Gas mileage...

[texaninsouthfl]

I've seen a few posts about mileage but I find it odd that it really doesn't seem to matter how or where I ride, I still get pretty close to the same mileage. I can baby her around town or on the highway, or ride like a bat out of hell... and I still get around 30 mpg. Today I made a run up to Sebring, Florida from Wellington... about 110 miles. I cruised about 75 for the first 60 miles then in a fabulous 45 mile stretch of super smooth, nearly deserted highway, I ran 85+ with several mile long bursts to 115 or so... I refueled and got right at 30 mpg. On the way home, I rode at a comparatively sedate pace all the way back ... nice and easy. Refueled again and... yep... about 30 mpg. 

[art]

It 's amazing how fast it is to get up to the tripple digets isn't it? The valk is great.I took my valk out two days ago just moseying around. what a great feeling an to hear that big six at around 45-50mph Wow

[Printer Mike]

My '98 Tourer got around 135 miles to reserve with mostlty speed limit mixed highway and city runs.

However, only 80 miles to reserve running hard on the super slab with several maxed out stretches.

[F6BANGER]

Tail wind there and head wind back?

[texaninsouthfl]

It 's amazing how fast it is to get up to the tripple digets isn't it? The valk is great.I took my valk out two days ago just moseying around. what a great feeling an to hear that big six at around 45-50mph Wow

Ah... the sound... the sound... I have the 6 into 6 slashcuts with the baffles out... love it. It doesn't drone at cruise speeds and idling around town it sounds like an old t-bucket roadster.

I did use earplugs today, mostly for the wind noise because I wear a half helmet... I didn't realize how darned loud the bike is until I took out the earplugs when I was close to home. I was thinking HOLY crap this thing is loud! I guess I had gotten used to the relative quiet with the earplugs. 

[texaninsouthfl]

Tail wind there and head wind back?

Pretty close to zero wind today... I've gone through a couple of tanks where I got less than thirty on a day I was running hard on the turnpike against a 15 mph headwind... but usually seems to make little difference. I've never gotten better than 32 mpg. In the cage, there's a huge difference between in town mileage (stop and go) and highway mileage... the Valk... very little if any. Go figure.

[John Schmidt]

Tex, that is unusual to get pretty much the same regardless of where you ride. If I'm not loaded like on a trip, running on the interstates I'll get in the mid to upper 30's fairly regular. I'm usually running right at 3k rpm, sometimes a tad higher to an indicated 73mph or thereabouts. Around town, different story if I run the entire tank out in town. Then it will be more like 32mpg. But with a mixture of town and highway, it will average out around 35. But as has been said before on here, I didn't buy the bike for the high mileage, bought it for the performance. Us old folk still like to have fun and have been known to bust the triple digits from time to time. Just not as often as maybe 50 yrs. ago. 

[texaninsouthfl]

Tex, that is unusual to get pretty much the same regardless of where you ride. If I'm not loaded like on a trip, running on the interstates I'll get in the mid to upper 30's fairly regular. I'm usually running right at 3k rpm, sometimes a tad higher to an indicated 73mph or thereabouts. Around town, different story if I run the entire tank out in town. Then it will be more like 32mpg. But with a mixture of town and highway, it will average out around 35. But as has been said before on here, I didn't buy the bike for the high mileage, bought it for the performance. Us old folk still like to have fun and have been known to bust the triple digits from time to time. Just not as often as maybe 50 yrs. ago. 

I don't worry much about the mileage from a economic perspective, like you, I don't expect great mileage out of a performance oriented machine ... but it would be nice to be able to go a bit longer in between fuel stops when on a road trip. Maybe I'll get me one o' dem fancy belly tanks. 

[R J]

I'd say the PO changed out the jets to the next size or 2 up.

My mileage froze on 1 # after I changed mine out.   I get 31 MPG at 50 or 100, makes no difference.

Had I of bought mine for mileage, I'd of be pessed off about now.

One time I pessed along after a bunch of Harley's on one of their bar to bar Poker runs.    I got a whopping 37.    Son was right beside me on his chopper and got 48.

Since I changed mine out, I never saw a difference in performanxce, and have commented, one of these days I'm going to go back to stock to see if my mileage will come back.    Might do that this winter, and then again I might not.    The kids are the ones riding it now, last year I put 12 miles on MGM, the kids did something like 9K.

[SANDMAN5]

I get mid-upper 30's unless I'm playing around.

[Hook#3287]

I haven't paid attention for so time now, but back around 05 or 06, while on our way to Biketoberfest from Northern Georgia, a buddy and I where both on our stock Valks.  On the highway, cruizing @ 85+, we would both hit reserve at 100 miles, around 25mpg.  Around town we both got in the mid 30's.   I've got 38's in her now, and althought I still do the math when I fill up, I've stopped remembering it.

[CajunRider]

I can baby her around town or on the highway, or ride like a bat out of hell... and I still get around 30 mpg.

Isn't it wonderful what torque can do!!! 

