Poor Gas Mileage...?

[UNCLE JESSE]

Coming back from Arkansas with a trailer with cooler and all the luggage and the Better half, we got between 28 to 29 mi. to a gallon after we got back I put a new set of lower wind deflectors and the mileage improved by 2 mi. to a gallon figure that out.

 

[Captain Bob]

I have had two Rockets....

On my 05 Classic I averaged 32mpg. That was cruising 80mph on the eways and with some city and backroad driving. I keep the tires relatively hard and weigh in at 280. I had a sport screen and bags on the bike.

On my 08 Rocket 3 Touring, I get 30mpg. Riding style and cruising speeds are the same but I now have a taller windscreen. I may ride backroad twisties a little slower due to the extra weight of the bike. It turns quicker then the 05 but... you can really feel the extra weight and (I think) longer wheelbase.

I have tried to reduce speed to see how mileage might increase but.... that is so darned hard!

I too have wondered how folks get into high 30's or even 40's with their Rockets. I can only think they are either riding rather slowly or going downhill with a tailwind, or maybe all of the above!

30mpg does seem to be the average for most R3 owners.

 

[Sidecar Flip]

Here in Michigan we have one brand of fuel called "Admiral". Not sure if it's sold everywhere but it has a high percentage of alcohol. Alcohol only has half the energy of gasoline so you have to burn more of it. I've tried it in my cars and bikes because it's normally a few cents cheaper. It's makes any vehicle I've ever put it in run lean and stumbly.

I wouldn't put that crap in my lawnmower, let along any motor vehicle. Lets see, there is an abundance of those stations around Spring Lake and Muskegon....

I regularly show 35-37mpg. BTW does the built-in speedo error also effect the odometer? Logical that it would, however I've heard that different methods are sometimes used to measure each.

I can get 40 calculated off the GPs and actual fill amount with a very frugal right wrist.

I have had two Rockets....

On my 05 Classic I averaged 32mpg. That was cruising 80mph on the eways and with some city and backroad driving. I keep the tires relatively hard and weigh in at 280. I had a sport screen and bags on the bike.

.....Weight Watchers will increase your mileage..........

On my 08 Rocket 3 Touring, I get 30mpg. Riding style and cruising speeds are the same but I now have a taller windscreen. I may ride backroad twisties a little slower due to the extra weight of the bike. It turns quicker then the 05 but... you can really feel the extra weight and (I think) longer wheelbase.

I have tried to reduce speed to see how mileage might increase but.... that is so darned hard!

I too have wondered how folks get into high 30's or even 40's with their Rockets. I can only think they are either riding rather slowly or going downhill with a tailwind, or maybe all of the above!

30mpg does seem to be the average for most R3 owners.

Going to the second RAA in Nashville, riding the BR Parkway, I got 43. I rode with 2 potato bikes. They got 53, go figure. 45 is a nice sedate speed to smell the roses.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

I wouldn't put that crap in my lawnmower, let along any motor vehicle. Lets see, there is an abundance of those stations around Spring Lake and Muskegon....



I can get 40 calculated off the GPs and actual fill amount with a very frugal right wrist.



Going to the second RAA in Nashville, riding the BR Parkway, I got 43. I rode with 2 potato bikes. They got 53, go figure. 45 is a nice sedate speed to smell the roses.

Ding ding ding ding, give the man a cigar ! Correct you are. I live in Spring Lake about six blocks south of the the Muskegon county line !

 

[HellFire]

You boys still have a choice when it comes to corn squeezins in your gas? Around my way it's 10% booze in your fuel or nuthin.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

You boys still have a choice when it comes to corn squeezins in your gas? Around my way it's 10% booze in your fuel or nuthin.

I think all gas has some alcohol in it nowdays. I was told Admiral has more. Not sure if thats true or if it's just generally ****ty gas, but it doesn't run good in any vehicle I have ever had.

 

[HellFire]

I think all gas has some alcohol in it nowdays. I was told Admiral has more. Not sure if thats true or if it's just generally ****ty gas, but it doesn't run good in any vehicle I have ever had.

They can't just add alcohol willy-nilly to pump gas, it has to be disclosed and what concentration percentage posted on the pump. 10% and less can be digested by all modern cars and bikes, anything more than that could require retuning and potentially cause engine or fuel and exhaust system problems.
Cars with "Flexfuel" capabilities can "retune" themselves and already have parts necessary to withstand the effects of alcohol, the extra water/debris found in fuel with alot of alcohol and other types of additives used to "water down" alternative pump fuels.

Some of those corn states that get federal money have some pump gas available with really high amounts of alcohol. That stuff can really **** up an engine not made for alcohol.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

They can't just add alcohol willy-nilly to pump gas, it has to be disclosed and what concentration percentage posted on the pump. 10% and less can be digested by all modern cars and bikes, anything more than that could require retuning and potentially cause engine or fuel and exhaust system problems.
Cars with "Flexfuel" capabilities can "retune" themselves and already have parts necessary to withstand the effects of alcohol, the extra water/debris found in fuel with alot of alcohol and other types of additives used to "water down" alternative pump fuels.

Some of those corn states that get federal money have some pump gas available with really high amounts of alcohol. That stuff can really **** up an engine not made for alcohol.

I don't remember seeing any warnings so I guess Admiral is just ****ty gas

 

[HellFire]

I don't remember seeing any warnings so I guess Admiral is just ****ty gas

Lots of that out there.

 

[pwrjunkie80]

My first 05 rocket 24-28mpg with dyno tune kn filter
second 06 classic 35-37mpg with triples and no tune
third 05 yet to be determined. Drove both the same.