After the damage to the bag yesterday I pulled them both off until I get the parts and fix it. Anyway I had wondered how much the bags and large windshield are hurting my mileage. So I took the Givi shield off and put the factory back on. I did leave the tail truck on as it's more or less not in the air stream being in my "shadow". With the bags NOT sticking out and the large windshield I think my mileage should go up. BUT ya never know.
My average mileage has been right at 52-53 MPG all around. I use a gas card and check mileage and cost when I pay the bill.
I got excellent mileage (60+ MPG US Gallons) on my trip from Columbus, MS to Nashville, TN a couple months back with my V outfitted as it is now (Trax bags fully loaded, skidplate, crash bars, radiator grill, handguards, and Powerbronze windhsield), although I did have a pretty constant speed of 55-60 MPH.
I'm sure all the metal I've added to the bike has decreased the MPG a little, but the looks are worth it! Every once in a while I'll take off the bags and their mounts (those things are a lot heavier than I thought) and go for a ride. The bike is always a lot more responsive and "flickable" in the corners. I really appreciate the utility of the side bags though and seldom have them off anymore.
My normal MPG ranges anywhere from 40 to 50 depending on how I ride.
The 1st week of Versys ownership got me 58mpg without bags but with aftermarket 'screen & I was in the "getting to know you" phase with the 'bike so was prolly being cautious..................however, since the honeymoon period ended l have helped the poor gas companies profits by squeezing the throttle more & dropping my mpg's to around 48mpg!!!
I don't know how you guys do that. Maybe it's because I'm heavy, and tall (wind drag), and do 70+ a lot, or maybe because I've got just over 1700 miles on 'er. But if I granny drive on my regular, not very much city driving route to work, the very best I can get is 44 MPG. If I have to hop on I-20 and hike it up to 80+ I'm lucky to get 130 miles on a tank. I always use premium and am using 15w40 Rotella for the break in period, but I can't seem to eek out more than 160 miles on a tank.
Also tall and ... Let's call it heavy
And also in the mid to the hingh 40's
But I always drive it like I stole it, have the givi V35 all the time, and usually on sencondary road at speed around 45 to 65 miles per hour ... But still, I put gas once every two fill up for my vulcan nomad buddy
You're wasting money on premium with the designed compression of this engine. I have large 42 liter bags with a Givi screen. With a mixture of highway and backroads, I typically get 50 mpg on the nose.
I get 50+ pretty consistently on no ethanol premium commuting mostly 55 mph country roads. About 4 mpg less with e10 regular. I'm 325 plus gear. If the right wrist is too Happy mpg drops.
I'm a lot less likely to go ape on the throttle than when I first started riding, but if one doesn't dip into the bounty of power the V offers at least once in while, what's the point?! I delved into the throttle on the very last leg of my journey home tonight and rediscovered that giant grin of V velocity I so enjoy
:dgi:42-44 mpg for me , but then again , its a question of speed . 150kph (93mph) on freeway will eat into ones pocket . I need to start riding slower :forgetit:
I've got my HT boxes permanently mounted with the right side box always full with tools, rain gear, compressor, cover, etc.. I'm around 190 with pretty much stock everything else. Around town on regular ethanol gas I'm usually getting 49-51. On my trips it's usually a couple of mpg less due to higher speeds.
The guy l bought the 'bike off was over 300lbs & had a lot of 70mph freeway motoring on his 70mile round trip commute & he got 45mpg...BUT....he did admit to one "fast" trip he did on freeways & side roads (twisties) that he actually got it down to 35mpg!!!!...Beat that anyone!!!:clap:
Also, one factor that is not MPG related, but more like $PG is if you look at the price of a gallon (converted from liters) in England, to the cost of a (16% smaller US gallon) then it makes you think that we are very lucky in the USA to have such low prices!!!
Everytime I ride and get close to or just over 150 miles my gas gauge shows that I have either 1 or 2 bars left so I fill up and it only takes 3 gallons.....so I guess I have another 2 left. So the V can get 250 miles to a tank? If so that's pretty good. I'll have to bring a gallon of gas with me one day and run it dry to test it out.
Mine varies hugely on load and what type of riding. City mileage I'm looking at low 40s. Highway almost 60 mpg at 75mph. I do have it geared down to 43 rear tooth though..
! fill up on the test and I'm at 52.8 no better than with everything on the bike. Of course a heavy hand might be the cause...ya never know!
I did end up putting the Givi windshield back on yesterday...August in Ohio should NOT be in the high 40s! The high was only 68 yesterday. It was 47 this morning but was 87 on Monday. A bit of a shock to say the least. I just reinstalled the hand guards this anthernoos after I got home from work.
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