Bad gas mileage

[Ron in Buffalo]

I picked up a 1997 tourer last weekend. I have put over 500 miles on it since I got it. Never went over 3500 rpm today. I got 21-23 mpg today. Where do I start looking.  Between 2500 - 2800 rpm I felt like there is a miss in the engine. Smooth before 2500 rpm and around 3000. .  Trying to get in the low 30's mpg range.  New plugs? Air breather? Or ...? Help

[da prez]

Start from basics. Do a full maintenance and check over. If it was sitting , it could be a mouse hotel.

         da prez

[yrunvs]

Need more info.....is the bike stock? Did you check the air filter? etc.

[gordonv]

I picked up a 1997 tourer last weekend. I have put over 500 miles on it since I got it. Never went over 3500 rpm today. I got 21-23 mpg today.

Where do I start looking?

With your driving.

Stay below 3200 rpm, and you should see higher 20's.

Run a 1/2 can of Berryman's B12 into a tank of Chevron Techron fuel. Then again, to finish it off.

Also at the start of every riding season with your fresh tank of gas.

Get back with the results.

[Ron in Buffalo]

Need more info.....is the bike stock? Did you check the air filter? etc.

More Info
I am second owner
1997
279xx miles
Jardine exhaust
The information from dealer
Bought new from the dealership in 1999 it was a leftover
Traded in the spring 2020 at same dealer. He got something smaller.  Reported it belonged to someone in his early 80's and it has hardly been used in the past five years. I have not looked at air breather but I will start there. What other information do you want? I just needed to know where to start and what manual, dvds, downloads or other resources should I get?

[Ron in Buffalo]

I picked up a 1997 tourer last weekend. I have put over 500 miles on it since I got it. Never went over 3500 rpm today. I got 21-23 mpg today.

Where do I start looking?

With your driving.

Stay below 3200 rpm, and you should see higher 20's.

Run a 1/2 can of Berryman's B12 into a tank of Chevron Techron fuel. Then again, to finish it off.

Also at the start of every riding season with your fresh tank of gas.

Get back with the results.

I used Seafoam in the gas last week and finished the can today.

[f-Stop]

Could be any number of things and there could be some unseen mods like the carbs being re-jetted to accommodate for the Jardines. 

Here's my 2¢...

If it has not been de-smogged, check/replace the vacuum lines.  You can get vacuum lines and other things here:  https://redeye.ecrater.com/c/1086116/vacuum-line-cap-kits

And/or...

If the petcock is stock, check/replace the cover set. (part #16953-MBZ-B51)

Check to see that the carb manifold boots are tight.  Those boots can harden up over time.  If so, they would need to be replaced. (part #16211-MZ0-000)

Anyway, start with the easy stuff first and then move on.

Good luck!   

[Warlock]

I picked up a 1997 tourer last weekend. I have put over 500 miles on it since I got it. Never went over 3500 rpm today. I got 21-23 mpg today.

Where do I start looking?

With your driving.

Stay below 3200 rpm, and you should see higher 20's.

Run a 1/2 can of Berryman's B12 into a tank of Chevron Techron fuel. Then again, to finish it off.

Also at the start of every riding season with your fresh tank of gas.

Get back with the results.

I used Seafoam in the gas last week and finished the can today.

A lot of 97 models are known to get poor gas mileage. I got a 97 trike and usually get 23 to 28 running 3 grand or less. On the interstate running around 70 to 75 drops to around 22 to 23 mpg. Some has 97 models that gets pretty good, but most don't. Got a friend and his wife rides a 97 and she drives it very conservative and gets around 28 mpg. I had a 99 tourer that would get 36 to 39 running on the interstate.
David
David

[Madmike]

Does it "pop" on deceleration??

[Ron in Buffalo]

Does it "pop" on deceleration??

Yes about 50% of the time.

[Ron in Buffalo]

Also appears to be running rich.

[Foozle]

I picked up a 1997 tourer last weekend. I have put over 500 miles on it since I got it. Never went over 3500 rpm today. I got 21-23 mpg today.

