Fuel mileage

[art]

riding two up an at about 65mph no playing with the throttle 125 miles an 3.1 gallons = 40 mpg. If I really get it on 80plus I'm down to 28-30 mpg

[Hoser]

had my i/s out of gas and reserve at 89 miles many times ,,, my bike is a gas hogggg  normal tank for me is 135  good luck aint no save gas for me

There is something seriously wrong if that is the best you can get from an Interstate.

My first thought would be that there are larger main jets in the carburetors and also an air restriction.

***

ricky its stock stock i bought it with .2  on the speed o , now  the rest of the story . on any good day i can get 180 - 200 miles out of tank . mostly 135 150 range . when i got 89 miles out of a tank i was pulling a trailer 500lbs , headwind , sideways, it was 115 degrees going across rt 90 south dakota headed to sturgis .  i was only running like 110- 115 mph  the whole tank i did this for 300 miles i think that was one of my top worst days riding i have done.. Coming home from daytona this year 989 miles 12 1/2 hours average tank was 135 -150 man that was a good ride 3 of us hammer down  .      anybody want to ride across country with us were leaving july 16 for two weeks,  all out west going to be a rock and roll trip part 3 o yea

Not at 115 mph I don't!    hoser

[Willow]

When discussing Valkyrie fuel mileage everyone has a different opinion, and some lie a little.  Every opinion is based primarily on personal experience and is at least a little bit wrong (including this one).

Interstates do not always get better mileage than do standards.  When they do it's likely due to the Interstate ICM.  I doubt the Interstate carb springs actually improve fuel mileage, but they will give you a quicker response.

I seriously doubt that the wind management of the Istate's fairing can make up for the additional weight.

Standards and Tourers come in too many different configurations to be limped together.  Windscreen or not; slope of the screen; weight and bags; weight of the rider; tires; tires and oil.

The 3000 RPM myth is just that.  There is a line, but it's not 3000.  Mine on my Standard tends to be around 3800.  I am running a Dyna 3000 ICM with a rather aggressive curve and that could make mine different than some.

My Standard gets better fuel mileage than my Interstate.  In fairness, my current Interstate gets the worst mileage of any Valkyrie I've ridden.  My wife's Standard gets better mileage than my Standard and it irks me to no end,

They're all different.  One thing is consistent.  They all get more miles from the same volume of fuel at lower speeds and they all get less at higher speeds.

YMMV, but then everyone's does.        

[BIG--T]

Don't forget the I/S has different engine management.  The Ignition Control Module and carb springs are different on the I/S than on the Standard/Tourers.

Marty

I forgot about the ICM and the springs! If I do that mod, how much will that increase my mpg?

Thanks, Tony

I just installed the IS ICM and carb springs in my 2002. Forget about a mpg increase...because now it's even more fun to twist the throttle!

Redline  

Wow  how many more ponies did you pick up  and is it all across the board, meaning low and high end? So you got the ICM and just plugged in ...no radio shack stuff mod?
Thanks

I don't know if there is any HP increase...but the IS springs and ICM increase the performance on the bottom end. It's all plug and play.

Redline  

Where can I find a good price on a  ICM and carb springs? Thanks for the help

[BIG--T]

When discussing Valkyrie fuel mileage everyone has a different opinion, and some lie a little.  Every opinion is based primarily on personal experience and is at least a little bit wrong (including this one).

Interstates do not always get better mileage than do standards.  When they do it's likely due to the Interstate ICM.  I doubt the Interstate carb springs actually improve fuel mileage, but they will give you a quicker response.

I seriously doubt that the wind management of the Istate's fairing can make up for the additional weight.

Standards and Tourers come in too many different configurations to be limped together.  Windscreen or not; slope of the screen; weight and bags; weight of the rider; tires; tires and oil.

The 3000 RPM myth is just that.  There is a line, but it's not 3000.  Mine on my Standard tends to be around 3800.  I am running a Dyna 3000 ICM with a rather aggressive curve and that could make mine different than some.

My Standard gets better fuel mileage than my Interstate.  In fairness, my current Interstate gets the worst mileage of any Valkyrie I've ridden.  My wife's Standard gets better mileage than my Standard and it irks me to no end,

They're all different.  One thing is consistent.  They all get more miles from the same volume of fuel at lower speeds and they all get less at higher speeds.

YMMV, but then everyone's does.        

Willow now that's the most truthful post I've read yet!

[John U.]

Keep an eye out on Ebay for an I/S ICM. They have been going for close to $150. The springs are cheap from HDL. I did the ECT mod in addition to the I/S ICM. I think that mod can pick up a couple of mpg if you keep your right wrist under control.

[BIG--T]

Thanks John I'll check it out.

