Gas mileage
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Maria di Camisano, Italy
RE: Gas mileage
Like it was said, it really depends on the speed.
I took a trip in August from Savannah to Baltimore, primarily on I-95, averaging around 80mph ('06 RK Classic, completely stock intake and exhaust, loaded down with a large rucksack on the backseat and a smaller one on the rack).
At 150 miles my gas light would go on and I'd fill it up at about 160 miles with 4.5 or 4.6 gallons. I averaged about 34 mpg.
Going down to Biketoberfest along Hwy 17 and A1A from Savannah averaging 55mph, (still stock[&o], two up, small ruck on luggage rack) I filled it up at about 180 miles and the light hadn't come on yet. I think I figured it out to be around 48 mpg.
So that's a difference between about 34mpg and 48mpg. Very significant and I'm sure speed was the factor.
I don't know about crappy winter gas, but I do know that when gas is cold you'll actually get more in your tank. They say the best time to fill it up is in the morning during the summer because gasoline tends to expand considerably when it warms up.
I took a trip in August from Savannah to Baltimore, primarily on I-95, averaging around 80mph ('06 RK Classic, completely stock intake and exhaust, loaded down with a large rucksack on the backseat and a smaller one on the rack).
At 150 miles my gas light would go on and I'd fill it up at about 160 miles with 4.5 or 4.6 gallons. I averaged about 34 mpg.
Going down to Biketoberfest along Hwy 17 and A1A from Savannah averaging 55mph, (still stock[&o], two up, small ruck on luggage rack) I filled it up at about 180 miles and the light hadn't come on yet. I think I figured it out to be around 48 mpg.
So that's a difference between about 34mpg and 48mpg. Very significant and I'm sure speed was the factor.
I don't know about crappy winter gas, but I do know that when gas is cold you'll actually get more in your tank. They say the best time to fill it up is in the morning during the summer because gasoline tends to expand considerably when it warms up.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 13
From: MA
RE: Gas mileage
I would think if it was the SERT I'd see crappy mileage at all speeds. Based on the other
responses, I think you just pay a big penalty in fuel consumption with speeds over 65.
I could be wrong.
responses, I think you just pay a big penalty in fuel consumption with speeds over 65.
I could be wrong.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 3
From:
RE: Gas mileage
A couple things were touched on here. Aerodynamic drag being the major. A batwing slips through the air cleaner than a "barndoor", a frame-mount better than a batwing, lowers better than not, hardbags vs, soft, etc. Minimizing turbulence at the back also plays a role, once you slice through the air, it has to return. The swirl motion of the air returning to it's original path can be "spoiled" to your advantage. Case in point: club racing VW's years ago, rabbit GTI's were always slightly faster than Sciroccos due to a larger rear surface area for the wind swirl to "push" the car forward. Efficiency whether measured in speed or MPG's is part of basic physics 101. Winter fuel is another subject. Because of lower temperatures, refineries blend more volatile fuels in with the gasoline. Ether is a common winter additive, propane in extreme climates. Imagine the evaporation in summer with ether, that's why modern gas caps are tightly sealed.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 0
From: Glendale, AZ.
RE: Gas mileage
ORIGINAL: rpt63
I been getting an average of 43mpg on my 06 RC ,70mph two up and SE Pro/SE a/c and the HD download. I wounder if the sert is hurting fuel milage?
I been getting an average of 43mpg on my 06 RC ,70mph two up and SE Pro/SE a/c and the HD download. I wounder if the sert is hurting fuel milage?
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Oregon
2014 Twin cooled FLHTK, SE Street Cannon exhaust, stock cat, Fuel Moto intake, DK Customs external breather kit, PowerVision 2 running a tuned map from Fuel moto. Last fillup was at 270 miles with 5.2 gal for 51.9 mpg using Non-Ethanol Premium! Thats being conservative with the throttle on Oregon backroads averaging 60-65. With the crap ethanol fuel, that figure is closer to 46-47mpg and has been as low as 44. Your fuel will make a big difference in your mileage, reguardless of what the politicians would have you believe
Last edited by sdwold; Oct 7, 2014 at 07:23 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Athens Alabama
2014 ultra classic I've tried pure gas , 89 thru 93 octane highway and city and I average 43 mpg + - .5
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