Hypermiling The Valkyrie

[Big Dave]

I have a Honda Valkyrie. Essentially a hot-rod Gold Wing with a fairing. Some call them a "naked Wing."

It's a big (1520cc 750 lb) bike with tons of power, but prdictably guzzles gas.

Up til recently it got 28-30 MPG tops but I've been trying to hold 3000 RPM and going some strategic coasting. This thing is so draggy, it makes my truck seem like a Bonneville streamliner. It won't coast a third of what my truck will.

But holding 3000 and coasting raised it to 37 MPG. That's progress.

[dcb]

Just curious, how many mph is 3000 rpm for your valk? I'm at 33mph in top gear at 3000rpm (was 27mph before sprocket swap).

[Big Dave]

3000 RPM in top gear yields 60 MPH

[IndyIan]

Does the valkyrie have reverse? I've always thought honda's flat 6 would be a good donor motor for some kind of performance car project since many have reverse already. Also does the bike torque over alot when revving it? Never ridden a bike with a longitudinal crank.
Ian

[ai4kk]

Valkyries don't have reverse and the Goldwings that do use the starter motor to back it up. It doesn't torque over and is one of teh smoothest engines I've seen. Would love to find more info on tuning the engine for economy; with my sidecar, I'm getting right at 20 MPG. Needless to say, I drive my Civic a lot more.

[Varn]

A friend of mine brought a new Val over years ago, it had 70 miles on it. He was wanting me to start riding regularly again. I took a test ride on it. Very much the same feel as my old Vmax. Tons of grunt.

I wonder how much mileage you can get out of it with all those moving parts 6 of everything. Still it is tuned for low end. So the cam timing is up for it.

Good luck to you Dave

I have sold off all my big bikes save for a 700 virago and 750 honda.

[ciderbarrel]

Stay under 65 MPH if possible. I used to do worse in HWY riding than stop and go city riding.

On I-95, the limit is 65 MPH and traffic flow is 70-75 and I stopped using it because it just KILLS my fuel economy. By changing my route (taking local roads to the DC beltway and keeping it 60ish), I've increased from 30-35 MPG to 35-40 MPG. In fact, my most recent tank is a new all time high for the Valkyrie, 40.78 mpg (2.54 G/100M) and it was all on my new route.

All I do is coast whenever possible, keep my speed my speed down when possible, tires are 4 PSI (10%) over sidewall max, and I draft behind 18 wheelers whenever possible. I also have a tall, 2-up, windscreen that I use at all times.

Oh, and to echo what everyone else has said, it is the smoothest motorcycle engine I have ever had. I traded my Yamaha Road Star Warrior (v-twin) for the Valkyrie and the flat-6 is sooooooo smooth. The vibration was so bad on the warrior that it would blur my vision on long distance rides because my glasses were all over my face.

[redneck]

I too have a Valkyrie.

It will not coast worth a damm. Too much drag in the drive train. (transmission & drive shaft)

Normal mixed riding for me is 32-35 mpg. The best was 43mpg last fall riding the Blue Ridge parkway. (max speed 45mph)

Mine is a 1998 model that has not had the carbs cleaned since new and is desperately needed.

I am also looking foward to the new set of Avon tires that I bought for it that have yet to be installed. When I do both, I'll post the new mpg figures.

Having said all that, mpg is not everything to me. Comfort, ride, power and last but not least, looks are equally important.

Here's mine...




>

[ciderbarrel]

Since we're playing show and tell, this is my 2000 when I did my trade in with Blue Ridge Powersports in Harrisonburg, VA last May. 3441 Miles and counting (46462 on the odo).

It was a 300 mile round trip from the DC area and back and the ride quality from the Warrior to the Valkyrie was like night and day.

And redneck, you're right, it doesn't like to coast much down hills at all. Coasting to a red light is no problem, but I hate that I have to actually give it gas down steep hills as coasting just slows me down.

[ai4kk]

And this is my big baby. Funny, I think I can get better mileage by trailering it behind my Civic hybrid.