[Kymbo]

On average I get 37 mpg no matter how I ride on the standard

Kymbo, Please let me in on your secret! I would love to get 37 mpg running WOT or under 3000 rpm!

dont know of any secret but I ride reasonably aggressive in the hills and tend to cruise on the open road .I hit reserve anywere from 135 to 155 mile mark .Towing the trailer I hit reserve at 127 miles.cruising speed is about 65 -80 mph depending on the road and through the hills Ill generally keep the revs up so she pulls hard out of the corners

[BIG--T]

Wow! I ride pretty aggresively and can count on hitting reserve @ 135 miles- never made it to 155. From my experience and the posts I've read, you have an exceptional bike to get 37 mpg no matter the speed or terrain!!   

[John U.]

If anyone is interested, Ebay I/S ICM listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-Honda-GL1500CF-Valkyrie-Interstate-Ignitor-CDI-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27bacd3544QQitemZ170637735236QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[JC]

[/quote]
Where can I find a good price on a  ICM and carb springs? Thanks for the help
[/quote]

I bought an Interstate ICM for $71 on ebay last week, and got the springs at the stealer for under $20.

Noticeable difference in response, jury still out on MPG increase.

[Bark2]

80 mph is too much fun, I just buy more gas..........for now anyway.

My question, at 80 mph on the Valk speedo...........how fast is that really going. I don't seem to be passing that many vehicles. I've been told the speedo is 5 - 10 mph off?

[Bark2]

I should add that since I bought and started riding the Valk (since last August) I am getting younger every day 

[BF]

For cryin' out loud......it's got six carbs.  IT'S THIRSTY!  They don't call it the Fat Lady for nothin'. 

If ya want better milage, buy a Wing....or a scooter.   

[John U.]

Where can I find a good price on a  ICM and carb springs? Thanks for the help
[/quote]

I bought an Interstate ICM for $71 on ebay last week, and got the springs at the stealer for under $20.
[/quote]

Proof once again that keeping an eye on Ebay can pay off.

[Moonshot_1]

80 mph is too much fun, I just buy more gas..........for now anyway.

My question, at 80 mph on the Valk speedo...........how fast is that really going. I don't seem to be passing that many vehicles. I've been told the speedo is 5 - 10 mph off?

I can't say at 80mph but at 67mph, according to the Iowa State Patrol, it's dead on balls accurate.

Oddity on gas milage. Used to hit reserve at 135 miles. Almost like clock work.
Changed the oil the other day. Castrol synthetic. Non energy conserving stuff. Now last three tanks, it's 163 miles. Near on the dot. And this is riding 2 up each of those times. Where before it was just me.
Can the oil make that much of a difference?

[Hotrodwing]

I was just thinking about this subject yesterday. It was the first time I rode to 170  before I stopped for gas, and I did not hit reserve yet.   I seem to be averaging 40 mpg  even with 2 up and with the Cobras back on ???  The only think different is that I have been running this product  to fight ethanol it is made by STARTRON.  I don't know if this i s helping but I will keep using as the price for fuel is on avg $4.00

[BIG--T]

I was just thinking about this subject yesterday. It was the first time I rode to 170  before I stopped for gas, and I did not hit reserve yet.   I seem to be averaging 40 mpg  even with 2 up and with the Cobras back on ???  The only think different is that I have been running this product  to fight ethanol it is made by STARTRON.  I don't know if this i s helping but I will keep using as the price for fuel is on avg $4.00

Where can I find this? Anything is worth a try!
Thanks

[BIG--T]

80 mph is too much fun, I just buy more gas..........for now anyway.

My question, at 80 mph on the Valk speedo...........how fast is that really going. I don't seem to be passing that many vehicles. I've been told the speedo is 5 - 10 mph off?

I can't say at 80mph but at 67mph, according to the Iowa State Patrol, it's dead on balls accurate.

Oddity on gas milage. Used to hit reserve at 135 miles. Almost like clock work.
Changed the oil the other day. Castrol synthetic. Non energy conserving stuff. Now last three tanks, it's 163 miles. Near on the dot. And this is riding 2 up each of those times. Where before it was just me.
Can the oil make that much of a difference?

A lighter weight oil might shave a little off , but not that much IMO. I use 10w40 Mobil 1 T4 Racing oil and still 135 @ reserve.

[X Ring]

I was just thinking about this subject yesterday. It was the first time I rode to 170  before I stopped for gas, and I did not hit reserve yet.   I seem to be averaging 40 mpg  even with 2 up and with the Cobras back on ???  The only think different is that I have been running this product  to fight ethanol it is made by STARTRON.  I don't know if this i s helping but I will keep using as the price for fuel is on avg $4.00

Where can I find this? Anything is worth a try!
Thanks

Wally World and parts stores.

