Larry Malinoski
Cruisin' Guzzisti
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.
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.
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.