Fuel system (mpg) question

[blkxride]

I'm used to getting between 40-45 mpg over a broad range of riding. This Friday I took a 285 mile trip and on my second tank I averaged 34.3 mpg! My bike has been running great, no problems, and except for using much more gas it still runs fine. I did have to ride into a headwind 10-15 mph on the way back but didn't seem like anything unusual. I've never gotten less than 38 mpg ever!

Any suggestions as to why a sudden change? What could make you loose that many mpg so quickly? My air filter is pretty new (6-8k) with a stock air box and the oil is in the middle of it's life cycle. I just filled up and haven't had a chance to see what this next tank of gas will bring. Could it just have been bad gas? My bike ran flawlessly except for the low mpg figure?? I'm stumped. Thanks

[Retro Rocket]

My 1800 Retro never got more than 35 mpg until I put an HPP fuel module on it. Now if I can keep my hand from twisting the throttle too hard I can get around 42 mpg :icon_chee

[NC Hammer]

Hey, big guy,
Finally got a dry day to ride?? LOL

You know the kind of mileage I get.... Although, when I went to NJ 2 yrs ago. I got really bad MPH when I went to fast. 75-80 mph, I got 38-40 mpg. 60-65, 45-48.

How fast were U going?

The only other thing I can think of is bad fuel or something is going on with the motor. How do the plugs look?

Have you been checking the mileage since switching pipes? Jet adjustment? Just guessing at this point.

Just turned 22k yesterday. 8,000 to go before I can get rid of that POS black tire. LOL

[blkxride]

Hey, big guy,
Finally got a dry day to ride?? LOL

You know the kind of mileage I get.... Although, when I went to NJ 2 yrs ago. I got really bad MPH when I went to fast. 75-80 mph, I got 38-40 mpg. 60-65, 45-48.

How fast were U going?

The only other thing I can think of is bad fuel or something is going on with the motor. How do the plugs look?

Have you been checking the mileage since switching pipes? Jet adjustment? Just guessing at this point.

Just turned 22k yesterday. 8,000 to go before I can get rid of that POS black tire. LOL
Hello Mr. Clean!!

You know I usually got about the same as you maybe a little less. I've been checking the mpg ever since I got the pipes and it's remained constant. I didn't reject and in fact it seemed to be a tad richer after the pipes. (With the 2-1 RoadHouse said I wouldn't need a rejet) My plugs are a little darker than an absolutely accurate fuel mixture but again, about the same as before the pipe switch. I'm begining to think bad gas and the headwind might be the answer. There were many stations out of gas here last week and maybe the sediment got stirred up when they refilled??? I was on Alligator Alley (a straight shot across S Fl) doing 75-80, but on my trip down from Ga I was running that speed and avg 40-42 so I'm confused. I've just filled up and will se what happens on this next tank. What has me wondering is the nearly 10mpg fall off??

I know that tire is bugging you silly but hang in there and ride every chance you get and it'll wear out soon enough! So far I love the ride from my new Metz on the rear.

Edit: Hey what are you doing on the computer on the weekend???!!! Good to see ya.

[NC Hammer]

Well, what a surprise. Hammer's online from home. Due to the gas prices, mgmt has decided some of us can work 1 day a week from home. So, I setup a laptop, brought it home over the weekend and tested it out. I didn't have all the accesses to work, I just went out to the net to see if the 50' cable I ran from the office over the garage worked in the basement.

50 miles round trip to work and back. 1+ gals on the bike, 3+ gals in the truck. I have driven the truck to work about 3 times in the last 8 weeks. The miles are adding up fast.

Does the Metz tire come in Wide Whites??
Do you have a link to their site?

Still no front tire for the 13s??

Later....... gotta get back to work.

[Illusion Blue]

Your mileage will do better if you stay away from high speed riding.Keep it at around 65,and you's do just fine.

[blkxride]

Your mileage will do better if you stay away from high speed riding.Keep it at around 65,and you's do just fine.

