Next time, try it in 5th gear. It's been reported to increase fuel mileage.

 

I think that's a definite possibility. If you're pushing a hard headwind at freeway speeds, it's possible (I'm not saying it's a definite) that the engine will do a little better if allowed to run a bit higher in it's rev range. I base that on my experience with an 08 UC rental. 75 mph in 6th gear was turning about 2600 rpm and the one tank I rode 100% freeway that way, had the bike feeling like it was running at the very bottom of it's power band for the speed and gear I was running. It did Ok but definitely didn't feel like it had a lot of reserve. I was pushing a 10 to 15 mph headwind on that run. I was curious to see what the mileage would be and it turned out to be in the mid 33's. As a reference, the other tanks I ran through it averaged in the mid 42's but that was in the Texas Hill Country, riding easy with cruising speeds ranging between 50 and 65. I don't know if dropping to 5th on that freeway only tank would have helped the gas mileage or not but I don't think it would have been much worse and the bike would have been a lot happier from a power reserve point of view.

Personally, I think that 6th gear would be great in a 0 wind to a tailwind situation. Pushing a hard headwind, I think I'd probably opt for 5th. That batwing fairing isn't the most aerodynamic thing in the world.

Ride Safe,
Steve R.

 

I average 43 mpg with a high of 48. I have a 103" stage 2 2008 EGC. On my recent 2,800 mile trip I averaged 43 with about 75 percent interstate at 70-80 mph. I used 6th gear above 65 mph.

The mileage did improve with age. I have 13,000 miles on the bike.

 

Ive gotten mostly 42-45 on mine but just last week i took a 150 mile run up to Gettysburg on a week day. Roads were empty all the way up cruised most of the way in 6th at 65 filled up before i went home and got 49.5.

 

An 09 Ultra ought to be getting better than that. Track it a little. You really don't have enough data to really know how the bike is going to perform. Keep a book in your saddlebag with all the numbers, and do the figuring after a couple of thousand miles. Take notes on each tankful like where you rode, mountains, wind, canyons, freeway, etc. It'll let you get a better perspective on what's really happening. Let us know.