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How Long Before Better Gas Mileage?

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  #71  
Old 02-19-2015 | 02:36 PM
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95% of my rides are all on the back-roads with 45 or 50 mph speed limits. And i like to enjoy the scenery so 45 mph is a pretty normal speed on these rides and at that speed on a straight piece of the road you can afford to look at the old farm houses, tobacco or cotton growing, the orchards etc. for a few seconds at a time. 60 is actually too fast to take in much of the scenery.

If/when i check my mileage after one the these rides i'm getting 48 mpg, probably geezer speed but, i'm sight seeing and can't drive much faster on these roads, take in the scenery and be safe.

My bike is tuned and i am driving conservatively on these rides but i am impressed with my mileage. And really mileage is not really the motivating deal, the ride is.
 
  #72  
Old 04-01-2015 | 07:17 PM
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UPDATE on my original post (see 1st post in thread): I now have 4500 miles on the bike and have averaged 36 to 38 miles per gallon. I have had two tanks where I got 40 with a tail wind. I had about given up when it dawned on me to check the speedometer's accuracy. So this evening I took my garmin out on the bike and lo and behold the speedometer is dead on with the garmin speed indication for every speed from 35 to 70mph.
So, my conclusion is that I was never getting 40-42mpg on my other three Ultras because they all registered about 3mph fast at 50 and above. Turns out, I'm getting the same mileage as always, only now it is a more accurate reading.
 
  #73  
Old 04-01-2015 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by ramblin5
UPDATE on my original post (see 1st post in thread): I now have 4500 miles on the bike and have averaged 36 to 38 miles per gallon. I have had two tanks where I got 40 with a tail wind. I had about given up when it dawned on me to check the speedometer's accuracy. So this evening I took my garmin out on the bike and lo and behold the speedometer is dead on with the garmin speed indication for every speed from 35 to 70mph.
So, my conclusion is that I was never getting 40-42mpg on my other three Ultras because they all registered about 3mph fast at 50 and above. Turns out, I'm getting the same mileage as always, only now it is a more accurate reading.
Yes finally accurate time on the clock and miles and speed on the speedometer never had any Harley that was even close to time or miles/speed . We mostly get 32 to 35 MPG but occasionally as high as 47 when speed limit is 55 MPH.
 
  #74  
Old 04-01-2015 | 07:29 PM
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I installed a FP3 a couple of weeks ago and getting a solid 45 MPG. Speedo is correct too and not riding super easy either. Go figure..
 
  #75  
Old 04-01-2015 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by '14 Limited
I installed a FP3 a couple of weeks ago and getting a solid 45 MPG. Speedo is correct too and not riding super easy either. Go figure..
What were you getting prior to the FP3?
 
  #76  
Old 04-02-2015 | 12:38 AM
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Originally Posted by ramblin5
What were you getting prior to the FP3?
I was getting 42 before the FP3 and I also thought my speedometer was reading high but as it turns out, it wasn't. I thought for sure my mileage would drop after the tuner because of the enriched mixture but the contrary was true. Too lean is inefficient. In aviation, we learn two ways of leaning the mixture; rich of peak exhaust gas temp and also lean of peak. I never felt comfortable going lean of peak but a lot of guys do. Power drops at the same power setting on both rich and lean of peak EGT so there is a sweet spot to look for. I believe this FP3 found it on my bike.
 
  #77  
Old 04-02-2015 | 06:32 AM
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Originally Posted by '14 Limited
I was getting 42 before the FP3 and I also thought my speedometer was reading high but as it turns out, it wasn't. I thought for sure my mileage would drop after the tuner because of the enriched mixture but the contrary was true. Too lean is inefficient. In aviation, we learn two ways of leaning the mixture; rich of peak exhaust gas temp and also lean of peak. I never felt comfortable going lean of peak but a lot of guys do. Power drops at the same power setting on both rich and lean of peak EGT so there is a sweet spot to look for. I believe this FP3 found it on my bike.
Thanks for the info.
 
  #78  
Old 04-02-2015 | 11:13 AM
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Riding my '15 RGS is more of a luxury than a need, so MPGs are not that important to me...having fun is. But..I usually have a need for some speed. I sometimes commute on my scoot that now has 4000 miles on the odo @ 75~80mph for 50miles of freeway, and I'm averaging 36~38mpgs with variable to gusting tail/head winds. When I cruise @ 70mph in the right lane, it jumps up to 40~42mpgs. The mphs are as indicated on my speedo/nav mode. Now...with all this talk about how some bikes have speedo calibrations off as much as 7~8%, I'd be more worried about getting a speeding ticket when I thought/believed I had been doing the posted speed limit based on the readings of my speedo when in fact I may have not.

"Bb-bubb-but Officer, there's NO WAY I was going that fast....this is a brand new bike and everything works....and.....and....."

"Uh..huh....sign here, Pirate....have a nice day."
 
  #79  
Old 04-02-2015 | 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by nuttbaggerr
Riding my '15 RGS is more of a luxury than a need, so MPGs are not that important to me...having fun is. But..I usually have a need for some speed. I sometimes commute on my scoot that now has 4000 miles on the odo @ 75~80mph for 50miles of freeway, and I'm averaging 36~38mpgs with variable to gusting tail/head winds. When I cruise @ 70mph in the right lane, it jumps up to 40~42mpgs. The mphs are as indicated on my speedo/nav mode. Now...with all this talk about how some bikes have speedo calibrations off as much as 7~8%, I'd be more worried about getting a speeding ticket when I thought/believed I had been doing the posted speed limit based on the readings of my speedo when in fact I may have not.

"Bb-bubb-but Officer, there's NO WAY I was going that fast....this is a brand new bike and everything works....and.....and....."

"Uh..huh....sign here, Pirate....have a nice day."
I seriously doubt that the guys posting on here are watching their gas mileage for economic reasons. It's a way to give you a heads up if something mechanically or electrically is going wrong...
 
  #80  
Old 04-02-2015 | 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by BillNich
Don't worry...I am at 400 miles on my 2015 Limited and I am getting about 35 -37mpg. I don't expect it to change much until after the first service.
I went through the same thing with my 2011 Softail.
I think its the norm.
if your calculations are correct that is very low mpg in my experience...
 


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