stock bike.

Just an airbox.


Add a motor tuner and you get 3 more, pipes and you get 2 more.

So you see that fiddling with the air box will make a big difference.,

My stock Harley with these simple mods has 80 horses.(At the Crank)

And by the way gets about 33mpg at Interstate Speeds(75 to 85) with a 1586 cc engine.


But My 1600cc(Which is really a 1550) Mean Streak with Vance and Hines Big Shots and a K&N Filter gets 40 at any speed(60 to90). Cool huh.

[highcountry]

I get about 30-31 mpg on my Tourer but it has Cobra pipes and I heard that they reduce the mileage quite a bit.  I have no idea whether it was rejetted.  I have changed plugs and synced the carbs and bike seems to run real well, and only has about 18K on it.  Don't know if the altitude here negatively affects the bike but on my cages, the mpg is significantly better than at sea-level.