Bobby G Posted September 14, 2011 #1 Posted September 14, 2011 Just got back last night after a 6 day, 2000 mile trip from ATL to PA and back, with lots of stops in between, and while the '99 RSV ran great with no mechanical issues, my MPG's were awful. The best I got was 32 on straight stretches of highway riding at an average speed of 72mph. The best overall mileage I got on combined highway/local roads was 35. Either my carbs are way out of whack, or the 10% ethanol is really killing my performance. All other maintenance areas were addressed before the trip, including all fluids and filters. And since the fuel injected Ultras I was riding with all got 42+mpg's on ethanol gas, I'm guessing I need a carb tune to determine if this is the problem. Any north GA area members that have a carb tune kit, I'd love to hook up with you!
Condor Posted September 14, 2011 #2 Posted September 14, 2011 Just got back last night after a 6 day, 2000 mile trip from ATL to PA and back, with lots of stops in between, and while the '99 RSV ran great with no mechanical issues, my MPG's were awful. The best I got was 32 on straight stretches of highway riding at an average speed of 72mph. The best overall mileage I got on combined highway/local roads was 35. Either my carbs are way out of whack, or the 10% ethanol is really killing my performance. All other maintenance areas were addressed before the trip, including all fluids and filters. And since the fuel injected Ultras I was riding with all got 42+mpg's on ethanol gas, I'm guessing I need a carb tune to determine if this is the problem. Any north GA area members that have a carb tune kit, I'd love to hook up with you! My '99 got 26mpg riding to Cody pulling a trailer and running like crap. While in Cody I did a day ride without the trailer and got 40... Before I left home I didn't have time to do anything other than change fluids, so no sync or plugs. I still haven't changed anything but I'm definately thinking about it.... I think the sync and plugs will make'r hum again...
Bobby G Posted September 14, 2011 Author #4 Posted September 14, 2011 Do you tend to run in 4th gear a lot? No, not at all. I understand that higher RPM's lower gas mileage. That would not be the reason in this case.
Trader Posted September 14, 2011 #5 Posted September 14, 2011 There was a thread where someone blew 5th gear...road home with 1-4 only and IMPROVED his gas milage!
Condor Posted September 14, 2011 #6 Posted September 14, 2011 No, not at all. I understand that higher RPM's lower gas mileage. That would not be the reason in this case. Actually it's the reverse.... Wind resistence and 5th gear use fuel like a horse eating oats. When running in the twisties and using 2-3-4, braking in second and powering out of the curves will give surprizing mpg results... And I'm not the only one on this board who's found that out. I know it sounds goofy, but it's true.
RandyR Posted September 14, 2011 #7 Posted September 14, 2011 I have a carbtune in Dahlonega. PM me and we can do the carbtune. I'll be doing my RSTD soon as my mileage also seems to be off lately.
flb_78 Posted September 14, 2011 #8 Posted September 14, 2011 32mpg at over 70mph doesn't sound too bad. In Texas, with 70mph speed limits, I was only getting 28mpg. Now here in Kentucky with 55mph speed limits, Im getting 36mpg.
Eagle77 Posted September 14, 2011 #9 Posted September 14, 2011 Just returned from a 2400 mile trip from N. TX to New Mexico and Colorado. On the way out and back I averaged about 37 MPG. That was riding at around 70 to 75 MPH. Riding in the mountians using 3rd and 4th mostly I was getting 47 MPG. Kinda doesn't make sense to me since I always thouht a steady 70 on freeway type roads would produce the best MPG.
FuzzyRSTD Posted September 14, 2011 #10 Posted September 14, 2011 Sync and plugs sounds like a good start to me. These bikes average around the 40 mark I think.
Sleeperhawk Posted September 14, 2011 #11 Posted September 14, 2011 Just returned from a 2400 mile trip from N. TX to New Mexico and Colorado. On the way out and back I averaged about 37 MPG. That was riding at around 70 to 75 MPH. Riding in the mountians using 3rd and 4th mostly I was getting 47 MPG. Kinda doesn't make sense to me since I always thouht a steady 70 on freeway type roads would produce the best MPG. 37, 38 is what I average on the highways, jumps to 40, 41 at around 55 in 4th. All of this two up. For those of you stating that you are getting above 42 running at 70+, I just don't believe it, and that means you are running at 70+ for the entire tank.
