Improving mileage
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: NW PA
RE: Improving mileage
Want better mileage buy a moped... These things are made to ride!!!!
 \\;
My 07 Ultra with, Stage 1 103 big bore, V&\\;H Classic mufflers, K&\\;N air filter,,, Zippers TMAX Auto tune does 38- 42.5 mpg.. depending on how hard I push her..... Not bad for an 800+ lb sled... I \\;have lots of HP,,, and LOTS OF FUN.... Don't care if Sunoco is $5.00 per gallon... I will fill her up and go....
 \\;
Skunk237
 \\;
My 07 Ultra with, Stage 1 103 big bore, V&\\;H Classic mufflers, K&\\;N air filter,,, Zippers TMAX Auto tune does 38- 42.5 mpg.. depending on how hard I push her..... Not bad for an 800+ lb sled... I \\;have lots of HP,,, and LOTS OF FUN.... Don't care if Sunoco is $5.00 per gallon... I will fill her up and go....
 \\;
Skunk237
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 1
From: Lenexa, KS (KC)
RE: Improving mileage
Me too, Skunk. \\; 40 mpg still better than the 19 mpg I get in my truck. \\; Wish I could get more on the bike, but that's life. \\; Used to have a scooter when I was a young pup, and it got great mileage, but it sure wasn't the bike I ride today!!!  \\;
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Central Arizona
RE: Improving mileage
2-up (we're both heavy-weights) and mostly-full bags, and I still get 43-44 mpg. I'm rather heavy-handed, and burn 91 octane (10% ethanol)
 \\;
If I'm riding solo, with \\;less girly junk in the \\;bags, it's still about the same...because I ride her harder when I'm alone. \\; I've never tried to squeeze the best mileage out of my bike, but I would say:
 \\;
1. Lighten the load
 \\;
2. Easy-does-it with the twist grip.
 \\;
Hope this helps.
 \\;
If I'm riding solo, with \\;less girly junk in the \\;bags, it's still about the same...because I ride her harder when I'm alone. \\; I've never tried to squeeze the best mileage out of my bike, but I would say:
 \\;
1. Lighten the load
 \\;
2. Easy-does-it with the twist grip.
 \\;
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
RE: Improving mileage
Tater and the rest of you guys.
Thanks for the input. I guess there's no fix on the horizon other than riding habits.
My guess is HD will soon come out with a new model touting its fuel economy if for nothing else to put a new spin on a new model to increase sales. I doubt they will really ever address the issue because its the right thing to do. But then again, I might be surprised.
Thanks again
Jchico
Thanks for the input. I guess there's no fix on the horizon other than riding habits.
My guess is HD will soon come out with a new model touting its fuel economy if for nothing else to put a new spin on a new model to increase sales. I doubt they will really ever address the issue because its the right thing to do. But then again, I might be surprised.
Thanks again
Jchico
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Southern IL
RE: Improving mileage
I guess my question would have to be how HD gets away with advertising 54mpg with the 08 Ultra when thats not even close. Isn't there federal guidelines that say they have to be within a certain percentage of their advertised mpg? My 08 Ultra gets nowhere near advertised mpg (although it is better than my truck). And I've checked it several times with several riding styles.  \\;Don't get me wrong, I'd ride no matter what the mpg. BUT HD should be held accountable for advertised mpg.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
From: Lake Stevens Washington
RE: Improving mileage
I've been averaging 38 MPG on my 07 RKC. I installed new slip on's, PCIII and SE Stage I AC. I loaded the profile for my bike off the website and that is the MPG I'm getting. My sled is going into the dealer on Tuesday for a couple hours on the dyno for fine tuning. I'll report back where my milage goes after they have a look at it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 1
From: Lenexa, KS (KC)
RE: Improving mileage
ORIGINAL: ezryder62881
I guess my question would have to be how HD gets away with advertising 54mpg with the 08 Ultra when thats not even close. Isn't there federal guidelines that say they have to be within a certain percentage of their advertised mpg? My 08 Ultra gets nowhere near advertised mpg (although it is better than my truck). And I've checked it several times with several riding styles.  \\;\\\\\\;Don't get me wrong, I'd ride no matter what the mpg. BUT HD should be held accountable for advertised mpg.
I guess my question would have to be how HD gets away with advertising 54mpg with the 08 Ultra when thats not even close. Isn't there federal guidelines that say they have to be within a certain percentage of their advertised mpg? My 08 Ultra gets nowhere near advertised mpg (although it is better than my truck). And I've checked it several times with several riding styles.  \\;\\\\\\;Don't get me wrong, I'd ride no matter what the mpg. BUT HD should be held accountable for advertised mpg.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
RE: Improving mileage
ORIGINAL: Taterdog
I
54 mpg? \\;\\\\\\; Dang, that sounds almost too good to be true. \\;\\\\\\; I know some have gotten that kind of mileage on their bikes, but doubt I ever will. \\;\\\\\\; Maybe the newer models are just more efficient than the older bikes. \\;\\\\\\; To me, anything 50 and above is truly impressive.
ORIGINAL: ezryder62881
I guess my question would have to be how HD gets away with advertising 54mpg with the 08 Ultra when thats not even close. Isn't there federal guidelines that say they have to be within a certain percentage of their advertised mpg? My 08 Ultra gets nowhere near advertised mpg (although it is better than my truck). And I've checked it several times with several riding styles.  \\;\\\\\\;\\\\\\\\\\\\\\;Don't get me wrong, I'd ride no matter what the mpg. BUT HD should be held accountable for advertised mpg.
I guess my question would have to be how HD gets away with advertising 54mpg with the 08 Ultra when thats not even close. Isn't there federal guidelines that say they have to be within a certain percentage of their advertised mpg? My 08 Ultra gets nowhere near advertised mpg (although it is better than my truck). And I've checked it several times with several riding styles.  \\;\\\\\\;\\\\\\\\\\\\\\;Don't get me wrong, I'd ride no matter what the mpg. BUT HD should be held accountable for advertised mpg.
54 mpg? \\;\\\\\\; Dang, that sounds almost too good to be true. \\;\\\\\\; I know some have gotten that kind of mileage on their bikes, but doubt I ever will. \\;\\\\\\; Maybe the newer models are just more efficient than the older bikes. \\;\\\\\\; To me, anything 50 and above is truly impressive.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Newport TN
RE: Improving mileage
How to improve mileage with what you have,  \\;start off slower, \\; run the gears up easy, stop blipin the throttle and coast to stops, \\; and stop blipin the throttle, \\; and learn to ride in the engines sweet spot for the weight yur pullin on the road yur ridein , \\; and did i mention stop blippin the throttle!!. \\; \\; these will stop your wastein fuel and get ya the most mileage per gallon for your bike.
 \\; \\; \\; And for those who mileage don't matter, get out of town once in awhile and start ridein 20-25-30,000 miles a year and you will see those fuel costs in a different light, \\;. \\; You will also be in places where fuel stops close at 6PM and dont open on Sundays and sometimes just cause they arint any for a \\;hundred miles and your sittin on a 1/2tank...
 \\; \\; \\; And for those who mileage don't matter, get out of town once in awhile and start ridein 20-25-30,000 miles a year and you will see those fuel costs in a different light, \\;. \\; You will also be in places where fuel stops close at 6PM and dont open on Sundays and sometimes just cause they arint any for a \\;hundred miles and your sittin on a 1/2tank...