284 miles in 100+ heat

[dans2014]

  Rode the Valk 284 miles in and around Moab, Utah Thursday. Temps according to my friends Harley were 105 degrees. Never offered to heat or miss a beat. The fan came on when stopped to take pictures. I think the bike did better than me, It will be my last ride in July in Moab. To HOT!!! Made 48 mpg. Very satisfied.

[mrtappan]

Northerners..... 100+ plus like it's a big deal.

I live in a swamp funded by welfare checks.  You should ride here.  98* and 100% humidity isn't unusual. 

The Valkyrie is water cooled.  You could let it run in your garage, in summer, with no ventilation and it "might" overheat.  Modern technology is what sets us apart from the dinosaurs like Harleys.

[14ValkyriePilot]

actually saw some new Harleys last weekend that are water-cooled! (welcome to the early 1900's guys)

[mrtappan]

Well... sort of water cooled. They designed a water cooled head, maybe one day they'll figure out the rest of the engine.......

[rogueleader_92]

I thought those little radiator lookin things were oil coolers.

[dan7uk]

actually saw some new Harleys last weekend that are water-cooled! (welcome to the early 1900's guys)

Harley's basic engine design is from the 1930's.  Instead of dressing up like pirates, the gangster look would be more appropriate.

[Robert]

Regularly see that on the thermometer on my bike here in S Fla went to lake Okeechobee last weekend and through the everglades, I agree bike never missed a beat, and it was a good ride. It just seems to want to go on the highway and hit the gas and your gone.

[dans2014]

Yes the Torq on these beasts is addicting and so stealth smooth!!! Love 3rd and 4th gear roll on's!!!

[bradrcfii]

48MPG?  I have never seen more the 41.

[Robert]

48MPG?  I have never seen more the 41.

Yea I was looking at that too but maybe in the right conditions like a good tail wind and the right speed maybe.

[ledany]

Between 30 mpg (french & spanish highways) et 42 mpg (warm weather, minimum clothing, enjoying life  ).

[mrtappan]

Mine is somewhere around 30mpg too.  Which from my experience is about average for pretty much every larger displacement bike Ive owned

[dans2014]

I was riding all highway, 65 -70mph from grandjunction to moab. I was surprised myself. It was also ethanol free gas as we now have it available.

[TallRider]

Here in SW Fla from late May to end of Oct the heat index runs 100+. Sun is quite brutal as well. That is why I have switched to synthetic 20w50. Nothing like running down the highway at 60-70 wind in your face and sweat running in your eyes and burning as you run down the highway. I get about 41 mostly around town and find myself driving like the sports crowd. Can't seem to stay of the throttle. Running on the streets here in traffic the highway gets quite hot. When driving in my truck it is nothing to go through town and hit temps over 100 daily. The heat off the road is brutal. Bike runs fine. Fans do kick on quite a bit. My VTX had the best of both worlds. Engine  has fins and was water cooled. Fan rarely kicked on except when in traffic start stopping a lot. HD guys I rode with on beach trips during tourist season had to pull over 1 or 2 times due to overheating. Love the bike.

[Robert]

Here in SW Fla from late May to end of Oct the heat index runs 100+. Sun is quite brutal as well. That is why I have switched to synthetic 20w50. Nothing like running down the highway at 60-70 wind in your face and sweat running in your eyes and burning as you run down the highway. I get about 41 mostly around town and find myself driving like the sports crowd. Can't seem to stay of the throttle. Running on the streets here in traffic the highway gets quite hot. When driving in my truck it is nothing to go through town and hit temps over 100 daily. The heat off the road is brutal. Bike runs fine. Fans do kick on quite a bit. My VTX had the best of both worlds. Engine  has fins and was water cooled. Fan rarely kicked on except when in traffic start stopping a lot. HD guys I rode with on beach trips during tourist season had to pull over 1 or 2 times due to overheating. Love the bike.

Did a coolant flush, put in distilled water, 10% antifreeze and water wetter, my fans do kick in occasionally but no where near as much as before.

[CajunRider]

48MPG?  I have never seen more the 41.

I have gotten 50 mpg more than once with a 2014 Wing (new Valk should be able to do the same). 

Stay below 65 and in 5th gear... preferably on a lazy, twisty, hilly road (to keep those speeds fun)... it can be done. 

[AdrianR]

I was riding all highway, 65 -70mph from grandjunction to moab. I was surprised myself. It was also ethanol free gas as we now have it available.

YES, YES..and yes...people don't wanna believe it man..ethanol sucks &SS!!!  My Valk gets FAR better mileage running crap free fuel or by adding an ethanol neutralizer to the tank...oh and better performance to boot...

I definitely get at least 45mpg if I'm cool with the throttle running crap free fuel...

Oh and I would like to add that a friend of mine has a car that can run E85....says it's not worth it as the money he saves at the pump is utterly lost on the crap mileage...

I spent last week on a camping trip with my family to the Rockies....ethanol free fuel is far more available out west then it is here in 'rip you off' Illinois...  Due to the Sturgis event, I met many a biker at gas stations...I was AMAZED at how over 95% of those I spoke to had NO CLUE about the fuel incident of Ethanol....I had them trying tanks of crap free fuel...

I wish I could talk to them and see what their feelings were after burning a tank of it in their bikes...

Ethanol is a bust...

[tonyfan70]

I thought those little radiator lookin things were oil coolers.

I thought that too. If you mean the little finned box that's at the bottom of the frame downtube, right behind the front wheel...its the voltage regulator. I asked some guys I was riding with is the only reason I know.

[rusty]

my valkyrie has 1500 on it. i did the calculation the other day a was getting 45 mpg,  my old 1520, rip, was getting 31 mpg.  i like it (mpg) this is about half town and half hwy driving ..... and medium on the throttle.  reg gas at the pump.
i dont know how a bike with bigger motor gets better mpg. i understand its a bit lighter .... and maybe the fuel injected????