I know you're right, but if you go that slow around here you will get zero miles to the gallon because someone will run over you!!

The most interesting part of this whole thing was that I typically run these speeds and have always gotten the 40-45 mpg range. I'm thinking that it was part headwind and part bad gas. My mileage has returned to the 40-45 range since that one time and that includes a 300 mile trip with some speeds in that same 70-75 mph range.

[Captain X]

You guys are making me sick with your stories of great gas mileage. Since I put on the V&H pipes and the PC3, I have been getting only about 90 miles until the light comes on. (About 30 mpg.) I know I am running rich so I guess I need a new map for the power commander.

[Retro Rich]

I've usually been getting around 40-45 mpg on the 1300R; but, mines bone stock at this point. I'll probably lose a little opening the engine up to breath better with a different air intake and pipes (but hey, more power vs. mpg? It's a tough tradeoff, but I've got to go for the power and hope to keep around 40 mpg).

I'd say with the drop some of you note after changing pipes, etc. carb adjustment is most likely the key to lean them up a little and get back your mpg (and will keep you from blueing the pipes as well).

[blkxride]

You guys are making me sick with your stories of great gas mileage. Since I put on the V&H pipes and the PC3, I have been getting only about 90 miles until the light comes on. (About 30 mpg.) I know I am running rich so I guess I need a new map for the power commander.

Captain X,
Your running the big bad 1800 and we're talking about our itsy bitsy 1300 engines.:) Most of the 1800's seem to get around 30-35 mpg or at least the guys I've ridden with do.

__________________________________________________ ___
After many more miles since my low mpg experience I've returned on a consistant basis to 40-45 mpg. I believe it was 2 factors: 1) Speed and riding into a headwind. 2) Bad gas (this was right after hurricane Katrina and stations had been run bode dry so it could have stirred up sediment and made the gas less efficient. I think the last one was the biggest cause, because I run at higher speeds and into headwinds frequently.

[TerrySc]

You guys are making me sick with your stories of great gas mileage. Since I put on the V&H pipes and the PC3, I have been getting only about 90 miles until the light comes on. (About 30 mpg.) I know I am running rich so I guess I need a new map for the power commander.

Try M109-008b it is a leaner map (at low rpm and low throttle position) and I increased my milage to about 39 mpg and haven't noticed any performance difference. If you can't find it, I'll send it to you.

[hijulian]

I'm used to getting between 40-45 mpg over a broad range of riding. This Friday I took a 285 mile trip and on my second tank I averaged 34.3 mpg! My bike has been running great, no problems, and except for using much more gas it still runs fine. I did have to ride into a headwind 10-15 mph on the way back but didn't seem like anything unusual. I've never gotten less than 38 mpg ever!

Any suggestions as to why a sudden change? What could make you loose that many mpg so quickly? My air filter is pretty new (6-8k) with a stock air box and the oil is in the middle of it's life cycle. I just filled up and haven't had a chance to see what this next tank of gas will bring. Could it just have been bad gas? My bike ran flawlessly except for the low mpg figure?? I'm stumped. Thanks

I always keep track of my gas mileage, so it lets me how the bike is running. There are the normal variables, tire inflation, bad gas, headwinds, going up in altitude. At the risk of sounding ignorant going down hill is much better. Changing the plugs everytime an oil change. Keep in mind that altitude affects mileage. I live in Las Vegas and when I go to Mt. Charleston my bike and car mileage go to ____.Once I had a loose spark plug and that caused me to lose power and gas mileage, being hard of hearing made it difficult for me to find it. Now checking plugs is a norm for me.

[Red]

Help me out here guys.I have an 1800-c 2002 w/Vance and Hines Big shots ,
Power comander etc. stock tires and I don't follow much.Thing is I can"t get much more than 170 KMS. on a tank.For you good old boys that ain't cursed with this metric s!@t that's about 107 miles per tank.I'm the guy pointing at his tank yelling "Need Gas". Best I ever got was200 Km's on one tank.I guess the question is .......Is this normal??

