Warm weather this weekend in Kansas took me a total of 134 miles before I had to fill up. I added 4.3 gallons for 31 mpg. I have searched and read the gas mileage threads and cannot figure why my stock 06 Ultra Classic with 21,000 miles can only get 31. There was a 15-20 mph crosswind and I was on cruise control at 75 mph riding solo. I thought I was driving conservatively. (OK, I passed 3 or 4 trucks) My concern is not with the cost, but it is with the range. Any suggestons?

 

WOW...i get on average 46-48 & my best is 51 when the wife & i ride.
maybe need a filter change or bad gas?

 

That ain't right. Even though the wind really does blow in Kansas. I gotta work to get down to 44 mpg with a Stage ll motor in the Road King.What octane/brand fuel?

 

The salesman said it was just serviced before I brought it home 2 weeks ago. I put 91 octane/ 10% ethanol (its all I can get up here). I may make a call to the dealer on Tuesday. I want to give him a chance not to be a weasel before I assume he is.

 

I have a heavy wrist... and I usually have to fill up after 180ish miles. Haha

 

it's a used bike are you SURE it is stock.

at 75 mph you should be around 38-40

IF you have extra weight, MPG will drop ( like gold bars in the saddlebags)
IF you have added deflectors etc., that makes a bigger profile to push through the wind, mpg will drop

are you sure the wind was a crosswind and no headwind at all ?




mike

 

Because you are giving accurate figures..........

The difference between 55 mph and 75 mph is where all your gas went.

The only HD's I see getting 50 mpg are light Sportsters & Dynas not heavy Ultras.

Don't worry about internet bullshit as when you ride with these guys that get 50 mpg riding at 80 mph all day and monitor the bike & fuel intake for them they start coming up with excuses as to why suddenly there fuel usage has gone up.

 

I will check for gold bars in the saddlebags. I hope to God thats the problem. No I am not sure about anything yet, I am learning as fast as I can read about stage 1 upgrades, tuning, mapping. Its was more of a crosswind though. I stayed off the bike on Saturday, the wind was at 35 and gusting to 50, I did not want to be riding outside of my skill level, but I did see some riders around Wichita managing the wind just fine. Maybe the next nice day, I will cruise the back roads at 55 and see how much it improves the mileage.

 

Better a heavy wrist than a limp one.

 

Last trip I went on my mileage ranged from 37-43, I think the worst I've ever got was around 33 but thats not the norm. Normal for me is between 38-44 my bike is completely stock, 31 sounds low.