RK Windshield costs 7 mpg?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
I have a 2011 Road King with a full size (width) screen that's 16" tall. I go 80mph on the highway ALL the time when I'm traveling and get north of 40MPG. I do better than that of two lanes. I have a SEPST, air cleaner, D&D Fatcat and dyno tune.
I'm fairly certain that Georgia gets winter blend gasoline.
I'm fairly certain that Georgia gets winter blend gasoline.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Oct 31, 2015 at 07:39 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
Once hit a string of fill ups that produced low mpg. Checked and replaced the trifecta - tire pressure, spark plugs, air filter. Don't know which one was the culprit, but back to normal mpg afterwards.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 671
Likes: 168
From: Ontario, Canada
RK Windshield costs 7 mpg?
If temperatures have started to drop where you're riding then the first place I'd look is tire pressures.
It's amazing how much a temperature change can effect your tire pressure. Even just from a cold morning to a warm afternoon this time of year you could see a change.
It's amazing how much a temperature change can effect your tire pressure. Even just from a cold morning to a warm afternoon this time of year you could see a change.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 656
Likes: 115
From: Florida
Another problem with basing it on just one fill up is that maybe there were a couple of days you rode with a 10mph or 15mph head wind that wasn't normal.
Trying to determine mpg on such small tanks really has to be done by averaging several fill ups.
Trying to determine mpg on such small tanks really has to be done by averaging several fill ups.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 172
Likes: 13
From: Texas
I have a windshield also and ride most days to and from work for a total of 90 miles a day. For the last three months I have averaged 42.6, 42.4, and 44.2. I don't know that just your windshield would drop it that low. I did see a drop down to 39 once in September after a particularly very windy spell.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
No.
First you need to check averages over a number of fill-ups. If you haven't done this for your base (40 mpg) it may be high, which I doubt, and your one shot 33mpg may be low, which I suspect. I kept mileage records for "every single fillup" during my first entire year of operation, using a cellphone app, and outliers are not at all uncommon.
Over a year, with no changes to the bike whatever, measured mpg for my 2014 BO ranged from a high of 48.0 to a low of 37.9 with the average being 43.2 mpg for the year. Characteristically, most measurement values were concentrated around the average, "think bell curve", but outliers above 46.7 and below 39.7 (splitting your 7) were not exceedingly rare.
"People thought I was an obsessive nut job for keeping these records but you've made it all worthwhile,, thanx".
If the wind isn't hitting the windshield, its hitting you. I'd be awfully surprised at a consistent 7 mpg difference because of a windshield.
Last edited by HKMark23; Oct 31, 2015 at 08:36 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 5,157
Likes: 740
From: new caney, tx
I average around 42 with just normal riding, around 38 when I'm getting on it.. I use the regular math method and my pv. I'd agree that it would take a few tanks to get a good average number tho.. With such small amount of gas it wouldn't take much of a difference gallon wise to change get the overall number.. Maybe your a big guy and your causing more resistance lol who knows
Last edited by decencyxdefied; Oct 31, 2015 at 08:55 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
Theoretically, the relative amounts you put in don't matter as long as you record miles and gallons. That said, reading and rounding errors become waay more significant if you record a series of 1/2 fills and 1/4 fills vs near 100% fill-ups, resulting in more mpg outliers.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 631
From: NorCal Rocklin
I saw your fuelly page. Here is mine http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/har...izcarmb/379292
Yours seem to be about right. But inside with my windshield All the time
All you guys that get over 42 mpg are straight liars or have really long commutes or drive below 60 mph. My avg speed is 65-80mph.
Yours seem to be about right. But inside with my windshield All the time
All you guys that get over 42 mpg are straight liars or have really long commutes or drive below 60 mph. My avg speed is 65-80mph.
Last edited by vizcarmb; Oct 31, 2015 at 10:21 AM.