So I have a 1990 Sportster with a 2.25 gallon tank. It is a 883.

I am making AT MOST 70 miles with a tank (before it goes into reserve), I had people tell me I should get at least 100-120 ... All the basic things like air filter, spark plugs, lub on chain, air pressure were done by HD last summer.

Any other idea how I can get more mileage? It sucks to only drive 70 miles and have to stop for gas

 

get a bigger bike...

seriously though how much money do you want to throw at a 1990 883 sporty to try and diagnose and fix the issue? when you check the plugs are you running rich or lean?

i get about 48 mpg with my 98 1200 but it has a 3.5 gallon tank so i'm not stopping too often. damn thing is so uncomfortable that i stop long before i need gas to stretch my back anyway.

 

Had a '92 Sporty and got from 35 to 50 mpg depending on which way the wind was blowing.

 

70 miles? LMAO!!! That's crazy. Get saddlebags and put extra fuel cans in it.

 

You've had people tell you you should be getting 100-125 miles before you hit reserve? 1/2 gal reserve leaves you 1.75 gals. You're getting about 40 mpg now, which is about right fot your bike.

100 miles would be 57 mpg and 125 would be 71 mpg!!! What rocket scientist have you been talking to?????

 

When I had an 883 (before they made the 1200) I'd be dry at 90 miles. I pushed it coming back from Canada to Minot ND, that's how I know... I wound up pushing it!

 

+100 on what the others have said. You shouldn't be getting 100-120 miles before hitting reserve. I have the 3.3 gallon tank and have to switch over to reserve at ~130 miles on the odometer. The 3.3 gallon tank is suppose to have a 0.8 gallons reserve if I remember correctly. I would think the 2.25 gallon tank would have something along the lines of 0.5 gallon reserve. So with 70 miles /by 1.75 gallons= 40mpg which agrees with SportyReb, which I would think is a little low for an 883, but could be the result of more city miles than highway. Just think about what the new 48 owners are going to have to go through....883 engine with a 2.2 gallon tank that has a fuel pump taking space up iniside of it.

 

Got a 1990 sportster. 49 tooth sprocket, drag pipes, and s&s super e carb and air filter. Wondering what I should be getting for gas mileage?

 

bigger tank.. should help.

 

My xwife had a 90 883. The bike was a well tuned stage-1 bike and went on reserve at the 80 mile mark. That bike got 48-50 MPG consistently, but that was before ethanol blends became popular.

You aren't that far off. Ethanol may account for the difference.

When we ride with Sportys in the group we have to stop at 80-90 miles for them to refuel. It's the small tank. If you want more crusing range...you're going to have to go with a bigger tank.