[AHam]

Ok so I'm going to ask a couple of stupid questions, based on my lack of experience riding a cruiser and it's been 16 years since I last rode.

1) I have 170+ miles on the bike and have put 7 gals of gas in the tank, that's about 24 mpg. I ride mostly in town but should it be that low?

2) Last bike was a sport bike so not sure how that affects the next issue. I think I may have a throttle sensor problem because this bike "seems" to have power issues. 1st gear is 20-25mph before I can shift otherwise I get stalling issues. 2nd gear is 30-35mph before I can shift or stalling issues, 3rd is 40-45 before shifting, 4th is 50 + and 5th at 65 has no power. Is there a problem that I should take it in to get checked out OR do I just need more seat time to get used to the shifting dynamics of this bike?

 

[schimbo stryker]

The owners manual stated the correct shifting MPH . check that out to see when you should be shifting

Before my first service i was getting that kinda gas mileage, but now im getting around 40. maybe it just has to be broken in first.

 

[MY LIFE]

OK I have a few stupid questions ;D Are you first riding a Stryker? We want to compare apples to apples. Secondley, are you still driving your bike like it is still a sports bike? If your racing from light to light and hard stopping, then your milege is going to suck. My advice take your bike out for a long country ride and see what your milege is like. My guess its the way your riding.
Also, it is a larger and heavier bike, and 17 years ago I would guess you were also lighter. ;D So I would say if all is good, your still not going to be getting the milege you got like your sports bike. But you should be getting better then 25.

 

[8sec-z]

Ok so I'm going to ask a couple of stupid questions, based on my lack of experience riding a cruiser and it's been 16 years since I last rode.

1) I have 170+ miles on the bike and have put 7 gals of gas in the tank, that's about 24 mpg. I ride mostly in town but should it be that low?

2) Last bike was a sport bike so not sure how that affects the next issue. I think I may have a throttle sensor problem because this bike "seems" to have power issues. 1st gear is 20-25mph before I can shift otherwise I get stalling issues. 2nd gear is 30-35mph before I can shift or stalling issues, 3rd is 40-45 before shifting, 4th is 50 + and 5th at 65 has no power. Is there a problem that I should take it in to get checked out OR do I just need more seat time to get used to the shifting dynamics of this bike?

You have a problem. Either you need a reflashed ECM or Something stuck in your air filter. Call your dealer immediately.
You don't need to shift that high in the rpm's to get her to move, although you need a little more rev's than an air cooled.
You should have tons of power at 65 in 5th gear. Something is choking the motor. Look for blockage in the back of the air cleaner or pull the air cleaner cover and see if the air cleaner is installed correctly. TPS could be bad too.
CALL THE DEALER ASAP!! lol..report back to us please.

 

[AHam]

OK I have a few stupid questions ;D Are you first riding a Stryker? We want to compare apples to apples. Secondley, are you still driving your bike like it is still a sports bike? If your racing from light to light and hard stopping, then your milege is going to suck. My advice take your bike out for a long country ride and see what your milege is like. My guess its the way your riding.
Also, it is a larger and heavier bike, and 17 years ago I would guess you were also lighter. ;D So I would say if all is good, your still not going to be getting the milege you got like your sports bike.

LMAO Yeah I was almost HALF the man I am now. Yeah it's a Stryker so apples and apples. And nope not trying to drive it like a sport bike. In fact I was looking forward to NOT having to constantly be on the clutch while riding in town. It just doesn't seem right. I'll check the owners manual tonight and see what it says for shift points. Then I'll ride it for a while at those points.

It really is probably operator error. I just need more time in the seat and get to know the bike. And hopefully the mileage picks up too.

 

[AHam]

Thanks. I'll call em and see what they have to say.

 

[MY LIFE]

That's basically what I'm thinking, because this is the first post that I read about gas milege like that. If there was a mechanical problem with some of the bikes, we would have seen something by now. But after riding by the book you still get ****ty milege, then you know its something else. I know that my milege wasn't the best for a while, but it was because I rode in 4th to high, thinking I really didn't have to go into 5th. But after correcting that, my milege went up.

