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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Awesome mileage all of a sudden.
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Message started by Sandy Koocanusa on 06/13/08 at 20:29:12

Title: Awesome mileage all of a sudden.
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 06/13/08 at 20:29:12

Took a cruise with Kay today. She's getting more and more confident, and our speed probably averaged around 60-65. All I've done to the bike lately is set the valve lash (from less than .002" to about .004") and more or less gut the stock muffler. I am getting plenty of loud backfires on decel, but nothing new at shutdown. So I'm running pretty lean at speed, I guess.

My question is this: Should any or all of those factors (slightly lower than usual speed, valves, and lean running) add up to my getting 64.9 mpg on the trip today? I average about 52 mpg in my day-to-day running around at about 70 mph.

I realize one tank isn't enough to get a good reading, but my mileage was better today. A LOT better. I was thinking the exhaust was a little too loud and maybe I'd put some stuffing back in, but if that is what caused this improvement, I might just keep it the way it is. Who needs happy neighbors anyway?

Thoughts?

Title: Re: Awesome mileage all of a sudden.
Post by JakeB on 06/13/08 at 21:11:45

It was most likely the speed that caused the improvement, the best i ever got was 67 mpg and that was doing 60-65 mph steadily. Stopping and starting is what lowers mpg most times so when you just ride highway with few stops starts and shifts your mileage will be higher than around town riding. Maybe if the clearance was too tight a valve might have been not seating fully and you could lose compression there but I doubt that at .002" clearance. It probably wasn't the pipe because the fuel is still metered by the same jets, and if you leave the pipe that way be sure to rejet to proper mixture so your not running too hot (this should also raise your mpg a tiny bit due to the power gain).

Title: Re: Awesome mileage all of a sudden.
Post by Paladin. on 06/14/08 at 07:13:42

A lot of start/stop riding will lower mileage. I get about 45 mpg city, on whatever California serves up in lieu of gasoline.

Steady state cruising at moderate speed will give you high mileage. From Parker AZ to North Palm Springs CA on California Route 62 -- 153.5 miles, 2.2 gallons.

Title: Re: Awesome mileage all of a sudden.
Post by barry68v10 on 06/14/08 at 08:53:46

When my bike was still stock, I'd get about 68 mpg on the highway.

Now, I seem to get around 60 mpg under the same conditions but the bike runs cooler now...

Title: Re: Awesome mileage all of a sudden.
Post by Jay on 06/14/08 at 19:48:54

OUCH! Since I did the white spacer mod, my mileage has been about 45-50 mpg. It was about 50-55 mpg, pre mod. Most of my riding is at 70mph on the slab. I'd try cutting back to 60mph, but my mileage would go way up. It don't burn much fuel bein' a hood ornimate on a cage. ;D
Ride safe,
Jay