Marty

[BIG--T]

I was just thinking about this subject yesterday. It was the first time I rode to 170  before I stopped for gas, and I did not hit reserve yet.   I seem to be averaging 40 mpg  even with 2 up and with the Cobras back on ???  The only think different is that I have been running this product  to fight ethanol it is made by STARTRON.  I don't know if this i s helping but I will keep using as the price for fuel is on avg $4.00

Where can I find this? Anything is worth a try!
Thanks

Wally World and parts stores.

Marty

Thanks Marty, I thought I knew all the additives!

[X Ring]

I was just thinking about this subject yesterday. It was the first time I rode to 170  before I stopped for gas, and I did not hit reserve yet.   I seem to be averaging 40 mpg  even with 2 up and with the Cobras back on ???  The only think different is that I have been running this product  to fight ethanol it is made by STARTRON.  I don't know if this i s helping but I will keep using as the price for fuel is on avg $4.00

Where can I find this? Anything is worth a try!
Thanks

Wally World and parts stores.

Marty

Thanks Marty, I thought I knew all the additives!

Startron is recommended by my local dealer.  They'd rather sell it to you than have a back lot of bikes and quads waiting to get carbs and injectors unplugged.

Marty

[Ricky-D]

Equals about 5 bucks a gallon.

I'll pay it,,,,,

But I hate it !!!!!!!

***

I'm paying $4.25 gallon for non-ethanol premium but it won't last long. Suppliers are harder to find!

[gordonv]

Oddity on gas milage. Used to hit reserve at 135 miles. Almost like clock work.
Changed the oil the other day. Castrol synthetic. Non energy conserving stuff. Now last three tanks, it's 163 miles. Near on the dot. And this is riding 2 up each of those times. Where before it was just me.
Can the oil make that much of a difference?

I had the same thing happen on my other bike. Changed oil from dino to AmsOil, same weight, and got 7% mileage, doing exactly the same thing. Figure it more than pays for the extra cost, besides only requiring one oil change a year.

[Willow]

Oddity on gas milage. Used to hit reserve at 135 miles. Almost like clock work.
Changed the oil the other day. Castrol synthetic. Non energy conserving stuff. Now last three tanks, it's 163 miles. Near on the dot. And this is riding 2 up each of those times. Where before it was just me.
Can the oil make that much of a difference?

I had the same thing happen on my other bike. Changed oil from dino to AmsOil, same weight, and got 7% mileage, doing exactly the same thing. Figure it more than pays for the extra cost, besides only requiring one oil change a year.

7%?  Maybe, but what he described was a more than 20% improvement.  The very easy answer to his question is, "No."

[Farther]

Probably a combination of summer fuel and synthetic oil.

[Ricky-D]

I think gas mileage figures are a lot like the butt dyno reports.

A lot of fiction based in some little fact to lend it credibility.

***

[Valkpilot]

I think gas mileage figures are a lot like the butt dyno reports.

A lot of fiction based in some little fact to lend it credibility.

***

Ricky, I agree with you on this point, although I don't think people intentionally create fiction. 

It's just that tank-to-tank comparisons aren't reliable. 

There is too much variability in riding conditions.  There is also too much variability at fill-up. 

For example, a pint is 2.5% of a five gallon tank.  If I fill by eye, looking to see that the fill is to the same level every time, it would be difficult for me to "see" whether there's a pint more than or a pint less at the fillup level one time to the next.  A pint spread over what is probably an 8 inch diameter "lake" surface in my tank won't impact the apparent level much, but as far as I can see, I've done the fill up to exactly the same level as last time.

On a five gallon tank, a pint difference up or down, tank to tank, means up to 5% swing in calculated MPG.

So now, the + one pint (+ 2.5%) margin of error gets compounded by riding conditions.  On this tankfull, not only did I unknowingly put in an extra pint, I was riding with the wind.  I get great mileage!  On the next, I unknowingly put in a pint less, and I was riding against the wind.  My mileage sucks!

Margins of error and influencing factors build up to produce relatively large swings in tank-to-tank MPG.  Only many fill ups averaged over time will give you a decent idea of your mileage.

We now return to Nugz orginally scheduled programming, "Why am I getting such abnormally low mileage?", which, if consistent, does appear to be below what most people average.

Nugz, did you make any progress with the suggestions?

[bigfish_Oh]

had my i/s out of gas and reserve at 89 miles many times ,,, my bike is a gas hogggg  normal tank for me is 135  good luck aint no save gas for me

I'll second that on mine. I haven't done any tuning maint yet, 21K second owner

[N8171S]

I sync'd my carbs at 3000 instead of idle and went from 32.2 to 37.9 on two identical trips a year apart

[Ricky-D]

From VP:

Margins of error and influencing factors build up to produce relatively large swings in tank-to-tank MPG.  Only many fill ups averaged over time will give you a decent idea of your mileage.