 

[AHam]

...because I rode in 4th to high, thinking I really didn't have to go into 5th. But after correcting that, my milege went up.

That's what I'm experiencing is that there doesn't seem to be enough power in 5th to run it at 55 mph. This feels all the way up from 2nd up.

I'm on the phone with my sevice department and will see if I'm an idiot or not LOL.

 

[AHam]

The dealer thinks it's operator error. They want me to run another tank of fuel through the bike before brining it in. I'll check the owners manual recommended shift points, drive it like that (if I can) until my service appointment with them and go from there.

LOL I'm gonna feel really DUMB when I find out it that it's operator error. LOL

 

[8sec-z]

What concerns me is you are saying it has a lack of power.
If you shift into 5th at 50mph, it will buck a little. You can't just give it half throttle at such a low rpm. BUT, it will pull itself out of the "bucking" by about 55-58mph and should be smooth sailing. It concerns me you have an underlying problem.
Don't make an appt at your dealer. Instead, ride in and ask your salesman or service tech to take your bike for a spin on the spot.
I DO NOT like it when the dealer tells you to keep on running it after you have explained a possible problem.
Where do you live?

 

[AHam]

I'll be taking it in Saturday for them to ride it. So we'll see.

 

[clar2001]

Even stock before mods had plenty of power have been impressed for a cruiser, it was hard to remember not to get into it durring break in , the bike just wanted to run.

 

[11Stryker]

Unless your driving like Gramma Moses, You do have a power issue and I would be taking it to your dealer ASAP. Like 8-Sec says- just take it there and have them try it!!

 

[MC]

What grade of fuel are you using? I know not all experienced this on their Strykers, but when I first bought mine I was only getting that kind of mileage too. The dealer told me to use premium gas, but after some research I found only reg unleaded was needed. When I swapped to the lower grade my gas mileage and power doubled.

 

[8sec-z]

What grade of fuel are you using? I know not all experienced this on their Strykers, but when I first bought mine I was only getting that kind of mileage too. The dealer told me to use premium gas, but after some research I found only reg unleaded was needed. When I swapped to the lower grade my gas mileage and power doubled.

X2
But the type of fuel station and your mods will make the octane grade vary.
I started using low grade and the bike ran great and mileage increased.
Update us Saturday...

 

[rodekill]

I get nowhere near the estimated mileage either, but I will admit that it frustrates me to no end with its lugging so I like to wind it up a bit... well that and the fact that it will flat out get up and go. 8)

 

[MY LIFE]

I have to agree with the fuel posts. I've played with the grade and it appears to me that a 89 octane works best. 87 works fine, but I seem to get a little more performance from the 89. 91 and higher just kicks your wallet and craps out your bike. Also 8 sec is dam on. Pick your stations carefully. There is some ****ty gas out there. Roadkill has a point with the estimated, but lets face it you can never get near that unless you drive like the company tests it.

 

[AHam]

Hey all,

Thanks for the input. I'm using 89 octane and the same gas station (as much as possible). I pulled the owners manual and verified what the recommended shift points are:
1-2 12mph
2-3 19mph
3-4 25mph
4-5 31mph
I then took it out and tried to drive it at these shift points... I left filling in the road from the shaking I took.
So it's not operator error and it's not a break in issue, something is wrong with the bike. I'm taking it in to the dealer today and having them test drive it and hopefully get them to put it on the computer to see what's wrong with it.

Thanks for the input and suggestions.

 

[8sec-z]

Good deal.
Btw, those factory recommended shift points are way off. They sound like downshift points to me.
Stretch out those speeds by another ten mph.

 

[AHam]

8Sec-Z no those are the upshift points. I didn't memorize the downshift points because I knew before I left the garage this wasn't going to work LOL. I'll get it figured out, hopefully today and not NEXT Friday which is the soonest they say they can get me in.