Yeah... for me, 65 mph solo, no windshield... 34 mpg.  At 80 mph two-up, windshield, pulling trailer... 32 mpg. 

I LOVE torque!  (Those mpg numbers increase by 2 or 3 if running 0% ethanol.)

I have gotten 40 mpg before... LONG stretch of 50 mph cruise while running REAL gas. 

[olddog1946]

Last May-June on a 1700 mile trip I got an average of 34 mpg, actually got as high as 40 for one tank and a low of 25 on another.  Since then, I replaced the cobra pipes with modified oem (piggies cut and drilled) and now seem to do no better than 30 no matter where I ride.  Makes me wonder if the bike had not been rejetted by a PO.

[Patrick]

I've consistently gotten 40-42 mpg as long the cruise is 3000 rpm or less..

[MP]

You will get widely varying mileage reports.  97's seem to get less across the board.  IS's seem to do a little better.

Alph, Nitro, and I went around the big lake going to the first Bellaire Inzane two years ago.  The three of us all had IS's.  Rode one right behind the other, so the riding factors were totally equal.

I got the poorest mileage, Alph did 3-5 mpg better than me, and Nitro beat him by 3-5 mpg.  Go figure. For most of the trip we were sightseeing, so were not pushing speed much.

ALL did better than my 97 std. would ever do.

MP

[PhredValk]

First trip East I got around 31-2, but I've settled down some and the same trip last summer averaged 36-8.
Fred.

[Red Diamond]

My speeds on both bikes are usually the same 65-70 MPH. The I/S is consistently at 40 MPG, the Tourer is usually around 34 MPG. 99 I/S, 2k Tourer. Both fuel mileages goes done in proportion to speed increase.

[KSDragonRider]

I get 30 to 35 on my I/S.  The 35 was running solo with only running about 65 all day.  Most of the time im on the super slab running 2 up and about 75-80mph.  I have the largest windshield clearview makes and have noticed that it pulls about 4 mpg off the top of the best i can do.  However, the difference the windshield makes for buffering is well worth it.

I have a heavy hand, so most of the time even at 65, im playing with the gas.

[Farther]

I have a stock '03 Standard except for IS carb springs, IS ignition control module, Hondaline windshield, Leatherworks saddlebags and R&M belly tank.  Couple of summer ago in eastern South Dakota I got about 29 mpg going from the northern border to southern border on I-29 at about 90-100 mph.  That same summer I got in the 40's while sightseeing the Yellowstone NP and Idaho.

[Sam Shlitz]

I am riding streets only and get 30 m/g consistantly. I use mid grade gas (89) and my bike is a standard with rigid bags and fairings with a windshield.

[texaninsouthfl]

You will get widely varying mileage reports.  97's seem to get less across the board.  IS's seem to do a little better.

Alph, Nitro, and I went around the big lake going to the first Bellaire Inzane two years ago.  The three of us all had IS's.  Rode one right behind the other, so the riding factors were totally equal.

I got the poorest mileage, Alph did 3-5 mpg better than me, and Nitro beat him by 3-5 mpg.  Go figure. For most of the trip we were sightseeing, so were not pushing speed much.

ALL did better than my 97 std. would ever do.

MP

I guess the lower gas mileage is the penalty we pay for more horsepower the '97 makes.   

[texaninsouthfl]

I've consistently gotten 40-42 mpg as long the cruise is 3000 rpm or less..

Cruise at 3000 rpm or less??? ... I didn't realize the Fat Lady would go that slow! 

[Thespian]

I've consistently gotten 40-42 mpg as long the cruise is 3000 rpm or less..

Cruise at 3000 rpm or less??? ... I didn't realize the Fat Lady would go that slow! 

+1

[kwobbler]

i have a canadian valk interstate 2000 and I ride at 70-90mph my range is 150-200miles.
the only thing that sucks is it's 8months of snow and I can't start riding till May unless I truck
my bike to Arizona.

[texaninsouthfl]

i have a canadian valk interstate 2000 and I ride at 70-90mph my range is 150-200miles.
the only thing that sucks is it's 8months of snow and I can't start riding till May unless I truck
my bike to Arizona.

Yeah, these Florida winters are brutal too... why I've even had to wear a cursed long sleeved t-shirt a couple of times recently during the day. Brrrrrr! 

[Kylenav]

I usually average between 25-28.  If I'm on her then I let her decide the speed at which we ride.  I drive my wife's minivan for good gas milage.  I ride the valk to have a good time.  Plus when I fill up I feel as though I have used the extra money extremely wisely.  

I don't know what it cost to get into a theme park to ride a coaster for 2 min, but I am pretty darn sure it's more than a few MPG on the Valk.  Plus there is no line to ride, just open the garage and let her warm up, then I can ride for as long as I wish.  Just can't do any flips......

[Kylenav]

I also blame the snow birds that bring their pretty Harley's down to Florida.  Nearly every time I have been out for a nice ride at least one harley has to test to see if the "Big honda motor" is just for show.  That just kills the gas milage, but again it sure is worth it... 

