MPG?

June 11, 2006
Sheridan to Sibley, OH. 667 mi

No rain, just clouds. As I drove across Wyoming and South Dakota my average GPM dropped to under 34. My GPM had been averaging just above 39 for the last 900 miles, why was it dropping? Was there something wrong with my bike? At first I thought that I had recorded the mileage wrong. The next tank full showed the same results. I checked the motor and added oil to the bike and the next tank was still the same. I was worried that something was wrong with the bike because of the sudden drop in mileage – a cracked cylinder head, a leak in the fuel system, a bad widget within the motor? I had been averaging 85 mph over the open expanses of Wyoming. As a last resort I dropped my speed to 65 – 70 mph – WOW, my mpg jumped right back up to 40. The wind friction at 85 mph kills my fuel efficiency. What a relief, my motorcycle is fine and I drive into Sibley, OH at 8:55 pm

Total 1620 miles in 3 days


MPG – it turns out that if I drive at grater than 82 mph that my fuel consumption is greatly increased. I drop from 39 to 34 MPG, a huge 5 miles per gallon drop. I have to stay off the throttle or just pay for more gas.