On the slab it seems my best gas mileage is at about 65. Over 80 and mileage plummets. I was going 85 one a tank of my recent trip and got around 35 mpg. The best tank i've ever gotten was just under 50mpg.

In my typical urban environment I average about 35mpg. On occasion I'll get 40 if some highway is thrown in.

When I have read some of the 50+ mpg that a number of Sporty owners have reported I laugh. I've never seen over 50.

 

That's also been my experience. Solo, at 128 pounds on a carbureted '93 1200 the best I've noted is 51 mpg.

 

I get 43 to 45 don't ride to hard lots of hidden driveways that come out of the woods here only had the bike a few months working on longer trips to see what she gets. Only wish I could get 50 mpg out of mine.....2003 1200C...

 

My bike likes to run at the 3000 rpm range in any gear. Any riding lower than that it just feels like the engine does not like it very much. I usually get 40 to 44 mpg on my 09 1200L.

 

I guess I will chime in on the MPG thingy. My first tank full of my new to me 1998 1200C got 53.916 mpg. Tried my best to keep it around the 60 mph mark except when I passed a couple of cars that got a burst of 70 for a very short period. Hills of the Southern Ozarks in Arkansas.

I usually watch every tank, so I can determine drops that might signal tuning problems, etc.

BTW this is my first H-D since 1980s, so I am a real newbie here. Hope you guys don't mind some mewbie questions now and again.

YO 001!
noeleo

 

It all depends how I ride. I average between 45&52 mpg average but I have got 55mpg highway before riding around the 60-65mph range. Also having a passenger for some reason really doesn't affect mileage on my 883 at all.

 

+1 best advice anyone can take.

To the OP, my 08 1200N with stock A/C, x14ieds, and Straight shot slip ons. Best ever, 46 point something. Most of the time 42. I've seen 36 - 38 but that's all me and worth the extra fuel consumption. The Xieds made no noticeable difference in fuel economy, but did help with decel pop.

 

The best I have on the 11 XL1200L is 52 mpg. The 09 XR1200 is 55 and it is geared lower than the L. The 08 Buell XB1200 gets 55 easily. At 80 it will get 50. The XL at 80 and a strong head wind got 44 mpg which I thought was great considering the load of camping gear I had along with my 220 lbs. Never had the XR at speed just local slow running (55 mph).

The XL has the 28 tooth front sprocket, the XR the 24 tooth and the XB the 28 tooth. The XL seems too high geared. I am considering a 24/26 tooth sprocket for it. The XR seems to low geared. It may benefit from a 26 tooth sprocket. The XB is just right at 100 lbs lighter than the XL and XR with 103 hp the 28 tooth is spot on.