Just bought my first Harley Davidson . 2006 sportster 883. Bike is all stock. 4000 miles. I got 80 miles out of a tank which I believe to be 3.3 gallons. That averages out about 25 MPG. Is this normal? Thanks

 

You have a little over a gallon in reserve. So unless that 80 included you opening the reserve valve you only used around 2 gal of fuel.

 

I have a 2006 1200R and consistently get 45-46 mpg. Be sure that you compute your mileage the same each time. I reset my trip meter at each fill-up. I fill the tank to the same level each time. Then a little quick math: miles traveled/gallons used = mpg. If you have switched to Reserve, don't forget to set the peacock back to the main tank. I think that you will find you will easily get better than 40 mpg. Good luck.

 

You're not measuring your mileage right. You need to top off your tank, then set your trip meter to measure mileage. Then when you fill up again, you divide the miles by the amount of fuel you refilled.

You're never going to actually use the whole 3.3 gal in the tank.

 

I get 50 mpg riding in everyday conditions on my '91 883. I can't recall ever putting in even 2 gallons on refill, and usually try to refill about every 75-80 miles if possible.

John

 

There is really no way for ANYONE to tell you how many miles you should be getting per tank, because everyone rides differently, some baby their bikes and some of us ride them hard, I have a 3.2 tank and typically fill up when the light comes on around 2 gallons used, 60 miles = 30 miles a gallon however, if I'm on the freeway in good traffic it is around 80 = 40 miles per gallon, Also elevation, temperature, road smoothness, wind, etc. etc. play a role.

 

i had an 09 883 with V&h v02 breather, fuel pak and short shots. i didnt red line between gears but in no way babied it. when riding in the city, i routinely got 38-40 mpg's. it was a consistent 54/55 mpg's out of city, normal riding. i have an 07 883/1200 that stays around 49/50 mpg's. i live 20 miles from town, so typically a two lane road with posted 55 that i run @ 60. my city averages came with i rode in panama city for two weeks. my bro in law has 09 nightster and maintains 50 mpg's with a screaming eagle filter, short shorts and fuel pak. like has been stated....zero out trip meter, fill up, run til time to put fuel in it, do the math and see what you get. after a few times you should get some sort of an "average".

 

If you're calculating mileage "correctly"...25mpg's totally sux a$$. I'm guessing you're not running the #'s right b/c you should be at 40-to-50ish...

 

I am beginning to question my calculations because of the responses, but I am 99% sure they are correct. It was my first top off and I expected 50mpg. I was riding to work at 68 miles on the top off tank and it bogged out on freeway. I switched to reserve and made it 12 more miles before empty. I didn't fill up because I figured I'd have to have At least 30 more miles but that wasn't the cAse. She runs great and I was on it a bit because she is new but it just doesn't seem right. Thanks everyone for the responses and if anyone else has any other ideas as to what could be going on i would appreciate feedback. Thanks again

 

And I didn't get exact number but my 2nd tank seemed consistent with the first. I will top off and run it down and let everyone know again. Thanks