Gas Mileage...

[Big Rig]

OK,

I have to ask...today I did a 210 mile ride on a single tank of fuel without hitting reserve....43.75 mpg ....mixed riding...filled up when I got closer to home and got 4.786 gals of gas and had 210.4 miles on a reset to 0 trip odometer...not bragging, just confused...anyone else getting anything like this...10 year old 99 valk I/S (Super Valk)

how do I tell if my odometer is off????

[Cleaner Man]

I consistently get 40-42 mpg on my '97 Standard.  I think the good mileage is because its a Red & White...and I usually ride it pretty easy. 

[mikeb]

i can pull down 50+ mpg if i run 65 to 70 mph hard to go that slow ..

[X Ring]

I got 42 once when I first bought my Valk.  Of course, I never got over 60. 

[Willow]

how do I tell if my odometer is off????

Ideally with a GPS.

Using the "brute force and awkwardness" method, with a ten mile stretch of mile markers on the flyway.

[GotValk]

My normal mileage is 34-38 mpg..but yesterday I managed to get 40.5 mpg, group riding with 7 Gold Wings, 2000 I/S , I do love to twist that trottle 

[Earl in Pensacola]

If you were able to put that much fuel in the tank and "never went on reserve" , I'd say that you better check your reserve switch, that is unless you have an IS tank.  In any case, that's very good MPG.

[Hoser]

If you were on an Interstate you still had 2 gallons left.    hoser

[Farther]

My '03 Standard gets between 33-37.  I run the tires at 45 psi, Amzoil in the crankcase, Mobil 1 in the rearend and NGK Iridium plugs.  I have a 4 degee trigger wheel but not installed.  This morning at 19 degrees the Valk struggled to start so I don't know about advancing the timing for winter riding.  

[papa bear]

you guys must be smokin butt crack. i have had 3 valks and never got more than 33 to 35 mpg out of them. my '98 now gets the same 33 to 35. if i run over 75 - 80 mph i get alot less. like 80 miles before reserve.                             Papa Bear

[Bob E.]

I have seen as high as 40mpg...once...and as low as about 25mpg...also once.  I used to generally get 145miles to reserve (34.5mpg) like clockwork.  But over the past couple of years, that has dropped to about 130-140 miles to reserve (31-33mpg) in day-to-day commuting.  I don't know if it is a problem with the bike or a problem with the gas (more ethanol).  The bike runs good, so I'm blaming the gas.  But it is possible that it could have developed a small air/vacuum leak somewhere.  Plugs look good and the air cleaner was relatively new when this all started...although it is due for a new one.  It seems like I get much better mileage when on a trip...like if I use all the gas in a run versus alot of commuting where I might run the tank out in 3-4 days.  I thought maybe I had a fuel leak or something...but I can find no evidence of this.

[Mikey]

Haha, when I put my first tank of gas through my girl, she got 18.7 mpg. It's amazing... the worse your mileage, the faster your back tire wears out!  Now she'll pull 38 on the highway cruising 65.

[John U.]

My '03 Standard gets between 33-37.  I run the tires at 45 psi, Amzoil in the crankcase, Mobil 1 in the rearend and NGK Iridium plugs.  I have a 4 degee trigger wheel but not installed.  This morning at 19 degrees the Valk struggled to start so I don't know about advancing the timing for winter riding. 

I've got a 4 degree trigger wheel too. It's sitting here on my desk (I've been using it as a coaster), hasn't improved my gas mileage a bit. I get pretty good mileage out of a beer though 
If you're worried about starting problems, do the ETC mod. I did it on my Standard/Tourer and it improved the mileage 2 or 3 mpg, depending on my riding enthusiasm.

[Pete]

Stock 1997 standard with windshield driven easy gets 40-41 cruising at 60 to 65 mph. Thanks Pete.

[Cleaner Man]

Hey- I just smoked some butt-crack, and I still got 42 mpg!

[fstsix]

Blown 32 mpg with 2 up car tire, could probably jet it down and do better but. My millage is more back tire problematic.  5 rear tires 25.000 miles.

