Vulcan 1500 Gas Mileage

[04VN1500]

Originally Posted by cjguru

OK, I was with you until you said "marbling". How do you tell the difference between a carb backfire and an exhaust one? Is there a different sound or do you just watch the exhaust?

Sorry for my ignorance... I just bought the bike in August so am learning as I go.

Exhaust back fire will go all the way out the tail pipe. Carb backfire will be at the carb and typically you might feel a little of the blast on your legs. You have an air injection in your exhaust pipes.

Do a search on Marbling. There are some good detailed threads about it, complete with pictures. But I would check/change your exsiting exhaust gaskets as well.

Also, exhaust backfire will be when you let off the gas, carb will be when you first get on it. Giving it the gas with a back fire means you are lean. Jet up a little. You may only have a stage 1 jet kit. You may need to go to stage 2.

There is always raw unspent gas in the exhaust but it usually will not detonate unless you have an exhaust leak which would suck air into the exhaust allowing enough oxygen to ignite the raw fuel. I personally am not impressed with the marbling thing. If that was the problem, to me it should cause the problem at all times. Both with stock and aftermarket exhaust.


Ok, I am rambling now...........

[04VN1500]

Oh, and you will not ever average 40 mpg mixed on that bike. I get about 120 miles per tank MAX on straight highway riding before I have to go to reserve. Mine is all stock. Just gutted pipes. I get 28-32 in the city pending how hard I ride. 38-42 on all highway riding just cruising.

[cjguru]

Originally Posted by 04VN1500

Oh, and you will not ever average 40 mpg mixed on that bike. I get about 120 miles per tank MAX on straight highway riding before I have to go to reserve. Mine is all stock. Just gutted pipes. I get 28-32 in the city pending how hard I ride. 38-42 on all highway riding just cruising.

Cool!! Thanks! What do you think of the gtank? GMan Industries | Built By Bikers For Bikers | 250+mi Vulcan1500 Classic range with Auxiliary Fuel Tank - GMan Industries

I want to increase my range to 160+ miles, because I live 80 miles from work. (Luckily, I only go in once a week and tele-work other days..)

[04VN1500]

Originally Posted by cjguru

Cool!! Thanks! What do you think of the gtank? GMan Industries | Built By Bikers For Bikers | 250+mi Vulcan1500 Classic range with Auxiliary Fuel Tank - GMan Industries

I want to increase my range to 160+ miles, because I live 80 miles from work. (Luckily, I only go in once a week and tele-work other days..)

Actually I like the idea of the Gtank. Just as long as it is not too close to the exhaust. It would aid in jacking up the motorcycle as well.

[NCDave]

Have you seen this?

Aux Tank

I always thought this would be cheaper than the GMan. You could even go cheaper than this with a standard plastic gas can and a little bit of plumbing. The idea of the bag to carry it in seems like a good dress-up for the bike too.

[Cranky CJ]

Originally Posted by 04VN1500

Oh, and you will not ever average 40 mpg mixed on that bike. I get about 120 miles per tank MAX on straight highway riding before I have to go to reserve. Mine is all stock. Just gutted pipes. I get 28-32 in the city pending how hard I ride. 38-42 on all highway riding just cruising.

something has to be wrong here. i easlily get 44-46 mixed, 48-50+ highway cruising. interstate 75+ it dropps back to low 40s. i hit reserve at about 165 miles. 98 1500, hard krome exhaust and stock intake, metzler tires at about 36-40psi, running on 87 oct at 5000' elevation.

[cjguru]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Have you seen this?

Aux Tank

I always thought this would be cheaper than the GMan. You could even go cheaper than this with a standard plastic gas can and a little bit of plumbing. The idea of the bag to carry it in seems like a good dress-up for the bike too.

Yeah (I saw those), what I like about the Gman is where it is placed... (doesn't interfere with anything and takes away the "hole" that was created by replacing the exhaust. (looking at the bike from the right side, it looks "skinny" in the mid section now..)

I am not an engine guy though, so I worry a little about the dual fuel pumps and having to turn 1 pump on while you are filling up your tank...

[NCDave]

You're fortunate. Most will run in the low to mid 40s on a good day, of course, depending on driving style. After adding exhaust, instake, and carb mods, I was only getting mid 30s to low 40s. That seemed to be the reported "norm".

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by cjguru

Yeah (I saw those), what I like about the Gman is where it is placed... (doesn't interfere with anything and takes away the "hole" that was created by replacing the exhaust. (looking at the bike from the right side, it looks "skinny" in the mid section now..)

I am not an engine guy though, so I worry a little about the dual fuel pumps and having to turn 1 pump on while you are filling up your tank...

I had thought this other one was a more cost effective option, and could be easily removed when travel requirements didn't dictate it. I do understand about the "hole" thing though. I never did find a good solution for that.

[Cranky CJ]

I guess so, but I also drive like an old man.

[NCDave]

Hah! That must be it. I NEVER drive slow unless my wife is on the back whacking me in the arm.

[04VN1500]

Originally Posted by Cranky CJ

something has to be wrong here. i easlily get 44-46 mixed, 48-50+ highway cruising. interstate 75+ it dropps back to low 40s. i hit reserve at about 165 miles. 98 1500, hard krome exhaust and stock intake, metzler tires at about 36-40psi, running on 87 oct at 5000' elevation.

Carb'd? You either have a freak accident of a bike. (which is a good thing) Or your gas tank is bigger. (or you are bad at math. .........just joking) The mileage you are showing is usually fuel injected.

[Cranky CJ]

It's carbed being a 98. bigger tank? naw, same one they all have. bad math? i'm right 97% of the time the other 4% its due to bad information.....freak of a bike? who knows.....

[pcarrell]

I have a 2001 drifter 1500 and I used to get 42-45mpg regularly on 92 octane. Last spring I swapped out my clutch spring for a Meanie spring and two part holder and my mileage bumped to 45-48. Most of my riding is country roads at 55-60mph, but there's a little city and a little hiway thrown in too. Now my last tank of gas only saw 39mph, but that was a problem with my wrist, not the bike!

[vulcancowboy]

I average 38-42 mpg with my ’04 carb’ed w/V&H straight shots.

[skiman762]

From my reading the vulcan speedometers can be of as much as 8-10% that might explain the different mpg's being posted I checked mine and it's off by 7mph at 70 indicated I'm only doing 63 on gps

[zuke]

40-43mpg. k&n 8" filter and VnH drag pipes. on 89octane.