Gas mileage report

[HogMike]

We are on a trip up the CA coast.
My bike: 2019 cvo Limited with 50 k mile on a 124 mild build ( around 130-140 TQ and HP)
Baker grudge box.

My riding partner is a stock 2003 Heritage Softail (88")

Riding mostly back roads and some freeway, kept the high speeds about 70+ on the freeway and mostly the speed limits or 5-10 over on the back roads.

Every gas stop we checked how much we took. She takes 3.4, I take 3.5!
It never seemed to vary more than .1 or .2
 MPG changed due to long grades or slow desert running.

Just an interesting conversation starter for my buddies when they tell me a big motor sucks the gas!    NOT.
LOL

[kd]

My 2011 120 TC RGU (about 150 square with 62/64 HPI throttle body and 6.2 injectors) out performs the 103 I took out with power of course but also by mileage easily.  Full disclosure, the gearing was changed to 3.15 final and transmission is a GrudgeBox and I ride a bit faster than I did with the 103 at 3,000 - 3,200 rpm up from 2,700 - 2,800 rpm.

[HogMike]

My point is that you can have a upgraded engine and not sacrifice your mileage as long as you ride with people at a respectable pace.

My 2010 103 was good for an honest 129 mph (GPS) across New Mexico.
It was also a mild build (head work) cam and the usual upgrades.

I'll have to find the pic I have!

 

[kd]

My post was in support of your findings Mike.  Your comparison to the 124 touring couch you were riding is a much lighter 88" Softail. Your weight handicap is obvious.

[Coff 06]

I will say it has been my experience with my present bike.
06 FXSTSI.In stock 88" it was roughly better than 42mpg.
My 95" build also got consistently 42mpg.
My 98" hot rod build with bigger TB and injectors (123/118) still consistently get 42mpg.
It's unbelievable to me, and the people on stock bikes that take the same amount of gas at fill up's.     Coff 06

[IronButt70]

My post was in support of your findings Mike.  Your comparison to the 124 touring couch you were riding is a much lighter 88" Softail. Your weight handicap is obvious.

5 speed vs 6 speed?

[kd]

My post was in support of your findings Mike.  Your comparison to the 124 touring couch you were riding is a much lighter 88" Softail. Your weight handicap is obvious.

5 speed vs 6 speed?

You have a point there.  Mike's GrudgeBox is a 6 speed w/ OD and the 03 Softail will be a 5 speed.  The GrudgeBo is a very close ratio overdrive though and barely noticeable in rpm drop.

[HogMike]

My post was in support of your findings Mike.  Your comparison to the 124 touring couch you were riding is a much lighter 88" Softail. Your weight handicap is obvious.

5 speed vs 6 speed?

You have a point there.  Mike's GrudgeBox is a 6 speed w/ OD and the 03 Softail will be a 5 speed.  The GrudgeBo is a very close ratio overdrive though and barely noticeable in rpm drop.

I guess the point I was trying to make is you can build a stout motor AND get good gas mileage with the right combination of parts.
 
One of my goals was to not sacrifice normal road manners but still have tha passing power when I needed it. This is my touring bike and is set up for reliability AND reserve power when needed.

The Heritage is pretty much stock, stock exhaust with cats in the muffler but drilled out plugs. Stage 1 I would guess. We have been riding back roads most of the time. On the long uphills she struggles and is wide open. I stay in 5th with the cruise on and stay at a steady speed. Displacement and tuning make a huge difference. I rarely use 6th unless the tach is 2600 rpm or better's depending on the load.
Sweet spot on the Heritage is 65-75.
Sweet spot on the cvo is 80-90.

The built engine is just loafing, the Heritage 88 is struggling!

JMHO!
👌

[jty]

I have a 120r modified with Tman touring cams and avv springs on a 6-speed Road King. Tune is good with afr 14.3 in cruise area. I have built my own speedo/dashboard with fuel economy display.
Cruising below 50mph I get 50mpg or slightly less, almost regardless of gear. Over 75mph mpg drops below 25.
Aerodynamics is the main contributor.
Bike can do 120mph.

[tdrglide]

I get a pretty consistent 38mpg at 80-85 mph on my 03 117 on the interstate, one up. Get around 42mpg cruising secondary highways 65-70. All depends on how much horsepower you are putting to the pavement at the time.
Don't know what I would get cruising 50-55mph. Probably a lot more. If I ride it like a hotrod , mpg can go way down. Out on the freeway and interstate around here, cruising is 80mph minimum. Anything less and someone is on your tail or you are in the right lane with the big rigs

[Hossamania]

My stage 1 103 Ultra gets consistent 40mpg, all riding conditions.
My 95" built to be a high rpm motor, not a low end torque monster, gets better gas mileage at 55 and 60mph if I stay in 4th gear rather than 5th. It does not make great low end power, it takes more throttle to keep speed at 55 in 5th gear, and is not always happy doing it. Pretty consistent 37.5 mpg. 35mpg if I fight with 5th gear a lot at low rpm.

