Nomad tank

[cocheese72]

So on the first leg on my recent trip I figured I would get gas at about 175 miles. Well 175 comes and I hit one of those expressway stretches where you been seeing gas every 2 miles, now I hit a stretch with no gas in sight. Sure enough 186 miles comes and now shes choking. Damn I don't know how I nursed that baby in the gas station, but I did. Pumped in 5.31 gallons. You really have to pump gas up into the filler neck a few times, and then it lowers some down into the tank uppers to get the full 5.3 but thats what it does. Thats about the first time, I put in over 5 gallon.

I managed about 39mpg, wish I could do 5mpg better. I installing the Cobra Fi2000 over the weekend, hope it don't get worse.

[ringadingh]

Ive noticed that in the cooler weather that we are starting to get here that my mileage starts to drop off. Ive hit 200 miles per tank many times in the summer, but in the colder weather it drops to around 150 miles per tank. Thats quite a difference. The first winter that happened I thought there was something wrong with the bike.

[blowndodge]

It's a speed thing... If I ride 65 I can squeeze 175 before the low fuel light comes on. 75 it comes on at 160...

[dank]

I hate it when they switch over to winter gas because of the cold. Guess it is needed to keep the motors purring, which it does, but I've dropped 3-4 mpg every winter on every bike I've had. Here is an article that explains it. You get agents that add to the volatility of the mix, but at the cost of them reducing the actual fuel in any given volume of the mixture, thus good power, but lower mpg's.

http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/winterGas/winterGas.html

[cocheese72]

Well just recorded my best MPG yet. Between the mountain air, steady 50-60 cruising for the tank, Citgo gas, I yanked in about 43mpg and 191 miles before the light.

[macmac]

Colder air contains more O2, more O2 means using more fuel. Came in colder here today and even I can breath a little better, or Rosie O lost some weight. Looks like it may hit 20 degrees here tonight.

[poppy]

Doesn't help much now, but I usually carry a full, one gallon gas can on extended trips. Not a bother with bags or when pulling the trailer. I just use and replenish every couple of days.

[poppy]

Colder air contains more O2, more O2 means using more fuel. Came in colder here today and even I can breath a little better, or Rosie O lost some weight. Looks like it may hit 20 degrees here tonight.

We had a cool front move through....I think it hit the lower 60's.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

[xncrman]

It is pretty universal, speed kills. Especially gas mileage. I can say with good confidence from my own experience and others that have installed a bat wing fairing like that sold by Reckless and even adding my Lowers will add to the aerodynamics of the bike for a noticeable improvement in gas mileage. On top of that you get a better ride with less wind buffeting.

I hope some others will chime in on the bat wing fairing and the advantages they have gotten.

Safe Riding to all. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[macmac]

Colder air contains more O2, more O2 means using more fuel. Came in colder here today and even I can breath a little better, or Rosie O lost some weight. Looks like it may hit 20 degrees here tonight.

We had a cool front move through....I think it hit the lower 60's.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif
I was cagin it today dropping off a fixed truck, but the bikes were out in numbers.

If i could have played hooky I might have ridden too. I have till Nov 30th, then my Nomad turns into a punkin' http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

xncrman, I don't have that fairing, and it isn't in my budjet, unless one comes along crashed and so cheap.

Instead i plan to get some use of a bra, stealing it from my wifes lingeree'. If and When I get that on, there will be pics and a lot more tawk http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[skeeter]

Last weekend with purrfect weather and varied riding I managed to get 46+. Yesterday and pushing it hard I still got 43. stock.

[macmac]

Last weekend with purrfect weather and varied riding I managed to get 46+. Yesterday and pushing it hard I still got 43. stock.

That bike is set up just right and likely never pings... neither of my Nomads came close to that MPG's stock.

[wompus]

For the last 100,000 miles I have only gotten just over 100 miles to a tank for highway riding and around 125 on the back roads with lower speeds.
The 99 has a small fuel tank... but on the good side I get to stop every 100 miles to rest these old bones. ::)

.

[vulcans2]

Yesterday my wife and I went on a nice ride with varying speeds, hills, curves and twisties. She got 55 mpg with her brand new Vulcan 900 Classic LT and I got, according to the trip meter, 45.8 mpg, and according to dividing the gallons (3.8) into the miles (168) I got 44.8 mpg. Bike is a '10 Nomad, stock, with 3200 miles on it. Highest speed was about 80 going up a steep hill, otherwise, speeds averaged between 40 and 60 depending on the road. Seems to be pretty consistent mileage, so I am pleased with it.

[macmac]

I may be in error, but have the idea there are 2 different tanks for 1500's. I forget what my 01 held, but I recall starting to look for gas at 137 miles. My 01 was injected.

[minst7877]

The tank on my 99 is 4.2 gal acording to the manual. Anything over 120 miles and I'm in the reserve and looking for gas soon.

DC

[skeeter]

Mac, I do on occasion get the preignition. Normal mpg is 40-42 and sometimes 36 when I'm a throttle hog. This time of year is when it is the best. Don't know why but next week it could suck.

[ndbigfish]

Skeeter,
Last weekend was good and the weather was nice here in TX. I did a loop through Marble Falls. I got a high of 50 and low of 43 - riding two-up and staying under 70 MPH.

[ringadingh]

I may be in error, but have the idea there are 2 different tanks for 1500's. I forget what my 01 held, but I recall starting to look for gas at 137 miles. My 01 was injected.
There were a couple different tanks available depending on what year the bike is. They increased the capacity since the 99's had such a short range on them. Then somewhere between 2000 & 2002 they switched between carbs and FI and even offered both in one year as they had a mid year production change.

[cocheese72]

I may be in error, but have the idea there are 2 different tanks for 1500's. I forget what my 01 held, but I recall starting to look for gas at 137 miles. My 01 was injected.
There were a couple different tanks available depending on what year the bike is. They increased the capacity since the 99's had such a short range on them. Then somewhere between 2000 & 2002 they switched between carbs and FI and even offered both in one year as they had a mid year production change.

Personally, I think it should increase again due to short range on the 05-08. The Nomad either needs some better efficiency or 6 gallons in my opinion. Guess I am used to getting 220-260 miles on the 900 Custom with the same tank.

Goldwing has 6.6 gallon
Harley touring line has 6 gallon
Victory XC and XR has 5.8 gallon

[Jared]

There were a couple different tanks available depending on what year the bike is. They increased the capacity since the 99's had such a short range on them. Then somewhere between 2000 & 2002 they switched between carbs and FI and even offered both in one year as they had a mid year production change.

Personally, I think it should increase again due to short range on the 05-08. The Nomad either needs some better efficiency or 6 gallons in my opinion. Guess I am used to getting 220-260 miles on the 900 Custom with the same tank.

Goldwing has 6.6 gallon
Harley touring line has 6 gallon
Victory XC and XR has 5.8 gallon

+1

I've noticed that too. The Nomad has one of the smaller tanks in it's class AND one of the worst mpgs.

[ringadingh]

I don't find my tank too small, usually by the time I need gas my pals are also stopping on there bikes to fuel up as well. And I welcome the break after 3 or 4 hours in the saddle also.