best RPM-range for best MPG?
 

OK....so on my '08 XL1200C with 10,100 miles I just got 52.8mpg out of the last tank. I was riding canyons and twisties the whole tank (watching the Czech GP got me all fired up), keeping the RPMs high in the powerband and shifting often, lots of vroom vroom. But this is the best mileage I've ever gotten!!!! (except for one all-highway tank where I got 53)

WTF?

So here is my dumb question:

Could riding/cruising in a lower RPM range, but not lugging, actually tax the engine more and thus burn more gas? Could riding with the RPMs in the sweet spot of the powerband, where the engine produces the most power/torque, actually be its most efficient?

OK, that's two questions.....

Yeah I also noticed on one of my previous tanks I rode it a lot harder than usual; faster acceleration, faster cruising speeds on the highway, and yet it was one of my most efficient tanks of gas.

Yesterday was the first time I think I actually found the sweet spots for shifting. I think I've been shifting too early because when I shift and get into the next gear I can feel it not have the power it should. I was used to shifting when I heard it get loud, I'm assuming I heard the pipes. But now if I hold it a bit longer I can hear a roar to it and when I shift then, it gives that harley decel that I love and I can feel more power starting off in the next gear.

53 mpg is REAL close to 52.8, the best I've gotten is 55.1, steady 70mph on open road, about 3000-3100 rpms. average around town and back roads, doing some twisties is 48-49 mpg. If I realllllly start twisting and keep cranking the revs I'll drop down to 39-40 mpg. But it's all fun. Ride safe.

Please dont tell me you bough the sporty for fuel economy

I ride to have fun. and if I'm having fun, thats economical.
Who cares what it costs.

Though mpg is not a priority for me it is fast becoming more and more important to many people and understandably so. Fuel costs have soared and many are off setting this increase in cost of living by riding their bikes more which is a good thing.

Mine seems to get the best mileage when the RPMs are kept lower. I get better mileage at 65 than at 70+. Best I've ever gotten is approx 53 mpg.

went riding down south this past weekend around 250 miles with my wife on the back and still managed 56 mpg

One of the Harley magazines did an article on this a while back and I seem to remember they came up with somewhere around 3000 rpms.

+1
I didn't think I would be riding 120 miles daily to/from work as much as I am - I'm having a blast.

+1

I will ride my motorcycles no matter what mpg I get, but I do pay attention, especially these days.
....
I guess I was so surprised by my mileage because my best tank was cruising mid-morning at 65-70.

My normal in-town riding gets me about 40-42mpg.

But this tank I was riding real hard. Just having a frickin' blast....really wringing it out. Up and down Bridger canyon, Shields Valley, Gallatin Canyon, and to Lone Peak/Big Sky: all pretty twisty, lots of elevation gain/loss and variable speeds. And I got almost as good of mpg as relaxed highway cruising.

Anyway....

I guess I have to go and conduct an experiment to see if I can duplicate the results ;)