54 mpg
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 899
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
One other thing about the MoCo "estimate"...it's for a "family" of vehicles. In other words...the estimate listed for the Ultra Classic may be from the EPA mileage test from a RK. The use which ever one gave the highest numbers.
"Estimated from fuel economy tests on a sample motorcycle from the corresponding family conducted by Harley-Davidson under ideal laboratory conditions. Not all motorcycle models undergo fuel economy testing. Fuel economy and mileage may vary among motorcycle models within a family. Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions. Break-in mileage may vary."
"Estimated from fuel economy tests on a sample motorcycle from the corresponding family conducted by Harley-Davidson under ideal laboratory conditions. Not all motorcycle models undergo fuel economy testing. Fuel economy and mileage may vary among motorcycle models within a family. Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions. Break-in mileage may vary."
Guest
Posts: n/a
I average 40 - 42 mpg. I have gotten as low as 32 and as high as 47. My bike has the Stage 1 A/C and download but I have changed nothing else.
It's all about what DMSC posted. "Family of vehicles", "ideal laboratory conditions", "Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions.".
There is always a potential and who knows I might actually do 54 mpg for a mile or 2 under "Perfect conditions, but in reality I'll never average that. It's no different from buying a car that touts 40 mpg and gets 30 mpg average. They are necessarily lying but they are not showing a realistic picture either.
Wasn't the EPA supposed to crack down on this?
It's all about what DMSC posted. "Family of vehicles", "ideal laboratory conditions", "Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions.".
There is always a potential and who knows I might actually do 54 mpg for a mile or 2 under "Perfect conditions, but in reality I'll never average that. It's no different from buying a car that touts 40 mpg and gets 30 mpg average. They are necessarily lying but they are not showing a realistic picture either.
Wasn't the EPA supposed to crack down on this?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 41
From: Baltimore County, MD
Harley takes marketing too far.
I can just see a roomfull of suits saying, "if we call it a security system instead of an alarm system we can get them to buy the siren separately." Geesh. Even my car will blow the horn. It reminds me of the I Love Lucy skit where a saleman calls the canister vacuum unit "The Works." (without the hoses and attachments.)
I can just see a roomfull of suits saying, "if we call it a security system instead of an alarm system we can get them to buy the siren separately." Geesh. Even my car will blow the horn. It reminds me of the I Love Lucy skit where a saleman calls the canister vacuum unit "The Works." (without the hoses and attachments.)
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
First, these MPG figures aren't any worse than the car manufacturers either! They based on the old CAFE figures. The CAFE ( corporate average fuel economy )figures are still based on 55 MPH, as when they were implemented. And haven't been updated over the years! That's why most cars & trucks, have a simular problem with accuracy too! But, they aren't far off either, I'm a big guy, and I constantly get 48-51 MPG's ( highway ) and so does one of my best buddy's on his Glide
Last edited by realbiker; Aug 18, 2008 at 09:35 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 8
From: Retired and living in the mountains of NE PA
I have gotten 53.xx twice now when I've computed my mileage. This involved all highway miles, riding 2-up, in 6th gear, and averaging around 65 mph. It can be done under the right conditions. That said, I average 40-45 mpg and get as low as 35 mpg depending on the type of riding I'm doing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 21,949
Likes: 6
From: My house
I average on the freeway about 38 mpg 70 to 80 mph average,,, backroads and taking it easy around 42 mpg, as long as I can get around 40 I'm happy!!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 197
Weavr almost got it right. The fuel mileage for the sticker is done on a dyno with NO LOAD on the rollers. City mileage is figured at 30 MPH and highway mileage is at 55. If the operator varies 1MPH during the test the results are discarded and you start again! These are SAE testing standards and apply to all motorized vehicles certified for on highway use. I don't know anybody that drives on a perfectly flat road with zero wind and rolling resistance, do you? As with almost anything mandated by the government, these test standards and their results are totally useless under real world conditions.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
I just got 52 riding 236 miles in the mountains and some flat lands in Cali. I thought my gas gauge broke when it was not going down. I have gotten the best mileage when I am in the mountains. I guess I am going slower and there is less wind. Out in the wide open country doing 70 I get 41 mpg