[PhredValk]

The worst I ever got was 85 miles to... well not reserve, but looking for gas stations. That was averaging 80+ against some pretty stiff winds.
Fred.

[Bone]

Warning High Wind Area signs got my attention so I stay alert while riding across Texas and New Mexico. I was buying gas early not thinking about the effect on gas mileage but lack of stations. East of Albuquerque I saw a station but didn't stop the odometer was at 80 miles since my last stop. About 5 miles later she started to stumble WTF, I played with the throttle telling myself it can't be out of gas. Speed started to drop so I turned to reserve and that was the problem. Then I turned into a dummy thinking I could go another 30 miles at least on reserve, didn't happen 
101 degrees the thermometer on my bike showed. Getting the bike off the side of the 4-lane (with no traffic) was a job but I took off walking carrying a new jacket I couldn't leave laying on the bike.

To shorten the story I was 1 mile from gas, a young man gave me a ride and brought me back to the bike. Running 85 mph (speed limit 75) into a strong wind be prepared for terrible gas mileage.

[Tim H]

Same here.  Sometimes when I think I'm trying to get good mileage I don't, and when I don't try I do.  Who knows.  Also, I switched from 90+ to 87 octane.  I ran Techron through it and keep 90+ in it for a few months since I didn't know how long it had been sitting when I bought it.  Here's my data I keep on Pocket Garage.

Vehicle Data
    —— Generated by Pocket Garage
Nov 25, 2011-Jan 25, 2012   Report Date:Jan 25, 2012
Yarna
Fuel
Date   Odometer   Type           Gallons           $/Gal    Cost           MPG
Nov 30, 2011   33881   Low Octane 87   4.716    3.270   $15.420   Stats Reset   
Dec 1, 2011   33975   Low Octane 87   2.684    3.249   $8.720   35.022   
Dec 12, 2011   34110   Low Octane 87   4.637    3.089   $14.320   29.114   
Dec 13, 2011   34193   Low Octane 87   2.365    3.089   $7.310   35.095   
Dec 31, 2011   34294   Low Octane 87   3.406    3.168   $10.790   29.654   
Jan 17, 2012   34398   Low Octane 87   3.578    3.248   $11.620   29.067   

This attached file showing my Vehicle Data, was generated by Pocket Garage on my iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad.

[Bone]

Owners manual states 86 octane or higher. That is what I run if available. When on a trip I usually end up at 31 mpg running the speed limit +5-10 mph.

[Hedgehog]

Does it make any difference if you fit a cobra 6 / 6 and re-jet? Does this make it worse?

I too get 30mpg no matter what (standard pipes with piggies removed)

HH

[Willow]

Does it make any difference if you fit a cobra 6 / 6 and re-jet? Does this make it worse?

I too get 30mpg no matter what (standard pipes with piggies removed)

My experience with Cobra 6X6 (at least with the baffles in) is that your fuel mileage may slightly improve.

Rejetting, I believe, will most likely result in a fuel mileage reduction.

The pipes are my experience only, not confirmed generally by any scientific study. 

[Hedgehog]

Did you run one without re-jetting then Willow? ???

[Spirited-6]

Boy, what a WIDE range of MPG on Valkyries.  I always got 36-38 and sometimes 40 MPG on my 98 Tourer. I even got 33 MPG running 85-90 MPH for 65 miles coming back from the Whiskey Run. I had thought mileage would drop a lot at those speeds. Bike was OEM.  

[Willow]

Did you run one without re-jetting then Willow? ???

Without.

[Sergeant D]

97 Tourer...30 mpg city, highway, two up, doesn't matter.  Don't know if it's anything but OEM yet, I'm the new owner with no maintenance records, but will be doing the 24K checkup next month when it gets really cold here in South Texas (almost freezing).

[Brian]

While on a poker run through the back roads of South Carolina one of the stops had a gas station next door. I filled up just before we left NC to head south and 90 miles showing on the trip odometer. I always reset this at each fill up and start to look for gas around 100 miles since the mpg varies so much on my 97 standard. Topped off the tank, the pump said 2 gallons and a few 10ths. Never have I seen 45 mpg on this bike before or after this run. I figure the pump was off????? I normally average around 35 mpg at normal cruising speeds and drops in the high twenties around town going to work.

[sheets]

Ditto what Mr. Schmidt said. With six carbs consumption and economy is all over the place, depending on the road -- the load -- and your right wrist. My best rate of consumption is between my neck of the woods and "Farther's" neck of the woods, two-up, via the Klamath river. Miles and speed indicated will get me 40 mpg, without going to reserve. Seeing 40 mpg and 30 mpg between consecutive gas stops is not uncommon for me. Rpms -- head wind -- tail wind -- up hill -- down hill... it all counts. And it all adds up, at every flick of the wrist. My fuel consumption is better two-up as compared to me fly'n solo. Ymmv, sheets        

[valkyriemc]

2K Interstate, 36.2, 35.8, 35.6, 34.6, 35.3, 32.8, 34.2, 38.4, 32.2, 36.2 MPG(s)  Stock setup, except for Tulsa extended windshield.