1997 Valk Very Thursty

[Batman97]

This is not the first time anyone has heard this, however I do hope I can find some HELP. My ride only gets 155km's before I switch to reserve! I bought it from my neighbor , with 6500 km's he hardly rode it. He put Cobra pipes on it and told me he never had it jetted. I've put a K&N air filter in it, polished the inside of the manifolds and put in the engine temp mod, still no change. I'm wondering if the carbs need to be  syinct or cleaned ? Any helpful ideas would be appriciated. I should add, that I did change all the spark plugs and have change out the coolant ( engine ice ) it's a blue coolant that helps the engine run cooler.

[PhredValk]

96.3 miles to reserve is a little low, unless you're talking city only driving. On the hi way normal for a standard/tourer is, I think, around 130 miles, if you're behaving yourself with the throttle, and you're not riding into strong headwinds. I get about 165 miles to reserve doing 75 on the slab with the Interstate.

Dump a can of seafoam or techron into a full tank and ride for an hour at low speeds/revs, then an hour at high speeds/revs. Let it soak overnight and repeat. After a day or two she should get better. If not you may have to tear the carbs apart and give them a good cleaning and sync.

If that's what it takes, many riders change to 38 slow jets, as they don't clog so easily.
Fred.

[Brad]

I get about 100 miles to reserve on my 98 standard with cobra pipes when I am running 80-85 mph on the hiway.  At 100 mph I went right at 114 miles to bone dry.   

[R J]

97 Tourer.   Had Cobra's, went to reserve anywhere from 85 to 100.

Took them damn things off and went with Viking pipes and now I consistently go to reserve at 125 to 150 at highway speeds, under 80 mph.     If around town, it will got to reserve right at 100 to 110.  If I pull the trailer with the SO's needed utensils, it is a consistent 100, no matter what speed.   100 miles is all the longer her butt will last also, even with an Ultimate and or her Russell Day Long..

[bassman]

What tire pressure are you running?  40# front/ 42# rear is probably the minimum you might consider.

[Jess Tolbirt]

this i can reply to,,
on my first two Valks i would go to 138 miles to reserve,, this is 70 to 75 mph on the interstate...
i made a similar post on the general board and was told if you are worrying about gas mileage then you got the wrong bike,,,

[longrider]

That pretty low.  What speed were you running.  However I had a friend with a 97 standard who let the local Yamaha shop do a tune up.  Turned out they opened up the pilots a bunch and it was running very rich.  So check your pilot adjustment

warren

[Disco]

I would also replace the vacuum lines and rebuild the petcock.  Age-related, not miles-related.

[Ricky-D]

It's very difficult to relate to "gas tank" figures since no one person fills the tank to the same level nor are the parking places all typically level when you fill the tank.

Miles per gallon is the best yardstick to determine how your bike is doing economically speaking.

And the best way to do a miles per gallon determination is to keep the fill-up figures (or whatever) for many tanks of gas so the variation of where you may fill up to will have less effect.  Keeping the odometer figures first when you start then at the finish, like say for more than a thousand miles will give you a more true picture on your bikes economy.

I am doing this same thing as I write, and doing some quick figuring I am getting 39.6 miles to the gallon, and this is for all the riding I'm doing, in town and highway combined.

The reassurance of this is very high on the list when it come to questioning yourself about how the bike is performing since the miles per gallon figure will drop precipitantly with a problem with the motor or carbs.

***

[BF]

It has six carbs.......it's going to be thirsty.   

[MP]

You guys do a LOT better then my 97.  I have gone to reserve many times at about 74 miles when going hard. 100 is about normal.

MP

[Dougs2000IS]

2000 interstate, 70k, desmogged (HELPED OUT BIG TIME), I get 33-35 and hit reserve at 205 twice. WOW sounds like I should not complain at all. plus I run 80-85 on the highway all the time. LOL. Desmogg that 97 and with those pipe re-jet. Ask this crazy board. Have a great weekend all.

[Mildew]

I always got around 33 mpg stock or cobras baffles in or out. Never rejetted. I forgot my wallet going to work one day and drove 55 mpg back from work and got 38 mpg. 1st time I ever got 38 or even close. I have gotton 21 mpg at 110 all day on the big road. A few weeks ago a couple of friend of mine wanted to go up into the mountains of Ga, Nc, Tn. They both had Kawasaki Nomads. Theyroad normall speeds and just cruised at 3k rpms or less all day. (Very patient riders) 300 miles. 1st fillup I got 41 mpg and my 2nd was 45.9 mph. This was the 1st time I ever got over 40 mpg

[Madmike]

I always got around 33 mpg stock or cobras baffles in or out. Never rejetted. I forgot my wallet going to work one day and drove 55 mpg back from work and got 38 mpg. 1st time I ever got 38 or even close. I have gotton 21 mpg at 110 all day on the big road. A few weeks ago a couple of friend of mine wanted to go up into the mountains of Ga, Nc, Tn. They both had Kawasaki Nomads. Theyroad normall speeds and just cruised at 3k rpms or less all day. (Very patient riders) 300 miles. 1st fillup I got 41 mpg and my 2nd was 45.9 mph. This was the 1st time I ever got over 40 mpg

Because you gave your mileage per tank in KM's I assume you are in Canada.  Most of teh replies came from guys in the States - 128 ounce gallon compared to Imperial gallon of 160 ounces.  Just something to keep in mind when comparing numbers.  Using gas here in Canada (methanol content ) I usually get about 130 miles to MT at highway speeds.  As has been pointed out "per tank" isn't really a standard measure, you could have a problem with the screen on teh standpipe inside your tank which will effect the amount of fuel that is available from full to MT.

[Mildew]

Don't know anything about kilometers. I don't know if I've even spelled it right. I drive truck for a living and have done so for over 20 years and still know nothing about kilometers