Crappy fuel mileage

[Scottie31]

I've had the 2004 Nomad 1500 for a couple weeks now and noticed I don't get vey good fuel mileage. I can olny get approx. 105 miles from a full tank of gas. The bike has a K&N filter and Jardine pipes, should I add the Dobeck EJK?

[Vulcan Bill]

At 105 miles a tank you would think it would be spitting raw gas (or flames!)out the exhaust and your plugs fouling after a few miles.
With your current set up normally you would be running lean and need to add more gas to the fuel/air mixture. Unless...your bike has a carburetor and a previous owner has re-jetted it. A good place to start is to run a couple of tanks of quality fuel system cleaner through it. You might try Sea Foam or Chevrons Techron Fuel System Cleaner.

[Scottie31]

Thanks Bill......the bike is fuel injection so no jet kit.

[Vulcan Bill]

Originally Posted by Scottie31

Thanks Bill......the bike is fuel injection so no jet kit.

Good. That eliminates a lot of possiblitys. Is it starting and running smoothly?

[Scottie31]

It starts and runs great.......no issues there. When first starting it in the morning it struggles a bit until it's warmed up but then its good for the day.

[Vulcan Bill]

You should be smelling gas when its running. Are you? Dumb question but have you checked your fuel hoses and such for leaks?

[Scottie31]

I can definitely smell gas when it's running. I haven't noticed any leaks but I'll take a closer look tonight.

[Vulcan Bill]

You Sure you don't have a fuel processor ( Cobra, Dobeck, etc) ? Most people mount them under the left side cover. One way to make sure is look at your fuel injectors to see if the factory plug has been removed from the injector and plugged into another wire harness which in turn has a second plug plugged to the injector. The older style don't have plugs, just wires that have to be spliced into the injector wires. If you do have a processor the adjustments may be way off.
If no injector just start with the fuel system cleaner an go from there. Good luck!

[Bud2rat]

Scottie, I have a 2001 1500 carb'd model and I usually get around 100-115 miles to the tank before switching to reserve. Could probably get another 30 miles before running out. The carb'd model has a 4.2 gal tank. I avg around 32-35 miles per gallon. I have done the big 3 and this is the average. If I could learn to stay out of the throttle, I would probably get a little better.

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by Bud2rat

Scottie, I have a 2001 1500 carb'd model and I usually get around 100-115 miles to the tank before switching to reserve. Could probably get another 30 miles before running out. The carb'd model has a 4.2 gal tank. I avg around 32-35 miles per gallon. I have done the big 3 and this is the average. If I could learn to stay out of the throttle, I would probably get a little better.

I have the same bike getting the same mileage, very frustrating I must add...

[Vulcan Bill]

Okay...well....all that stuff I told you?......never mind! I'm getting about 180 miles to a 5.3 gallon tank on my 1600 (before the fuel light comes on) and just assumed your Vulcan would be similar. I learned something today.

[duffy]

That kind of mileage is not the norm................I have an 05' 1500 Classic FI and routinely get in excess of 40 mpg. On a a good ride I can get as high as 55 mpg. I'm stock with V&H Long Shots. I did have a Power Commander on it for a while and the mileage was horrible. Just barely got 30 mpg. Didn't take long and I took it off. Check the right hand side cover also (it's where I put the Power Commander).

[mick56]

Originally Posted by Bud2rat

Scottie, I have a 2001 1500 carb'd model and I usually get around 100-115 miles to the tank before switching to reserve. Could probably get another 30 miles before running out. The carb'd model has a 4.2 gal tank. I avg around 32-35 miles per gallon. I have done the big 3 and this is the average. If I could learn to stay out of the throttle, I would probably get a little better.

Same as that on my 1999 carburretor but i am up and down the gearbox,braking & accelerating a lot more than most bloke's would be doing,i am only getting about about 3000m give or take,out of a back tyre,and maybe double that out of the brake pad's.

[Oracle]

Is it possible to slap a larger tank from a newer Vulcan on our' 01 carb'd frame? Someone suggested I changed bikes to remedy this and all I could do was look at him as if he'd completely lost his marbles... lol

[Bud2rat]

Oracle, I don't think that the tanks could be switched out. The carb'd bikes and the FI bikes take different tanks and they are not interchangeable. However, it would be nice to have an extra gallon of gas like the 1600's. The 1600 has a 5.3 gallon and the 1500 has a 4.2 gallon tank.