how to improve mileage vtx 1800

48780 Views 69 Replies 51 Participants Last post by Chicago-Spike, 8 d ago

tallbiker

Discussion Starter · Aug 17, 2008

Hi. I am new on here. I've had a vtx1800 for a few years. I have read around online. I am trying to figure out how to get ber mileage, mpgs. I get 30-32. Would different pipes give me better fuel economy? does anyone know ways to get it in the 40s or higher. my system is stock. i do have a fairing. my buddy has the same year and model and a windshield and gets 34 so pretty close. any ideas are helpful. thanks

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tallbiker

Discussion Starter · #41 · Mar 17, 2009

Jimbo said:
I get a kick out of the "mileage" concerns. This is one of the largest displacement motorcycle engines you can buy. It's going to burn some fuel.

i was concerned cuz i was misled about the fuel economy when i purchased my 1800 3 years ago, so i was curious on how 2 make it better.

i am almost sickened that all bikes dont get better mpg than cars cuz i feel that was 1 more reason a bike is better than a car or cage pretty much always except snow. i started on a 500 vulcan 12 yrs ago and i wailed on it and got 33 mpg then had a gl1800 that was better (round 40plus mpg) and now the vtx1800 went back lower and i was thinkin the vtx1800 would be the same as gl1800 b4 i was aware of the opposed 6 vs vtwin fuel efficiency . i love my vtx but am concerned for its future. i would drive a electric or hybridor biodiesel motorcycle if i could easily do so. thats why.

i found the vulcan was good and it was a 1995 500cc. i am six' 4" so i want big efficient bikes that can tow and i must have music

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Doc Holliday

· #42 · Mar 18, 2009

tallbiker said:
i was concerned cuz i was misled about the fuel economy when i purchased my 1800 3 years ago, so i was curious on how 2 make it better.

i am almost sickened that all bikes dont get better mpg than cars cuz i feel that was 1 more reason a bike is better than a car or cage pretty much always except snow. i started on a 500 vulcan 12 yrs ago and i wailed on it and got 33 mpg then had a gl1800 that was better (round 40plus mpg) and now the vtx1800 went back lower and i was thinkin the vtx1800 would be the same as gl1800 b4 i was aware of the opposed 6 vs vtwin fuel efficiency . i love my vtx but am concerned for its future. i would drive a electric or hybridor biodiesel motorcycle if i could easily do so. thats why.

i found the vulcan was good and it was a 1995 500cc. i am six' 4" so i want big efficient bikes that can tow and i must have music

So, what about batteries in an electric? Thats not very green to put those in the ground when they go bad. You bought a power cruiser. Power cruisers are not tree hugging bikes man.

Krooked

· #43 · Mar 18, 2009

I know lots of harley guys that get much better miliage on their bikes now that they have trailers.

DonG

· #44 · Mar 18, 2009

dirtdobber said:
i get 44mpg +- on trips with 2 up as long as I stay below 70mph-that is corrected mpg
The big increase I got was when I went to the 1300 final. In the mountains it's better

Let me get this right..
you get 44 corrected mpg's with 2 up? That means uncorrected you saw 48 on the speedo? With a full wind catcher ferring loaded with 2 up and a 1300 final.. I'm calling BS!

BikerT

· #45 · Mar 18, 2009

Just a newbie observation: My brand spankin new 1800S gives me around 170 miles between reserve light going on. Tank capacity is 4.22g+1.06g reserve. 170 miles / 4.22g = 40.28mpg. Typical riding includes everything from sitting in traffic, relaxed backroads cruising, to spirited highway jaunts. I guess I could get higher mileage if I rode it like a scooter

BillF

· #46 · Mar 18, 2009

A question: if running rich - guy behind me says it smells rich, inside of pipes black not grey, plugs mostly black (tho not fouled) - might plugs one heat range hotter help or hurt?

bjgarwood

· #47 · Mar 18, 2009

This kind of makes me chuckle. Never, in my wildest hallucination has it dawned on me to check the mpg. If that was a concern, I'd ride a Rebel. This here hoss was made to run hard. Wring her out, stomp her down a gear and rack the pipes going under the overpass. I never did the desmog cuz I even dig the decel popping. As always, to each his own. But it seems there are an awful lot of smaller bikes available if fuel economy is a big deal.

GaryH NC

· #48 · Mar 18, 2009

The 1800 V twin was not designed for great fuel mileage.
Ride it like you stole it!!! When the low fuel light comes on stop and fill up.
I ride mine hard and love to launch from traffic lights leaving a black mark and still get around the 100 to 120 mile mark before the light comes on...:dontknow:

tallbiker

Discussion Starter · #49 · Mar 18, 2009

i know its big n powerful but if i can get 42 mpg instead of 32 mpg i wana know what 2 add, ya know?

jester6

· #50 · Apr 3, 2009

Garbage in - Garbage out

I was riding from Washington state back to Utah and took a short-cut through southern California. Cruising around 65mph through WA and OR i was getting in the neighborhood of 41-44 mpg. Then when I hit CA my mpg dropped to around 35mpg. I though something happened to the bike, but then realized it was probably was all of the mandated crap CA government requires the oil companies to mix in with the gas that it radically affected my milage. Anyone else seen this happen as they cross state lines?

