I don't get it.......
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
I posed that MPG question to a buddy of mine and his response was who cares its for enjoyment and frankly dont worry about it till it starts to run funny then I have it looked at....theres a lot of truth in that but I still check it every time....Im guessing your obsessive like most of us. That buddy I asked about the mileage not even a little bit....so there you go. I would def pose the question to your mechanic tho.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Republic of Texas
Judging from your sig pic, I'd say your poor MPG may be related to a carb problem. As in, you're consuming too many carbs. Just kidding, I have the same profile. I would say that these bikes are rated at a 180 lb rider, by the EPA and fairly small differences in weight can affect MPG. My Limited is rated at a combined MPG of 42, with highway MPG of 52. I doubt I'll ever see that, I run about 10% less and I'm about 15% over the "ideal" rider weight.
Not sayin', just sayin'
Bear
Not sayin', just sayin'
Bear
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Might as well face it - you're going to have to tune your bike yourself. These days there's very few shops that have the expertise to tune a carb. Hell, even back in '02 very few could actually tune both for power and mileage. Fattening up the jetting for more power is easy - tuning for power AND mileage, not so much.
If your carb is equipped with an aftermarket adjustable needle you can lean the cruising mix yourself by moving the clip up one position at a time. Do a little research and you'll find plenty of info about reading plugs which will help.
If you don't have an adjustable needle, get one. (A DynoJet kit is a good place to get one.)
You can get good mileage out of your carbed bike with the 5 speed. Got a couple of buds that regularly get in the high 40's cruising. One of them ('03 WideGlide) regularly gets 50-52 at 75-80 mph cruise. I get 40-42 with my '95 EGC at 70-75. Beyond those speeds it drops rapidly, though (it's geared even shorter than your '02).
If your carb is equipped with an aftermarket adjustable needle you can lean the cruising mix yourself by moving the clip up one position at a time. Do a little research and you'll find plenty of info about reading plugs which will help.
If you don't have an adjustable needle, get one. (A DynoJet kit is a good place to get one.)
You can get good mileage out of your carbed bike with the 5 speed. Got a couple of buds that regularly get in the high 40's cruising. One of them ('03 WideGlide) regularly gets 50-52 at 75-80 mph cruise. I get 40-42 with my '95 EGC at 70-75. Beyond those speeds it drops rapidly, though (it's geared even shorter than your '02).
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 265
Likes: 10
From: Northern Wisconsin
a few more variables to consider, tire pressures can play a big part here. I typically set them 36/36 for solo baggers, 36/40 for two riders with luggage. Also, consider altitude and fuel quality, not all fuel contains the same amount of energy potential per gallon. Cheap gas may not get you as far as the best gas you can buy. Also, cylinder heads are not consistent in manufacturing, so your head flow may restrictive, or you may have one chamber a bit bigger than the other. Still , the biggest variable is the nut behind the throttle. ;^)
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 34
From: Texas
I don't buy it that the five speed is the issue - my current 06 Ultra and 82 shovelhead flt have five speed transmissions and my previous evo EG had a five speed. All of these bikes would easily get 36-40 MPG on the highway. The worst of the bunch, the 1996 EG averaged out at 35mpg. None of them have had a lot done to them - all had improved airflow and the two carbed bikes were rejetted a little, but nothing drastic. Average highway speed was 65-75. Never spend much time at 80.
Unless your gearing was changed, I would think that carb and/or ignition are part of the issue. How are the plugs? Plugs tell the story of how the engine is running. I am no mechanic, but others might recommend a compression check (easy and inexpensive).
Unless your gearing was changed, I would think that carb and/or ignition are part of the issue. How are the plugs? Plugs tell the story of how the engine is running. I am no mechanic, but others might recommend a compression check (easy and inexpensive).
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
I must be lucky as hell. When I'm riding solo I get 48-52 MPG on my 96 EGC. When the old lady rides with me it drops down to about 42-45. Now we typically stay off the interstate which means we top out at about 65-70. And neither one of us are little people, probably have about 500 lbs of people and stuff on the bike.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
I've never worried about gas milage, but because of another post about it i did check mine having just come off a day long trip and was needing gas going to work the next day. My 06 EG, with cam up grade, V&H, Big Sucker, EFI, tires at max pressure, two up, 75 on the interstate, loaded with alot of gear, up and down hills, wind blowing pretty good i got 26 mpg, i dont worry about it, when i need gas i pull over and fill it up, i think sometimes as long as your not leaking gas on the ground, bike runs good, isnt washing the cylinders down with gas, or fauling the plugs the money a person spends on chaising a few mpg will never be regained if you do find a way to get your milage up 5 mpg. Wind, hills, load your carrying, stopping, traffic, and rpm among a thousand other things affect mpg, ride it , enjoy it, when your guage says empty, put more gas in.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
[QUOTE=fabrik8r;9742368]
I have an '06 SG that sports a 95", 100+/100+ motor that regularly gets 45 mpg at a 70-75 mph cruising speed. It'll do even better if I keep it down around 65-70.
Ya, it's a 5 speed (that does better than most - but not all - of my bud's with their 6 speeds).
Conclusion: rpm's are not necessarily the sole contributing factor to better mileage.
I have an '06 SG that sports a 95", 100+/100+ motor that regularly gets 45 mpg at a 70-75 mph cruising speed. It'll do even better if I keep it down around 65-70.
Ya, it's a 5 speed (that does better than most - but not all - of my bud's with their 6 speeds).
Conclusion: rpm's are not necessarily the sole contributing factor to better mileage.
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