So, I used to get, maybe 200 miles, giver or take a few from fill up to gas light trigger. Now I am getting 175 to 180 miles. I have changed out the air filter a couple times through this, a couple sets of tires from regular, to darkside and back to regular. I have around 55k on it. Is it a computer setting? Has anybody else seen this drop in mpg? It is not horrible, but it is a question to ponder.
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Honda 2007 Shadow
Honda 2006 VTX
Honda 2013 F6B
Has it idled a lot? I see you're down south. Up here, mileage drops a bit during colder weather.....just one thought.
“Gibraltar” 2016 white deluxe has been sold.
What condition is your battery in, and is it the original? Maybe time to look at replacing the battery.
Floats Like a Butterfly, Stings Like a "B"
What does the B stand for? B-Courteous. B-Safe. B-Seen.....B-CNU on the road!
Battery can affect gas mileage? How?Originally Posted by unsub
Former owner of a 99 Valkyrie for 15 years.
That's a good question. When I read blackmetoc's post I did some reading. It seems that an unhealthy battery can result in poor spark plug performance and a heavier load on the alternator / motor, and poor injector performance to name 3 issues that might result in change to fuel economy. Hell, maybe crappy gas or easing up on the throttle is the answer. But...modern bikes depend almost entirely if not completely on electronics to run efficiently, so these things makes sense to me.
*blackmetoc Let us know what you find your issue to be.
Last edited by unsub; 04-08-2019 at 02:47 PM. Reason: responded to the the wrong member. fixed
Floats Like a Butterfly, Stings Like a "B"
What does the B stand for? B-Courteous. B-Safe. B-Seen.....B-CNU on the road!
I'm thinking you are crossing the nefarious "3150 RPM" threshold whilst riding!
If you keep RPMs below 3150 (~72mph), you go 200+ miles until the Low Fuel Light comes on. Above that RPM, gas mileage goes down quickly.
Another thing to ponder is your Low Fuel light sensor. I know when mine used to come on, if I stopped to refill it within a mile or two, it would take 5.6 to 5.7 gallons. Now when it comes on (95k on the odo) I am only getting 5.4 gallons in.
I would do that computer reset (including disconnecting the battery) to rule that portion out.
Then just check your logbook/documentation to see if there are any other trends.
Cheers,
Steve
My girls:
Isleen - 2014 F6BD
Saorla - 1995 FLSTN Heritage Special
"Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy."
Ambrose Bierce
Ditto, I wasn't sure of the exact rpm but over 4k and my mileage drops to low thirties. At the rally riding two up I was getting 50+ but we were riding much more sedate than I do solo.
I have been searching for the "bucket RPM" of this motor...
I.e. "I'm low on fuel and I need max range RPM for 5th gear"
It's somewhere between 2300 and 2800.
If I should cruise at 85+ (ha!) my mileage goes down to low/mid thirties also.
I don't have any data for sustained ops at 4000 RPM although that would make for an interesting data gathering expedition....hmmmm.
On my return trip from San Diego I did an Iron Butt and pretty well stayed 85-90 from Bakersfield to Tacoma aside from the nasty bit in the Siskiyou's. I stayed in the low 30's for mpg. It was also cold/wet and generally unpleasant for the last half. It was below 50 degrees almost the entire trip and I seemed to remember hitting 28 degrees when I summited the pass.
Thanks for the feedback, I'll try that. I could put a new battery in. I think the original is the one in there.
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Honda 2007 Shadow
Honda 2006 VTX
Honda 2013 F6B
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