18.4 MPG

[MarkLawson]

Ran from Denton, Texas to Odessa today pulling the RT-622 trailer. & pushing a 35 MPH head wind @ 75 MPH.

[docdoru]

[SpyderAnn01]

Those were some pretty severe conditions but it is still a pretty dismal mpg. That is one thing I wish could be improved for future models On my ride today I got 25 mpg which is about what I usually get. I get the same in my car, of course the RT is more fun to ride.

[Spyder Cat]

Well, as I told a Spyder-admirer at the store today when he asked about mpg . . .
we didn't buy 'em for the gas mileage

[MarkLawson]

By the way, there are some very serious wildfires in the the Midland/Odessa and Alpine & Ft Davis areas. Those combined with the brutal winds is making for seriously dangerous conditions. Your prayers are needed.

[billythekidd]

Well, as I told a Spyder-admirer at the store today when he asked about mpg . . .
we didn't buy 'em for the gas mileage

Not meant to offend anyone, but that is what is said when the mileage is poor and would not even be thought of if it got great mileage... I only have around 600 miles on my 11 and have been consistently getting about 30 or so.

Willy

[GypsyBill]

I guess I am averaging around 25-28mpg (2000 miles on the clock now).... but, when compared to my only other vehicle ('09 Ford F450 6.4L diesel with 4:30 gears getting 13mpg on a good day), I don't complain .

[Slybird]

I guess I am averaging around 25-28mpg (2000 miles on the clock now).... but, when compared to my only other vehicle ('09 Ford F450 6.4L diesel with 4:30 gears getting 13mpg on a good day), I don't complain .

I'm right in there with you, averaging between 27-28 mpg (8,200 miles on the odo). But what the SpYder lacks in mpg it makes up for in FUN!!!

p.s. I used to get 35 to 40 mpg with my H-D Ultra Classic and I've got the scars from the exhaust pipe burns on my lower right leg to prove it!! Tupperware (lower mileage) vs Hot Pipes (better mileage) = NO CONTEST!!

[Bob Denman]

Fuel mileage...
Did any of you see the BBC America show "Top Gear" when they did their fuel mileage show? They took 2 cars to a race track: a Prius and an M3. The Prius had to run WFO while the M3 only had to keep the hybrid's pace.
Results:The Prius got a bit less than 18mpg while the M3 got almost 20!
Their conclusion? If you want to save fuel; buy a BMW M3!

[SpyderDen]

Recently sold my C6 Z06 Corvette. Picked it up at the factory in Bowling Green Kentucky, came home through "The Tail of the Dragon" and still averaged 30MPG. Not bad for 515HP!
I get about the same on my RTS. Usually fill at 120 miles and it takes 4 gallons every time.

[Bob Denman]

But you could own 2 RTSs and have enough left over for an RS for the cost of the Z06? (But you'd only get 306hp??)

[Spyder Cat]

Not meant to offend anyone, but that is what is said when the mileage is poor and would not even be thought of if it got great mileage...

No offense taken Willy . . . the guy was asking me if it got 45 to 50 mpg.
According to the road tests we've seen in the cycle mags, there's not a comparable ride (weight/performance)
that's gonna pull that kind of mileage. Our best mileage on either Spyder was 40+/- (you can check our fuelly stats)
and I think that was during break in period. . . . now we ryde 'em like they were designed to be ridden

Aside from commuting to work, our fav rydes are the twisty canyons all around us . . . .
not at all conducive to great mileage . . . but hours and hours of great S-mileage....

[draboo]

We will be heading to Maggie valley riding 2 up with Kiddo the Spyderpooch and towing an Aspen Sentry popup. I don't want to even check the consumption rate!

[Bootie]

Ran from Denton, Texas to Odessa today pulling the RT-622 trailer. & pushing a 35 MPH head wind @ 75 MPH.

The drag equivalent of 35mph + 75mph = 110mph would be horrendous. I am surprised that you got as good as you did get. If you are concerned about fuel consumption, slow down...otherwise enjoy the ride.