Yep!  I just jotted down the mileage on mine Sunday.  Got a little notebook and simply have to remember noting the gallons I put in each time.

I figure in a month or so I'll have gone through enough tanks of gas that whatever error I have with filling it up will be minimized enough and affect the final result very little.

I'm looking for around 38 mpg now with that 205/55/16 car tire.  The higher rpms from that tire robs like a thief in the night.

***

[X Ring]

I sync'd my carbs at 3000 instead of idle and went from 32.2 to 37.9 on two identical trips a year apart

Hmmm.  Sounds like that my be a good idea considering we spend the vast majority of our time near that rpm.

Marty

[rodeo1]

i'm starting another project that may answer a lot of questions, but if it don't it will have been fun to do. i am buying a worn out valkyrie, and a wrecked 2000 goldwing. as far as i can see there is no physical difference in the motors. i am going to put the goldwing motor in the valk. now it won't be as pretty as the intakes won't be chromed, and i haven't decided how to deal with the airbox issue, but its all easy to figure out. i hope to wind up with a 47 mpg valk with hyd. lifters, and reverse. i have owned 4 1500 wings over the years and i will tell you there is really not that much difference in performance, but depending on how much damage the wing has, i might even be able to add the cruise control. it will be very interesting to see what i wind up with.

[inspector_gadget]

Don't know if it changes anything, but I have heard many people say that they get better mileage on their interstates while riding two up. They say the back seats make a heck of a parachute.

[BIG--T]

i'm starting another project that may answer a lot of questions, but if it don't it will have been fun to do. i am buying a worn out valkyrie, and a wrecked 2000 goldwing. as far as i can see there is no physical difference in the motors. i am going to put the goldwing motor in the valk. now it won't be as pretty as the intakes won't be chromed, and i haven't decided how to deal with the airbox issue, but its all easy to figure out. i hope to wind up with a 47 mpg valk with hyd. lifters, and reverse. i have owned 4 1500 wings over the years and i will tell you there is really not that much difference in performance, but depending on how much damage the wing has, i might even be able to add the cruise control. it will be very interesting to see what i wind up with.

I would love to find a Valk that needed an engine an try to put an GL1800 wing on it! Now that would be different and bad to the bone!...just a thought

[rodeo1]

that would be a pretty trick setup and probably a good project for someone who understood computer controlled engines. its all i can do to post here. i am not too computer friendly (now ! if you need it painted green, i'm your guy)

[John U.]

Where are you rodeo1? I don't need anything painted green at the moment but I'm assuming you can adapt to other colors? 

[rodeo1]

i,m in western colorado. yeah, i spent my lifetime trying to get away from the painting business. but, it made the rent when i would get weird from too much cop work and have to take a break. i always hated painting, but seemed to be really good at it, tough to hate somethig your good at.

i will guide anyone needing to paint their bike. it ain't easy,and hard to learn in 30 minutes on the internet, but hey, its always fun to learn something ya don't know, right. i also have all six guages to do carb balancing and a coats tire machine for bikes. all free for anyone coming by for coffee.

[Ricky-D]

I sync'd my carbs at 3000 instead of idle and went from 32.2 to 37.9 on two identical trips a year apart

@ 3k rpm you are off the idle circuit some, and transitioning to the jet needle.

From an abnormally low mpg figure you made enough of a change to get some decent mileage figures.

Crediting the better mileage to an ill conceived synchronizing process is folly!

***

[Bone]

From VP:

Margins of error and influencing factors build up to produce relatively large swings in tank-to-tank MPG.  Only many fill ups averaged over time will give you a decent idea of your mileage.

Yep!  I just jotted down the mileage on mine Sunday.  Got a little notebook and simply have to remember noting the gallons I put in each time.

I figure in a month or so I'll have gone through enough tanks of gas that whatever error I have with filling it up will be minimized enough and affect the final result very little.

I'm looking for around 38 mpg now with that 205/55/16 car tire.  The higher rpms from that tire robs like a thief in the night.

***

Ricky-D today after filling up I thought of your idea. I use a debit card in my town so I get a receipt with the gallons listed. I have been putting the miles from my trip odometer on the receipts to get an idea of my mileage. These are all local miles with all 70 mph or lower for the last 10 days.

Miles         Gallons              Mpg                     
111               3.09                 35.9                     
129               3.42                 37.7             
129               3.54                 36.4           
150               3.97                 37.9             
101               2.78                 36.3
           
620             16.80                 36.9 mpg avg.