gas mileage

[doubleminded]

I have a 98 tourer,26,000 miles on it.Cobra six over six pipes.It runs perfectly.Last 2 tanks were 24 and 27.7 mpg.The texas forum says all their bikes get a lot more than that.I have heard that 30 mpg is average for a valkyrie.I do a lot of stop and go riding.short trips on the interstate,20 miles each way,and i dont hot rod it for more than a 1/4 mile and not too often.one guy says if he rides 55-60 miles an hour he gets near 40.I would own a honda rebel if i was going to ride at that speed.So what mileage per gallon should I get.I have been told maybe the cobra jetting was too rich.I haven taken out any plugs because like i said the bike runs great.Input appreciated.

[MP]

Seems low, riding the way you describe.  I have gone on reserve at 74 miles on my standard, but that is at 80+ mph on highway.  Speed DOES matter, but you seem to not be up there.  You may be too rich on the jetting. Pull plugs and see.

I believe there are notches you can change a clip in to change it some, unless PO changed them out to bigger.

MP

[cookiedough]

can't hurt to pull plugs and if dirty or sooty/black, I would just replace them even with such low mileage.  My 2001 stock I/S bought 3-4 years ago or so only had 14.5K mileage on it.  Didn't run right since sitting around not being used for a few years.  I decided to change plugs even though looked o.k. but a little black and sooty, same NGK plugs, and I think it helped in terms of running performance, but no difference in gas mileage that I saw.  Spark plugs are cheap to replace about 3-4 bucks each and I figured being almost 10 years old at the time with original OEM NGK spark plugs, was time to change due to age regardless of low mileage.  It probably won't help mpg, but easy to pull the plugs, inspect, and for 20 bucks or so might as well replace all 6 while you are at it, cannot hurt.  I get on average 35 mpg and best was almost 40 and worst 32 mpg.  I've heard cobra pipes lowers gas mileage a few, but not that much.  Unless you run like a wild child, I doubt you should see very few times below 30 mpg per tank.

[doubleminded]

Thanks guys.I am going to follow your advice.

[JetDriver]

I agree with above.  25 mpg seems low for the riding style you describe.  I would say 30 mpg would be on the LOW end of average.  (Can you HAVE a low end of average? )  Changing spark plugs won't hurt anything, but it's not going to affect your mileage at all.  It begs further investigation.

[doubleminded]

i dont know how vacuum lines,petcocks,and air filters need replacing and the bike run so well.but all but the petcock are easy and free to check.petcocks are expensive.how do they affect mileage.

[hoser]

The air cleaner is easy to change, just requires tank removal, which you would have to do to put a cover set on the petcock.  Simply stated, less air flow, more gas used due to rich condition caused by less air flow.  Cost around 30 bux bought on line.  About the same for cover set.    Hoser

[doubleminded]

The air cleaner is easy to change, just requires tank removal, which you would have to do to put a cover set on the petcock.  Simply stated, less air flow, more gas used due to rich condition caused by less air flow.  Cost around 30 bux bought on line.  About the same for cover set.    Hoser

Thanks for the information.

[ValkThree]

My last standard averaged 32mpg. I would say I ride mostly normal which means 10mph over the speed limit and a mix of methods moving off a stop.

My interstate even with the trike conversion still get exactly the same - 31.2-34.6 or for the most part around 32.

I have a fuelog app on my android to keep track as I can deduct mileage on my business taxes and it will give me the standing averages at every fill.

My ST1100 gets exactly the same mileage so the Valkyrie is not really any worse or better than most.

Spark plugs are normally have nothing to do with it as even at 100k they can be checked and reinstalled. Air cleaner would be the first thing I would change.

I went with K&N on my wing which is warranted for life. Recommended cleaning is 100k. I didn't notice any fuel mileage boost on the wing but did notice a 2mpg average increase on the STealth11.

[doubleminded]

thanks for the input.mu mileage is better now,for reasons unknown.

[hoser]

Seems low, riding the way you describe.  I have gone on reserve at 74 miles on my standard, but that is at 80+ mph on highway.  Speed DOES matter, but you seem to not be up there.  You may be too rich on the jetting. Pull plugs and see.

I believe there are notches you can change a clip in to change it some, unless PO changed them out to bigger.

MP

Hay, MP, I'm getting 40mpg consistently on my leisurely autumn rides in this cool air, did it again today. 140 miles, 3.5 gallons on fillup. 3000 rpm gets me 60-65 mph, and keeps me at the speed limit on the two lanes I'm usually on.   Hoser

[buzz]

I usually ride 75-80.  I get on average 37-38 mpg. 

[highcountry]

My guess is the Cobra pipes.  My previous Valk was a '98 Tourer with Cobras and it got around 29-30 mpg down to as low as 25.  It only had 18K on it and I had installed a new air filter and plugs.  It just wouldn't break 30 mpg.  My current ride is a '97 Tourer which is bone stock with 12K on it and new air filter and plugs.  It averages around 38 mpg and has gotten up to 41 mpg even riding two-up.  The lowest being 35 mpg.  I ride at 6000' plus elevation here in Colorado which seems to result in better mpg for bikes and cages for some reason.

[salty]

I would put the jetting back to stock and your mpg will pick up dramatically. I have standard jetting, cobra exhaust, K&N air filter and pilots turned out 2 1/2 turns and get 40 mpg at 60 to 65 mph (2900 rpm). The bike runs great. Also, I desmoged "her" to eliminate most of the decel pop. 

Yesterday completed some work on a neighbors Valk and took it for a 156 mile ride. It took 4 gals to top off the tank again - approx. 40 mpg. This bike is bone stock.