fuel mileage question

[deez]

I have a 98 Touring, the engine when I got it already had an 4 degree wheel on it and glasspack exhaust. I did the de smog and the bike runs great, however I am only averaging aroung 30 mpg (I am not a knee dragger and like to cruise on the highway around 65mph showing right around 3grand on the tach. ) I have read a lot of differing opinions on the timing issue. would I help out my milage by switching back to the factory wheel? (it came with extra parts when I bought the bike) also ethanol is a curse we here in the midwest have to live with, you'll run your tank dry before you find anything else.
With the price of fuel every mile you gain is a plus. so what is everones thoughts?

deez

[Grumpy]

The fat girls do not really get good mileage, my 99 interstate averages 32 mpg running 70 mph.

[Hoser]

I have a 98 Touring, the engine when I got it already had an 4 degree wheel on it and glasspack exhaust. I did the de smog and the bike runs great, however I am only averaging aroung 30 mpg (I am not a knee dragger and like to cruise on the highway around 65mph showing right around 3grand on the tach. ) I have read a lot of differing opinions on the timing issue. would I help out my milage by switching back to the factory wheel? (it came with extra parts when I bought the bike) also ethanol is a curse we here in the midwest have to live with, you'll run your tank dry before you find anything else.
With the price of fuel every mile you gain is a plus. so what is everones thoughts?

deez

Slip across the border, lots of regular gas in Kansas.  Hoser

[Jack B]

My 98 Tourer gets 30 -32 MPG
My 99 I/S gets 35- 39 MPG ???

[Sergeant D]

My 97 Tourer gets the same and it's all stock.  My guess is it is the price I pay for having six carbs. My buddy runs a 99 Royal Star, 4 cyl, 1300 and gets around 45 mpg, but only two smaller carbs.

[wild6]

My 98 Tourer (all stock except ECT mod) gets:

42mpg (< 55 mph)
37mpg (55 - 65 mph)
32mpg (> 65mph)

[deez]

so it sounds like my mileage is in line with what others are getting. So what is ultimately the goal with installing an advaced degree wheel? I know you change the power curve but to what end?

[wild6]

The trigger wheel gives you a fixed advance no matter what the rpm is and even if the engine is cold.
When the engine is cold, it adds its advance to the computer's advance making starting difficult.

I did the ECT mod.  Gave me about 4mpg more.

I think it's better than the trigger wheel because:
1. It is (optionally) adjustable up to 10°.
2. It makes the bike easier to start when cold because it doesn't add to the ICM's advance.
3. It's disabled when the transmission is in neutral preventing high idle rpm.
4. It fades out above 3k rpm letting the ICM do the job.

If not using the pot, I'd suggest you use a 1k resistor instead. (close to the center of the pot's adjustment)
It's important to use an audio taper pot (not linear).
Adding the pot gives you a resultant resistance range of 0-2800 ohms with 800 ohms being at the center.

I had the usual problems with the 6° trigger wheel before removing it and going with the ect mod.
Never looked back.

[Ghost Rider 2]

  I just did A 120 mile easy ride Sunday afternoon. My 2000 tour got 35. Never ran above 60.  Most of time on a 2 lane road I was running 55 to 57 MPH. Mine is totally stock.  I ride easy.  The mileage SUX. I have owned 40 plus bikes The mileage on the Valk is the worst. I have done research on my bike and I did find the PO installed a K&N filter I am ordering a stock Honda and putting it back in. Not sure if the mileage will improve but the K&N has got to go.

[Brian]

The trigger wheel gives you a fixed advance no matter what the rpm is and even if the engine is cold.
When the engine is cold, it adds its advance to the computer's advance making starting difficult.

I did the ECT mod.  Gave me about 4mpg more.

I think it's better than the trigger wheel because:
1. It is (optionally) adjustable up to 10°.
2. It makes the bike easier to start when cold because it doesn't add to the ICM's advance.
3. It's disabled when the transmission is in neutral preventing high idle rpm.
4. It fades out above 3k rpm letting the ICM do the job.

This ECT mod you did, was it the one mentioned in shoptalk?

If not using the pot, I'd suggest you use a 1k resistor instead. (close to the center of the pot's adjustment)
It's important to use an audio taper pot (not linear).
Adding the pot gives you a resultant resistance range of 0-2800 ohms with 800 ohms being at the center.

I had the usual problems with the 6° trigger wheel before removing it and going with the ect mod.
Never looked back.

[Challenger]

I've owned bikes that got better mileage, but never owned one that gives me the comfort, torq or grins that my Valk does, It is also 13 years old and runs exactly like it did the day I got her. The new fuel injected bikes are much better, I just don't want one!

[wild6]

This ECT mod you did, was it the one mentioned in shoptalk?

Yes, here: http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/ect-mod.htm

[Hoser]

I have a 98 Touring, the engine when I got it already had an 4 degree wheel on it and glasspack exhaust. I did the de smog and the bike runs great, however I am only averaging aroung 30 mpg (I am not a knee dragger and like to cruise on the highway around 65mph showing right around 3grand on the tach. ) I have read a lot of differing opinions on the timing issue. would I help out my milage by switching back to the factory wheel? (it came with extra parts when I bought the bike) also ethanol is a curse we here in the midwest have to live with, you'll run your tank dry before you find anything else.
With the price of fuel every mile you gain is a plus. so what is everones thoughts?

deez

Just rode 161 miles after a fill up, filled when I got home squeezed in 4.7 gallons.  Rode speed limit including 15 miles of interstate at 75 mph. figures out to just under 35 mpg.  Hope that helps.  A 1999 tourer, stock, btw. I have gotten 40 mpg before on two lane blacktop at 55-60 mph.  Not often, though. Hoser

[cookiedough]

I wouldn't mess with it if at least averaging 32 mpg.  If under 30, then consider options.  I get on average 35 mpg, best was 40 and worst is 32.  Can't complain since I am sure if I kept off the jack rabbit starts, I'd be getting 1-2 more mpg but that is not going to happen anytime soon.

[bogator]

IF you want gas mileage??????get a scooooooter-----

[Brian]

I was at our Honda dealer yesterday talking with the sales guy I know trying on a set of Frogg Toggs when another rider starting talking to us about how great that gear is anyway this guy just picked up a 97 valk after owning wings for serveral years he is taken back a bit on our fatlady fuel mileage. He was there to talk about rejetting to get better gas mileage. The sales guy introduced me to him as owning one too. This guy is not a wrench bender and doesn't even know how to take the seat off. He couldn't tell us what air filter he had in the box. I instructed him to get on this site as a newby to learn more before paying the dealer to do all this work. If I knew this guy or if he was a member of our riding club I would have volunteered to him by investigating what the PO did to the bike.
We'll see if he signs up this weekend and reads this post.

[macdoesit]

Checked my gas mileage Saturday. 99 I/S - 42 mpg@ 65mph.

[Patrick]

Under 3K rpm- 40+ mpg.. I don't ride as aggressively as I used to, but, this monster has always gotten pretty good mileage..

[Chillerman]

I was getting 36-40 on my standard before I put 38 slow jets in, now I get 29-31. It sure is more fun to ride now though  .

[Mildew]

Got well over 40a couple times following people. I get an average of 33 on my 98 tourer riding alone

[lucky_1_chris]

I avg. 28-30 on a 99 I/S. Most of my riding is freeway to work and back at 80+ indicated.