Is the MPG of our Nomads really all that bad??

Over the years I have enjoyed several different brands and types of motorcycles. I like to keep tract of my fuel mileage and tune for good fuel mileage as well as performance. Listed here are some of the motorcycles I have owned and the average MPG they obtained.
1972 Honda CB 350 twin 50 MPG
1970 Harley Sprint SS 350 thumper 55 MPG
1982 Suzuki GN 400 thumper 55-60 MPG
1968 BSA THUNDERBOLT single carb. 650cc British twin 50 MPG
1971 BMW 750 cc German opposed twin 50 MPG
1978 Moto Guzzi T3 Italian V-Twin 850 cc 42 MPG
1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 cc transverse 4 cyl 45 MPG
1986 Suzuki 550ES 564cc transverse 4 cyl 46 MPG
1999 GL SE Goldwing 1500 cc opposed 6 cyl 40MPG (if not ridden hard)
2006 Suzuki C-50 800 cc V-Twin 52 MPG
2007 Kawasaki Nomad 1600 cc V-Twin 40 MPG

From talking to owners and reading the forums on other current large displacement bikes many report about 35 MPG

Does not seem to me that our Nomads are doing all that poorly for 1600cc 800 pound motorcycles . My 40 MPG average improves to about 43- 45 MPG on road trips.

The big difference I have noticed over the years is that automobile fuel mileage has greatly improved making our motorcycles seem inefficient by compassion. My daughters Honda Civic gets about 32 MPG.
I remember back in the 60's Full dress Harley 74 cu in got about 40 MPG and the then hot Sportsters got about 30 MPG

Most of my bikes dropped in fuel mileage when ridden in cold weather using winter blended gas by approx. 5%-10%

[rflnomad]

It gets better with miles. We have about 6500 and we get about 40. Thats with two up, and we drive pretty easy.
Nomads are big & heavy and push a lot of wind. All things considered, it does pretty good.

[ponch]

Used to get 38-40, and now with the winter blend of gas and colder weather, I seem to be getting 33-35. My 800 Classic got 40-46, my GPz750 around 35 and my KZ1000 about 35.

Over the years I have enjoyed several different brands and types of motorcycles. I like to keep tract of my fuel mileage and tune for good fuel mileage as well as performance. Listed here are some of the motorcycles I have owned and the average MPG they obtained.
1972 Honda CB 350 twin 50 MPG
1970 Harley Sprint SS 350 thumper 55 MPG
1982 Suzuki GN 400 thumper 55-60 MPG
1968 BSA THUNDERBOLT single carb. 650cc British twin 50 MPG
1971 BMW 750 cc German opposed twin 50 MPG
1978 Moto Guzzi T3 Italian V-Twin 850 cc 42 MPG
1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 cc transverse 4 cyl 45 MPG
1986 Suzuki 550ES 564cc transverse 4 cyl 46 MPG
1999 GL SE Goldwing 1500 cc opposed 6 cyl 40MPG (if not ridden hard)
2006 Suzuki C-50 800 cc V-Twin 52 MPG
2007 Kawasaki Nomad 1600 cc V-Twin 40 MPG

From talking to owners and reading the forums on other current large displacement bikes many report about 35 MPG

Does not seem to me that our Nomads are doing all that poorly for 1600cc 800 pound motorcycles . My 40 MPG average improves to about 43- 45 MPG on road trips.

The big difference I have noticed over the years is that automobile fuel mileage has greatly improved making our motorcycles seem inefficient by compassion. My daughters Honda Civic gets about 32 MPG.
I remember back in the 60's Full dress Harley 74 cu in got about 40 MPG and the then hot Sportsters got about 30 MPG

Most of my bikes dropped in fuel mileage when ridden in cold weather using winter blended gas by approx. 5%-10%

[dantama]

It does irk me that a Harley road king has more horsepower, more torque, and gets better gas mileage.

[oldbiker]

I'm with you Dan. My wifes cousin rode up from Daytona (two up) on his 96 Ultra Classic and averaged 52 mpg. For a motorcycle that's so far behind technology wise they sure get good mileage.

[rlfaubion]

Sounds like a cuppala you guys ought to go buy yerselves some Harley's, and stop yer irk'n.

[lw]

I cant compare my Nomad to any previous bikes because there were none. All I know is, Lucille gets 3 times the mileage out of a gallon of gas as my truck does, and the enjoyment factor is higher still.

[poppy]

Hello Everyone,
I average about 42 mpg with my '04 nomad 1500. I'm happy with that! My '02 Hayabusa, with 160+ HP gets 45+ mpg when I ride it easy. Go figure! But really, as already mentioned, pushing the 800 lb. bike down the road with riders and gear, 42 is great!

[ds06nomad]

No complaints here. It gets what it gets: 35mpg now (only 1100 miles on the ticker); '06 Boulevard 805cc got 42mpg avg.

DS

[Top Cat]

With my previous bike ( 650 Yamaha Silverado 2006 ) the one in the righthand picture below, I got 44 mpg riding 2-up. With my Nomad riding 2-up I get anywhere from 38 to 42 mpg. I can live with that. The ride is so much better.

[ponch]

yeah, but will it hold up as well?

It does irk me that a Harley road king has more horsepower, more torque, and gets better gas mileage.

[ponch]

Another thing about the Harley is that it is not ergonomically suited for big guys. I found just sitting on it was cramped, as I did the Royal Star Venture. The Stratoliner is nice, and the V2KLT needs a better seat, but everything else feels right. In fact, I might have bought one if my laptop fit in the saddle bags, but it didn't.

It does irk me that a Harley road king has more horsepower, more torque, and gets better gas mileage.

[oldbiker]

I have been on two wheels for over 50 years. I've owned one Harley, that was enough. I can't find a reason to pay $12,000 for a bike and another $8000 for a name. They DO have a certain edge over Nomads, fuel economy. I wouldn't buy one because of it. My wifes cousin wouldn't buy anything but a Harley. It's an "IMAGE THING" with him. I truely believe that Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki can do better in the gas consumption department. My Nomad is the best V twin I've riden and I've riden a bunch of em.

My guess that the reason that the Nomad does not get as good fuel mileage as the Harley and perhaps the 2000 Vulcan is the power loss in the shaft drive compared to the belt drive found on the other mentioned bikes. Particularly with the engine transverse position requiring the front drive gears unlike a BMW or Moto Guzzi. I still prefer the shaft drive on a big road bike but no doubt it is not as efficient as a chain or belt drive as far as power loss.

[cheeseyrider]

Gas mileage is the ONLY thing about the Nomad that I don't like. I'm still getting less than 30 mpg when doing in-town commuting (quite a bit of my riding, since I do it 5 days a week)...

That said, the only thing I would trade my Nomad in for, is a Nomad that got better mpg...