fuel range on vaquero

[coach]

so first i believe the range numbers that the display shows is full of crap unless it shows till empty. i was riding and it showed that i had 60 more miles to go but the needle was all the way down and FUEL kept on blinking. i gassed up 4.25 gallons and only had 125 miles on the bike.
secondly, this sucks, im only getting 30 miles per gallon. is that normal? do i need to add the fuel processor and all the other stuff to get better gas milage? right now my bike is all stock. please help

coach

[recumbentbob]

If you only have a total of 125 miles on a new bike it needs to get broken in b4 you get any kind of gas mileage. ,
Check it again at 5000 miles

[HwyRider]

You only need a fuel processor if you change the air intake. Anyone that tells you any different is full of it. Once your bike is broken in you should get 40-42 mpg.

[xlock]

I'm getting just under 40 mpg with 600 miles on the odometer. I'm running intake/slip ons/EJK so not exactly apples to apples.

[Old Bear]

First off, do not believe the lie-o-meter. You are guaranteed that the speedometer and odometer are both off by a significant amount. I purchased an electronic calibrator and adjusted my speedometer to match a GPS on level, straight and flat highway. The odometer however, is still off. No way to adjust it independent of the speedometer. In short, even once broken in, determine your mileage the old fashioned way, using a route that you know the distance of.
The flashing "FUEL" comes on around 40 miles remaining, but that is based on instant mileage readout (which you can't see), not the average. On more than one occasion I have been buzzing down the Interstate and have the FUEL start flashing. I get off at my exit, and the display goes back to normal. I can ride twenty more minutes clear across town at city speeds before the FUEL starts flashing again.

[Peg]

I guess I'm full of it then? I'd say it's worth adding a fuel controller to an otherwise stock bike, and I did so on both my Nomad and then my Voyager. These bikes are extremely lean from the factory to meet emision standards, so a little more fuel will help from the get go. Pipes and air will further improve both performance and fuel economy.

[redjay]

The difference between a stock 1700 and a 1700 with an aftermarket fuel processor and air intake is like night and day, no comparison.

The 1700 comes from the factory with asthma and the mods allow the bike to breathe.

[HwyRider]

I get 40-42 mpg on my bike with no fuel processor. Where is the benefit of a fuel processor when it comes to mpg.?

[redjay]

Originally Posted by HwyRider

I get 40-42 mpg on my bike with no fuel processor. Where is the benefit of a fuel processor when it comes to mpg.?

There might not be much benefit of a fuel processor to increase fuel mileage but the bike runs so much better at any given speed.

The fuel processor and modified intake transforms the 1700 into a much more enjoyable bike to ride.

The bike ran cooler and way better after the mods. Fuel mileage did not suffer.

[HwyRider]

But this post is about fuel mileage.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by HwyRider

But this post is about fuel mileage.

Have you ever seen a thread on this forum stay on topic

[redjay]

The OP asked if he needed to add a fuel processor. I think I answered his question, and yours ?

[HwyRider]

Yep.

There might not be much benefit of a fuel processor to increase fuel mileage.

[CBO Vaquero]

My Vaquero started out with really bad mileage but it does get better when she's broken in. I now have close to 1400 miles and it's right around 39-40 mpg and that all local riding with no long trips yet. Bone stock with a taller windshield.

[captj3]

Originally Posted by coach

so first i believe the range numbers that the display shows is full of crap unless it shows till empty. i was riding and it showed that i had 60 more miles to go but the needle was all the way down and FUEL kept on blinking. i gassed up 4.25 gallons and only had 125 miles on the bike.
secondly, this sucks, im only getting 30 miles per gallon. is that normal? do i need to add the fuel processor and all the other stuff to get better gas milage? right now my bike is all stock. please help

coach

Despite what everyone else will say here as to how many miles per gallon they get I'll chime in. I get the same mileage you are complaining about since the bike was new 30mpg. That is with the big 3 installed. The bike run so much better now compared to factory set up. The best mileage I ever got with the vaquero is 34 mpg, it rated at 36mpg from kawasaki. The only wat I was able to achieve this was by really concentrating on riding and shifting like grandma on Quaaludes. I gave up on it and ride it from station to station. My normal fill up when the light comes on is around 4.3 gallons@130 miles on the tank which is normal for me. You will have 1 gallon left at this point. I hope this helps.