Bad gas mileage
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 714
6th gear fuel milage sucks the gearing is TOO tall(on the 07-08) the stock motor doesnt make enough power to push that batwing through the wind at 70 so u use alot more throttle,ive made many long highway trips and at 65-70 my milage is about 4 mpg better in 5th.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Northern Alabama
Although I just picked up my '05 Ultra Classic about a month ago (~1000 miles now) I have been riding home builts & metrics for quite some time (like near 50 years). What I have found is that the brand of fuel seems to matter regardless of the octane rating posted at the pump. I just returned from a 250 trip to Nashville TN and back and averaged 45 mpg. I filled up before I left then in Nashville and then @ home to calculate mpg.
Last edited by Route66rider; Mar 28, 2010 at 08:52 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From:
Hi guys. I've been wondering about my milage as well. On my 2010 I have noticed that its very hard to actually fill the tank to capacity. The gas pump will kick off with the fuel down in the tank several inches. I keep filling (carefully) but never seems to fill up. last fill up I got more that 1/2 gal more in the tank before I just quit. This fill point changing can also effect your calculations. My 06 softail ( 5 gal tank) would fill up. Is this just me?
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: MI
Sorry for the Hijack....
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Foot Patrol, your experience is very similar to mine. I started out getting between 32 and 33 mpg when brand new and improved to around 37 to 38 mpg with time and mileage. I seriously doubt the dealer did anything to it at the service beyond a general inspection and fluid change.
I'd echo Highwayman's question though. Have you actually checked your mileage running with and without 6th gear? I could see 6th being at a disadvantage if pushing a heavy headwind but haven't checked that myself. If I think about it, I've got a rather long commute to work. I could try a round trip without using 6th gear and see if it does any better. Normally, I'm in 6th most of the way to and from the shop. It would be interesting to see if running 5th helps or hurts. I'm not sure I'd be happy listening to the engine rev's in 5th at 70+. I've gotten rather used to the sub 3000 rpm drone in 6th!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
I'd echo Highwayman's question though. Have you actually checked your mileage running with and without 6th gear? I could see 6th being at a disadvantage if pushing a heavy headwind but haven't checked that myself. If I think about it, I've got a rather long commute to work. I could try a round trip without using 6th gear and see if it does any better. Normally, I'm in 6th most of the way to and from the shop. It would be interesting to see if running 5th helps or hurts. I'm not sure I'd be happy listening to the engine rev's in 5th at 70+. I've gotten rather used to the sub 3000 rpm drone in 6th!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
I live in Texas and it seems we have high winds all the time. I ride my scoot to work on the slab and tend to run at 75-80 mph in 6th. On the weekend I mainly ride the back roads in 5th and am averaging 38/39 mpg. During the week, I am getting around 35/36.
Foot
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Joe Kucinski
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
Steve,
I live in Texas and it seems we have high winds all the time. I ride my scoot to work on the slab and tend to run at 75-80 mph in 6th. On the weekend I mainly ride the back roads in 5th and am averaging 38/39 mpg. During the week, I am getting around 35/36.
Foot
I live in Texas and it seems we have high winds all the time. I ride my scoot to work on the slab and tend to run at 75-80 mph in 6th. On the weekend I mainly ride the back roads in 5th and am averaging 38/39 mpg. During the week, I am getting around 35/36.
Foot
Oh, I understand about Texas. I live in Texas City. My daily commute takes me to the Conroe area and back upwards to four times a week. I generally run around 70 mph as much as traffic permits. I've had a few round trips in the last few weeks were the winds were relatively calm, nothing more than 3 to 5 mph. My mileage on those days ran in the upper 37's to the low 38's. On the windy days, I've gotten back down to the numbers you quote around 35 to 36 give or take.
When you're running those back roads in 5th, what kind of speeds are you averaging? I'm thinking you might be back down between 55 and 65 or so. I've done the same and also started pushing 40. So, IMO, the numbers you quote sound very reasonable for the conditions you describe.
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Spokane Valley, Washington State
My 08 always got around 32 in town, commuting, etc. And about 38 to 40 when on the road with a passenger and gear. I have the same setup on this bike, but so far I'm getting around 30 all the time, but I only have 1200 miles on her...
My previous bikes always improved with time...around 3000 miles seemed to be the magic point, though I'm not absolutely sure about that. I'm hoping it gets around 40 when touring as that would be give me a good range.
My previous bikes always improved with time...around 3000 miles seemed to be the magic point, though I'm not absolutely sure about that. I'm hoping it gets around 40 when touring as that would be give me a good range.