Anyone out there ever had issues with low MPG where it was something wrong with the bike and not your ridding style? I have 3000 miles on an 08 ultra, PCIII with a Big sucker and V&H monster ovals...it has been dyno tuned, yet I have averaged 32 mpg since I bought the bike. EVERYONE I talk with (except the dealership) says that seems really low. I have a six gallon tank yet I am practically out of gas by the time I hit 180 miles. Almost ALL of my ridding is done on the freeway, 70mpg, 6th gear at around 2600 rpm. I am conservative when accelerating from stops.

Anyone have some advice or something I should check (like are there any know fuel pump issues)?

 

I got 32 for the first year I owned my 06 FB. The dealer really pissed me off telling me it was good. Turned out they had a service bulletin for changing the fuel injectors from 8 degree to 25 due to performance problems. I got this done and instantly got 12 MPG more. I still get mad thinking about that service writer standing there telling me that was pretty good mileage.

 

You should be getting at least 40mpg at those highway speeds, and 45mpg isn't impossible. The likely problem is that when dyno tuned they set the cruise range too rich. The upside to this is that you'll have better part-throttle response and the engine will run cooler, but on the downside your mileage will suffer.

You can lean the cruise range to improve mileage, and how far you go depends on what compromises you're willing to accept. If you have an oil cooler you can go leaner on the tuning in the cruise range, as it will control engine temperatures better. As you lean the engine will produce more heat, so it's your riding style and priorities that will dictate how far you go.

Since you bought the PCIII you should've been given the software CD that came in the kit. If you'll pull the map from your PCIII using the PC software, then send it to me I'll make some changes and send it back to you.

 

I would say that is about par for the bike. My 08 ultra with V&H True Duals & Ovals, SERT, Stage I kit, and dyno tuned has an average MPG of 32.77 at 11,969 miles. This is a true average as I have logged all fill-ups and mileage in Excel. At 75 MPH on the interstate I only get 29-30 MPG. I have had a good independent HD certified mechanic check the pugs and he said they look a little rich and the shop manager at my local dealer checked the a/f on my dyno sheet and said it looks about as good as can be expected. The bottom line is it sucks, there are cars that get better mileage than this. I have considered having it retuned, but I am trying to decide if I want to drop some different cams in it first.

 

Another good reason for leaving it stock. I get 42-45 consistently (sometimes 48 on cruise) and really don't feel I need more power. Having riden for over 45 years, I got the need for loud exhaust out of my system, finally.

 

If you are not getting 40+ mpg you need a new tuner.

 

I would also say you need a new tuner. I'm getting 38.5 with a 5 speed and your getting 32 with a 6 speed. Not good. Mine is not stock by any meanes, but still get good mpg.

 

NOT par for the bike. You should be getting real close to 40 at the very least. If you are not then there is a reason for it and you should try to find it.

 

its a myth that the 6 speed will get better milage its geared way to tall and u end up luggin and that sucks fuel bad when i run 60 in 5th i get way better milage than 65 in 6th

 

I agree that's way too low. You should get 40 to 45 if you're a smooth easy cruiser.

Do you know what the bike got when it was stock? It's got to be the tune and alterations. Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble. I had alot of probs with my '05 EGC - it was a 95" stage II with true duals, PCIII, etc and damned if I could even break 30 mpg for the longest time and that was riding it like a 90 yr old man at 60-65 mph! I finally did find that the ECM had a performance download in it and was conflicting with the PCIII so that the two combined were causing it to run very rich. After a year of tinkering I finally had a H-D service manager suggest we REMOVE the performance ECM download to it's STOCK setting and then just run the PCIII. This immediately gave me a jump to a consistent 35 to 36 mpg from then on. But I could still never do better than this on that bike.

My new '09 RK gives me 42 mpg consistently at 75 mph in the mountains including two long uphill grades that I encounter on my 135 mile daily commute. I'm leaving this bike STOCK for the reasons above. After that nitemare I don't want anything to do with performance mods. I need MPG's - nothing else. The '09 runs great and pulls nice in 6th gear, etc. I'm leaving it alone!