Where do I start looking?

With your driving.

Stay below 3200 rpm, and you should see higher 20's.

Run a 1/2 can of Berryman's B12 into a tank of Chevron Techron fuel. Then again, to finish it off.

Also at the start of every riding season with your fresh tank of gas.

Get back with the results.

I used Seafoam in the gas last week and finished the can today.

A lot of 97 models are known to get poor gas mileage. I got a 97 trike and usually get 23 to 28 running 3 grand or less. On the interstate running around 70 to 75 drops to around 22 to 23 mpg. Some has 97 models that gets pretty good, but most don't. Got a friend and his wife rides a 97 and she drives it very conservative and gets around 28 mpg. I had a 99 tourer that would get 36 to 39 running on the interstate.
David
David

FWIW, I think there is some truth to this.  I have a 1997 and 1998 Valkyrie - and have never gotten much better than 30 mpg on the former.  With the latter, I can usually get mid-30s if I keep it near or below 3500 RPM. They have slightly different exhaust systems, but the 1998 also has an I/S trunk.  I realize there's of lot of variables to control for, but it's curious to see others' suggestion of what I've kind of suspected.

Not to hijack your thread, I agree:  While no one buys a Valkyrie for the fuel economy, 20-23 MPG is pretty low for an "unmodified" bike unless you're towing a trailer and/or bucking a strong headwind.

Terry

[Madmike]

Does it "pop" on deceleration??

Yes about 50% of the time.

You may have a float valve that is not seating and so that hole is running rich.  I have the same thing, I made the mistake of telling my wife that I was happy how the bike was running and about a day later it started popping around that 2500 RPM range.  I have a fuel solenoid and tried switching that off and the popping goes away.  The bike sat for a couple of years as I was away working summers and I just started it this spring.  I had some float problems and cleaned it up but I think it has come back. 

I have the AllBalls rebuild kit on order, it just shipped from Miami this AM so I should get it in a couple of weeks and plan on doing the carbs over the winter - my insurance ran out this past weekend.  I went with the AllBalls kit because it comes with lots of hard parts (jets, float valves etc.) as well as the seals.

If you do some research on the kit it is available from lots of suppliers under various parts numbers - the numbers are available on the AllBalls Racing site.  I live in Canada but ended up getting it from the US and saved about $75 CDN from my cost here.

[Foozle]

Does it "pop" on deceleration??

Yes about 50% of the time.

You may have a float valve that is not seating and so that hole is running rich.  I have the same thing, I made the mistake of telling my wife that I was happy how the bike was running and about a day later it started popping around that 2500 RPM range.  I have a fuel solenoid and tried switching that off and the popping goes away.  The bike sat for a couple of years as I was away working summers and I just started it this spring.  I had some float problems and cleaned it up but I think it has come back. 

I have the AllBalls rebuild kit on order, it just shipped from Miami this AM so I should get it in a couple of weeks and plan on doing the carbs over the winter - my insurance ran out this past weekend.  I went with the AllBalls kit because it comes with lots of hard parts (jets, float valves etc.) as well as the seals.

If you do some research on the kit it is available from lots of suppliers under various parts numbers - the numbers are available on the AllBalls Racing site.  I live in Canada but ended up getting it from the US and saved about $75 CDN from my cost here.

I'm just wondering:  Would you have a sooty exhaust pipe on only side if it were a single float valve?  I don't think he specified.

Terry

[Ron in Buffalo]

Does it "pop" on deceleration??

Yes about 50% of the time.

You may have a float valve that is not seating and so that hole is running rich.  I have the same thing, I made the mistake of telling my wife that I was happy how the bike was running and about a day later it started popping around that 2500 RPM range.  I have a fuel solenoid and tried switching that off and the popping goes away.  The bike sat for a couple of years as I was away working summers and I just started it this spring.  I had some float problems and cleaned it up but I think it has come back. 

