LYN-DEL and WIZARDS pit stops soloutions!

[Iron Mike]

After getting the Valk, I had a small issue of mixing up the direction of the fuel selector.   Not a big deal really as I was watching my milage and was close to home.  I had to call up Dad and Lyn-Dell and get a good laugh out of it.  Now I get a mystery box in the mail!  Nice bottles!!!!  I laughed for 20 minutes.  Thanks you two!

[Jack]

At least, you know they care.

[HayHauler]

That's good!   

I used to ride with a guy that rode a 1985 HD Sportster, 2.2 gallon tank, I think.  I would take my little 1.5 gallon weed eater gas can in my IS saddle bag, just for him.  hahahaha, I even brought a "tow rope" in case fuel wasn't the problem.  Mostly just for a joke.....

Hay 

[..]

I used to carry 2 of those when I had my standard. Saved me a couple of times in Montana and Wyoming.

[ChromeDome]

When I remember, I carry what I like to call "The Portable Gas Station" which consists of a siphon and a couple of empty plastic bottles. Started doing this when a lady friend, whose tank was about 3 gal., coasted into a gas station. After that when ever I knew she would be riding with the group I would pack "The Portable Gas Station" just in case. On a personnal note, there has only been 4 times on the Valk that I was sputtering when I pulled up to the pumps with 3 of those actually being on reserve. I really try to watch my mileage but I suspect that in the coming years, as I start taking a lot more of the US routes instead of the Interstate, I may need to think about packing a couple of fuel bottles.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

I carry what is know around here as an "Oklahoma credit card" for spare gas. 3 feet of small 5/16 rubber hose laying in the bottom of saddlebag. Mostly for when I ride with Willow, he will test mt nerve and see just how empty a standard tank can get.

Raymond

[Willow]

... Mostly for when I ride with Willow, he will test my nerve and see just how empty a standard tank can get.

LOL!  If you never go to the bottom of the tank you'll not really know where it is.  It's good to know you've got my back, Captain.

Incidentally, I've had my Standard to over 200 miles on a tank of fuel.  It normally will go on the high side of 180.

I carry no contingency.  Perhaps I could use one of those little gas tubes.   

[Iron Mike]

I sure know where the bottom of my tank is.  94-107 miles she is hitting reserve.  To bad one of my (Leather lyke) bags decided to run away from home.  Might stink up the back pack.   

[Lyn-Del]

The bottles won't stink up the backpack.  We carry at least 2 when we're on the road, just in case.   If we know we're headed into areas without readily available gas, I have five of the bottles.  I'm in the process of adding reflective tape (white and red) to the bottles so they can double as safety reflectors if needed.  Plus, they'll be easier to find in dark saddle bags, etc.

I've never had so much as a drop leak from mine, nor any odor of gasoline.

Though you may miss the exercise of pushing the bike up that long driveway!

[Willow]

... 94-107 miles she is hitting reserve. 

Mike, not wishing to assume too much, but if you're on a Valkyrie you've a serious fuel delivery issue.  I have you at or below 25 mpg at that level.

Incidentally, reserve is not the bottom of the tank.  I should have another forty miles at reserve.  You should have thirty.

Too bad one of my (Leather lyke) bags decided to run away from home. 

Which bag?  I may be able to help you out.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

No thy will not leak if cap is tight !       and always read road signs.    or this could happen too YOU !

[Whistler]

... 94-107 miles she is hitting reserve. 

Mike, not wishing to assume too much, but if you're on a Valkyrie you've a serious fuel delivery issue.  I have you at or below 25 mpg at that level.

Incidentally, reserve is not the bottom of the tank.  I should have another forty miles at reserve.  You should have thirty.

 Willow I to am having this issue with my standard. I think the farthest I have ever gotten was 134 on reserve. I am wanting to desmog but having the time to do it is a real issue right now. Will that help much or do I have other issues, scyning carbs?, etc.

[Willow]

Willow I too am having this issue with my standard. I think the farthest I have ever gotten was 134 on reserve. I am wanting to desmog but having the time to do it is a real issue right now. Will that help much or do I have other issues, syncing carbs?, etc.

Not wishing to hijack Mike's thread, but no.  My belief is that there is no performance benefit to desmog.

[hubcapsc]

I go on reserve around 115 or 120, unless I'm on Interstate roads, then I can go to 130 or so...

Don't know exactly how far I can go on reserve...

I plan to rebuild and adjust the carbs and sync them, if it still runs after that  I'll check for better mileage...



http://redeye.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2063876

Desmog shouldn't have any effect on gas mileage.

-Mike

[wizard -vrccds#125]

He has the same problem his old man has ! RIGHT HAND TWIST !

[Willow]

He has the same problem his old man has ! RIGHT HAND TWIST !

