another fuel miliage report.

[ekap1200]

Well this topic has been often discussed , but thought this post may be useful for the newer members. So here is a post after a plug and cap replacement .
Verified by Kevin Wanner as we were in Lake George. Best fuel mileage on this trip was during a group ride ending in 56 mile's per gal. on the rolling hills of the upstate NY area average elevation of 355' . The worst mileage I had was 49.1 Both were using several different brands but all at 87 octane listed as having up to 10% corn alcohol. No modifications have ever been make to the carbs. And only one modification has been done to the air filter box to accept the STP - ( SA3915 ) using white delrin as a transition box machined to a tight fit, and a permanently secured glued in fit. Now this is riding as one up but on average I usually get at least 48 mile/per-gal. ridding two up with trailer. Year of bike, 2000 with 97,610 as of returning from this last trip. Even ridding the super slabs at speeds of 70~75, great things can be said for the 1200. I make no adjustments to the jetting even going to Denver and above in elevation.

Gene Kap

[shifterkart26]

As I understand it, there is a 10% error in the speedometer and that would also mean to odometer as well. Was this figured into the equation?

[ekap1200]

As I understand it, there is a 10% error in the speedometer and that would also mean to odometer as well. Was this figured into the equation?

If you leave the speedometer error alone, the odometer will show as true. Also verified using my GPS . this is a true fuel mileage report. Only when you adjust the speed error, will the odometer be off. Most will just leave the speedometer alone as you are less prone to getting a ticket, and the 3 to 5 mph lower than shown doe's not bother most of us. With going thru tank after tank after tank ,of fuel in a day it is much nicer to have the miles traveled as an indicator of when you need to start looking for a fuel up.
Gene Kap

[Highway Rider]

Most of my riding is on supper slabs at speeds of 70 to 80 plus mph and you can see the milage I get on a average of 156 fills. 2003 67,000 miles on it. Carbs have not been touched. The speedo ajustment has not been done either. Thing to remember about the speedometer is that at slower speeds the mph is fairly accurate. It is that the faster you go the more it reads incorrectly. And like Gene said the odometer reads correctly, miles ridden miles shown on the odometer.

[Nails]

Where I live, I can't go anywhere without getting on the freeway (literally). I'm in the 80-85 MPH camp. And my mileage is much, much closer to 36 than to 56.

I hope to get in a long-ish ride in a couple weeks. I'll see what comes back at 70. If I can.

[Highway Rider]

Oh if I start riding vary conservatively I get upwords of mid to high 40's. But I have the need for speed
After all when riding 1000 miles in day 55 mph just isn't practical.

[dsmmrm]

My commute is 60 miles each way and I do around 75 most of the way. I get around 45 MPG. I'd bet I'd have to go considerably faster to get my mileage down into the mid 30s. I'd be willing to try if I had someone to clear the way. Ohio traffic enforcement is brutal. If I don't pass at least 5 speed traps every day something is wrong. They use lidar now, too, so they can pick you out of a crowd from a pretty good distance.

[Nails]

Yeah, I'm disappointed with my gas mileage. It's not like I'm riding as hard as possible. (But whenever I do ride on the street, I have to constantly battle a renegade hellion up here on my shoulder. Thought I would've outgrown that by now.)

I've been working on my bike a lot more than riding it. I still haven't taken a long ride. The one time I got in the mid-40's was going about 65 MPH on a state road through badlands. For that tank, I gassed up about 3000 ft lower elevation than I started. But on the other hand, I was chasing an emerging miss that turned out to be a stuck ring. Most of my riding has been in the mountains, generally above 6000 ft.

I grew up in SW Ohio and spent a month there this summer. I remain astonished how bad they drive down there. (Pretty sure that's how I got my little demon.) I was surprised to learn that lots of states used Ohio driver safety films in school -- back when they did driver's training in the schools. In subsequent travels, when people found out I was from Ohio, their first association was gory driver's training films. So I guess I can understand aggressive enforcement -- though I don't think I passed five speed traps in my whole month.

Since I'm casting aspersions ... on this summer's long loop (in a Mini Cooper) from New Mexico through the southeast, and then up to Ohio and back home, my 14 y/o daughter and I were noting different driving "culture". Ohio offered the single worst specific incident, but overall the rudest drivers seemed to be from Texas. Just not in Texas. (That one incredibly idiotic Ohio driver was found in Kentucky, for that matter.)

So, my high-30's gas mileage isn't very well documented. Hopefully I'll be able to rectify that soon -- I'm finishing my last essential repair before being able to tour. (Yeah, I've been working slowly.)

[ekap1200]

Oh , bad drivers are everywhere..... I see them in every state I pass thru... And I just want to add, When the heck did drivers education come to be... What did these little kids do for all the years mom and dad carted them around ? Did they not pay attention AT ALL......Are they all suffering from some sort of disorder that they could not after years and years of riding in the family car, pay the least bit of attention to what was going on. Funny thing , when I turned about 15 my dad and I went to fuel up for a trip up to NY to visit , on the way to the car , my father says Gene catch and toss's me the keys to the mercury. It was about 2miles up to the station and when we arrived he just said OK you can drive me back also. That was it , drivers test complete. I don't get it,

[Nails]

Well, it's my thread. So I reckon I can hijack it.

Oh , bad drivers are everywhere

Yeah, but I see distinct driving "cultures". Around here, the thing that really cracks me up is whenever it starts raining, about seven minutes later the sirens start. Okay, it doesn't rain all that often; but folks totally lose their minds! Like yielding about 20 miles away, and then suddenly taking off as if they were waiting for me to get closer before pulling in front of me.

When the heck did drivers education come to be

For my part, I really don't feel too good about some of the driver's I encounter teaching their little monsters to drive.

But I hear you. I grew up on a farm.

What did these little kids do for all the years mom and dad carted them around?

Screw around on their phone, of course. Just like my daughter.

Did they not pay attention AT ALL

Oh hell no. Not the first bit.

when I turned about 15 ...

My daughter turns 15 in the spring. She's been riding her dirt bike all over the place -- only once have I had to fetch her bike off the rocks where she crashed and couldn't lift it. (She called me on her phone, natch.) But that's more training for me than for her. I'm getting used to turning her loose, and Hail Mary.

She's driven our beater Suburban 30 miles on dirt roads on the mesa. She often drives the last half mile to the house on our way from school or wherever. I even bought a tractor for her to fetch the mail. Because honestly, driving will be the most dangerous thing she ever does. (For all of us!)

We did talk about driving on our tour. When she needed to giver her thumbs a rest.