Very Poor Gas Mileage Help

[22Dasher]

Just returned from my NC trip and I'm very dissapointed in the gas mileage my 98 Tourer got on the interstate cruising at 85 mph, Topped of before hit interstate and went 97 miles and stopped to fill up again to see how much gas it used and to my amazement it too 3.97 gallons to top back off thats 24.4  mpg The bike is stock and it supposibly had a service at 20,000 miles currently 27000 now so what can I do to get this thing up where it needs to be? Hell my Hemi Charger gets better gas mileage on the interstate than my bike.....  I've noticed it does run tad rich but I didn't want to do anything until I put the new Cobra pipes on.

So I need help and input on what to check/change to get better gas mileage. if I'm cruising 45-60 mph it's get on avg 37 mpg

James   

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

Other may have some idea's but I think you mileage is pretty much the norm. These bikes are geared that way. When ever you run over 3,000 rpm the mileage drops big time. Good Luck! 

[Errandboy]

Just returned from my NC trip and I'm very dissapointed in the gas mileage my 98 Tourer got on the interstate cruising at 85 mph, Topped of before hit interstate and went 97 miles and stopped to fill up again to see how much gas it used and to my amazement it too 3.97 gallons to top back off thats 24.4  mpg The bike is stock and it supposibly had a service at 20,000 miles currently 27000 now so what can I do to get this thing up where it needs to be? Hell my Hemi Charger gets better gas mileage on the interstate than my bike.....  I've noticed it does run tad rich but I didn't want to do anything until I put the new Cobra pipes on.

So I need help and input on what to check/change to get better gas mileage. if I'm cruising 45-60 mph it's get on avg 37 mpg

James   

Any headwinds on that 97 mile leg?  I had a Valkyrie that typically yielded 38 mpg for most of my driving.  Going to Oklahoma city on I-40 one day, the winds were out of the east at 20 mph right on my nose.  No problem, just cranked that handle on the right up some more and kept pushing that big windshield right into that breeze at 85 mph effortlessly... those six carbs were really doing their thing!  Got 19 mpg... was stopping every 60 miles to be sure I wouldn't run out of gas.   Valkyries have a lot of horsepower available, but if you actually use the horsepower, horsepower costs gas.

[22Dasher]

Any headwinds on that 97 mile leg?  I had a Valkyrie that typically yielded 38 mpg for most of my driving.  Going to Oklahoma city on I-40 one day, the winds were out of the east at 20 mph right on my nose.  No problem, just cranked that handle on the right up some more and kept pushing that big windshield right into that breeze at 85 mph effortlessly... those six carbs were really doing their thing!  Got 19 mpg... was stopping every 60 miles to be sure I wouldn't run out of gas.   Valkyries have a lot of horsepower available, but if you actually use the horsepower, horsepower costs gas.
[/quote]


Not that I do remember we left right at sunrise and it was very nice morning ride temps were in mid 60's

[Chrisj CMA]

my mileage increased 3-5mpg whenever I replaced the stock (cracked) vacuum lines and tighted up all the upper and lower intake seals

[ssober]

Same mileage my 98 tourer gets cruising at that speed and mine has been desmogged

[John U.]

The best bang for the buck that will improve power/mileage is the ECT mod (check it out in the Shop Talk section). A trigger wheel will also gain some mileage , depending again on how exuberant you ride.
Some simple things like replacing intake runner O-rings, tighten up the clamps on the carb boots, eliminate vacume leaks. Check your tire pressure. 42front/45 rear is about right, depending on how loases the bike is.
After market exhaust systems often will cost you hp and require larger jets which hurt mileage. What size rear tire are you running? What kind of windshield is on the bike, how aerodynamic is it's position. Some have increased the angle of the shield, this will also reduce buffeting.
The previous post about exceeding 3,000 rpm burns fuel fast is true.

[Jess Tolbirt]

I got better than 40 mpg yesterday,, that was all back roads and less than 55mph...when on the interstate i get about 35 average,,,unless i crank it up to 75 or faster then i get about 26mpg,,,,
the gas mileage is directly proportional to the amount of twist you apply to the throttle.....

[R J]

You are getting normal mileage for how you are riding.

Anything over 3,000 on the Tach, kiss your mileage good bye.

Only mod I know of that will help & is no cost, run the tire pressure in the above 45 # bracket, & take the windshield OFF.

[Printer Mike]

When I push my '98 Valk Tourer hard on the super slab, it passes everything but gas stations....
I was thinking about turning my saddle bags into gas tanks!

