Fuel Mileage drop

[OR Seedman]

yeah..chaps were the only item that would cause additional drag.....I already had the batwing fairing on last summer....we have been fairly cool up until a few days ago...I am going to ride to work in the morning and check the mileage...hopefully it will go back up to near 40 again...

[greenbarn]

LOL, I'll bet that will help...    I thought about a windshield, but figured you would recognize that if you had added a windshield.  That's an automatic couple MPG....  But I hadn't thought of the chaps.

[OR Seedman]

only in the early morning......day temps are getting up there in the high 70's and low 80's now.....

[mittico68]

I think, though, that I figured out what the main cause is....Crash bar chaps (forgot to mention those) and cold weather...we have warmer temps now so i took them off and will see if that makes a difference....

I bet that you'll note an improvement in your fuel mileage... and in your feeling of cold! 

[OR Seedman]

well....I always pack on a few in winter...LOL....

air filter refreshed (K&N)
new OEM plugs
Tire pressure good...

I think, though, that I figured out what the main cause is....Crash bar chaps (forgot to mention those) and cold weather...we have warmer temps now so i took them off and will see if that makes a difference....

[greenbarn]

Air filter clean?
Tires up to proper pressure? (might verify with a second gauge)
"new plugs" --  OE plug?
any change to the fuel you're using?
Might want to check the plugs, see  if they look rich
Didn't gain a bunch of weight over the winter, did you, LOL??

[OR Seedman]

Weird thing has been happening with my 1500 this spring....All last year I averaged around 38-40 mpg, no matter what the riding conditions...so far this spring, I have been averaging about 28 mpg.  For the life of me, I can't figure out what is causing the big drop in mpg...I have new plugs, tires, and paint....no other changes have been made...ideas?