[Admiral Akbar]

Well Mike if you are riding with Jo, you are going to get the best mileage possible.. IIRC, Her bike is carbed so it gets what 40-42 mpg?

[HogMike]

Well Mike if you are riding with Jo, you are going to get the best mileage possible.. IIRC, Her bike is carbed so it gets what 40-42 mpg?

It's the 2003 Heritage, FI..bone stock

I think YOU were thinking the 2000? Carb. 95" and cam.

BTW, I'm TRYING to wear out my front tire on the cvo so I can try out that new arm!
That AE tire JUST won't wear! LOL 😂

[tommy g]

My sort of hot 107 in an 09 Heritage consistenty gets 6 Canadian mpg better than my anemic 509 cammed 2005 88 inch RK, both tuned by the same gent.

[Ohio HD]

My sort of hot 107 in an 09 Heritage consistenty gets 6 Canadian mpg better than my anemic 509 cammed 2005 88 inch RK, both tuned by the same gent.

He is a good egg isn't he?   

[tommy g]

My sort of hot 107 in an 09 Heritage consistenty gets 6 Canadian mpg better than my anemic 509 cammed 2005 88 inch RK, both tuned by the same gent.

He is a good egg isn't he?   

yes, but I'm not going to tell him that.

[FLSTFIDave]

The 130" I built with a friend, was 163 HP and 167 Torque.  I was pleasantly surprised at  the good MPG it got.  Riding with my wife, both on 2019 road glides, hers stock except slip-ons on my CVO built I always got better MPG.  Group riding secondary or two lane east TN twisty hilly roads 47 mpg was  norm.

Hammer on it and MPG dropped, so did interstate 3100 RPM and above.

[HogMike]

The 130" I built with a friend, was 163 HP and 167 Torque.  I was pleasantly surprised at  the good MPG it got.  Riding with my wife, both on 2019 road glides, hers stock except slip-ons on my CVO built I always got better MPG.  Group riding secondary or two lane east TN twisty hilly roads 47 mpg was  norm.

Hammer on it and MPG dropped, so did interstate 3100 RPM and above.

My 124 in group riding gets about the same as yours. Rarely get over 3000 rpm.
3000 rpm=85 mph, but, yes mileage takes a dive at xxx mph! LOL
I like the power available with the bigger motor, leave it in 6th and just roll it on.

[scott7d]

I'm only getting about 140 miles per tank right now with my 2020 CVO Road Glide with just a cam upgrade. At one point it was easily getting over 200. It went downhill after a swap to a Billet Cat for some reason. I have a different exhaust combo now but the mileage is still terrible. If you're having that kind of mileage with those cubes, I might as well just upgrade! It's otherwise been very dependable even with a lot of miles, so part of me is nervous to mess with a good thing.

[Hossamania]

I'm only getting about 140 miles per tank right now with my 2020 CVO Road Glide with just a cam upgrade. At one point it was easily getting over 200. It went downhill after a swap to a Billet Cat for some reason. I have a different exhaust combo now but the mileage is still terrible. If you're having that kind of mileage with those cubes, I might as well just upgrade! It's otherwise been very dependable even with a lot of miles, so part of me is nervous to mess with a good thing.

Was it retuned after the exhaust swap?

[scott7d]

I'm only getting about 140 miles per tank right now with my 2020 CVO Road Glide with just a cam upgrade. At one point it was easily getting over 200. It went downhill after a swap to a Billet Cat for some reason. I have a different exhaust combo now but the mileage is still terrible. If you're having that kind of mileage with those cubes, I might as well just upgrade! It's otherwise been very dependable even with a lot of miles, so part of me is nervous to mess with a good thing.

Was it retuned after the exhaust swap?

Yep, it was. My first setup was Power Duals/S&S Grand Nationals (CR480 cam). Over 200 miles a tank was easy. Went to the Billet Cat and immediately lost probably 70 miles per tank. The Billet Cat has been gone for a while and now using OEM headers w/o the cat, and CVO Mufflers with Fullsac baffles. Just a Fuel Moto flash at the moment, the bike will probably be tuned in February. I know auto tuning doesn't make everything run optimally but wonder if a few sessions will help in this regard.

[02roadcling]

I'd find another guy for tuning asap!

   cling

[bigfoot5x]

I have been pleasantly surprised with my recent build. I did a 110 kit from Fuel MOTO with 10.5:1 Carillo pistons and SE 259e cams. Tuned with a Thundermax, Stage 1 with no cat in the Bassani 2 x 2 exhaust. I am getting consistently 2 or 3 mpg better (over Stage 1) at all cruising speeds from 60 to 80 mph, even though I rev it pretty good when leaving lights or stop signs. It did even better while  I was taking it easy breaking it in.