First tank of gas

[Jerryleejr]

I have been reading the posts on fuel mileage and was wondering about the first tank of gas. What was your mileage? I hit reserve at around 120 that was a sputtering stop switched to reserve and found a gas station. I havent been heavy on the throttle or speed but I wasnt expecting to coast to the side of the road that soon. I will keep checking it and to see if it improves if not I may have to start the mods. It is a brand new bike with only 123 mile on it now. So who knows. I will go out and ride tomm.

[ossiningvalkyrie]

Interstate tank (God I hope not) or is it the standard tank?
How do you define not heavy on throttle or speed:p

[Valker]

120 miles to reserve happens depending on how you filled up. If you fill just to the bottom of the filler neck instead of filling real slow and getting it closer to the top, 120 is normal. If you stand it up straight so it holds more gas, I hit reserve at about 130-140 (Interstate should go farther since it has a bigger tank). Speed has more to do with mileage than anything. If I am running slow in the mountains or like the Blue Ridge Parkway, I get nearly 50 mpg which means I hit reserve at about 210. If I am running a steady 85-95 mph, I get about 27 mpg. I have talked with people who run 130+ steady and hit reserve at 65-70 miles. I usually get about 32-33 mpg.
Reserve should just be a feeling of gradually slowing, slow acceleration, rough running, etc. instead of the engine just stopping. If you are having to coast to the side, switch to reserve earlier. (Forgive me if you know all this)
My worst mileage of ANY trip is always the first tank or two. It just seems to get better as the trip progresses.

[Jerryleejr]

It is a standard not an interstate and as for the throttle and speed I am still breaking her in so I havent rev'ed it above 4 grand and havent run above 70mph. Valker it may be the way I filled up with gas I will try getting a more level stance. I had seen that tip somewhere before but I dont know if I did that when I filled up last or not.

[Cycho]

Try to keep her under 3500 rpm,  over that those six carbs will really dump some gas.  If you start with a full tank figure on about 140 to reserve at 3500 (about 75mph), and 160 - 170 to push......  And a Valk is a lot of push.  Works out to about 37 mpg.

When on the highway I normally run 75 - 80.  I get 142 miles before reserve reguraly.  I fuel up with the bike level and fill it to the neck.  

My valk lets me know gently when it hits reserve.  Never just quits.

Sparky

I am really impressed with the milage you all are gitting. From Windover, Nevada to Tooele, Utah is 98 mi. I am already on reserve when I pull into the station just off the Tooele exit. BUT (that is a big but) I ran  85 and 90 all the way.

[Valker]

If you fill it on the sidestand and don't trickle it in, it won't hold as much.

[OURide2]

My gas mileage riding around town and to work is about 38 MPG or about 150 miles per tank full.  Riding on trips on the interstate highways, going about 80-85 mph I get 122 miles per tank or about 31 MPG.  I find going above 30 to 3200 RPM's really lowers the gas mileage.  But I have heard alot of complaints from buyers of the 2003 Standard regarding low MPG's around 30-31.  I think, thought, I've finally got used to those frequent stops at gas stations, especially hard after riding a 750 ACE for years and getting almost 170 miles on three gallons of gas.

I've never gotten less than 29mpg & not more than 49mpg BUT I havn't ever got through a whole tank without hitting the throttle stop yet ,Gawd I love the arm socket dislocating accelleration! Only had this sweetheart for 3 years & bought it new so sometime I might try to just see how far she will really go. 2001 std/interstate springs/6deg trigger/supertrapps (still fooling with disks to find what I like best) .really get around 40 average.
paduka1:p

Originally posted by mike gamble
BUT I havn't ever got through a whole tank without hitting the throttle stop yet ,:p

hehehehe, could be why I only get 33 average, 130 miles. New tires have helped a little, I occasionally see 38-40, if I drive like I have sense, must be why I see 33 mostly. I have gotten as low as 25, but I was beating "Big Yeller"  like a dog.