I too get up to 50mpg on the backroads averaging around 50 - 60 mph. Two up riding I get closer to the mid 40's. Of course Road Kings are lighter than Electra Glide Classics.

 

OK... I know I'm probably going to get FLAMED for this response, but I can't hold back.

40 mpg on a 3000 mile trip cost you $225 in gas (15 fill ups @ $3.00/gallon)

You make some modifications to your ride; uh oh...

35 mpg on a 3000 mile trip now cost you $255 in gas (17 fill ups @ $3.00/gallon)

We're talking $30 for every 3000 miles your ride. That's ONE PENNY for every mile!
100,000 miles (??? years) of pure riding pleasure will cost you $1000.

If you're that concerned about the ONE PENNY per mile effect on your upgrades (and 5 mpg is a huge exageration), maybeyou should bank the upgrade money, sell the nice bike, and buy aMoped. You'll be DOLLARS ahead on gas money.

Come on...we're talking aboutmpg on a ride thatavearges 40mpg. If youcan afford the ride, afford the upgrade... you cab afford the gasoline.

Sorry... Flame away.

 

...and one more thing...

I truely ENVY your time to take a 3000 mile trip. I hope you enjoyed the ride, appreciated the views, remembered thescenery, enjoyed the restaurants and bars, and had morefunthan you did keeping track of "@65-75 mph, I average 38-40 mpg, 55-65 mph average is sometimes as high as 42 mpg".

Again, sorry... FLAME away.

 

Hey Ironhead,

It looks like this thread is dead (thank you allfor the no-flames).

I appologize for the sarcasm. I only wish I could afford the TIME away for a 3000 mile ride, and the MONEY to choose true duals.

Don't let ONE PENNY a mile impact your decision. You have a nice ride, and the time to enjoy it.

In a 100 years, everyone on this forum will be in the same place (I hope you're 2'nd to last, ahead of me).

In the meantime... keep the rubber on the road... the chrome-side up... but most importantly... notice the flowers on the side of road.

SAFE travels.

 

01 RKC - HDSE Slip ons, stage 1 AC, stage 1 download - 45.9 MPG over 35K+ miles
07 Ultra - Reinhart true duals, stage 1 AC, SERT, Dyno-tuned - 37.91 MPG over 7500+ miles
All types of riding included - yes, I keep track.

 

i tend to agree with Seal...one thing I noticed on my last long ride to the HOG rally covering over 1500 miles for me was that my speedometer shows between 5 and 8 more miles per tank than my buddies thus giving me a better miles/gallon calculation and also learned that when i'm showing 63 mph my buddies were showing 60mph.....this said...all harleys are not the same and FUN is still the bottom line!

let's ride!

 

Who cares? Much better than Prozac or alcohol.All in all, a great hobby & release.

 

Sure why not keep track. You have to have something to do when mama is in the store spending your money.

 

I have V&H slip ons with the stock Y pipe and get between 40 to 42 mpg. I also get the backfire when letting of the throttle once in a great while. Someone above said they got 59 mpg on a long ride, had to be 200 miles of down hill. I ride a 06 RKC with the stage one and air cleaner and 44 mpg is the best to date andthe bike isat 16,000 miles. I use nothing but 93 octain and synthetic oils thru out.

 

Seal Guy I like your attitude.....when I did my upgrades it was for looks, comfort, performanceand engine life. Here in Houston the summers can get dang HOT. My stock bike was running between 250 and 280 degrees during the summer........more towardsthe 280 degree side. The upgrades cooled everything down.....now run between 220 and 230 degrees on aHOT HOTday.

Now getting 38 - 42 mpg combo city and highway......the loss of 5 mpg ???....... to me a small price to pay for looks, comfort, engine life and performance (increase in hp and tq).

Ride safe