Lower fork deflectors lowering your MPG?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 13, 2012 | 02:41 PM

Arizona Mike

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 50

Likes: 1

From: Gold Canyon, Arizona

Lower fork deflectors lowering your MPG?

It appears that adding lower wind deflectors on the forks ('00 FLH) block enough extra air to reduce my MPG by 4-5. Anyone else who's added them notice such a drop?

Dec 13, 2012 | 03:07 PM

samason

Advanced

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 59

Likes: 0

From: South Mississippi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

It appears that adding lower wind deflectors on the forks ('00 FLH) block enough extra air to reduce my MPG by 4-5. Anyone else who's added them notice such a drop?

I have them . Haven't noticed anything except that my head doesn't shake like a paint mixing machine anymore.

Dec 13, 2012 | 04:09 PM

beary

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 4,928

Likes: 285

From: Edmond Oklahoma

While sticking anything out in the wind will cause more drag, I wouldn' think they would be enough to really notice. I don't notice much of a hit with my lower fairings.

Beary

Dec 13, 2012 | 04:25 PM

Uncle Larry

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 157,520

Likes: 57,070

From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell

I had them on my 1992 FLHTCU and didn't notice any loss of fuel economy ... but I did have some minimal clearance problems on a full turn.

Dec 13, 2012 | 04:46 PM

GPHDXLC

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 4,599

Likes: 421

From: Lansing mi

I never noticed that on mine.

Dec 13, 2012 | 04:52 PM

karbar99

Club Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 479

Likes: 1

From: In the flatlands!

Quote:

Originally Posted by samason

I have them . Haven't noticed anything except that my head doesn't shake like a paint mixing machine anymore.

+1

To AM: 4-5 mpg loss??? No, I don't think so!

Last edited by karbar99; Dec 13, 2012 at 04:54 PM.

Dec 13, 2012 | 05:22 PM

fwb35

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 1,672

Likes: 18

From: Orange, VA,

something else is wrong, I put lower fairings and the wings on and did not see a difference other then the bike feels more stable with lower fairings in wind gusts.

Trending Topics

Interview - A Straight-Talking Harley-Davidson Dealer

121

6.2k
Well Monday will tell

25

436
Cam chest noise

42

1.2k
Dipsticks

21

403
New Softail Recall on Brakes

53

3.2k

Dec 13, 2012 | 05:54 PM

Turbo Turtle

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 1,635

Likes: 13

From: 501

Looking at mine from the front, with passing lights, Their is actually not much exposed to open wind. I figure I have way more wind resistance with my feet on the highway pegs, then I get from the deflectors. My best millage has been 49mpg. I have seen 48mpg riding double. So in my opinion, you have other issues than the deflectors.
I might add that certain times I tend to ride harder than others, which easily leads to a minimum 4 to 5mpg lose, over what I can get by easy riding. Heck, recently I got just 140mi. on four and a half gallons. So what does that tell you! ROFL (-;