[22Dasher]

Thanks guys I wasn't aware that gas mileage would had been so poor on the bike. I got laughed at by the HD riders I was with when I had to stop so short they still had 1/2 tank and more in the same distance although they were fuel injected bikes even spoke to  a few gold wing riders that were getting in the 40 mpg range at same speeds with the 1800 one even claimed 37 pulling his trailer.

To answer other question I am running the stock size rear tire on the bike the windshield is the OEM Tourer  windshield tire pressure front and rear was 40 psi no passenger just myself 195 lbs and maybe 35# of luggage and gear.

I have a 4 deg wheel I'll be installing and will also put new plugs in and will replace vacuum lines Not sure they need it the bike runs and idles very well and very responsive.

Tack if my memory is right was around the 4000 range cruising down the interstate. We need a 6th gear 

James 

[Sodbuster]

Sounds like that's the price we pay to feed all them HORSES   

[R J]

Sounds like that's the price we pay to feed all them HORSES   

Make that carb-bull-a-tors.........

[John U.]

The 4 degree trigger wheel will help. I would up the tire pressure. I think Irridium plugs may help a bit. At 85mph a Valk will burn gas, not much help for it. I only have one more idea, check your air filter if you don't know how long it's been since it was changed.
I wouldn't let kidding from the Hardly brothers get to you, they'll have gone through three engines before you wear your Valk out. 

[Sodbuster]

I wouldn't let kidding from the Hardly brothers get to you, they'll have gone through three engines before you wear your Valk out. 

.... and THOUSANDS of dollars to upgrade their engine to get any decent power out of it.

[LadyDraco]

My mileage goes down fast when the air filter needs servicing...
   AS others have said there are many reasons mileage will suffer...
Once I start running over 80.. It will start to Gulp fuel.....
The crappy fuel with 10% or more Ethanol really kills my mileage...

We have been using 100% gas ... And WOW what a difference!!! 

[DFragn]

The best bang for the buck that will improve power/mileage is the ECT mod (check it out in the Shop Talk section). A trigger wheel will also gain some mileage , depending again on how exuberant you ride.

Additionally, the ECT mods begins backing off the additional advance at 3k-3200 rpm's (controlled by the stock ICM). So, no mileage help beyond those rpm's.

Also, never combine the ECT mod with an advanced aftermarket timing wheel. That would create damaging timing advance.

[Hardlifer]

Yeah... Change the air filter, push it for all it's worth, but don't get bummed when your sitting along side the road getting a speeding ticket while your Harley buddies chug by!  That's the price of fame!

[22Dasher]

I'll check air filter I forgot to mention though it has the K&N air filter installed.

James

[Errandboy]

Gas mileage is only part of the expense of a motorcycle.  Since i live off pavement, off road really, I foolishly sold my third Valkyrie and thought I should have a dual purpose bike.  Bought a BMW F650GS.  Mileage was terrific, averaged 75 mpg!  Routine maintenance was a pain in the neck, including computer hookup at the dealer, shim adjust valves, ton of plastic to remove to get to anything, etc.  So I decided to have the dealer do the maintenance.  Several hundred bucks for a 6k service, around 600 bucks for a 12k!  Turns out, operating cost of my 75 mpg motorcycle was two to three times the operating cost of my four wheel drive pickup truck!  Now I've got my fourth Valkyrie, fully expect to order extra large hole on my expiration date and be buried with it.  Extreme ease of do it yourself routine maintenance is a big compensation for Valkyrie gas mileage in my opinion.

[BudMan]

My millage is about what everyone here has reported too.  I have a 48 mile commute each way and about 38 of that is Interstate 40 into Oklahoma City.  I would love to run 3000 RPM or lower for better millage and a relaxing morning ride, but if I did somebody would pick me up for a hood ornament! 

[dipstick]

Gas mileage is only part of the expense of a motorcycle.  Since i live off pavement, off road really, I foolishly sold my third Valkyrie and thought I should have a dual purpose bike.  Bought a BMW F650GS.  Mileage was terrific, averaged 75 mpg!  Routine maintenance was a pain in the neck, including computer hookup at the dealer, shim adjust valves, ton of plastic to remove to get to anything, etc.  So I decided to have the dealer do the maintenance.  Several hundred bucks for a 6k service, around 600 bucks for a 12k!  Turns out, operating cost of my 75 mpg motorcycle was two to three times the operating cost of my four wheel drive pickup truck!  Now I've got my fourth Valkyrie, fully expect to order extra large hole on my expiration date and be buried with it.  Extreme ease of do it yourself routine maintenance is a big compensation for Valkyrie gas mileage in my opinion.