[ARtraveler]

I also get 27-30, which appears to be the big average--depending on all the varying conditions. I had my Vulcan 900 out this weekend for the first time this season. The snow in my driveway finally melted. That first ride of the year is really the best. The Vulcan is a couple hundred pounds less than Spyder and a whole lot less drag area. I am usually in the ballpark of 40-45 mpg on that. I don't drive either machine for the mpg though. It is the fun-factor that brings me to this particular pastime.

[bikeguy]

Ran from Denton, Texas to Odessa today pulling the RT-622 trailer. & pushing a 35 MPH head wind @ 75 MPH.

Winds were really bad that day. I came from Georgetown, Texas to Bronte, Texas in my Ford Excursion 7.3 liter diesel and got about the same mileage you did. But I didn't have near as much fun as you. Headwinds are really hard on the RT's. The worse mileage I have gotten was just over 22 MPG into a strong headwind at about 75 MPH. They just push so much air.

My mileage usually runs 28 - 30 MPG but, who cares, on a good day it can run well over 100 smiles per gallon.

Cotton

[MarkLawson]

The drag equivalent of 35mph + 75mph = 110mph would be horrendous. I am surprised that you got as good as you did get. If you are concerned about fuel consumption, slow down...otherwise enjoy the ride.

I'm riding with my two brothers and a sister-in-law and are matching their pace. This was mostly on the interstate.

Since that day, we've been on back roads at varying speeds. My mileage has generally been better and in a few cases when we ran an easy 35-55 MPH, I got as high as 32.3 MPG. That was also in the mountains, which I find to be better.

[Desert Spyder]

I've found the MPG is usually better on the trip home rather than away. Never been able to figure out why.

[Elvis77]

Is there any thing we can do to improve the MPG? Has any one changed there exhaust and seen an improvement? Thx

[Yol Bolsun]

. . . we didn't buy 'em for the gas mileage

Very true. Gets better than my Dodge 1500 but my wife's Impala is getting about 32.

[boborgera]

I've found the MPG is usually better on the trip home rather than away. Never been able to figure out why.

Thats because you know the way back, ie; no getting lost and back tracking.

[piernik]

We have been getting 35 to 37 mpg consistently on our 2010 RT in warm weather. The mileage is less in the winter because of the gas formulation I believe, about 3 mpg. Last trip Sunday and Monday Harrisburg Pa. to Erie and back, some interstate mostly country two lane through the hills. 37.5 mpg over 650 miles traveled. Manual transmission and don't do anything different than with any of our other bikes. Incedentally it gets almost identical mileage as our 99 Kawasaki Nomad 1500, not fuel injected, and about 10 less than our 2004 HD Ultra Classic. Usually ride with the windscreen set low, that may make some difference I suppose.

[piernik]

Sorry, thought I was replying to "average mileage for RT" thread. Don't pull a trailer so my results don't apply to your situation exactly.

[IWN2RYD]

Pretty cool Thread. I think my wife and I are the odd balls so far. We have not yet ever checked mileage on our RT. Now to be fair, we think Five tanks in a row from the same station, doing the same driving style and conditions, are how to properly get an idea of true mileage. Just how we do it...

That said... I think if we stay in what I call the sweet spot of RPMs on the RT (4200-4500), I have seen my best mileage. This is usually when the gas light has come on and I am now looking for gas

Other than that... We honestly do not care. We just make sure we have $20 cash on us for those times (In case they have no CC ability at that time).

This is being used as a instrument to help us heal from the loss of our 21 year old Son last year. So folks can say what they want about no one caring about mileage, there is always those out there that do and do not...

[Desert Spyder]

I remember reading a couple weeks ago under the GENERAL tab someone had developed a homemade muffler that had dramatic results in horsepower and mileage. Have not seen much since then. Perhaps Scotty knows. These RT's needs help in both departments IMHO. But I still love it to death.