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V9 MPG and Givi Protection Bars

Larry Malinoski

Cruisin' Guzzisti
Joined
May 21, 2021
Messages
104
Location
Wimauma, Florida
Have had some "issues" and really never got a handle on just what the fuel mileage is on my 2017 V9 Roamer. After installing some GIVI bars today (easy install) It was time to adjust to them and do a mpg test. Ended up at Piny Point on Tampa Bay. In the background is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. In front of me are some fish washed up. Figuring it is red tide caused by that rather "infamous" acid spill there last month.

Imports   2 of 4 Imports   3 of 4

Bars and bike look great to me. Off in the distance, in front of the flyscreen, you can barely make out the Sunshine Skyway.

Noted the fuel mileage readout and the odometer so it was time to actually see just how close they were. In the past I have been seeing a fuel light on for reserve and only putting in 2 1/2 gallons. No handle on filling and usage as there have been disruptions with mistaken fork seal leaks that turned out to be a pinched valve cover seal. Lots of stops and disruptions now over.

The bike is a delight of power and handling the more I ride and adjust to it. Sure it's not a big two-up rider like my Harleys but it sure runs stronger with a delightful easy of operation. That comfort seat is now higher than normal and starting to feel "right" for my 6 ft. height.

Now, on to the gas station. Had 89 Octane gas in the bike filled to the top STRAIGHT UP. Did find that you get the bike off that side stand and you can add about .4 of a gallon more to the tank. Also found out that when you push in the mode button to clear the fuel mileage average indication, the main trip odometer also clears at the same time. Thank goodness I read 102 miles and 56 mpg before stopping and dong that.

Reality was 53.6 mpg carefully filled with the bike upright. That shows me two things. One is the fuel mileage average indicator (hence called the Lie O Meter) is less than 10% optimistic. That is pretty good accuracy to me. This time that Lie O Meter was about 6% off. Good in my book. The other is getting over 50 mpg.

I am very pleased with that fuel mileage. Mostly I blast up to 75-80 mph solo and did some two-up running during this test distance. Watching the Lie O Meter on Instantaneous tells me that you do 60 mpg at 60 mph but barely 50 mpg at 70 mph and way less as you "get it on". Speed costs you fuel to beat that wind resistance.

My V9 Roamer is great for fuel mileage in my opinion. It uses 89 Octane fine with the 10.5 compression ratio. I could do even better if I babied the ride. Not going to happen on my watch.
 
I suggest you spring for the 93 octane. The engine will be happier with less chance of detonation. Give it a try. Fuel mileage shouldn't differ much if a all.
 
What happened to the comment about the "Givi Protection Bars"?

"Bars and bike look great to me". That's all there really is to say about them.

Guess I should have added the install was S I M P L E. Then I could add that the hardware and design seem very sturdy to me. They were what I expected them to be and that's a good thing.
Imports   3 of 4 1

As you can see the bike is a bit small for me and I am "only" 6 ft. 205 lbs. Put my wife on the back and she near falls off that comfort seat I built way up. May add some footpads to the lower part of the protection bars to get myself a bit more stretched out. Europeans I met seemed tiny and this bike is made for those kind of people.

Yes I have glasses. Took them off and set them behind the flyscreen for this. New Hepco and Becker rear rack been paid for a month. It's on a slow boat from Germany. Hoping I can find something to put on the rack, set back behind this seat so my wife has more room and can maybe lean back. She near falls off and I have to accelerate very slowly because of her. Never had this kind of trouble with my old BSA and Triumph bikes. Kind of a surprise this one is so tiny.
 
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I suggest you spring for the 93 octane. The engine will be happier with less chance of detonation. Give it a try. Fuel mileage shouldn't differ much if a all.

No even hint of detonation the last tank of 89. With a rather low compression ratio, I decided to try a lower octane fuel. Been using 92-93 octane. Saw that 10.5:1 compression ration and wondered. Been running the 89 last two tanks. Even tried to "lug" the engine and accelerate, listening for any detonation sign.

I think the engine is "happy". Tell you what. I will ask it this weekend.
 
Stock.

Been away using another motorcycle for the past month. Actually started at the Moto Guzzi Rally in Va. Only a single V9 at that rally, which was a bit of a surprise to me.

Last night was the first ride on my Roamer in over a month. Old gas and a new Hepco and Becker rear rack needed a test as to mount that rack I had to cut off one of the mounting points for the saddlebags.


During the "spirited" testing, I lugged the engine a bit in 6th and then cranked it open. No hint of detonation.
 
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