[fast black]

98 standard, interstate icm,  interstate carb springs.  Sat. went to oklahoma city, from centerton,ar. bucked headwind ran 3700 to 4000 rpm and avg. 25mpg.  Came back Sat. not bucking wind , around 3500 rpm and got 30ish mpg.
Went to Branson, MO. and back sunday, 2500-3000 rpm two up no wind  38ish.
fwiw
fast black

[Cruzen]

This topic has been discussed more than Obama.  I have found out that the topic is rather moot because it heavily depends on where you are and the quality of gas being distributed in your area.  The more ethanol and other additives in the gas, the worse the gas mileage.

On a similar topic, a recent conversation with a retired GM engineer about my the 6 cylinder motor in my 1955 Chevy which he helped develop.  (Yes he is rather advanced in age.) In one of the manuals it says that if necessary the engine can run on kerosene but that same motor, which was rebuilt seven years ago to factory specs, now has trouble running on the 89 octane fuel they sell here in Arizona.  He said yes the motor would run on kerosene in 1955 but not that camel p..s they try to pass off as gas these days.  He told me to play with advancing the timing to get the best results. 

Back to the subject, I note a 5-8% decrease in my IS Valk and my Magna fuel mileage during the Fall/Winter months when we have the high percentage of ethanol additive in the fuel and better mileage and performance in the summer with the % of ethanol is lower.  As I've stated elsewhere and others agree.  The Valk really likes to chug that go go juice when you get much over 65mph, and if the tire pressure is low then you better pull a tanker behind you.

[Steve K (IA)]

A question to those who claim ethanol is so bad and hurts gas mileage;

Explain why I consistently get 40 mpg with my 2000 I/S when I run below 3000 rpm. ???  I have always used ethanol...if it is available...since the day it was new.  Ask Blackdog, he seen it every time we gassed up on the way to Copper Harbor and back, 40 mpg.  Bike is bone stock.  I haven't yet touched any o-rings or vacuum lines on top of the motor....yet.

Oh....my '97 Std always get's 37 mpg and it get the same gas.  It is desmogged.

[Farther]

I think that ethanol gets an undeserved bad rap.

[John U.]

Ethanol is the best thing that has ever happened for Seafoam, Techron, etc. It is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the air, thereby hastening the destruction of steel fuel tanks. It clogs small orfices with amazing efficiency. It reduces gas mileage. Last but not least it costs more to produce and emits more greenhouse gasses in its production than gasoline.
If you have some good effects to counter the preceeding sad list of ill effects I'm sure we are all ears.

[woefman]

I have gotten 45 MPg  very often

This Amazes me , kinda scares me cause my buddies all get paranoid on their Valks saying you have to look for Fuel @ 100 miles.

I only Hit reserve 2 times since owning it .

1 time was the worst 114 miles between Colorado and Kayenta Strong Strong Head Wind Though.

Most times I can go 155 -177 miles before Reserve.

Often I go about 119 miles and get gas if on a Ride ( not in town) and it only takes 2.6 gallons Like Clock work real real consistent. Call it magic or Luck  when ever I fear running out in between towns
I fill up around 119 miles and always 2.6 gallons or less. Basically my math puts that at 45 mpg

What was Funny is Going to Colorado this year a rode with a friend. He fears going to Flagstaff in one stop. We get to Camp Verde I put in 1.8 Gallons he puts in 4.2 it was like this the whole trip there and back. Except one stop on the way to Kayenta He runs out 90 miles I run out 114.

I pull in the gas station and tell him I will meet him in Tuba City You should have seen the Look on his face. I then said no  I hit reserve too ...He laughs ,says " I was gonna say Man"  !!!

[Farther]

If you have some good effects to counter the preceeding sad list of ill effects I'm sure we are all ears.

Ok, I'll bite.  Ethanol is a form of alcohol which can be distilled from a carbohydrate source (renewable) or from a petroleum source.  It acts as a fuel dryer thereby removing moisture from your fuel system.  It increases octane rating when added to gasoline and burns cleaner than straight gasoline or the methyl tertiary butyl ether it replaced.  Petroleum distilates like ethanol are used as fuel system cleaners.  In a study performed at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center concentrations of up to 10% ethanol in gasoline was shown to improve the performance of gasoline engines and extend their service life.