[Shutterbug]

Blkxride, I get 45 city, 50 mpg highway (at an indicated 75). I have a K&N filter, "X" with flames airbox cover, HK K2 pipes and scar mod. Something's wrong with your ride. Have you changed the plugs? Put in 4 oz. of Techron on a full tank, run it until you hit reserve, then see how the bike runs. I'm in the Tampa area and regularly run I-75 and I-4.

[Red]

Thanks but what is techron?

[DillDawg]

Thanks but what is techron?
It's a fuel system cleaner - you can get it at any auto store.

[Red]

Never seen it up here but if I needed a fuel system purge would I not be expeiriencing (wow that's a bitcch to spell) other symptoms?

[VTXDad]

Well since the mpg question is up again...anyone have a good estimation on when the reserve kicks in? gallon wise I mean. I usually have to put about 3.9 gallons back in after reserve kicks on, that is if I get to the station as soon as I switch. So lets just say 4 gallons, I still have to hit reserve at 137 mile mark which puts it at 34mpg. It was that way stock and still that way after clayton mod and K & N air filter, so what is wrong with my ride? I hear what seems to be rediculous reports of near 200 miles before reserve has to be put on...now that is 63 miles more! Heh...I need to know ya'lls secret to extended gas mileage!

[AZVTX'er]

I don't think your bike is tuned properly or you're leaking gas. I'm 320 lbs, I ride on the hwy/freeway all the time at speeds no less than 75 mph (in alotta cases 90 and above). I have a trick wrist in the city so I end up racing light to light......hmmm, gotta have that checked out. I have Cobra Speedster longs with a Baron BAK and jetted with a 210 main. I'm probably carrying an extra 100 lbs in chrome and other crap. I STILL get 45 mpg. 160 miles to reserve no matter what I do.........200 for the tank.

[3buns]

Hi all, (first post) had my VTX1300 for two months now (upgraded from a VT750C), ride through the winter. Came upon this thread, bizarre, similar thing happened to me, I have a stock bike, 50 mile round trip. For the last two days I decided to experiment and drop my speed from 70-75 down to 60-65, initial results show my mpg has gone up dropping from 45mpg tp 40mpg. Is there a 'cruising' speed has anyone found, where the ride seems most economical?

Cheers, Buns.

[xdanman]

+1 on the 3.9 to fill back up, usually 150-160 miles before hitting reserve.

[simon30]

I must be doing something wrong because in the city I never get better then 23mpg. The only thing I've done was the pair valves and bub's exhaust and I was getting the same mpg before that. Maybe my odometer is way off !!!!!
2006 1300C w/ 1000 miles.

[Tom Chial]

I don't think this applies to you but it makes a difference what kind of gas you are using. In my home state of MN the state mandates the addition of alcohol, I believe about 20% to the gas. Just ten miles east of me in WI they don't. This does make a difference in mileage but I have no figures to back it up.

[Rawman]

Bought my bike a few weeks ago. My first fill up with the bike was 124 miles to the reserve, but it is all in-town, stoplight to stoplight riding (and a heavy wrist!). I have yet to get it on the highway.

On another note, does it seem like the stock gears are too close? I feel I could skip a gear when really riding hard. No "overdrive" gear to speak of either. 70-75 mph and I am at 2700-3000 RPM. My wife's VLX was a four speed and couldn't get out of its own way at 65-70 mph. I was hoping the bigger bike would be geared better for highway use.

http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/40332/2001307901282186081_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001307901282186081)

[DillDawg]

I must be doing something wrong because in the city I never get better then 23mpg. The only thing I've done was the pair valves and bub's exhaust and I was getting the same mpg before that. Maybe my odometer is way off !!!!!
2006 1300C w/ 1000 miles.Thats way screwed up.....are you sure?

How are you checking it?

