Wind causes dramatic difference in mileage?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,168
From: SE Michigan
Wind causes dramatic difference in mileage?
I'm pretty good at stuffing as much gas in as I can without spilling, I believe I'm very consistent at it.
Yesterday, it was very windy going west, I rode an hour by highway each way.
31 MPG on the way there (west), 41 MPG on the way back. Cruise set at 80 both ways.
Is that unusual?
Yesterday, it was very windy going west, I rode an hour by highway each way.
31 MPG on the way there (west), 41 MPG on the way back. Cruise set at 80 both ways.
Is that unusual?
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Enid, OK
Almost exactly what I got last weekend on the same kind of trip. Bike fought hard to do 75 into a 25-35mph head wind...so basically it was a 100+mph wind force on a bike doing 3/4 of that speed. Right at 30 mpg going South and just at 40 coming back...I could hear the front tire humming down the road, that's rare. Gotta love the Oklahoma winds.
My normal MPG is 36 with variable winds.
My normal MPG is 36 with variable winds.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
Yup, that's normal. I rode a bicycle from Chicago to Bloomington Indiana, on spring break 1979. First day we rode 42 miles against the wind, and I was exhausted. I thought we would never be able to make Bloomington. Next day wind was at our backs, rode 120 miles, didn't break a sweat.
I am sure that applies even more to a bike with fairing and lowers.
I am sure that applies even more to a bike with fairing and lowers.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,858
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From: PNW
Coming back from Sturgis last year we had a strong head wind. I normally get about 200 miles before the reserve light comes on. This time I was getting 160. Winds really knock the mpg down.