[X Ring]

Maybe with sugar based etoh not the corn based stuff they're selling.  Ethanol has less btus than straight gas requiring you to use more throttle for the same speed; thereby, decreasing your mileage.  My '97 Tourer get 38-39 mpg on straight gas running 3K rpms but 32-33 on ethanol. 

[fudgie]

A question to those who claim ethanol is so bad and hurts gas mileage;

Explain why I consistently get 40 mpg with my 2000 I/S when I run below 3000 rpm. ???  I have always used ethanol...if it is available...since the day it was new.  Ask Blackdog, he seen it every time we gassed up on the way to Copper Harbor and back, 40 mpg.  Bike is bone stock.  I haven't yet touched any o-rings or vacuum lines on top of the motor....yet.

Oh....my '97 Std always get's 37 mpg and it get the same gas.  It is desmogged.

I agree with Steve K. I don't get eth gas, E-10, till I cross the Mississippi. My bike seems to run alot better and my mileage is never effected. I'm ususally loaded down anyway. Wish we had it around here.

[Misfit]

A question to those who claim ethanol is so bad and hurts gas mileage;

Explain why I consistently get 40 mpg with my 2000 I/S when I run below 3000 rpm. ???  I have always used ethanol...if it is available...since the day it was new.  Ask Blackdog, he seen it every time we gassed up on the way to Copper Harbor and back, 40 mpg.  Bike is bone stock.  I haven't yet touched any o-rings or vacuum lines on top of the motor....yet.

Oh....my '97 Std always get's 37 mpg and it get the same gas.  It is desmogged.

Hey Steve, I don't think that I have ever ridden my bike at 3000 rpm. What speed are you running at 3000? That may be the reason that I have never been close to 40 mpg. I usually run between 3700-4000 rpm.

[Steve K (IA)]

A question to those who claim ethanol is so bad and hurts gas mileage;

Explain why I consistently get 40 mpg with my 2000 I/S when I run below 3000 rpm. ???  I have always used ethanol...if it is available...since the day it was new.  Ask Blackdog, he seen it every time we gassed up on the way to Copper Harbor and back, 40 mpg.  Bike is bone stock.  I haven't yet touched any o-rings or vacuum lines on top of the motor....yet.

Oh....my '97 Std always get's 37 mpg and it get the same gas.  It is desmogged.

Hey Steve, I don't think that I have ever ridden my bike at 3000 rpm. What speed are you running at 3000? That may be the reason that I have never been close to 40 mpg. I usually run between 3700-4000 rpm.

Misfit,
I believe that would be around 60 - 65 mph.   Of course running the super slab, my mileage suffers just like any other Valk.  I've gotten as low as 25 mpg, but I was going 90 - 100 mph for close to 100 miles.   Our ethanol here comes from corn as we have an abundance of the stuff.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

My 2 cents.  I got over 44 mpg last week on a cruise.  I have gotten as low as 36.  Those are with non-ethanol.  I see significant less mpg when I have to get gas with ethanol.  With Ethanol gas, I get about 5 mpg less.

[fudgie]

Does the batwing and lowers effect mpg? I noticed I hit resv at 144 with the batwing. Usually go 150 before resv. I usually get 32 mpg anyway.

[XXTi]

I've only had my 2003 Std for a few months, but I've seen anywhere from 25mpg to 32mpg.  The harder I turn the handle on the right, the worse the mileage gets.    I would love to get the 40+ mpg that some of you guys are reporting.

[Pete]

The only way I know of to get 40 to 41 MPH is run 60 to 65 MPH, with a light steady gas feed hand. As for the Gas-a-hol, I have measured it against pure gas many times with different vehicles and pure gas gives about 6% better fuel mileage every time on every vehicle. Thanks Pete.

[Misfit]

A question to those who claim ethanol is so bad and hurts gas mileage;

Explain why I consistently get 40 mpg with my 2000 I/S when I run below 3000 rpm. ???  I have always used ethanol...if it is available...since the day it was new.  Ask Blackdog, he seen it every time we gassed up on the way to Copper Harbor and back, 40 mpg.  Bike is bone stock.  I haven't yet touched any o-rings or vacuum lines on top of the motor....yet.

Oh....my '97 Std always get's 37 mpg and it get the same gas.  It is desmogged.

