Wind shield vs mpg
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 935
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Wind shield vs mpg
Hello all,
Been following most of your posted mpg on a tourer. Low from 35 to 50(?). Mine usually runs around 32 around town and 38 highway, best I got is 41 on open road. And I ride conservatively, up shift @ 3000rpm, down shift @ 2250 rpm, top speed 80, very rare, maybe twice while passing. Speed limit almost all the time.
Here's my observation: 08 SG with S/E air cleaner, dealer's download, stock pipes and Nightrider's 14IED. Also a 10.5" recurve windshield. Was wandering was people exaggerating the #'s (as in 'you know what' size ) or is it just my bike.
Reason I added the 14IED after the download is recommended by Nightrider to cool down motor slightly, since download by dealer still is too lean. I know the taller windshield will act like a sail, but the # are too far off, 6-8 mpg? What are your thoughts?
Been following most of your posted mpg on a tourer. Low from 35 to 50(?). Mine usually runs around 32 around town and 38 highway, best I got is 41 on open road. And I ride conservatively, up shift @ 3000rpm, down shift @ 2250 rpm, top speed 80, very rare, maybe twice while passing. Speed limit almost all the time.
Here's my observation: 08 SG with S/E air cleaner, dealer's download, stock pipes and Nightrider's 14IED. Also a 10.5" recurve windshield. Was wandering was people exaggerating the #'s (as in 'you know what' size ) or is it just my bike.
Reason I added the 14IED after the download is recommended by Nightrider to cool down motor slightly, since download by dealer still is too lean. I know the taller windshield will act like a sail, but the # are too far off, 6-8 mpg? What are your thoughts?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
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From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Not sure what your question is but I ride similar to you. Mostly highway, very little city and get 38-40 MPG with a stock '08 Ultra.
FWIW I have a Vulcan 1500 that gets about the same mileage with the windshield, I remove the windshield and my mileage droped to around 33MPG.
FWIW I have a Vulcan 1500 that gets about the same mileage with the windshield, I remove the windshield and my mileage droped to around 33MPG.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
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From: Wisconsin
If you're asking if the windshield affects your MPG rating, look at it like this. The surface area of the shield is pushing air causing resistance. If you take it off, then your body is pushing air causing resistance. If your body area is bigger than your windshield you should notice no change. If your body area is smaller than your windshield you could pick up more MPG. The ultimate is to take off the windshield to eliminate the wind drag, wind her up to around 70, then exit the motorcycle and let her go down the road on her own. This will eliminate the drag from both the windshield and the body resulting in the best gas mileage. 
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,291
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From:
My mileage dropped by about 3mpg when I went to the Clearview 6.5" recurve on my 07 SG, but it was worth it to lose the buffeting and get a quieter ride. I still get about 40 with a 103 stage II which is fine.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 449
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From: Denver, CO
I didn't notice any mileage difference going from my stock windshield to a Clearview large (several inches taller). I get about 45 mpg in town and 50 on the highway. Running a S/E heavy breather and S/E pipes.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
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From: eastern oklahoma
the wind sees the windshield as a smooth obstacle. if you rode without it, or a smaller one, your body is not near as slick as the wind sees it. my fuel economy is anywhere from mid 30's and as high as 42 or so. it did drop considerably, from 40+ to 35 or less, when i installed the pcv and i must just have the wrong "canned" map in it. i may end up going back to stock, as it ran just fine without the pcv. mine is an 08 sg, with the screamin eagle air cleaner, rinehart slip ons, and the stage 1 download. the pcv did seem to increase the roll on power, or torque, but i preferred the fuel economy i had with it before the install of the pcv. it seems as though the bike did cool down some when i installed it, but that could have been me trying to justify the money for the pcv also. i still haven't made up my mind on the issue.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Indiana
I'm not complaining, and won't give up my clearview. That, together with fork and fairing wind deflectors, along with Hog Chopps, totally eliminate wind buffeting. Just want to get a feel for realistic mpg.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Wisconsin
That's what I'm talking about, 45-50 mpg??? I have a clearview 10.5" recurve. Looks like you're not running with a tour pack, it makes THAT big a difference? Or is the RG more aerodynamic that a SG?
I'm not complaining, and won't give up my clearview. That, together with fork and fairing wind deflectors, along with Hog Chopps, totally eliminate wind buffeting. Just want to get a feel for realistic mpg.
I'm not complaining, and won't give up my clearview. That, together with fork and fairing wind deflectors, along with Hog Chopps, totally eliminate wind buffeting. Just want to get a feel for realistic mpg.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 935
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
the wind sees the windshield as a smooth obstacle. if you rode without it, or a smaller one, your body is not near as slick as the wind sees it. my fuel economy is anywhere from mid 30's and as high as 42 or so. it did drop considerably, from 40+ to 35 or less, when i installed the pcv and i must just have the wrong "canned" map in it. i may end up going back to stock, as it ran just fine without the pcv. mine is an 08 sg, with the screamin eagle air cleaner, rinehart slip ons, and the stage 1 download. the pcv did seem to increase the roll on power, or torque, but i preferred the fuel economy i had with it before the install of the pcv. it seems as though the bike did cool down some when i installed it, but that could have been me trying to justify the money for the pcv also. i still haven't made up my mind on the issue.
Factory AFR is 13.7-ish, so by going to 14.0 by 14IED shouldn't make that big a difference. Thanks for your help!