Fuel mileage...miles to empty
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 802
Likes: 2
From: Here and There
However, doing GREAT with my '07...
Thanks for the info.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,900
From: Oklahoma
A couple of observations: The MTE seems to calculate over a minute or 2 "If you keep using fuel at this rate, this is how far the remaining fuel will take you". If climbing a long hill, the MTE will drop much faster than mile for mile traveled, 2 or 3 times faster. Then going down a long hill, the MTE will increase even though you aren't adding fuel as you go.
Not long after getting my 08 Road King I began adding together the miles traveled (trip odometer) to the MTE and then divide by 6 (gallons) to estimate the average mpg for this tank full. After refueling, the miles divided by the gallons gives very close to the same answer as the estimate described above, suggesting that the computer is pretty accurate.
Wind has a big influence on mpg. Air drag increases by the square of the change in speed. Doubling your speed through the air increases wind drag by 4 times. Riding at 50 mph on a calm day you have a certain amount of wind resistance. On another day you ride at 70 mph into a 30 mph wind resulting in the bike pushing 100 mph worth of wind and you have 4 times the amount of drag as on the other day at 50 mph. Add in power enrichment above a certain percentage of power (usually 75%) and fuel economy can take a serious nose dive.
My 08 Road King is pretty consistent in the low 40s, but making a trip on the interstate into the wind and that can easily drop it to 35 mpg or less.
Not long after getting my 08 Road King I began adding together the miles traveled (trip odometer) to the MTE and then divide by 6 (gallons) to estimate the average mpg for this tank full. After refueling, the miles divided by the gallons gives very close to the same answer as the estimate described above, suggesting that the computer is pretty accurate.
Wind has a big influence on mpg. Air drag increases by the square of the change in speed. Doubling your speed through the air increases wind drag by 4 times. Riding at 50 mph on a calm day you have a certain amount of wind resistance. On another day you ride at 70 mph into a 30 mph wind resulting in the bike pushing 100 mph worth of wind and you have 4 times the amount of drag as on the other day at 50 mph. Add in power enrichment above a certain percentage of power (usually 75%) and fuel economy can take a serious nose dive.
My 08 Road King is pretty consistent in the low 40s, but making a trip on the interstate into the wind and that can easily drop it to 35 mpg or less.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 3
From: Rome, GA
anything over 40 mpg is a bonus !
The title by the OP caught my attention. I ride an 02 RK carb with the big windshield. I run the **** out of it because I love to feel the motor pull between the gears. Most of my riding is two lane North Georgia mountainous roads through small towns and stops with the occasional foray onto the interstate if I am in a hurry. Overall I average 43 smiles/gl. My b-i-l has an 08 EG and we ride together often. His mileage seems to be low 40's also. I have heard a few rumors of some riders getting 50 mpg with the newer FI bikes. However, I have yet to actually meet anyone that will swear to it. I will believe most bikers to tell the truth much more than any fishermen I know. I used to live in Florida and I used to fish too. Told a few whoppers in my time about the one that got away. Twice. Same fish too. I swear.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 610
Likes: 6
From: Florida boy living in Jacksonville, AR
Pure stock 2011 Street Glide with the 103" ... get 40 - 45 for the most part (240 to 270 mile range) but I have gotten as low as 37mpg playing airplane on the freeway and as high as 50mpg riding the Dragon and surrounding area.
These are my numbers too.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
buy and large I get about 38-40 mpg for both my 07 FLHTCU and my 08 FLTR. Some times better but never worse than 38. As they say, "ride it like you sole it" and I do. at slower highway speeds I can get better. that said, the only way to get 50 mph is if it's on a trailor. so much for the MOCO's honest trurh in advertising.
Last edited by TUCCI; Mar 29, 2013 at 11:06 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
