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Don't forget it seems like most of todays bikes have some serious speed errors in their speedos. This affects the odometer too.
A speedo showing a + 5 mph error will return 3.18 more mpg than a correct speedo and errors are usually linear so if you are crusing at max error you are showing much better mileage. 6% deviation at 80 mph = 4.8 mph and 6% at 35 mph = 2.1 mph. Bikes with mpg readouts use the ECM to cakculate actual metered fuel that goes through the injectors but still rely on the speedo to get mileage.
Good points - it all adds up and drives the user's calculation one way or another.
06 RKC, stage one, true duals. I consistanly get 33-35 mpg no matter how or where I ride. Fuel type makes little to no difference for me. Sert and dyno tuned. Bike runs great, wouldn't change a thing except I always wonder about these claims of 40-50 mpg. I've asked this question before and mpg's are all over the board. I've just accepted that I'm going to get around 34 mpg with this bike and like it!!!
My 11 RK with stage-1 and a FM mapped PCV I'm always around 43 to 45 mpg on average. My lowest when driving hard was 36 and my best was 49 taking it nice and easy.
Wind makes a huge difference in mpg when riding with that big sail in the front. I used to have an Ultra and mpg would drop over 10mpg in heavy wind out west. The ethanol also costs you about 10% in energy efficiency. Ride on a calm day and you will probably get over 40mpg.
my 07 stock got around 50 mpg, then got a download, not stage 1, just a new download, went to 47-48 mpg, then did air cleaner, and stage 1 download went down t0 around 45-46, then Power commander 42-43 and finally added a set of Andrews cams and now i consistently get 38-40 mpg....
I asked if it was stock as 2 threads in the past couple of days involved used bikes which were not as represented ( 1 was "stock" and had been modified with intake, tuner and pipes, one had "performance pipes", but was found to be stock)
you need more data, keep a log of fill ups and mileage ( like our Dads did)
a couple of things, MPG is reduced by ethanol in about the exact proportion added.
so 10% Ethanol = 10% less MPG
my bike gets 43 mpg at 65~70 tested over thousands of miles. ( with 10% ethanol blends)
It's a stage 1 2009 EG Classic 96" with xieds ( No tuner). slightly smaller windscreen, solo packing about 50 pounds of crap ( no gold either)
air resistance:
I did extensive testing on my '95 EG Classic ( stage 1 80" evo) over tens of thousands of miles.above 50 mph air eats alot of power.
on that bike at
65 MPH = 45 MPG
75 MPH = 38 MPG
85 MPH = 31 MPG
using these figures I eventually figured out that riding PHX- LA, I had a lower ET if I rode at the speed limit, if I rode my usual 7 or 10 over, I had to make a 2nd fuel stop. ( and I really worked on tuning the carb and ignition advance for the best economy and power I could get)
This is a trip I do quite often.
65 MPH for 30 miles, 75 MPH for 133 miles, 70 MPH for 200 miles, 55 mph for 40 miles
My best economy ever was a day at Yellowstone at 35~40 mph and yielded over 55 MPG
Mike
mkguitar did some thorough research on fuel economy. My '04 EG 88 with stage 2 averages 40-43 MPG driving the posted speed limit. Every 5 MPH I push past it corresponds to an approximate 2 MPG drop. If you are running a stock bike have a mechanic go over it thoroughly and check it for engine codes. Something is just not right.
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