[simon30]

I fill the bike right to the base of the fill neck while balancing the bike up. I avg 90 miles before it sputters and I have to switch to reserve, it then takes 3.8 gallons approximately to fill back to the base of the neck. I checked my odometer by measuring the distance from my home to work, the bike shows 3.7 miles, my truck's tripometer also shows the exact same distance. My bike runs great, it doesnt smell fat, it idles smooth and I rarely blast the throttle. This is what my bike has been getting since the day I bought it, the only thing I've done is bubs exhaust and blocked the pair valves.

[AZVTX'er]

That's weird........I get 140 to reserve and I weigh 300 lbs and have a heavy wrist. I've been jetted, piped and intaked.

[DillDawg]

Definitely something screwed up there...maybe the choke stuck open a bit or a sticking float, valves no set or sealing properly.

I get 155 - 160 to reserve (3.6 gal) and don't ride easy either. I know some will get less than that but 90 is ridiculous.

[Mark in St. Louis]

For those that are getting great gas mileage, are they real miles or "Honda" miles?

[AZVTX'er]

Honda miles.....but ok, really.....deduct 5% from 140 miles and STILL you're not at 90 miles. Maybe 130ish real miles.

[Bopi]

A windshield probably reduces your mpg by 5. I'd get 45-50 riding 2-up but the switchblade is "like pushing a door" down the road.

Check the wind tunnel test results.

[Tom Chial]

I have an 1800R and have consistently averaged 41.5. Anything less on a 1300 and I would say something is wrong. Yes I have a windshield. I wonder what it would get without one. My old 1100cc Sabre gets between 45 and 50 mpg, also with a windshield. Yes of course these are Honda miles. I know the speedometer is off by 3-5 miles per hour. Has this proven to be true with th odometer as well?

[Bassdude404]

Back before it got cold, jen and I went out on an all day'r, and I had to switch to reserve at 161 miles....That's with my windshield, and neither of us are exactly petite....I also have an active right wrist....You should be getting WAAAAY better mileage than you are...

[simon30]

ok there has to be something not right with my bike and it's been like that since I drove it off the showroom floor. I wonder if this scenario is possible: Maybe someone came into the dealer and ordered a bike with pipes and a custom intake, and a rejet and then maybe the deal went south and they took off everything and forgot to put the carb back to stock. All I know is my bike had 0 miles on it when I drove it off 6 months ago. Today at work I went ahead and pulled 1 plug and it was definitely fat, mind you I never use the choke since it doesnt really get cold in miami. My intention this weekend will be the following: I am going to leak down both cylinders, adjust the valves, open up the carb to verify it's got stock jets, the clip is in the stock position and my a/f screw is 2½ turns out and that should tell me where my problem lies. Anyone know what jets I'm supposed to have on a stock '06 1300C or will I find that info in the manual?

[DillDawg]

ok there has to be something not right with my bike and it's been like that since I drove it off the showroom floor. I wonder if this scenario is possible: Maybe someone came into the dealer and ordered a bike with pipes and a custom intake, and a rejet and then maybe the deal went south and they took off everything and forgot to put the carb back to stock. All I know is my bike had 0 miles on it when I drove it off 6 months ago. Today at work I went ahead and pulled 1 plug and it was definitely fat, mind you I never use the choke since it doesnt really get cold in miami. My intention this weekend will be the following: I am going to leak down both cylinders, adjust the valves, open up the carb to verify it's got stock jets, the clip is in the stock position and my a/f screw is 2½ turns out and that should tell me where my problem lies. Anyone know what jets I'm supposed to have on a stock '06 1300C or will I find that info in the manual?
That sounds like a good plan.