+1 on that!!

[Mikey]

I like to go to the local racetrack and buy a tank of 110 octane (or higher). It cleans out the motor, and it smells good too 

[22Dasher]

I have some racing fuel here but it's leaded gas can that be run thru our bikes successfully?

James

[Earl in Pensacola]

Only one answer to your delimmea----INSTALL A BELLY TANK!!!!!!

[Sodbuster]

When I pull a cargo trailer I think I'll strap a couple gallons right next to the cooler .... especially when traveling in the western states where gas stations can be far and few between.

[Blackduck]

For some reason it seems 98's tend to have the worse mileage. Had one myself and could drop to 21 MPG pushing it hard.
When I bought my 01 I changed over my windscreen and K&N filter. At that time I also removed the foam pad in the air intake. This created a very bad flat spot on acceleration.
Got me to thinking about the flat spot and fuel consumption.
After a lot of playing around and dyno work I now get around 35 MPG constant. I have opened up the air intake and rejetted to get it run correctly.
The standard intake acts just like the choke at high RPM and draws more fuel into the system. Much the same as a restricted air filter.
If you doubt the air intake is restrictive and helping draw fuel into the engine take the top cover off and try to ride it. With out the cover it will be super lean and hard to get above a couple of thousand RPM.
A BIG caution if you wish to try playing with the intake, it takes a lot of patience and trail and error to get right. Being an Aussie bike we started with stock 78 main jets, needed 102's with the foam pad out and with the intake opened I now have 127.5's in it.

Cheers Blackduck

[98valk]

So I need help and input on what to check/change to get better gas mileage. if I'm cruising 45-60 mph it's get on avg 37 mpg James   

I consistently get 37-40 mpg avg at an engine rpm of 3k to 3.5k. more hwy less stop-n-go work traffic the closer to 40 it will be. I haver seen 50mpg straight hwy. remember to add 2.5 miles to the odo for every 100 miles if using stock od  tires.
search my handle I have posted my mods recently and in the archives. 3 keys, learn what the epa mods to the bike are and how they reduce mpg, tune the carbs to fix that and the throttle should be at 1/8 throttle only on the pilot jets going down the hwy, and 3 needs more ignition advance at hwy speeds due to the restricted airflow which creates lower cylinder pressure, resulting in slower flame speeds thus requiring more ign advance at part throttle which at hwy speeds should be 1/8 to 1/4 max.

[Cliff]

When is the last time the petcock cover set was replaced.  A pinhole n the diaphragm can noticeably decrease the gas mileage.

[Gryphon Rider]

When is the last time the petcock cover set was replaced.  A pinhole n the diaphragm can noticeably decrease the gas mileage.

Do you realize this thread was from nearly seven years ago, and the original poster hasn't even been active on this site in over two years?

[The emperor has no clothes]

When is the last time the petcock cover set was replaced.  A pinhole n the diaphragm can noticeably decrease the gas mileage.

Do you realize this thread was from nearly seven years ago, and the original poster hasn't even been active on this site in over two years?

It is kind of cool seeing RJ's responses again though. 

[falconbrother]

This is why I traded my 1998 Standard Valk.  I was commuting to work on it and the gas mileage was pretty terrible.  My unscientific evaluation was that my Honda CRV got better mileage.  I haven't really examined the mileage on my current Interstate but, it "seems" to be OK.  I know that my butt cannot possibly run out a tank of gas. 

[DK]

It seems to me that the biggest problem with the Valk's poor mileage is inconvenience, fear of finding next fill-up before running dry, and irritation of fellow riders in stopping so often. Cost of the lousy mileage is ranked down the list if at all.

All of the above plus hydrolock can be avoided for $400.00 & installation of a belly tank. Looking at it another way, less than $300.00 more than installing a Pingle.

Love my belly. It sure simplifies things.

[Cliff]

When is the last time the petcock cover set was replaced.  A pinhole n the diaphragm can noticeably decrease the gas mileage.

Do you realize this thread was from nearly seven years ago, and the original poster hasn't even been active on this site in over two years?

LoL,, senior moment....  results of doing a search and posting a response to one of the threads without checking the threads "age"
Hate being human sometimes    although it was harmless and conveyed accurate info.

[bigdanIA]

i love my valk but wish it had better range, there is definitely a belly tank in my future!  all i want is the potential to go 200 miles between fill ups, with the ultimate "king" seat and
markT's peg relocation kit the bike fits great and i feel like i can go longer intervals w/o having to stop and "walk it off" and i like the idea of having a little leeway to choose when i want to stop for fuel.