When I bought Maggie in Sept. 2006, she came with Cobra pipes, a windshield, and otherwise pretty much stock. I got around 50-53 mpg in this configuration.
BUT
She popped like a movie popcorn machine on deceleration, and the plugs showed lean. So I followed Greg C's procedure on the web site, and installed new jets and shims from Dave Dodge Racing Products, and a K&N air filter. This cured the popping, the plugs cleaned up to "normal", and the power through the mid-range was much improved. Mileage dropped to 38-45 mpg range.
Now this year, finally, the dream trip to Colorado came true! Higher altitudes -> less air, so I would have presumed the bike would run richer yet, and the mileage would decrease further.
Nope! Consistently hit 52-55 mpg, even following Curtis' lead :cool:. On one leg, over 65 mpg. On the last leg of the trip, racing a storm back to Alamosa, only about 46 mpg, but this was not the norm.
I haven't ridden enough here at home to complete the cycle, but I will be surprised if it is any different than I have experienced these last 30 months around Texas.
So, I don't get it. Perhaps less drag in the thinner air? I don't think average speeds were all that different, and we traversed a lot of high mountain passes with long up and down-hill stretches. I cannot make sense of it.
I noticed the same effect when we drove there in our Civic. Drove in the mountians, through colorado springs, south park, up pike's peak, etc. I got the best mileage ever in colorado. I got upwards of 45-48 mpg and couldn't figure it out, except maybe going down helped with the mileage?
I don't usually notice the difference in mileage between the hills and the flats here in Florida!!! :lol:
Hills in Florida? Isn't that an oxymoron? ;^)
I've gotten better mileage every time I went to the Colorado/Wyoming/Montana area no matter what vehicle I was in. I think it is the difference in fuel formulation. I once got 23 mpg with my '96 Chevy 1500 with vortec 350 in Wyoming, and that was running highway speeds on the interstate. That kind of mileage is unheard of. Down here I always got 15 to 18 ...........19 at most.
Curtis
QuoteI think it is the difference in fuel formulation.
Do the locals up there get better gas milage too (than we do here)?
I did notice that the middle grade of gasoline was listed as 87 octane, the lowest at 85 octane. Since Maggie calls for 87, I used the middle grade in Colorado. I think the octane ratings were lowered after adding ethanol :???: :???: (Weird, I thought the corn likker was supposed to raise the octane rating.)
Here at home I use the lowest grade, which is listed at 87 octane. I used the higher grade for a while, but saw no difference in performance or mileage, so went back to the plain jane gasoline.
So if there is a big difference in the gasoline, what do we have to do to buy it here in Texas?? :???: :???:
Another thing I noticed -- unlike automobiles I have driven in Colorado, Maggie did not seem to lose much power (above about 3500 rpm) at high altitude. On twisties, I kept in lower gear to keep the rpm up, and still got better mileage!
My guess would be time spending going up hill vs down hill....but then again, here in AZ I do a all my rides in the mountains and that does not seem to affect my mileage much....
Also, wind can play a big factor too...head on wind vs wind at your back vs breaking wind! A custom bean powered turbo booster could cause some fluctuation :lol:
Lawrence, its possible we have you too rich here in Texas on your carb settings. Remember Dave Dodge's kit is setup for use with a stock air filter. So I have guessed on settings from his to work with the K&N's..
Thats another possible thought process... I do know they formulate fuel differently for different parts of the state and country.
When talking with Jim about his Magna on the Colorado trip sounds like his is off and will need some tweaking..
Greg, I am getting even more confused. If the bike is too rich here at 1000 feet, wouldn't it be way to rich at 8000 feet? :???:
Less air, same fuel -- am I thinking backwards on this deal? (Again!!) :???: :???:
I always get better mileage in the mts/high canyon country. There may be less air, but there is less air resistence. Does not matter if on a motorcycle or a car or a suv, if one keeps the revs in the middle range, mileage will be better.
Brad Badgett
OU Region
MOOT #164
1996 VF750C
Sorry a typo hehehe, meant to say lean.. You would be correct.
Lawrence, did you take your windshield off your bike at any given time during your trip? I notice that when I take my windshield off, my mpg increases significantly.
Quote from: L J MAGNA on August 10, 2009, 03:18:56 AM
Lawrence, did you take your windshield off your bike at any given time during your trip? I notice that when I take my windshield off, my mpg increases significantly.
Interesting thought, Lance
After my mishap at MOOTMAG 7, I (necessarily!) rode without a windshield for a while. Did not note the mileage difference. At lower speeds, I liked the "no windshield" feel, but it was tiring at highway speeds, so I put a new windshield on for the Colorado trip --which I never removed.
All the mileage numbers quoted above were with a windshield -- the Memphis Shades "big shot" model.