Hey guys - I just got back from a 500-mile round trip. One the way there, the first 250 miles, I had a nice headwind (well not "nice" - it was awful because I don't have a windshield). I calculated that I got 27 mpg - due to this friggin headwind. Well, I came back today, and there was no directional wind at all (I looked at the trees and grasses - nothing blowing at all... and I didn't feel any push or pull of wind). I calculated that I got 40 mpg! Quite a difference! It was SOOOO much nicer of a ride today than Saturday's ride, I might add.

So next time you think about questioning your gas mileage, consider the wind resistance for goodness sakes!

:-DD.

One of many variables but certainly a substantial one.

Yes it's kinda like calculating MPG with a boat, way different with more weight, headwind, tailwind, type of running, Endless variables. I'm always in the 30 to 40 range. But I just got a new set up so I have no idea where I am going to be at but it feels like I'm getting better MPG now that I put on another K&N and re jetted.

One thing I never thought of until it came up on another thread, and that is the speedos on the R* are about 5 MPH fast. As I understand it, the odometer follows suit which means we aren't getting as good of mileage as we think. Someone mentioned his is off by +4 miles per 100 miles as a result of the speedo inaccuracy. This would mean our MPG are actually 1 1/2 to 2 MPG less than we calculate, assuming the same inaccuracy error.

Hey Don where did you go on your trip? We are going to the coast next Monday, want to go? Drop me an email if you are interested and I will let you know the particulars.

I have an 01 Roadie 1600 with Batwing Style Fairing and now a Trunk Most of the time I range from 38 to 42 MPG but if Riding in a large group at moderate speeds I have gotten 50MPG.

Has anybody noticed that the odometer is fairly inaccuate? I verified this with GPS and the highway marker post. After driving 35 miles, the odometer was off by .6 miles. It clicks the mile sooner than it occurs which means when you sell or buy a bike that has 10,000 miles on it actually only has 9833.334 miles on it.
There is no reason for this level of inaccuracy with digital electronics. I'm not saying I'm overly upset about this but how does it affect speedometer or the warranty? I just thought it was a bit much in this day and age to be that far off.

HHHMMM,now the speedo isnt so accurate either,gesh what else can be an issue with these bikes ,it just keeps adding up .

So with that in mind here goes off the top of my head all the issues i can recall with our R*'s.



Scott

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KNOWN ISSUES WITH R*'S

* IN-ACCURTAE SPEEDO

* EXTREEMLY WEAK FRONT FORK SPRINGS (SLIGHT HANDLING/SAFETY ISSUE)

* WEAK REAR SHOK SPRING (SLIGHT HADLING/SAFETY ISSUE)

* FRONT FORK/HEAD BEARINGS SEEM TO WEAR OUT PREMATURLY

* Stock clutch spring is weak leading to premature clutch splip

* COILS LEAKING VOLTAGE TO FRAME

* CARB PUKING FUEL ALL OVER HOT MOTOR (BIG SAFETY ISSUE)WITH MANY PEOPLE NEEDNG TO GO PUMPLESS @ APPROX $150 OR SO TO DO IT CORRECTLY

* ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILS @ FARILY LOW MILEAGE.(SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC SITUATION AT THE TIME IT QUITS)

* SOME MODELS HAD TRANS RECALL,THE TRANS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN RIDING AT HIGHWAY SPEED(SAFETY ISSUE)

* SOME MODELS HAD RECALL DUE TO OIL PUMP GEARS BREAKING RESULTING IN NO OIL PRESSURE (SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC SITUATION AT THE TIME IT QUITS)

* IF YOUR BIKES RUNNING A TAD RICH THEY YOU MAY RUN INTO " SVS " DUE TO TOO TIGHT OF A VALVE TO GUIDE CLEARANCE ISSUE THAT'S VERY SENSITIVE TO SOME ADDITONAL CARBON BUILDUP IF RUNNING A LITTLE RICH.

* OIL LVL IS EXTREEMLY HARD TO GET AN ACCURATE READING ON AND IF YOU FOLLOW MFG'S REC FOR 5QTS OIL FOR OIL & FILTER CHANGE YOU END UP OVER FILLING OIL BY ALMOST 1 QT WHIC CAN ALSO LEAD TO " SVS "

* STARTER TO BATTERY CABLES ARE SUPPOSEDLY TOO LIGHT OF A GUAGE CAUSING HOT START ISSUES IN SOME CASES AND OR LEADING TO PREMATURE STARTER FAILURE PER INFO ON MAXAIR SITE & ALSO INFO I READ HERE IN RSC TOO.

* FUEL GUAGE SENDING UNIT GOING BAD.

* HAVE SEEN MULT TIMES HERE IN RSC WHERE LIFTERS ARE EITHER COLLAPSING AND OR WEARING OUT WITH FAIRLY LOW MILES. BUT DONT NOW IF THAT A RESULT OF POOR OIL & FILTER MAINT AND OR RUNNING PASS CAR OILS WITH LOW ZDDP LVL THAT CAN'T SAFELY/PROPERLY PROTECT THE FT CAM & LFITERS.

* CHARGING SYSTEM IS WEAK AT 21 AMPS FOR OLDER R* AND A LITTLE WEAK FOR NEWER R* WITH 28 AMP BOTH BEING RATED AT 5K RPM . SO IN ACTUALITY THE CHARING AMPS IS A LITTLE LOWER WHEH AT CRUISE RPM WAY LOWER THEN THE 5K RPMS THE CHARGIN SYSTEM IS RATED AT WHICH CAN BE AN ISSUE DEPENDING ON AMP DRAIN DUE TO AMOUNT OF AND TYPE OF AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES ADDED TO THE BIKE.

* I READ HERE A FEW TIMES IN RSC THERE'S SOMEPLACE ON THE REAR OF THE R* FRAME THAT BREAKS LOOSE NEEDING TO BE STRENGTHENED/REWELDED (POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE)

* STOCK REAR SEAT IS LIKE A ROCK & ABSOLUTELY USLESS FOR PASS ANYTHING OVER 5 MILES OR 5 MINS WHICHEVER COMES 1ST. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CRUISER BIKE THAT WOULD OFTEN HAVE A PASSENGER LIKE A WIFE/GRILFRIEND,ETC SO WHY DOES IT HAVE THE WORST PASS SEAT EVER MFG'D?

* SCREWS ON UNDERSIDE OF STOCK FUEL CAP VIBRATE LOOSE ALLWING INTERNALS OF FUEL CAP INCLUDING SMALL SCREWS/SPRINGS/AND OTHER ASSOCIATED PARTS TO DROP INTO THE FUEL TANK RENDERING THE FUEL CAP INOPERABLE.

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(BTW,I can't believe after all this negative stuff we all still love our roadies but we sure do/LOL!!!!)

Did i miss anything,if so feel free to chime in & add to this list because i am sure i must have overlooked and or are not aware of other issues with these bikes worth noting so have at it.

Scott

Wow!! Scott you make me wish I had not bought this thing! I am planning on going to South Dakota in June, now I am afraid to get out of the county with out a truck and trailer following me. I have spent beau coup money getting it setup like I want it. The reason I bought it instead of a Harley was the reliablity of Yamaha...Hope I didn't make a mistake..

A lot of those things mentioned are on the earlier models.
I've got an 05 and though I did have SVS three years ago, my biggest issue is wearing down tires.
Now I do agree the charging system is weak and I still don't understand why they put a diafram (sp) type spring in the clutch.
But I've rode from NY to FL. with no problems and I do 500 mile weekends all the time.
I wouldn't think twice about riding my * from here (NY) to Ca., I'd just pack my bags and go.