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Alot of my riding is commuting back and forth to work which is about 40 miles. The majority of that is on the highway with no stops. I run around 70mph. Never see above 38 and I check every tank. Not doubting anyones mileage. Just like to know how to get to that point.
I got 35-38 religiously with my PCIII, no matter what I did. Switched to a TTS Thundertune, had Doc set it up, and now get between 43 - 48 mpg regularly. Was your PCV tuned by a dyno, or one of Jamie's maps? Could be the difference, the tune. Just a thought.
I should add, we all know driving style has a lot to do with it too, we went just got back from Yellowstone, on the way up I opened up the Harley, my two sons where on Yammers, anyway we almost ran out of gas before we could get to a station, I was affraid to check the miliage on that little streatch, but I bet it was in the 30s, so quite a shift from normal 50s.
Terry
I live in the mountains 65 miles east of San Diego. My commute takes me from home at 4200' elevation down to sea level then back again at the end of the day. This can't be great for my mileage cuz i'm hauling up and down 3 different big grades along the way each time. I do 70-75 in 6th gear solo.
I get 41-43 mpg routinely under these circumstances. I havent had it on flat terrain so no idea how it would do under more "normal" conditions. I did get 45 mpg once taking a longer ride where it was more level and not so many grades to climb in the mtns. I suspect mid-40's is easily obtainable if I wasn't climbing long mtn grades all the time.
I got 40 2up pulling a trailer on my vacation this year but that was on cruise going 65 to 70. My normal riding also often on cruise 33 to 36 mpg going 80 to 82 I think rpms have the most to do with it
The wife and I took a 1000 mile trip this weekend through TN,NC,GA,and AL through the mountains and backroads and averaged 49MPG on 2 09 SG.
Basially stock, the only mods done are Rinehart slipons, stock breathers, no downloads, nothing else. Yes, I am happy, especially since I have to fill up 2 bikes at a time.
My '09 Ultra is averaging 36.5. I ride mostly (75%) highway to work, and I'm usually running 70-75 on the slab. I went riding down to Southern OH with my wife and some buds, and I was averaging 40 with her on back, but the speeds were only averaging 45-50 MPH. I just added a PC-V from Fuel Moto, and with the K&N and the MO's my last two tanks are creeping towards 38 MPG.
My '07 SG with a similar setup would average about the same, but I had long highway runs (at 75 MPH) that averaged 44 MPG. Never seen 50 on any of my three baggers.
From: Ontario, Canada home of the TAX YOU TO DEATH LIBERALS
Took a 3 day cruise on my bone-stock 04 RG this past week end. The only think added are a pair of Wild Pig slip-ons. Did 1175 miles and averaged 46.4 mpg with some legs averaging over 50 mpg. Bike consistently averages 45 or better. Couldn't be happier.
Your mileage depends on numerous factors, not the least of which is you riding behavior and speed. When someone says "I get only 35mpg" I immediately think "At what speed?"
For example, my mileage varies from 37 to 50mpg depending on conditions. The lowest is city stop-and-go and the highest riding on the backroads at about 50-55mph with no traffic. At 70mph it is around 45mpg with no headwind. Also, mileage is slightly lower overall in cooler weather when oil is thicker and the mixture doesn't atomize as well.
The tune is also important, and if you are running AFR's optimized for mileage you have taken the first step toward that goal. I have set AFR's on my bike at 14.5-14.6:1 in the cruise range for mileage but have them progressively richer above 15% TP up to 13.0 from 80-100%. When I want to pass a truck I want all the power I can get out of the engine, but want AFR's optimized for mileage at cruise.
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