fuel milage

[jake100]

Well I finally got my speedo cable fixed so I can figure fuel mileage and wow I'm only getting about 27 - 30 mpg Now let me say that this bike came from sea level and I'm now riding at 6000 to 8000 ft altitude with no carb adj is that the problem , what is normal for these bikes?

[bikerking.biz]

Your higher altitude riding probably does make a difference as you may need more throttle to maintain speed. I generally ride in 2-3000 feet altitude, but get mileage from a low around 42 or so, up to 53 mpg. Don't know if your higher altitude would make that much difference though with you only getting 27-30. That's pretty low for a Voyager XII. Hopefully, someone closer to your altitude can say what they get.

[Neal]

Went for a ride today with the GLVA. We had 10 bikes and rode all two lanes in the 60-65 MPH area After finishing I decided to get fuel there instead of by my house cause I figured the price would be better. ($2.65/gal). I had set the trip when I fueled this morning and it showed 204.6. Right after I bought the bike I checked it against GPS . Speed was optimistic but mileage was spot on. I filled right to the brink and ended up getting 3.841 gallons. You do the math. By the way this was 823JIM's 2002 that he sold the guy about 3 years ago.

[Mr Jensee]

Biker King needs to be removed and blocked Don. BTW at sea level I get 45 to 47 mpg.

[bikerking.biz]

Biker King needs to be removed and blocked Don. BTW at sea level I get 45 to 47 mpg.

Why? I offered my opinion and what I get on my Voyager. Anything wrong with that?

[Mr Jensee]

You're right my mistake. I read your earlier post as a spam ad. Sorry for the goof.

[bikerking.biz]

You're right my mistake. I read your earlier post as a spam ad. Sorry for the goof.

Phew! Had me worried, couldn't imagine what I had done. But yes, I am very much not only a motorcycle enthusiast, but also a Voyager XII owner and enthusiast.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

......... But yes, I am very much not only a motorcycle enthusiast, but also a Voyager XII owner and enthusiast.

I can personally testify to this as well. I've known BikerKing.biz for about a dozen years or more and he has always provided spot on advise. Always provided me with straight forward and honest opinions. As a matter of fact, it was he that answered my questions/concerns about buying an XII months before I ended up buying the one I have now. Was a former board member of the AVA and regional chapter chairman, but most of all a down right good person!

[Mr Jensee]

I dont doubt you Scott. I attribute the mistake to the declining vision I am experiencing due to cataracts. I hope to have them removed in a couple months. Sometimes I think I am reading something on TV or the computer and later realize it wasn't at all what I thought I read. Again, my apologies.

[ekap1200]

So back to the FUEL MILEAGE POST, after having the issue with #4 spark plug cap and getting that figured out. A set of caps and plugs gets me back to where the bike always ran, outstanding and trustworthy ....
Now its been at home here in NJ at just about sea level and I have run this machine over many mountains and just about everywhere. Never resetting a thing. Fill it up and go, not a worry in the world. Carbs have never been removed for any reason and I now have a tad over 96,000 miles on it now. It never seems to change much and I don't usually start looking to fill up till 200 miles have passed , even pulling our trailer. Now after a run yesterday , of 246 miles I went the 4 miles up the road for fuel. Fill up was 4.95 gallons at 249.8 miles.... It how its always ran and consumed fuel unless there was an issue or hundreds of miles ridding home in the rain.. and twice bitten by bad fuel in the mid-west.

If I were you I would look into whats giving you bad mileage... Perhaps some DIYer has tried to re-invent the wheel and has had his hands tinkering with things he should not have done. Or neglect of maintenance items , maybe it time for a GOOD service and inspection. Be cautious when changing out your air filter ;; if.,,, when you remove the cover the filter is loaded with debris around the perimeter of the filter, take a clean rag with some grease on it and wipe down around that area to pic up what you can. be very clean about it...... If you let some crap down in there ; it is going to get into the carbs and foul them up. I have seen this too many times to many different machines. Plugs are the same, be clean and use COMPRESSED AIR. it is the ONLY way to be sure you have the spark plug well's clean of all debris. One grain of sand is as bad at ten when dropped down into the bore...
Gene Kap

[Mr Jensee]

If you have a good little vacuum cleaner like my Shark. That works even better than compressed air.

[SgtSlag]

I just replaced my air filter on my Jeep Cherokee: gained 3-4 MPG! Need to change my Voyager's air filter. Ordered an OEM from Bike Bandit because I just don't want to risk installing a John Deere replacement, or some-such, and have debris enter the carbs. My bike has averaged the same 43 MPG since I bought it in 2010.

I had a very good, professional mechanic go through it, cleaning, adjusting the carbs, going over everything, when I bought it in 2010. I run SeaFoam through the tank, every month during riding season, as an inexpensive PM (dissolves varnish deposits, absorbs water, stabilizes gasoline for up to 24 months; costs $9 per 16 oz. can), and the only Carb issue since purchase, 8 years ago, was bad Needle Valves in the Floats, around 3 years ago. Recently replaced the Fuel Filter, and the Fuel Pump at around 70,000 miles on the bike. Once I get the Air Filter swapped out, I should be set for the next several years. Would love to gain 7 MPG with the new Air Filter, but the current one doesn't look bad, which is why I never replaced it. Doing it now just to be safe, and thorough. They're not terribly expensive at around $32 + S/H. If I gain 7 MPG, it will pay for itself in 1-2 riding seasons... If not, at least I have peace of mind. Cheers!

[cranky]

+ 1 one

"as an inexpensive PM (dissolves varnish deposits, absorbs water,
stabilizes gasoline for up to 24 months; costs $9 per 16 oz. can)"

The hassle of getting my wrench to do something is painful, if
I can avoid it.... yeah.. + a gazillion!!!! JM2C

[jake100]

Well, I've been out workcamping in my rv in a park that's all dirt, no good place to do anything. I've been riding it all summer and my style of riding I very rarely ever run it over 4k, so it seems to run just fine, but then is my first big bike so maybe I don't know how its supposed to run!! I'll be back to civilization soon so will be able to give it a good tear down