What fuel economy is normal for a trike?

[hepengr]

I have a 07 SE Ultra a with Lehman Renegade conversion, 110 CI engine, big sucker AC, Rhinehart true-duals with quiet baffles, and Thundermax ECM with Auto-Tune. The previous owner of the bike had installed the air cleaner, true duals, and PCIII USB (including tuning time on the dyno).

I had the trike conversion installed shortly after purchasing the bike, so I don't know what the fuel economy was as a two wheeler, but as a trike I got around 32 MPG , at 60 - 65 MPH, 5th gear, 3000 - 3200 RPM.

The PCIII went TU, so I decided to replace it with the TM w/AT. Installation of the TM made a vast improvement in the low end torque, and throttle response, however the fuel economy under the same conditions is 32 MPG.

My question is: Is 32 MPG reasonable for fuel economy, or should I be looking into the fuel map, timing, etc.

Thanking you in advance for your input.

 

[Gorilla]

hepengr, I have an 07 Road Glide 103 motor Champion conversion and I get a low of 32 to a high of 35. I would say you are well in the ball park. Any problems with the Thunder max? I had one and it would not hold a full throttle setting. went back to the Power Commander.

 

[hepengr]

tmigala

Thanks for the reply on the MPG. This helps to confirm my expectation that 30 - 35 MPG is reasonable fuel economy for a trike,

So far the Thundermax is working well for me. With the PCIII, the engine had very low end torque. We have some fairly steep hills (10%+) in the area with
intersections and stop signs. It was difficult to start out on these grades with the PCIII. I was seriously considering gearing the trike down by changing the transmission sprocket from 32 to 30 teeth to help with the hill starts and also increase the RPM's in all the gears to compensate for the lack of low end (<2800 RPM) torque. The throttle also had flat spots (not responsive) at certain RPM's as well.

The PCIII failed in September, and I replaced it with the Thundermax, rather than the SERT and associated dyno time as the local HD stealer recommeded at the time. I had been thinking about changing over to the TM for some time so when the PCIII died, it forced my decision to go with the TM.

With the TM, I saw an immediate improvement in the low end torque, the throttle response was also better, and the flat spots have gone away ( at least in the RPM range where I usually operate < 4000 RPM). I did experience some popping / backfiring on deceleration which was eliminated with the proper setting of the decel fuel cut setting. Starting out on uphill grades is better than before, although I haven't totally given up on the idea of changing the gear ratio, as I believe that it would make 6th gear more usable.

I don't want to come off as being negative against the PCIII, as the performance issues that I experieced prior to the failure were more apt to be a result of the fuel map selection and dyno tuning, rather than by the PCIII itself.

 

[Lucky]

I am no help in your case,but I am also intrested in normal fuel mileage.I have a 1990 Goldwing SE and it gets in the mid to low 30's.I rode the bike for about three years before converting it with a Motor Trike kit.At 65 mph it runs 3000rpm.I would like to hear from anyone with a similar set up.

 

[Gorilla]

My daughters 1997 GW with CSC conversion gets in the 31 to 33 MPH range.

 

[gypsyezz]

I have a dyna glide I get 35 miles a gal
don't seem to matter where I am at
I am my kids mother so I slow at take off and brake easy
gypsyezz

 

[John Luciano]

My DFT 1997 Gold Wing that uses all the original Honda rear end , gets 34MPG average I have made it in to the 38-40 range a few times and also once a low of 28

 

[samw]

hello i get around 25 on a 96 motor trike .must have something wrong.

 

[John Luciano]

Go to a local Car Pats store. get a can of SEA FOAM and fill up the gas tank and dump 1/2 the can in. Also check and make sure that the Choke cable is not sticking . Look under the Right side cover and make sure it goes all the way to the stop when the lever the handle bar lever is all the way up. when was the last time u replaced the air cleaner and sub and cruise filters?

 

[trikerman]

I have a twin cam 88 Road King trike and it does 33 to the gallon, before it was triked I used to get 50 to the gallon. my friend has a Road king trike which was converted by a different company to mine and he gets 40 to the gallon.

John.

 

[samw]

havnt changed anything yet. i will try that.thanks

 

[samw]

where is the cruise filter located

 

[Greydog]

I'm currently getting 32 to 35 miles per gallon on an 08 Ultra with a 103" motor and SE255 cams. I was getting 39 to 41 before the Champion kit and engine build. Seems as if low to mid 30's is about average for this type of trike. I don't know if it will improve any after the engine is broken in.....I was only able to get about 500 miles on it before cold weather.

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

I'm currently getting 32 to 35 miles per gallon on an 08 Ultra with a 103" motor and SE255 cams. I was getting 39 to 41 before the Champion kit and engine build. Seems as if low to mid 30's is about average for this type of trike. I don't know if it will improve any after the engine is broken in.....I was only able to get about 500 miles on it before cold weather.

32-35 is the best average your going to get. I have the same motor and cam combo with 30k on mine. Gas mileage is subjective to several things as well:

How you ride it

Wind resistance

Elevation

How much weight your carrying or towing additionally

How old the gas is in the tank at the station you filled up at

Is there Ethonol in the gas

I have ridden coast to coast and the mileage always varied as I rode

 

[John Luciano]

Trikerman what make kit is yours and what is your friends?

 

[trikerman]

Hi John, Our 2000 Road King classic was built by trike design in Cearphilly South Wales 2007 with Independant rear susspension and reverse gear.

My mates 2001 Road King classic was built by bbcustoms down in Dorset he kept the bikes original rear air susspension and no reverse gear in 2007.
Both in the Uk.

We met up at a bike rally for the first time just after we both had the bikes triked hence different builders.

John.

 

[Calman]

I get 35-38 MPG on my 2009 Honda Shadow Aero 750 MotorTrike.

After I being use to getting 65 MPG on my Royal Enfield 500 Classic (with a sidecar) I was astounded at the lesser mileage before I finally realized I was running with 450 pounds more weight (150 of that is the PAX) and pulling two big airdams (fenders).

Judging by the MPG by other responders to this thread I guess I should be happy with the MPG I get. Now if it'd only warm up a bit so I could do more than run it down the block and back.

Calman

 

[RED BARON]

I think it all bolls down to SPEED....the faster you run..the lower the mpg. At 70 or over....25mpg.....keep it at 55....35 mpg...I ride a 97 wing.

 

[rocker bri]

I dont worry about it i just enjoy the ride....

 

[sprt220]

I have an 07 Road star 1700 and get 33-38 mpg but have had a few 40 mpg.
Doesn't seem to matter if I'm 2 up or loaded down or not.I ride mostly around
70 mph. Ken

 

[Bubba_Richard]

I have a 2009 Fat Bob, if the speed is constant I'm still topping 40 mpg. If I'm riding in Houston I'm in between 32 and 35 mpg. Prior to the conversion it was 52+ highway and 37 + city.
Bubba