FuzzyRSTD Posted September 14, 2011 #12 Posted September 14, 2011 37, 38 is what I average on the highways, jumps to 40, 41 at around 55 in 4th. All of this two up. For those of you stating that you are getting above 42 running at 70+, I just don't believe it, and that means you are running at 70+ for the entire tank. I average 42 mpg and have gotten 44 mpg and this on all 55 mile per hour two lane roads riding by myself. I am 285 lb of pure Muscle............and just a small amount of fat. Fuzzy
BOO Posted September 15, 2011 #13 Posted September 15, 2011 George, I don't believe I have got less than 40 MPG since I adjusted the floats last summer. I haven't run any 2 or 3,000 mile trips this year but I have done a couple of 400 mile one way trips on the interstate and I rarely run less than 70 to 75 actual. Running around locally I get 43 to 45 very consistently. All the local gas in 10% ethanol but I don't think I lose more than about 1 or 2 MPG. Mostly one up and no wagon. BOO
Bobby G Posted September 15, 2011 Author #14 Posted September 15, 2011 I have a carbtune in Dahlonega. PM me and we can do the carbtune. I'll be doing my RSTD soon as my mileage also seems to be off lately. Thanks Randy. I've got some business travel coming up, but I'll get with you shortly. I appreciate the offer.
BradT Posted September 16, 2011 #15 Posted September 16, 2011 I drove a whole tank at 55-60 mpg on back roads to see what mileage I get, and Naugh-T was pissed. I got 51 mpg (42 US mpg) Seems to take a little long to burn a tank of fuel that way, doubt I will see that again. Depending on the group I am in Brad
Sleeperhawk Posted September 16, 2011 #16 Posted September 16, 2011 I average 42 mpg and have gotten 44 mpg and this on all 55 mile per hour two lane roads riding by myself. I am 285 lb of pure Muscle............and just a small amount of[/size] fat. Fuzzy Yours is the Tour Delux and you should get better gas mileage than an RSV, no fairing and trunk to deal with.
Sleeperhawk Posted September 16, 2011 #17 Posted September 16, 2011 George, I don't believe I have got less than 40 MPG since I adjusted the floats last summer. I haven't run any 2 or 3,000 mile trips this year but I have done a couple of 400 mile one way trips on the interstate and I rarely run less than 70 to 75 actual. Running around locally I get 43 to 45 very consistently. All the local gas in 10% ethanol but I don't think I lose more than about 1 or 2 MPG. Mostly one up and no wagon. BOO Maybe you need to come down here and adjust the floats on mine But with two up and luggage, I seem to get about the same as others in this part of the country.
hog Posted September 16, 2011 #18 Posted September 16, 2011 Just got my 01 RSV 2 weeks ago and so far as hard as it is to believe I got 41 mpg riding two up and got 39 riding by myself.
Kirby Posted September 16, 2011 #19 Posted September 16, 2011 Worst 36, Best 45. Both 2 up. Indicated 65-70 mph.
Stache Posted September 16, 2011 #20 Posted September 16, 2011 42.64 avg since I rolled it out of the dealer with 1 km on the clock. Currently at 8500. Mostly around town, occasional highway. I neither try to conserve, nor push hard. Ride how i feel like it and let the numbers fall where they may.
hillrider Posted September 17, 2011 #21 Posted September 17, 2011 When I put the Speed-o-healer on mine, the mileage went from 42 to 38. Disappointing. But I still don't know that the odometer is right.
BradT Posted September 18, 2011 #22 Posted September 18, 2011 But I still don't know that the odometer is right. Odometer is out about 2% which is not as bad as the Speedo. Brad
Bobby G Posted September 19, 2011 Author #23 Posted September 19, 2011 Just a quick update on this. Have not had the carbs synched yet (thanks Randy - I'll be in touch!), but I did change out the oil and filter after returning from PA last week, and this last tank of gas was noticeably better MPG's - 43 to be exact. When I did the oil changeout, something slightly less than 3qts drained, and I filled with 3 1/4 qts, which tells me that I'd been running on less oil than I should have been for over 3,000 miles. Besides kicking myself for that, I'm thinking that low oil pressure may have caused the engine to work harder and lowered my fuel efficiency. Not an engine techie, so I ask this: is there a correlation between oil pressure, engine compression and gas mileage?
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