Bikerbob

· #51 · Apr 3, 2009

Im surprised

I have read all the messages in this thread and no one is using an B&B fuel system? My mileage is consistantly in the upper 40's and a few times as high as 52 mpg. Now granted if I am on the throttle i can get down as low as 30 but on the freeway running 70 mph the B&B has improved my mpg. I am ridding an 2005 1800 R with V&H Long Shots and the B&B. The B&B is a piggy back fuel computer that uses an oxygen sensor to constantly keep the air/fuel mixture spot on. I am sure someone on here could explain it better than I. My experience has been great and I have ran 8000 miles with it.

X-Beast Driver

· #52 · Apr 3, 2009

CTVTXRider said:
The only way to save on gas is to go buy a bike with a smaller displacement. I get the same and i am very happy. If the range is the problem, get yourself a luggage rack and carry a 2Gal. jug of Gas.

:agree: I pretty much agree with that. If you like horspower you have to feed the ponys!

bigdog1947

· #53 · Apr 3, 2009

milage

iam 62 years old and ride a 2002 1800vtx c. worst milage than any bike ive owned but also one of the fastest and most fun bikes ive had. dont care about milage anymore, just the fun

Psalmist

· #54 · Apr 3, 2009

BillF said:
A question: if running rich - guy behind me says it smells rich, inside of pipes black not grey, plugs mostly black (tho not fouled) - might plugs one heat range hotter help or hurt?

Bill,
These bikes do run rich. A friend behind me said the same thing. Add a better intake than stock and it should lean out some.

Tall,
If that's your bike in the pic, you have major wind drag. Those big boxes and stuff all cause drag. Those engine chaps take 5 mpg off too. You're driving a brick not a bullet. If you require all that to be comfy, fine. But that's why your mpg's tanked (literally)! Oh yeah, -10 mpg on that trailer in the mts. Mountains are bad on mpg's sometimes. It looks like you've added 200+ lbs of bags, boxes, and chrome.

BillF

· #55 · Apr 3, 2009

Psalmist said:
Bill,
These bikes do run rich. A friend behind me said the same thing. Add a better intake than stock and it should lean out some.

Tall,
If that's your bike in the pic, you have major wind drag. Those big boxes and stuff all cause drag. Those engine chaps take 5 mpg off too. You're driving a brick not a bullet. If you require all that to be comfy, fine. But that's why your mpg's tanked (literally)! Oh yeah, -10 mpg on that trailer in the mts. Mountains are bad on mpg's sometimes. It looks like you've added 200+ lbs of bags, boxes, and chrome.

I already have a great intake - a CDS - probably around 2nd best in terms of airflow. So, I'm thinking about trying a plug 1 step hotter.

tallbiker

Discussion Starter · #56 · Apr 4, 2009

Psalmist said:
you have major wind drag. Those big boxes and stuff all cause drag. Those engine chaps take 5 mpg off too. You're driving a brick not a bullet. If you require all that to be comfy, fine. But that's why your mpg's tanked (literally)! Oh yeah, -10 mpg on that trailer in the mts. Mountains are bad on mpg's sometimes. It looks like you've added 200+ lbs of bags, boxes, and chrome.

i just changed my bags and ready to ride . but just a windsheild and bags it was still bout 32-34, without engine guard chaps. thers prob about 70-100 lbs of luggage carrying capacity on there. appreciate the input everybody

plantman1963

· #57 · Apr 4, 2009

My 02 has always been hard on gas I did get one tank that I hit 39mpg but mostly 30-32I added a B&B system and it dropped to high 20s I was afraid of too much fuel in the cylinders so I disabled it. My new wing hit 40 on the first tank. Riding style is a big part of mileage IMHO.

tgraf1800F

· #58 · Apr 4, 2009

I ride 75 miles each way to work (1/2 interstate and 1/2 backroad) and get 40-45 MPG out of mine. I usually run 70-75 hwy. and 60 on the two lane. High gear all the way, no real twisties. Most of the time I'm cruising but love to hit the gas every now and then to really feel the monster. When I run with the windshield on it seems to affect it a little but still get the full 150 miles before the fuel light comes on.

jond

· #59 · Apr 4, 2009

you can install a power commander, pipes, airbox and have the bike custom mapped for better mileage but you will sacrifice power. 33 - 40 is average for most of us.

Ghost-Flame

· #60 · Apr 4, 2009

biker.chef said:
Haven't we done this thread before?

I get 33 no matter what... so what? I like to play!!

Now I'm going to start an oil thread?

I like Amsoil, I like Mobile 1, just put in any old cheap walmart crap(oil is oil), The blue jug, the white jug, the grey bottles that are shaped like triangles are better than the white round bottles with the long neck, I use 10% olive oil and a little oregano (makes it smell aromatic as well as getting rid of the second gear clunck). Royal Purple (I do like the purple package), Oil changes... who does oil changes themselves?, I take mine to jiffy lube, Quaker State has Parafin(great for making candles and canning jelly but not so good for my baby's internal parts), Lucas has an additive, Murphy's Miracl oil all day long,
oem pure one/napa/wix/K&N/Mann/Fram/WalMart change em every oil change, change em every other oil change, 3,000, 5,000, 7,000 12,000, sent my oil to the lab(I can extend the change interval, but I won't cuz it's my baby), Drain it hot, drain it on the stand, drain it hanging from a hook from the ceiling, what's a crush washer? there's a drain bolt in the back of the pan? my bike only took 1 quart of new oil, is the stick acurate?

Sorry to hi jack but, I just wanted to talk about oil. nojoke:joke:nojoke

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