Increasing MPG

[FootNote]

Alright so from what I could tell the average distance for a vmax on a tank of gas is about 100 miles, now that's not too bad but I would like to improve this. I tested my bike and got to 97 miles before the red light came on.. I am not sure how far past that you can go?

Anyhow, what are some good ways to increase MPG?

 

[gamorg02]

light is 3 gallons, the reserve (i think) is .8 gallons so you can do the math.

are you tuned right? if not sure bring it to a dyno with a sniffer and they should be able to help you out

venture rear drive might help a bit

split the cases and add an OD 5th gear

keep the hooliganisms to a low

bigger gas tank....

 

[one2dmax]

You should be getting 110-120 to the light then another 30 with the reserve. Sounds like you aren't quite tuned correct.

Sean

 

[RaWarrior]

I think 100 is on the low side...what I get if I'm really romping the piss out of it.
I routinely get 110-120 to the fuel light for "normal" riding. Stock apart from a Venture diff, which lowers RPM by about 10% across the board. I get anywhere from 35-40mpg typically. Down into the high 20's if v-boost is being frequently used.

The tank is 4 gallons, supposed to be split about 3.2 to "on" and .8" for "res". I've found if I fill up right when the light comes on, it takes maybe a tad over 3 gal. Your results may vary.

Once the light comes on, and I don't have a fill-up station in mind, I start riding much more conservatively. I give myself 30 miles after the fuel light....which is pretty accurate. I ran dead on the road once at 157 after getting the light at 120.


As Garrett said the Venture diff is a pretty easy swap and lowers your RPM by about 400 at highway speed (I turn 4400 @75mph in fifth).

Syncing your carbs can help here as well. It's really easy, finding a manometer is the hard part. You can make one yourself, otherwise they're like $100 to buy.

The biggest impact on MPG is driving style....easy acceleration, short shifting, and keeping v-boost closed should get you up to the high 30's. But it is a vmax and that can be kind of tough.

 

[gamorg02]

ride time might be a contributor too

on my long ride i just did 100 miles thru upstate MA crusing thru small towns and such average speeds not during towns probably 65-80 i got like 41 mpg with my 17" wheel.

around town though and even commuting (on the highway) i get like low 30's mostly because its about 10 miles. warmup to go riding and riding with choke half the time kills my mileage. still over double my truck tho!

 

[COP RUNNER]

i THIS IS A GOOD THREAD ABOUT FUEL MILEAGE !.. http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=4728

 

[douknowd22630]

I got 100 miles on just over 2 gallons so I think that I could prob easily get 130-140 with reserve

 

[VMike]

About 100 miles I'm going on reserve.That's filling the tank all the way up into the neck. Mark's exhaust with Stg 7 and V Boost on all the time and I do let it idle sometimes 5 minutes to warm up when cold so that idle time takes a litle away from the mileage I suppose plus a little bit of a heavy hand to boot.:rofl_200: My Ultra with the 113" got about the same mileage so I'm used to filling up every 100 miles.
Mike

 

[Woody]

I get a whopping 75 per tank. but then i do like to twist throttle, i just refer to it as an off/ on switch.

 

[VMike]

:surpriseang Woody!

 

[SpecOps13]

I know I'm getting old. I actually see the speedometer below 100 more often than not. My 2 VMax's will go 100 miles plus before the Fuel Light comes on. When the carbs were FU though I think the 89 may have gotten 40 or 50 miles before the light...:rofl_200: It even pissed out on the engine a couple times before I finally got them squared away... Thought the damn thing was gonna blow me up with it...

 

[Nicki66]

I am running marks 4-2 exhaust and a Morley jet kit. I range from 110-130 before fuel light comes on. The 110 is local driving and the 130 is more of the highway mileage. My best was 136 before reserve. I was starting to think that something was broken and I was burning my reserve unknowingly.

 

[VMike]

Kevin that's pretty good mileage. Is your VBoost still set up normal or open all the time?
Mike

Spec Ops-- Sounds like SkullDuggery would burn your eyes it was so rich! lol!

Mike

 

[SpecOps13]

It's burned my wallet bad but luckilly not my Ass, yet......:rofl_200:
It's actually running pretty good right now...

 

[Nicki66]

My Vboost is operating normally.

 

[VMike]

Thanks Kevin,that could be why I'm not getting the mpg you are with similar set up. My V Boost has been disabled and is open full time.
Mike

 

[FootNote]

Hey everyone,

Sorry I didn't mean to start a thread and take off but I had some stuff I had to take care of. Anyhow thanks for all the good advice. I am probably going to take my bike to the shop when I have some more money and get a tune up in the areas I dont feel compitent with myself.

 

[dans1985vmax]

I got just over 100 yesterday before the light. Filled up into the neck with 3.3 gallons after that ride. I was on country roads and nailing it on a few of the straights. It feels like it needs overdrive like I've read. I catch myself trying for one more gear at highway speed. My Harley Sportster 883 would get 50 mpg and had a 3.3 gallon tank.

 

[DakRatFink]

I got about 40 MPG yesterday and that was with several jaunts into right hand side of the tach and speedo to show a couple of blinged out S&S powered clone choppers my tail light.

 

[drdrewdown]

its funny to see this thread, before the mods we did yesterday i could nearly watch the trip meter hit 100 as the fuel light comes on. Almost like clockwork! but i know my carbs were a little jacked up so maybe it'll be a bit better now..

i doubt it will be anytime soon tho i like twisting the throttle even more now after the new exhaust & jets lol