I have the AllBalls rebuild kit on order, it just shipped from Miami this AM so I should get it in a couple of weeks and plan on doing the carbs over the winter - my insurance ran out this past weekend.  I went with the AllBalls kit because it comes with lots of hard parts (jets, float valves etc.) as well as the seals.

If you do some research on the kit it is available from lots of suppliers under various parts numbers - the numbers are available on the AllBalls Racing site.  I live in Canada but ended up getting it from the US and saved about $75 CDN from my cost here.

I'm just wondering:  Would you have a sooty exhaust pipe on only side if it were a single float valve?  I don't think he specified.

Terry

Sooty on both sides.

[yrunvs]

Well if this bike sat for awhile then the carbs may be a little gunked up I'd run multiple heavy doses of Berrymans B12 and ride the bike in the offending rpm range as much as possible. You may have other problems but that's a start.

[TTG53#1717]

I bought my '97 Std new at Bergen Honda in NJ. It ran great and had a smooth power curve all the way through. I kept hearing about chirping the rear tire going into 2nd but mine didn't. I was getting 28/30 mpg.
I moved to Texas and got a bad vibe about the local dealer. I got a top recommendation on an Indy mechanic and had him do a degree wheel and full service. A few blocks from his shop I was on the entrance ramp to the freeway and chirped 2nd. It was a whole different animal and by the time I got home an hour later I was still giggling.
A follow up call to him confirmed that the carbs were nowhere near synced and that was the game changer.
After that and with the extra advance from the degree wheel I was getting 33/34.

That's about the best I've done.

[Madmike]

soot is from partially burnt fuel, too much fuel or not enough air to burn it up.  So carbs dripping excess fuel or not getting ignition, or insufficient air getting in. 

Did you check for the rat's nest in the airbox??

[bassman]

Also, you may want to check your tire pressure....suggest 40# front and 42# rear to start.....

[Timbo1]

I've found it a little difficult to get accurate calculations on mileage due to the fill neck of our tanks.  It's difficult for me to know I've filled it exactly the same each refill depending on how much time I spend burping the tank on my 98.  But 28 mpg was what I had calculated years back however recently after installing All Balls Carb kit it seemed my RPM had dropped at cruising speed of 65 mph from about 3000 RPM to about 2800 RPM so I've run a couple tanks through to check mileage again.  At this point I'm calculating out about 34 MPG.  I'll probably calculate a few more tank fulls before I'm confident in what the actual MPG is but so far I feel I've made a good step forward.

[Ron in Buffalo]

soot is from partially burnt fuel, too much fuel or not enough air to burn it up.  So carbs dripping excess fuel or not getting ignition, or insufficient air getting in. 

Did you check for the rat's nest in the airbox??

Mike I think I found the problem.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think you did ! That's a lot of dirt on the frame rails also. Ride a lot of gravel, dirt roads ?

[Madmike]

soot is from partially burnt fuel, too much fuel or not enough air to burn it up.  So carbs dripping excess fuel or not getting ignition, or insufficient air getting in. 

Did you check for the rat's nest in the airbox??

Mike I think I found the problem.

Can you see a trouble light through the filter??  That will help give you a real idea of how obstructed the filter is.  What is the fine dust on the frame rails??  If the bike was run in that kind of environment for long it may be packed in the filter and blocked it off.  I have seen heavy equipment with filters so plugged that the 6" rubber hump hoses get sucked flat and they black smoke like a tire burning.

Hope you got it.

[Ron in Buffalo]

Ron, have you spoken to the dealer about this?  Dealers tell me that they charge more than the "street price" for used bikes because their mechanics check them over and make sure everything is right.  Does not seem like your bike is 100% right.

Called the dealer. More to the story bike was taken on trade 2 years ago according to the service manager they checked the air filter, put new plugs and wires on it and changed the oil. Also learned that the owner of the dealership used this as his owned ride and put about 500 miles on it in the past 2 years. So using the air filter as an example of their work I will go over it check it throughly.