Stock jets will be 195 main, 55 slow. Needle will not have any notches for a clip, it will be smooth.
Be sure to check the choke. Make sure it is operating smooth and staying closed. There is a nut to increase friction behind the knob. Make sure the cable on the carb end is fully seated. I would pull the whole thing right off the carb and check for corrosion / sticking on the choke valve. It will unscrew from the carb end. There is a metal plunger that moves back and forth to allow more gas into the carb. It has a tendency to corrode (white powder) and stick. Personally, I would pull the carb right off the bike and clean it well. You will of course need to remove the throttle cables, unplug the TPS, and clamp off the coolant hoses. This should only add 10 - 20minutes or so to the job. I would also replace the screws for the float bowl and the screws for the vacuum cover with stainless allen heads.

I believe the stock setting for the A/F is more like 1-5/8, but most will set it at 2.
Also - you should be running 87 octane if you're not already.

[simon30]

I called the dealer earlier and he told me they had a bike some time ago that was also getting 85-90mpg and his mechanic fixed it in 45 minutes. Supposedly the customer called a week later to say he was now getting a 150 when he hit reserve. I just opened my bike up to get access to the carb, I did not remove the carb from the bike mainly cause I was being lazy and it was getting dark. I wanted to see where the a/f screw was set but I couldnt even get to the little booger so I just put it back together. What I did notice was the D-screw (A/F) looks as if it was previously adjusted with the wrong tool as the recessed area surrounding it was scarred up and another screw on the side of the carb was also scarred. I bought it brand new and it had 0 miles. I hate to sound paranoid but I now have to wonder if the mechanic that fixed the other guys bilke just went and swapped carbs with a new bike (mine). I think i'm going to order the BAK and do everything then, I believe the BAK comes with a jet kit as well.

[AZVTX'er]

You are correct, it comes with the Jet kit and the pair valve block off plates. You'll love it and you can't go wrong.

[SilverVTX]

Blkxride,

Just a thought but did you double check the mileage from the tank just before this one? If unusually high I'd suspect a short fill on that one which equates to low mpg on the next one. Was the average mpg for the two tanks close to normal?

The other options mentioned are all possibilities: a leak, stuck choke, still in 4th gear, fouled plug(s), etc. Its even possible you had a voltage cutout that reset the trip meter. That problem has been mentioned before, but not recently, and the cure is to tighten the battery cables.

And a remote possibility is an incorrectly calibrated pump at the station. Happened to me once in Vermont, put 4+ gallons into the 3.44 gallon tank on a 1995 VT1100.

Just my $0.02.

Silver

[simon30]

Every single tank of gas has yielded the same milage, I always fill right to the bottom of the fill neck while balancing the bike upright. I'd smell a fuel leak, checked the choke, plugs are fat but not fouled and no electrical cut-outs, bat cables tight. I know the gas station is metered close enough cause when I hit reserve it takes approximately 3.65ish gallons to top it off.

[simon30]

I just ordered the Comet BAK a few hours ago, I gotta stop spending money. I just bought the power trip leather jacket and if lucky I'll get to wear it 3 times a year in miami.

[AZVTX'er]

The other day I got 149 miles till I hit reserve (that's 41.39 miles per gallon calculated on a refill of 3.6 gallons). I had my trigger finger on the reserve button as I crossed over the 140 mark.......wait for it.........wait for it.....waaaaaait for ittttt!!! That means I could get darn near 200 mpg's out of a tank but I'd never push it that far. Bike's runnin good.

[troyw]

Hey folks,
Hope you don't mind if I post a reply here, even though I ride the 1800 C.

I keep a written log of every tank MPG. My worst was 34, and my best was
almost 43 mpg. I have been adjusting the Cobra Fi2000r and keeping track
of the best mileage figures, and I run a Kuryakyn Corsair intake, Thunder
Monster "baffle" in the stock header with a Roadhouse Shorty with no
baffle. The funny thing was, the almost 43 mpg week was then followed
by the 34 mpg week. This last week I got just over 40 mpg, which is my
consistent average. I don't ride too wildly either, but I have yet to figure
why that one tankful only got 34 mpg. I guess it just happens sometimes.
But, usually I get between 40-42 mpg with my 05' 1800 C.

- Troy