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Fuel Mileage stock v modded

8K views 36 replies 21 participants last post by  half_crazy 
#1 ·
I am terribly curious how many of you keep detailed records of fuel in your bikes through the seasons. I have every receipt for every gas fill in my Vic, with the mileage written on it so it's very easy to figure out my mileage for a given time period.
And I know fairly well what has improved my mileage, a for instance being the muffler mod and ditching the O2's.

Now the question is directed to anyone who has ditched the kittens :angel Did it improve your fuel mileage or did it hurt it?

Not concerned with heat reduction, loss of torque, making it louder, or any of that. Just straight up honest to goodness fuel mileage numbers :grin
 
#2 ·
Not concerned with heat reduction, loss of torque, making it louder, or any of that. Just straight up honest to goodness fuel mileage numbers :grin
So far since 1/1/16(removal of the kitties) my records show ..I have not had to put in one drop of fuel...... :frown
 
#3 ·
I rode bone stock for 4000 km and started adding bolt-ons, see my signature

SAME Km/Ltr ... No changes ....
 
#4 ·
As long as it tuned right you shouldn't lose much if any at all. You will have to remember that you will be throttle happy for the first little bit so that will effect mpg's.
 
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#7 ·
Is the ultimate goal to get the best fuel mileage possible? Let me ask, what have you learned from the meticulous fuel records? Have you discovered what modifications improve fuel economy? Have you found what is detrimental to fuel economy? What is the data giving you? Is your fuel economy consistently getting better over time?

Great fuel economy is a product of the engine being EFFICIENT at converting air and gasoline into forward motion. Personally, have never given gas mileage a thought when modifying the bike, it was never tuned with fuel economy in mind, or ridden with fuel economy in mind. I have never kept records of the mileage. That said, whether it was making 120 or 130 HP at 104 or 110 cubic inches, it has averaged 45 mpg. If I get on the highway and cruise at 3000+ rpm I get 48 mpg. Riding with others I always take less fuel at gas stops than everyone else no matter what we are doing... and I'm the guy pulling the front wheel up, staying out of 6th gear, and shifting at 4000 rpm... go figure. In a slow group ride I have returned 50 mpg several times.

My friend, Joe, can get better fuel economy than I do simply through riding style. When we used to ride identical bikes except for color and trade back and forth... no matter what, he could ALWAYS pull 1-2 mpg better fuel economy than I could. Just the way he rides... He's just a wee bit more 'gentle' than I am. I remember on a trip we did, one particular tank, we were calculating mileage at the same time using the lowest odo reading and accounting for gearing. I said, "I don't believe it! 49 mpg!". He turned his phone around... 51.
 
#9 ·
My brother (RIP) and I would often have the same cars and/or the same bikes. Like you, SD he was OCD about mileage, writing down every fill up with the goal of keeping the numbers high as possible. We had a hard time riding together cuz I would have to stop for gas before he did cuz I was usually using lower gears and more throttle. One day he chipped at me for that and I told him that its like going to the theater, you pay more for a more exciting show. He never said anything about my lower fuel mileage after that. If he was still around, I know he'd have a Victory too and although our riding styles are different, we'd be getting similar mileage. I know that for a fact cuz my mileage did not change after my mods.
 
#10 ·
I got 41 last time I checked. Mixed expressway, mountain riding.
2014 8 ball. ATS, LLoydz filter, debaffled mufflers, flux capacitor. PC-V
 
#11 ·
My mileage went down a bit but that can be directly related to the propensity to twist my right hand more to enjoy the mods.
 
#13 ·
I am one of those who are OCD about gas mileage and keep records for all my vehicles. At the same time I enjoy riding my motorcycle and my V8 trucks and cars so I get heavy with the throttle on a regular basis. MPG is more for me to keep up with how my vehicles are running. My XR is a strange beast when it comes to mpg's. I average around 42 mpg after 3.5 years with some tanks in the low 30's and some in the upper 40's. The days I give the XR hell is sometimes some of the best mpg tanks. I also tend to get a couple mores mpg when 2-up because I am not on the throttle like as much as I am when solo.
 