[MarkT]

I've found it a little difficult to get accurate calculations on mileage due to the fill neck of our tanks.  It's difficult for me to know I've filled it exactly the same each refill depending on how much time I spend burping the tank on my 98.  But 28 mpg was what I had calculated years back however recently after installing All Balls Carb kit it seemed my RPM had dropped at cruising speed of 65 mph from about 3000 RPM to about 2800 RPM so I've run a couple tanks through to check mileage again.  At this point I'm calculating out about 34 MPG.  I'll probably calculate a few more tank fulls before I'm confident in what the actual MPG is but so far I feel I've made a good step forward.

Use an awl or tapered punch - HF sells a kit of them, some are long - to hog out the vent hole you can see in the filler tube looking from the left rear fwd.  Opening that hole which is perhaps 1/8" to a half inch will allow the tank to burp air while you top it off.  The steel is very soft, no need to drill and create filings or sparks in the tank.  See http://horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Burping_Brunhilda/burping_brunhilda.html



All of my Valks get around 34mpg when I stay below 4000 rpm - even the supercharged "George".  Sounds like carb work would be the answer.  A new set of plugs wouldn't hurt either.

[Avanti]

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen an original 20-year-old air filter!

[Mooskee]

One look at that air filter is all I would need to make me give the bike a really good going over. I would NEVER use that dealer for anything else!

[Ron in Buffalo]

The dealer is sending me a K&N air filter for it. I don't know how much riding season is left, Buffalo NY,  but I will update after I install it.

[Jess from VA]

The dealer is sending me a K&N air filter for it. I don't know how much riding season is left, Buffalo NY,  but I will update after I install it.

If they send the kit with the cleaner and oil sprays, do not over-oil the filter element (or be prepared for a little white smoke for awhile, and maybe a bit of plug fouling).  And use the prefilter (lays on top) it comes with, it's called for in the Valk application (though many don't).    

[Foozle]

The dealer is sending me a K&N air filter for it. I don't know how much riding season is left, Buffalo NY,  but I will update after I install it.

A new K & N filter runs about 3-4x the cost of a new OEM replacement.  I'm surprised the dealer is going this route - unless you specifically requested it or it's a used one he had lying around.  Regardless, a clean filter should help your situation dramatically.  Let us know how it turns out.

Terry

[Ron in Buffalo]

Well I want to thank everyone who gave me suggestions. We are having warm weather this weekend in Buffalo. I put the new K&N filter in, air in the tires, Berryman B12 in the tank, and tighten all the manifold screws around the carbs and the bike has been transform and I am feeling better about my purchase. I want to ask, and learning about hydro lock, should I rebuild the carbs and petcock?

[Bighead]

. I want to ask, and learning about hydro lock, should I rebuild the carbs and petcock?

Only if you are having issues.

[rocketray]

when I had my carbs rebuilt in Dallas by supposedly the best mechanic in town it turned out he was way over rated-to put it kindly....I'd put an aftermarket air filter on and that is when things went awry--any way I've read that the Valkyrie plug wires are good forever which may be but mine runs better with new factory ones..and some new plugs..being not much of a motorcycle mechanic ..you have a lot of miles and years-  a carb  do over would probably do wonders...the ATTIC RAT would charge you some but  I can guaranty it will run right ..mine is modded up where I am happy and can go as fast as I want---and it sounds like nothing else...

[Ron in Buffalo]

I am a happy camper. Rebuilt the carbs over the winter. I want to thank the board and Bob of Atticrat. With the advice from Bob the thing runs better. Also the past two tanks 36 and 34 miles to a gallon. So it did need the carburetors rebuilt. Thanks everyone.

[old2soon]

     And every 10000  12000 miles tear down and lube those rear splines and check that U-joint. That air filter Was pure dee ass NASTY! RIDE SAFE.

[Ron in Buffalo]

Does it "pop" on deceleration??

Yes about 50% of the time.

no pop

[Ron in Buffalo]

     And every 10000  12000 miles tear down and lube those rear splines and check that U-joint. That air filter Was pure dee ass NASTY! RIDE SAFE.

on the to do list.