Fuel mileage...miles to empty
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: aurora,colorado
I know this thread is for '08 and '09 bikes but I feel your pain. I bought an '07 Ultra and after owning an '04 Road King that got exceptional mileage with a stage 1, slip-ons and the dealer flash I was pissed when my new Ultra didn't do as well bone stock. Especially with a 6th gear. I figured I should be able to go at least 200 plus some miles on one 5 gallon tank and could only get 180 before feeling like I was pushing it. I did a fly and ride to the Grand Tetons last year and ended up with an '07 Ultra (out of '08's) and averaged 55 mpg. Really. Turns out the dealer had added slip-ons and nothing else. I was even more pissed. I've got the stage 1a/c, sert, true duels and had the bike dynoed hoping to get better mileage. Best I've done is 44 mpg and that's with cruise control on moping down the highway. I don't fuss to much about it any more. I just figure screw it, that's the way it is. I tried the slip-on only thing on my '08 Dyna and along with sounding good I go 225+ on 5 gals of gas. I know it's not a bagger but I thought that was pretty good. O.K. Long winded response over.
Last edited by wood butcher; Mar 8, 2009 at 12:53 PM.
My computer usually say about 180 miles to empty, I guess I am not filling all the way. Probably a stupid question, but are you guys filling all the way to the little plate with the holes?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
The design of the fill spout on the 6 gallon tank is ridiculous. Takes forever to actually top it off to full. Have to add and then let it settle far too much.
That being said, Went on a trip from Detroit to Key west last summer. Bike was 3 months old, had about 2K on it when we left, only added screamming eagle slip ons.. no other mods..
4 bikes, and I was the only 6 gallon tank, so I always had to fill early, However, I used my GPS for the distance travelled, and figured my average on the freeway, at 65-70 mph, with Cruise on, was 50-53 MPG Without the Cruise, it dropped down to about 46-48. Back roads and mountians lowered it a bit more. Trip was just me on the bike, with a very light load. I also check my Air pressure in the tires every morning when travelling, so they were right on the money the entire trip.
Wifes Deluxe averaged about 42 Freeway on the same trip.
I ride Freeway more than anything due to riding to work, or to Tennessee to see my Mom, My miles to empty is not accurate, and I have seen it drop from 30 down to under 20 in less than 2 miles..
That being said, Went on a trip from Detroit to Key west last summer. Bike was 3 months old, had about 2K on it when we left, only added screamming eagle slip ons.. no other mods..
4 bikes, and I was the only 6 gallon tank, so I always had to fill early, However, I used my GPS for the distance travelled, and figured my average on the freeway, at 65-70 mph, with Cruise on, was 50-53 MPG Without the Cruise, it dropped down to about 46-48. Back roads and mountians lowered it a bit more. Trip was just me on the bike, with a very light load. I also check my Air pressure in the tires every morning when travelling, so they were right on the money the entire trip.
Wifes Deluxe averaged about 42 Freeway on the same trip.
I ride Freeway more than anything due to riding to work, or to Tennessee to see my Mom, My miles to empty is not accurate, and I have seen it drop from 30 down to under 20 in less than 2 miles..
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 899
Likes: 2
From:
I have an 08 Ultra with V&H slipons, Stage 1 and dynoed. Under most conditions I now get between 40 and 42 mpg but it took until about 10,000 miles to settle in at that level. The DTE gauge seems to calculate the new distance based on the mpg you did for the last 1/3 tank or so. So, mine ususally starts out at between 230 and 250 and then adjusts from there.
Topping up the tank that Trailfndr mentioned has driven me nuts. Finally figured out that the bottom of the neck is actually below the metal bracket with the hole in it. The neck itself is black plastic and is at least another inch lower - hard to see. Can't really get much more gas in for that last inch or so, so I usually stop there and save myself the aggravation. If I am riding with others, there always seems to be someone who needs to stop sooner anyhow. If I'm riding by myself, it doesn't matter. Inceidentally, it doesn't seem to affect the DTE much.
Topping up the tank that Trailfndr mentioned has driven me nuts. Finally figured out that the bottom of the neck is actually below the metal bracket with the hole in it. The neck itself is black plastic and is at least another inch lower - hard to see. Can't really get much more gas in for that last inch or so, so I usually stop there and save myself the aggravation. If I am riding with others, there always seems to be someone who needs to stop sooner anyhow. If I'm riding by myself, it doesn't matter. Inceidentally, it doesn't seem to affect the DTE much.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28,128
Likes: 21
From: US poverty capital, california
5.5 gals will get me about 240 miles on my 08 ultra 17k mi... v&h slips, stage1, no dealer download...
thats 2 up freeway riding about 70 mph.... that said, I'm getting nervous at the 200+ point....
thats 2 up freeway riding about 70 mph.... that said, I'm getting nervous at the 200+ point....
Last edited by teqsand; Mar 8, 2009 at 11:28 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 3
On my 09 EGlide the MI r usually says 225-235 when I fill it up all the way. This gives me about 38-40 mpg. I think this is pretty accurate for the driving I do. Back roads riding, some freeway. No real long trips yet. The bike has about 1200 miles on it. Still all stock exhaust.
My 2000 Softail gets better mileage than my fuel injected 09. Doesn't make sense but the carb and bike run awesome. Some people stopped to gas up on a back roads ride. I topped off. The pump said .99 gallons. My odometer from the fillup said 49 miles. Not bad.
My 2000 Softail gets better mileage than my fuel injected 09. Doesn't make sense but the carb and bike run awesome. Some people stopped to gas up on a back roads ride. I topped off. The pump said .99 gallons. My odometer from the fillup said 49 miles. Not bad.
'08 stock Roadie
I usually fill mine almost to the base of the filler neck , as much as I can put in it ..
The odometer has never shown more than 280 to empty , furthest I have gone before the light comes on is 208 .. So thats 40-ish ..
I usually fill mine almost to the base of the filler neck , as much as I can put in it ..
The odometer has never shown more than 280 to empty , furthest I have gone before the light comes on is 208 .. So thats 40-ish ..
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 271
Likes: 70
From: Minneapolis, MN
My half city half higway to and from work is 36-40 MPG depending on the mood of my throttle hand. My best tank was coming back from Sturgis using cruise and got 48.6 MPG. The miles to empty seems to be fairly accurate.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 802
Likes: 2
From: Here and There
For those with '08 or '09 Touring bikes, I'm curious to know what kind of range you're averaging. If you go by the book, HD esimates the fuel economy to be 50 mpg for the newer Touring bikes, which means with my 6 gallon tank I should expect to see a range of something in the neighborhood of 300 miles. When I filled up today, I noticed that my fuel computer estimated that with a full tank....and I mean FULL (to the neck) that my range was 235 miles to empty. Okay...so maybe the fuel computer isn't 100% accurate becase it calculates everything based on current driving conditions, such as spped, rpm, etc.. Having said that, I still wnat to know what kind of range you guys are getting on your bikes. Please let me know what you're experiencing. My bike is BONE STOCK.
What are you talking about??
I have an '07 Ultra, is there something I missed???????