I recorded my worst MC fuel mileage EVER this morning.

[J Backlund]

I ran a steady 85-90 mph indicated from Rapid City to Spearfish, SD on I-90, then went down to a normal, limit-obeying 75 mph to Sundance Wyoming, where I topped-up my 1999 Valkyrie with 3.472 gallons for 84.3 miles ridden.

24.3 mpg.

That's some truly impressive motorcycle suckage there!

Oh well...at least it runs good on our 85 octane regular and not that bigshot pricey stuff some people have to use.

 

[JetDriver]

That's some pretty bad mileage!   Thanks for making us have to do the math.

[J Backlund]

That's some pretty bad mileage!   Thanks for making us have to do the math.

I wonder if the new V-max can match the Valkyire for MPG if ridden sanely? I know one MC magazine test pushed the Max down to 22 mpg with a heavy throttle hand.

[MP]

That is what I will get at that speed.  In fact, I have dropped to 20!  At 85+, aero really sucks!  But, the important part, I bet you enjoyed the ride!

MP

[NITRO]

I've gotten similar mileage running 75-80 into a headwind... and as high as 40 mpg running 55 or less all day. As you can see below, I'm currently averaging 32.6 over my last three tanks (just started keeping track about a week ago).

[El Borrego]

I had similar experience bringing the new Val from Denver to TN.  Ran a hard wind across KS Friday and kept the hammer at 75.  Got a little over 26 to 28.  Yesterday I ran a hard 80/85 for 40+ miles and got 25.  She runs but does get thirsty when you get heavy on the throttle.

[cookiedough]

that is the time going 70 mph+ that a 6th gear would come in handy.  I rarely run over 70 mph and when I do, the rpms sure are up there more so than I would like to have running that fast.
I may be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that the new 2012 goldwing did not come out with a 6th gear for better fuel mileage running on the interstates.   Never gotten below 32 mpg and best pushing 40mpg, must not be running fast enough?

[Fritz]

Oh ya, been there done that. My low was 25mpg on my Tourer running 70-75 into a strong head wind. I've been averaging about 35mpg on my 99 Interstate, but I've never ran high speeds for any length of time.

[MP]

that is the time going 70 mph+ that a 6th gear would come in handy.  I rarely run over 70 mph and when I do, the rpms sure are up there more so than I would like to have running that fast.
I may be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that the new 2012 goldwing did not come out with a 6th gear for better fuel mileage running on the interstates.   Never gotten below 32 mpg and best pushing 40mpg, must not be running fast enough?

My opinion, for what is worth it is free! , is the 6th gear would maybe make 1% change in mpg's.  The mileage loss is MOSTLY coming from the increasing wind drag at the higher speeds.  NOT from higher rpm.  The higher rpm is only a very small part of the loss.

Note the story above, and others, about how low their mileage goes in a strong wind.  That is drag loss, not rpm loss.

MP

[cookiedough]

MP,  I tend to disagree with only 1% mpg gain.  My opinion, but a 6th gear would help to get another 10%+ in fuel economy if properly equipped with the correct gear ratio thus gaining 3-4 mpg running over 70 mph and decreasing rpm's greatly.  I may be wrong, but some HD's with 6th gears are getting  over 40 mpg running at over 70, but then again, it is a HD.  I know a few HD's with 6th gears and the owners state not to shift them into 6th gear until over 65 mph probably due to the gear ratio 6th gear has.

[ossvalk]

Those headwinds can make a difference

Coming home from Maggie I averaged 75 to 85 on the road but had one long stop during a toad strangler in Pa.

I got in the very low 30's as long as I was under 4000rpm  Over that it went into the high 20's

200 series bridgestone battleaxe rear tire  Stock interstate

My worst was also around 27  2 up pulling trailer into the wind

[El Borrego]

I, too, would like that 6th gear.  Making long hauls you could drop into 6th say around 60-65 and cruise with a lower RPM.  Would have to watch gearing.  HDs in E. TN usually never get to 6th gear due to % grade, unless they're going downhill.  They work 4th and 5th pretty hard.  Of course, that's HDs.

[NITRO]

I'm with MP on the 6th gear issue. You're probably around 4K rpm at 80 mph in 5th gear, right? Go ride around in third gear at 4K rpm for a tank (whatever speed that is), I'm sure the mpg on the slower tank with same rpms will be much better. Point is, increasing drag/having to move more air is what's hurting your mileage, not how fast the engine is turning. This is also the same reason that your mileage drops so much when riding into a headwind; you're going the same speed, but have to move more air and get worse mileage as a consequence.

Top Gear was testing some sports car that went over 200 mph and they claimed the problem at that speed is that it's like driving through butter because you have to push so much air around the car.

[MP]

MP,  I tend to disagree with only 1% mpg gain.  My opinion, but a 6th gear would help to get another 10%+ in fuel economy if properly equipped with the correct gear ratio thus gaining 3-4 mpg running over 70 mph and decreasing rpm's greatly.  I may be wrong, but some HD's with 6th gears are getting  over 40 mpg running at over 70, but then again, it is a HD.  I know a few HD's with 6th gears and the owners state not to shift them into 6th gear until over 65 mph probably due to the gear ratio 6th gear has.

"Some" Valkyries get 40mpg.  Valks have 6 carbs, not one modern fuel injection system.  We are putting out 90-100 hp, while that HD is putting out 65-75hp.  Valks weigh 100# or so MORE than most HD's. I would hazard that MOST valks get ridden harder than MOST HD's.

Instead of opinion, both mine and yours, how about an actual test of a faster ratio top gear?

Here is the best report of installing a higher speed fifth gear.  Not a 6th, but changing over to a faster ratio 5th, the same as running in cruise in 6th.  BigBF is probably the BEST Valkyrie mechanic out there.  At the time of this writing, and still is.  He goes to all the VRCC Inzanes, and works til midnight every night on bikes.

You can argue that the 6 speed is a different animal as far as the terrible performance he got, but the key to this argument on this thread, is that it did NOT help his fuel mileage any.

Link here:   http://www.bigbf.com/bigbf_shop/transmission/final.htm

I think the biggest benefit would be the one between OUR ears!  ie, we would like to hear the motor run slower rpms.  However, as some have over 300-400,000 miles on a valk, without tear down, it certainly does not hurt the engine any.

MP

[J Backlund]

I think the biggest benefit would be the one between OUR ears!  ie, we would like to hear the motor run slower rpms.  However, as some have over 300-400,000 miles on a valk, without tear down, it certainly does not hurt the engine any.

MP

One of the things about the Valkyire that I had a hard time getting used to was my impression that the engine was running faster than it actually is. This aural illusion is no doubt caused by the fact that the bike has almost no exhaust note other than a steady moan, which is of a relatively higher pitch due to six 'little' 250s down there rather than two 750's throbbing away. I consider my Valkyrie's engine as a slow-turning powerplant as compared to most multi-cylindered motorcycle engines.

I don't really enjoy riding my Valkyire at speeds above 65-70 because it's SO pleasant to ride under that threshold. I'm happiest upshifting it at around 3500...4000 if I'm in a 'hurry', and putting it around the Black Hills area at 2000-2500 rpm in top on level road, downshifting on uphills or other load demands, of course.

My 2009 Kawasaki 1400 Concours is almost as lousy on fuel as the Valkyire, but the Honda is my bike of choice (by far) for casual local riding. The Concours almost lives to be ridden at 70 and above, while my Valkyrie is almost the opposite in that it 'lives' to be ridden at 70 and below, while retaining the margin to apply it's power if called upon to do so for passing...beating Harley's, etc.