Hey Steve, I don't think that I have ever ridden my bike at 3000 rpm. What speed are you running at 3000? That may be the reason that I have never been close to 40 mpg. I usually run between 3700-4000 rpm.

Misfit,
I believe that would be around 60 - 65 mph.   Of course running the super slab, my mileage suffers just like any other Valk.  I've gotten as low as 25 mpg, but I was going 90 - 100 mph for close to 100 miles.   Our ethanol here comes from corn as we have an abundance of the stuff.

Thanks Steve. We have the ethonol here also.

[Steve K (IA)]

Checked mph vs. rpm yesterday.  On my I/S at 3000 rpm the gps said 63 mph, the speedometer read 65.  When I am on 2 lane county blacktop, the speed limit is 55mph, I might ride at 60.  That's why I usually get 40 mpg.
So....there you are.

[Cruzen]

Checked mph vs. rpm yesterday.  On my I/S at 3000 rpm the gps said 63 mph, the speedometer read 65.  When I am on 2 lane county blacktop, the speed limit is 55mph, I might ride at 60.  That's why I usually get 40 mpg.
So....there you are.

Now that is what I am doing wrong!!  I thought the minimum for a Valk was 70mph.  Anything less and my kick stand comes down.

[Cruzen]

If you have some good effects to counter the preceeding sad list of ill effects I'm sure we are all ears.

Ok, I'll bite.  Ethanol is a form of alcohol which can be distilled from a carbohydrate source (renewable) or from a petroleum source.  It acts as a fuel dryer thereby removing moisture from your fuel system.  It increases octane rating when added to gasoline and burns cleaner than straight gasoline or the methyl tertiary butyl ether it replaced.  Petroleum distilates like ethanol are used as fuel system cleaners.  In a study performed at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center concentrations of up to 10% ethanol in gasoline was shown to improve the performance of gasoline engines and extend their service life.

From experience with classic cars that sit a lot, it also eats through/softens rubber hoses and gaskets.  I have serviced carburetors that have minute accumulations of rubber that got by the fuel filter.

[Hoser]

"I agree with Steve K. I don't get eth gas, E-10, till I cross the Mississippi. My bike seems to run alot better and my mileage is never effected. I'm ususally loaded down anyway. Wish we had it around here."
Fudgie, Is it you or the bike that's loaded, if it's you, that could explain why you don't notice!   Hoser

[fudgie]

"I agree with Steve K. I don't get eth gas, E-10, till I cross the Mississippi. My bike seems to run alot better and my mileage is never effected. I'm ususally loaded down anyway. Wish we had it around here."
Fudgie, Is it you or the bike that's loaded, if it's you, that could explain why you don't notice!   Hoser

Ummm...when its me, I never stop for gas! 

[Big Rig]

OK, It is a week later....had 143 miles on the odometer, nor-easter ...not much sadde time this week...regardless....put 4.7 gallons in to fill the tank this week ....so that is in the 30mpg range....I love my Valk...keeps me guessing...

[Cruzen]

On one round trip between Holbrook Arizona to Canyon De Chelly and back to Holbrook with two up, I put 248 miles on one tank of fuel on my Interstate which gets between 34 and 36mpg depending on load and speed.  We were doing between 65 and 80 most of that trip.  I knew we would be running on fumes when we fueled but that is what having an adventure is all about.  Knowing your bike, it's limits and your own. 

I keep records of every tank of fuel in my vehicles and I just checked my fuel record for that trip and I put in 6.847 gallons when I did fuel up.  My lady asked me not to cut it so close the next time so on the next trip up there, just to make her less apprehensive, I fueled before we made the turn.

Whether I am in a car or on one of the bikes, I always "ride through" the reserve otherwise why carry it around. 
KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT and KNOW IT WELL!!!

[Farther]

I am a little disappointed in my fuel ecnomy.  I started out tuesday riding from the Oregon/California border with temps in the mid 30's and raining on a trip to San Fransisco and got 31.5 mpg.  I have fresh Amzoil in the motor, new NGK iridiam plugs and Mobil 1 gear lube in the differential.  My speed was between 70-75 mph.  I keep the new Metzlers aired up to 45 pounds.  Saddle bags have about 25-30 pounds in them.  There's not much more I can do to improve fuel mileage except slow down and I am not going to do that.