09 nightster fuel milage : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

DarrenLMP3 · 09-03-2008, 09:12 PM

Hello everyone!

I just picked up a nightster in orange and black and i love the thing! All previous bikes were in-line 4 cycliner rice burners. i still have my Z1000 and will never part with it. So for my first Harley experience, all i can say is WOW!. Impressive! Can't believe i mocked them all these years! Sorry Guys! It is just such a fun bike to ride! I love the rumble under my seat! I never saw a motor move so much in a frame. I never noticed it anyway. Well, my question is with the fuel tank. Im only gettig about 60 miles before the light goes on? 60? I do have V&H short shots, power commander and SE air filter installed when i picked the bike up. Did i lose 40 miles in a tank adding the exhaust and PC? Am i not filling the tank enough? Wrong map? am i driving it wrong? I feels so weird to shift so early. Well, gotta fly. be back soon!!!!!

broken arrow · 09-03-2008, 10:23 PM

my ol lady has the same bike,identical pipes ,pc,and ac and her light comes on around 90 - 100 miles. she might not be on the pipe as much as you though. lol by the way her bike just turned the 2000 mile mark.

Willie D · 09-04-2008, 11:58 AM

I have a 2008 with V&H SS + 02 IED from night rider and I have been getting 50/53 mpg. light seems to come on at 98-110 and then I only put 2.2 gal. I use premium fuel 91-93......

jst love the new Nightster

WD

geoffreyt · 09-04-2008, 01:46 PM

I have an 05 1200 with Python 2-1, carb kit and a dyno tune. I get about 85 miles before my light comes on. I dont ride the superslab. I ride the back roads and I use the throttle. 40 miles to the gallon is what I expect.

hamyoo06 · 09-04-2008, 05:01 PM

I think it's safe to say somethin ain't right. Maybe the map is wrong?

DarrenLMP3 · 09-04-2008, 10:19 PM

Thanks for the input guys. i filled up again paying attention to the level of gas in the tank. Light now came on at around 75. i never looked to see what the amount of gas dispenced was. I will have to hook up my laptop tomorrow and check out the map. Is the tank 3.3 gallons or is that how much gas it holds? In other words, if i were to jack the back of the bike up a couple of feet, will i be able to get more gas in it? The fuel filler is not at the very top of the tank and so im thinkin it is bigger then 3.3...maybe only 3.5

geoffreyt · 09-05-2008, 09:27 AM

Riding style and how you use the throttle has a bunch to do with fuel milage

67hat34c · 09-05-2008, 11:26 AM

how are you dirving it . If you are accelerating alot and making alot of noise with pipes then it will not give you much economy. Try to run it easy and see what difference it makes.

Honeyburst · 09-06-2008, 12:31 AM

as previously mentioned, octane makes a HUGE difference......I have a 4.5 gallon fat bob on my sportster 1200, stage III, and there's about a 50 mile per tank difference between 87 (130-135 miles/tank) and 93 octane (185-190 miles/tank)......well worth the extra $1.50 IMO.......

when I flip to reserve and fill up immediately, I can put in around 3.5 gallons.....I'm assuming it's a 4.5 gallon tank because I've been told the average reserve is one gallon.......

a_ride_4_ever · 09-11-2008, 03:25 PM

i have a 08 1200r SE a/c PCIII and rusk 1.75" pipes, I'm getting an average of 45mpg. I lost a LOT after paying taxes. I have monkeyed around with the map and it has made little diff. I do not ride it hard. but damn does it feel good to ride it like you stole it...

67hat34c · 09-12-2008, 03:03 PM

Octane is not going to give you better mileage. All octane does is prevent pre ignition detonation of the fuel air mixture. High compression engines will cause 87 octane to light off before the spark plug fires which caused pre ignition pinging and subsequent engine damage. You should run the fuel that your engine is designed for and nothing else. IE if you engine calls for 87, 93 will not do a thing for it and you are wasting your money.

DarrenLMP3 · 09-13-2008, 08:40 AM

My dealer said that he has had alot of people say the same thing, light is coming on early. im just going to drive around with extra gas on me and run it til its dead 2 or three times to get an average.

BrianK · 09-21-2008, 06:32 PM

Darren - please report back on your findings. A bunch of us, me included, will be interested. Thanks - BrianK

kshapiro · 09-22-2008, 11:04 PM

'07 NIghtster with SE slip ons and stock ac. I get about 48 MPG on average...mixture of slab and backroads...no start and stop to speak of. Light comes on (early) at about 90-100, and only takes 2.2 usually. Shouldn't come on until 2.5. I ran an extra 35 miles this weeknd after the light came on (135 miles) and only took 2.8 gallons...still had 1/2 gallon or 24 miles to go.

Cheaper than a Honda Civic, quicker than a Vette, and mileage to match a Prius...not bad!