#14 ·
OP, I routinely check my mileage and for the most part it is pretty steady at 42 miles per US gallon. I did not bother for the break-in period. Not much for fuel effecting mods either. A timing wheel and exhaust did nothing for that. I think the biggest gain I could make effecting gas mileage and response is to lose about 50 pounds to decrease the weight to HP ratio.
 
#15 ·
Like I said, it's just a curiosity thing. Not really OCD about it on anything else, just the bike. And I was not implying that I just want the greatest fuel mileage in the world, just interested to know if it put a noticeable dent in mileage or not. Up here in the north, it's cool enough early in the year and late in the year but mid summer can be a roasty toasty biatch :devil and I am torn on whether I want to make it run cooler for those few hot months, or if it was dramatic on the mileage then maybe not do it and suffer it out, because that heat is sore appreciated when it gets down to the mid 30's. :wink Thanks for the replies gang
.
 
#17 ·
With overheating catalytic converters and some type of "lower wind control" the heat is intolerable in hot weather. On the flip side I never noticed any extra warmth in the cold weather. I guess I'm saying you should manage and setup your bike for heat control if you need too, there will be very little to no effect on mileage or cold weather feel.
 
#16 ·
I've never had a problem with the heat on my XR and I am in the south. I guess some peoples tolerance for the heat coming off the bike is different for different people.
 
#18 ·
you're sitting on a oven sort of speak. When our bodies get hot from the sun and the heat of the bike there's nothing you can do to stay cool.
Stay out of 5 o'clock rush hour traffic.
 
#19 ·
Always liked being able to remove my XR's windshield when the temp turns up. Nice feature that.
 
#20 ·
Heat

Want heat try riding through stop and go traffic in Phx. when it's 120+F out. Now that is when the old clutch starts to get grabby and yes that right leg gets hot. Yes that is without any kitties.
 
#21 ·
07 Vegas over 3 years and 34,000 miles 43 mpg
11 XC from Oct 10 until present 44,000 miles 48 mpg Ride the XC much, much more gently than I did the 8 Ball
Both my Vics consistently got better milage than any of my sport/naked bikes with much smaller engines.

Oh, and when it gets real hot I drive my Silverado ( 15 mpg over 23,000 miles)
 
#24 ·
If you still have your original standup license, my laydown bracket will not only improve the look of your bike but dramatically improves fuel mileage. Would I lie? Click the link below. (Shameless self promotion)
 
#27 ·
I have owned my bike since new ... '13 Hammer.
In 3 full seasons , 31101 miles ...it has undergone various stages of upgrades....
From stock for 1st 6 weeks , to cams and da works 1st season.
To 116 Big Bore for 2nd season ....
To Supercharged 116 for 3rd season.....

Now , I don't have a fuel guage ....so I always kept track of how many miles I would go before the low fuel light 1st came on.

For all renditions ... the low fuel light comes on from 110 to 125.

Peter
 
#30 ·
Same engine and youre not the only one reading this post.
Im very interested in all the replies,
Particularly PJRom's reply.
Also laydown plate bracket makes me lust for an XC so I can fit one and get super mileage...its all about airflow
 
#32 ·
Sorry to drag an old thread

I just did a 2 up return trip from the Bathurst 1000 race (500miles each way from Melbourne) , same as 2 years ago when I didn’t have any mods apart from triovals.

70 mph freeway on cruise, big screen/kitchen sink 2-up max load (650kg) gave 17km/ltr previously - 40mpgUS. Full tank used to read 380km consistently
This year, with cams, decat, PCV etc, we averaged 20km/ltr (47mpgUS) both ways and full tank reading 440km. Same max load on the barge.

So, with the extra potential performance the mods provide, when taking it easy the mileage is still demonstrably better too. Best of both worlds. Happy
 
#34 ·
Im riding down to Bathurst mid Nov to flag marshall at the 4 day Supersprints and Regularity races.
Currently return 14-16 kpl on my modded Vegas.
Be interesting to see what a highway cruise returns
Were you pulling 6th or spinning in 5th ?
I imagine Id alternate according to gradient and load.
Good to see another Aussie here!
 
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