MPG with an old Evo
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 10
From: Spokane, WA
MPG with an old Evo
Greetings.
I ride an '88 Electra Glide (FLHTC) with a 1337 cc Evolution and a 42mm (I think) Mikuni carburetor.
The odometer reads greater than 90K.
It starts promptly, idles well, and runs smoothly.
The plugs are clean.
It's tuned... seemingly well.
It's a pleasure to ride.
While running well, at best it delivers about 29.5 MPG.
When I keep the tach at or above 3000, the MPG goes down... but the engine purrs.
With no complaints or concerns, I'm curious what kind of mileage other vintage Evo riders are getting.
Will changing the carburetor jets improve the mileage per gallon?
Comments?
I ride an '88 Electra Glide (FLHTC) with a 1337 cc Evolution and a 42mm (I think) Mikuni carburetor.
The odometer reads greater than 90K.
It starts promptly, idles well, and runs smoothly.
The plugs are clean.
It's tuned... seemingly well.
It's a pleasure to ride.
While running well, at best it delivers about 29.5 MPG.
When I keep the tach at or above 3000, the MPG goes down... but the engine purrs.
With no complaints or concerns, I'm curious what kind of mileage other vintage Evo riders are getting.
Will changing the carburetor jets improve the mileage per gallon?
Comments?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 933
From: Long Island
I can tell you my 86 FLT gets around 42-45 and that's w/ S&S carb,ev13 cam and programmable ignition. Definitely seems low. Does sound like a carb issue. Others here will chime in to answer your carb questions.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 96
Likes: 46
From: Central MA
37.5 on my 94 Road King - 4 gallons = 150 miles. Close to 60K miles, had the top end done and a cam a few years ago, If I babied it a little, I could probably get 40+mpg, but what fun would that be?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,081
Likes: 2,159
From: Ohio
Get that range of mileage with a 2130 cc engine.
Mikuni's are known to get low fuel mileage out of the box because they are trying to cover a wide range of engine sizes but is a great carb. Best advice is to install a Joe Minton mileage kit in it, attaching the Holy Grail article of Mikuni tuning, Joe wrote it and his personal advice for the mileage kit is at the bottom.
http://granbygarage.com/gilroy/techi...%20Forever.pdf
Mikuni's are known to get low fuel mileage out of the box because they are trying to cover a wide range of engine sizes but is a great carb. Best advice is to install a Joe Minton mileage kit in it, attaching the Holy Grail article of Mikuni tuning, Joe wrote it and his personal advice for the mileage kit is at the bottom.
http://granbygarage.com/gilroy/techi...%20Forever.pdf
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
38-42 mpg on my 93 FLHS EVO, street ported heads, tuned CV carb, EV27 cam, Thunderheader, and Dyna 2000 ignition. I can sometimes best that on long rides, steady speeds, using the electronic cruise control. I mostly ride in the 70-75 mph range on the interstate, with brief spurts above that to get around trucks, RV's, and dumb-dumbs in cages.
On long rides, I generally start looking for a gas station around 140 miles.
On long rides, I generally start looking for a gas station around 140 miles.
Last edited by Hackd; Mar 26, 2019 at 10:54 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
I can vouch for the Mikuni mileage kit mentioned above. Ive run it in my 94 Heritage Softail for ten years. I easily get mileage in the mid 40s. Before the kit I got around 38-40 MPG. I did find for my bike I needed a #20 pilot jet instead of the #17.5 recommended. That eliminated a problem with closed throttle sputtering in cold weather.
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When I'm really getting after it going down the highway, high 30's.
When I'm taking it easy on the highway, low to mid 40's.
(That was when my '90 was factory stock.)
When I'm taking it easy on the highway, low to mid 40's.
(That was when my '90 was factory stock.)
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 501
Likes: 150
From: Jersey
Carb
Get that range of mileage with a 2130 cc engine.
Mikuni's are known to get low fuel mileage out of the box because they are trying to cover a wide range of engine sizes but is a great carb. Best advice is to install a Joe Minton mileage kit in it, attaching the Holy Grail article of Mikuni tuning, Joe wrote it and his personal advice for the mileage kit is at the bottom.
http://granbygarage.com/gilroy/techi...%20Forever.pdf
Mikuni's are known to get low fuel mileage out of the box because they are trying to cover a wide range of engine sizes but is a great carb. Best advice is to install a Joe Minton mileage kit in it, attaching the Holy Grail article of Mikuni tuning, Joe wrote it and his personal advice for the mileage kit is at the bottom.
http://granbygarage.com/gilroy/techi...%20Forever.pdf