I took that into consideration, Wizard.  I get 143 miles to reserve running 80 - 85.  Normal should be around 130.  I would have to be running 105 through the entire tank to get down to 25 mpg.

Perhaps he's not filling the tank to the top.

 

[Dogg]

i go 115 and I am empty. dry-empty. before all the mods, I could go 180 easy. once runnng down the turnpike, made it all the way to dover from Freehold NJ on 1 tank. running 85-90 usually but sometimes upwards of 95.. daughter had a blast.

[Andy]

For those of you that carry a siphon tube. Buy a boat primer bulb:


About 18 inches of tube on the intake side of the bulb and the balance on the discharge side. There is an arrow on the primer bulb that indicates direction of flow. Mine is about 5 feet long, no more sucking gas. Wally world has these.

[solo1]

My '97 went on reserve at about 120 to 130 miles. Average mpg since 1997 was 31.

The sidecar knocks off about 3- 4mpg from that. 

I too, have three of those fuel bottles.

[Iron Mike]

well I got 107 before hitting reserve.  I know I am running a tad rich. Cobra jet kit is in the bike and the pipes are on the wall.  This bike is getting kinda crappy milage.  I have not put a vent hole inside the gas tank fill on the high side.  I do fill it on the side stand.  I think I ran out the first time at 127 miles.  I am open for suggestions.

[Big IV]

He bought it because he figured it would be decent on gas. It is a pretty rig.
That first summer every time he went out on it he came back with a new 2 gallon gas can in the side car. If I was with him, I'd run and grab gas at the nearest station and come back for him. Otherwise he'd walk or hitch a ride to a station.
His side car is crippling his gas mileage. Took him a long time to figure out exactly how far he could go. A bottle of near gas would have been helpful for him.

[Lyn-Del]

I think the best advice I ever got was to take my Valk and run it to reserve on "town" driving.  Write down the miles, fill it up and do it again.  And again.  Take the lowest of the three numbers and use it to know when to fill up before running into trouble.  I've made it, unplanned, to 139 without hitting reserve, my testing ranged from 110 to 125.  Remember, also, that the gas itself can make a difference, as can wind and road conditions. 

Worst Valk mileage I've ever gotten was on my I/S, running an entire tank (with the exception of about 2 miles), at 100+, dragging my trailer.  Got 17 mpg on that segment of a trip.

[Iron Mike]

I think I need to fill those shiney new fuel cans and go ride it out of gas.  I would guess I could get 130 if I behave. Funny thing with the valk, not much warning when she fizzles out.  Not like the sputtering few miles you can get out of some bikes.  Better than the lean surge on my YZ!!!   

[fudgie]

Where do you get them fuel containers?

I can got to around 150 and then hit resv. 2 up also on my 98 tourer.

[franco6]

alright Willow,how do you get that kind of mleage? dont you think you should share that info with us the gas pump domestiques?

[Iron Mike]

Mine came from JAW.COM  wich is Moosejaw mountaneering.  I am sure you could find them at any goog outfitter camp store.  They are intended for white gas.

[Willow]

alright Willow,how do you get that kind of mileage? don't you think you should share that info with us the gas pump domestiques?

My fuel mileage isn't that much to brag about.  I generally get 35 mpg, more or less.  Two changes have improved my fuel consumption.  One is the Dyna 3000 ICM and the other is the TBR six into six pipes.  Perhaps the fact that I don't have a large windscreen in front of me helps a little.

As an aside, I don't think a properly mounted windscreen should hurt your fuel mileage, but if you have it mounted almost completely vertical, that is with inadequate slope, it will definitely require more power to push it through the air.

My 143 (average) miles to reserve is on 4.2 gallons.  I get 4.2 gallons to reserve because I fill the tank all the way to the top.  To do that one has to take his time for the last few ounces and be willing to wipe up a little splash if the nozzle is too strong.

One thing you can do to make yourself less tense about running out is to let the bike go to reserve and then measure how far before you run completely dry.  Ideally that would be done with a can of fuel in the bag.  The amount between reserve and the bottom of the tank is always the same regardless of how well you fill the tank.  I do my experimenting at 70 -75 mph because that's what I'm willing to slow down to when seeking a fuel stop.  My  max distance is forty-two miles.  Considering differences induced by wind and terrain, I usually consider 35 miles my "must fuel" range when I go onto reserve.

I have miscalculated twice, guessed poorly at the next fuel stop once, and just forgot once.  Those are spread over about 150 thousand miles.

I'm sure there are other things that can be done to help fuel mileage without hurting performance, but being held captive to the fear of running out of gas just isn't something I'm willing to accept. 

[Iron Mike]

105.7 to reserve today.  I need to look into the dyna ignition.  Is it programable?  not to get to far off topic. --Mike