Gas Mileage

[Gary Harris]

Gas Mileage
I know this is a sore subject to most dragon owners. I just made a 6,028 mile trip to Canada . I took my 1500 Vulcan because of the gas mileage. I'm not so much concerned about the extra gas expenses; I just want the ability to ride  300 miles across the plains without running out of gas. I averaged around 43 mpg with the Vulcan and rode one leg of 190 miles . This last week I rode my Valkyrie and tried to get the best mileage I could. I stayed below 3,000 rpm's and didn't twist the throttle one time . And That's hard to do. I checked 3 connective tanks and got 40 mpg with one leg of 156 miles without hitting reserve. Has anybody got better than 40 mpg of several connective tanks? If you have what do you do to boost mileage? Like to ride the Valkyrie to Alaska some day but need more than  300  mile legs. Does anybody have any good info on gas mileage?

|Gary on the Magic Dragon

[Valker]

I've ridden to Alaska twice and neither time did I have a range of over 200 miles. I never had to worry about gas. I did NOT take the Dempster to Inuvik nor the Dalton to the North Slope, but that was all I didn't do. My Valk with an Interstate tank does 200 fine. You might consider a different tank ot a belly tank. The belly tank gives an extra 3 gallons.

[Zorba]

I have got as high as 42 MPG at 65 MPH ?!
actually picked up about 2 or 3 more miles per gallon at 65 -70 mph after "polishing" the intakes ?
Put "MMO" in every other tank to keep the carbs clean and effecient!

[mikehallbackhoe]

How much do you weigh ? are you carrying a passenger? how much doed yor luggage weigh?

[Gary Harris]

I was riding by myself and I weigh 165 lbs. with on baggage on the Valkyrie.

With the  Vulcan on the trip I was carrying about a 100 lbs.

Does polishing the ports  make it idle rough or hesitate on takeoffs or hard to start on cold days.  My Valkyrie runs and starts great and I don't sacrifice that.

[mikehallbackhoe]

I weigh 175 lbs, and average 45 mpg,  have gotten 50 mpg more than once, however, with my 100 lb wife onboard, mileage drops to low 40's , I think polishing the intakes is a waste of time, they already flow better than the heads. polishing them doesn't seem to hurt anything though. if you send me a message, I would be happy to share some mileage tips with you.

[Zorba]

Well i know it's not my imagination that after i polished them i got a little better milage because i chrcked it mathmatically several times, so for me it wasn't a waiste of time but a real improvement!
Not sure if you can get 50 MPG out of Valk at 65 MPH maybe at 30 in fifth with no wind, not even sure about that but i'll believe you did if you say so!

[Valker]

I have gotten low to mid 50s on a couple of tanks. That was in the mountains of CO and NM keeping speed near the speed limits. I get 40s on a regular basis. Lowest ever was 26.

[Gary Harris]

the best I've ever gotten is 41 MPG and I was riding the pig Trail back in July on the rally and was riding the twisties hard . don't really see how  I got that good; but haven't gotten that good since. My bike is stock with 9400 miles on it . I'll try some MMO and change the air filter and clean the plugs . Maybe that will help . would appreciate any other help.

[mikehallbackhoe]

my 50 mpg  is also in the mountains, and as far as polishing the intakes go, the heads do not flow as well as the intakes, so I don't see how polishing them will help, I tried it, and saw no improvement, but if it helped you, that's great.

[jim oneill]

Wow!  Best I get is 38, one up rider 200 lbs with Memphis Shades shield.  Before installing the shield I got 41

[Legender]

Mostly see mid 40s if I behave.  Like others in the mountains of Colorado I've seen in the 60's a couple of times... but when you're cruising 20 miles down a mountain that's easy to do.  I find I can't push it too much in the mountain twisties as I scrape the hard parts.  But I do find I get consistently better gas mileage on higher elevation trips.  Worse gas mileage was 25 about a year ago when I was max throttle going up and over Raton pass.  Sure was fun though.  I would imagine I generally ride fairly conservatively compared to most.

[storm]

It's amazing - My GL18 get a steady 48 and up to 54 if I keep it under 65. Best I have done with the Valk is 41 which was about as good as my old 91 GL1500 did.
Bumping up the speed to 75 or better really does a number on the mpg's. Worst so far has been 32.7
This is riding solo and on the big GL it doesn't matter if it's 1up or 2 as long as I don't push the speed. Best mileage has been int he mountains. I guess they like hills.

[MrBones]

My best is only 36 and thats only been once. And yes I have tried the different MPH but it still sucks. So don't guess I will ever get to the milage you do. But no she is mine and I will not give her up!!  

[storm]

It's like I always say sometimes.

Never buy a motorcycle for mileage, if you do you end up with a moped.