I'm trying to figure out how much mpg I'm getting on my new 2008 Nightster. I know my tank holds 3.3 gallons and that the low fuel light goes on at .8 gallons left. The problem is that when the low fuel light goes on I've only traveled between 65 and 68 miles. If I do the math, the mpg seems extremely low, much lower that the specs on the bike calls for. I'm new to riding so I'm sure I'm doing a lot of things wrong. But, here are some of the things I do know. I'm filling up with the bike upright. I'm mostly riding hwy miles. The only thing I can think of is that I'm not filling her up all the way. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out when to stop filling her up but then again, maybe I'm screwing that up.

 

how much gas do you put in after 65 miles? If you are putting in 1.5 gallons, then you are getting 43.3 mpg. It doesn't take a rocket scientest. If you are getting 43.3 mpg, and you have a 3.3 gallon tank, then your total range per tank is appx. 143 miles.

 

My last tank I got 39.8mpg. I'm still breaking her in, so mpg isn't at its best and I do mixed riding.

I figure once it is broken in I'll probably get between 40 and 45mpg. Having said that, I don't really care. Although the gas mileage is nice, I didn't my by nightster for fuel economy. I bought it because I wanted a badass, raw sporty to ride around.

Don't worry, if you really concerned about mpg, it will get better once you break it in.

 

Thanks for all the replies. On my last fill up, I put in 2.3 gallons. Now she went 66 miles when the low fuel light came on. It's possible that I might not had completely filled her to full capacity, which might explain. If, that's the case any advice on properly filling her up would be appreciated. I'm not concerned about mpg, as I too bought her to ride for pleasure. I just need to know if its a problem that may require a trip to the dealer or maybe its me. Any help on this would be appreciated. Again, I'm standing her upright when I fill her up.

Thanks again.

 

It doesn't matter how much the tank holds or even when the low fuel light comes on when calculating mileage. What matters is what the odometer reads when you fill up, and how much you put in the tank AT THAT READING.

On my trip this past weekend I got paranoid because I forgot to zero my odometer at a previous fill up until I already went 5 or 10 miles. THEN, the low fuel light came on just AFTER I passed a gas station, at around 130 miles on the tank. I have the 4.5 tank btw. Most of that was hauling *** down interstate with a very brief "what the hell" run up to 105 mph. 80-85 was what I was doing, and I was loaded down. Not good for mileage. Stopped at the first available station 15 miles down the road. 87 octane only so I passed. Next station 20 miles further than that was same thing! Dammit, I need GAS! NOW! So I put in the low grade crap and....it only took 3.4 gallons! Odometer reading at the time was 163 miles, which 163 divided by 3.4 equals 47.94 mpg. Damn, I could have waited after all! I had another 50 miles to go, but I didn't know that. Besides I had JUST ridden 35 miles LOOKING for a gas station. Bike did ok until the next fillup after I got home. Didn't check mileage then.

The point is this: What is your odometer reading when you stop to fill up with gas? Then how much do you put in the tank? The less you put in, the greater the mpg calculation. Remember, odometer reading at the pump divided by the amount of fuel put into the tank. That's MPG, or miles per gallon.

I fill up with the bike on the sidestand. I pay cash which requires more time. I fill it up standing on the right side of the bike because it's easier for me. I stick the nozzle to the bottom and pump till it stops. Then I pull it out to where I can see the gas coming out of the nozzle and see the fuel in the tank simultaneously. When the level is touching the restrictor ring, it's full. I'm not saying this is the best way, but it's the way I do it. Replace cap, go back in and get my change back, get on bike, crank it up, zero odometer, and I'm off and running.

Teek

 

I've gotten as low as 36 mpg and some change, and a high of 53 mpg, running a consistent 70 mph, according to the speedometer. average is around 40 mpg in town with short city highway runs, and around 50 on long highway runs. Bike has close to 10,200 miles on it.

Check oil level regularly, too, especially during break in. No higher than halfway up the add and full mark. Lower than that is fine.

Teek

 

Thanks Teek for your advice and to everyone else

 

In perfect World MPG to be easy to figure but wind weight traffic conditions throtling braking all have factors in much you will get to the gallon My Sportster would say averages around 42 MPG but have gotten as low as 36 and as high as 50 .. Would say if averaged less that high 30's overall in MPG are either throttle happy or possiblty needs tuning for better mileage...

 

On my last three fill ups I managed 50mpg, 47mpg and 44mpg. Not bad at all in todays gas price-gouging war.

 

I try to fill up within 10 miles or so of the fuel light coming on if I can. I usually put between 2.3 and 2.7 gallons in, so it seems like my fuel light comes on with about a gallon left in the tank.

As far as tracking mpg, I reset trip meter B on every fillup. That way if I want to track mpg I can.