When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Thats not bad mileage...obviously its not as high as the freeway cruzers, but thats boring chit riding so they need something to make their day interesting.
I'm getting around 40 as well, although my build is somewhat more tweaked than yours.
if you want better mileage then look at altering the final gearing, get the setup Dyno tuned to make sure your not running too rich and/or be gentel with the right hand on the throttle.
For city riding, with today's ethanol blended fuels, that's not too bad.
Back in the old days (the '90's), when I ran the CV carb on the FLSTN, I'd average 50-52 MPG on the highway and 43-47 in the city (45 slow jet, 185 main). That was on real gasoline.
Nowadays I run an HSR-42 Mikuni and average around 43-47 MPG on the highway (usually the low end of that). I blame E-10 for at least part of that.
My bike is a 1989 FLHS, and while she was a bit tired when I got her it was honest wear and not abuse. After I looked into getting all the tune up to snuff, better ignition and a CV carb with free flowing intake, I had an overall average of 41 1/4 mpg.
Just added 10:1's, cam, new rings, gaskets, single fire, and a valve job with mild headwork, and other stuff. Just finished breaking her in at 2000 miles and so far I have an average of just under 45 mpg. I'm hoping that as the rings seat in more that the bit more possible mpg gain will sorta' compensate for the fact that I'll no doubt be a bit more aggressive on the throttle.
Kept the rpms below 3500 for the first 500 miles, and below 4500 for the rest (Well mostly, sometimes I slipped.) so it's not like this is significantly different than my normal riding, but I do know that I have been more aware up to now.
We'll see, 'friggin snow cover is killing me. I ride in the cold as long as it is dry, won't chance a "make wet and freeze over" but I usually ride some all winter.
Looking like it will be spring before I ride again the way this winter is starting out this year.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.