Performance drop after converting your bike?

[2Paps]

My Voyager VN1700 is scheduled to have a CSC conversion done next week. I know CSC says the kit may cause a drop in MPG of 5 to 10%. I'm considering installing a PCV and a BAK but only if they are needed to make up for some of the lost MPG.

The questions are; Will I have a noticeable loss of power and how much is the fuel economy going to be effected?

Thanks for any input.

[rhino 2]

Don't know it this still holds true.. Back in my drag racing days [1960's] Rule of thumb for every five hundred pounds you remove from a car, It Will increase the power by 14%... Like wise adding five hundred will Decrease power by 14%.... Other factors; The extra wheels/fenders will cause more wind resistance/drag and a loss of MPG..

[2Paps]

Don't know it this still holds true.. Back in my drag racing days [1960's] Rule of thumb for every five hundred pounds you remove from a car, It Will increase the power by 14%... Like wise adding five hundred will Decrease power by 14%.... Other factors; The extra wheels/fenders will cause more wind resistance/drag and a loss of MPG..

Those are exactly the issues I'm concerned about. The kit adds 300# and then there are the drag increases.

[tfdeputydawg]

My Wing dropped from 45mpg average to 39mpg average at highway speed after adding Hannigan conversion. Not a hard rider so, no noticeable difference in performance!

[2Paps]

My Wing dropped from 45mpg average to 39mpg average at highway speed after adding Hannigan conversion. Not a hard rider so, no noticeable difference in performance!

Dawg, have you done anything to try and recover the lost fuel economy such as a BAK and/or fuel controller?

[rhino 2]

What are your worries ; Price or range on a tank, By the way what size tank is on the Voyager..?... If its range maybe while their working on the bike they can add an extra tank..

[2Paps]

What are your worries ; Price or range on a tank, By the way what size tank is on the Voyager..?... If its range maybe while their working on the bike they can add an extra tank..

The Voyager tank is 5.3 gal. The installing shop says the optional tank is over $1k. You can pay for gadgets that improve the economy of the motor but with a tank you just give more $$$ to the oil folks. That would be $$$ I could spend elsewhere on the trike.

[tfdeputydawg]

Dawg, have you done anything to try and recover the lost fuel economy such as a BAK and/or fuel controller?

No, never consider trying anything. 39mpg is still great to me! Didn't know those would fit a Wing!

[consitter]

I know this would be pumping more money into an already expensive project, but it you got a power vision tuner, you can increase your gas mileage, or your power, depending on what you want them to be.

Don't get me wrong, it won't be a miracle like 100mpg or 300 hp, but you can see significant increases in whatever you want. Other things would have to added as well, like a better breather, but that cost is minimal.

[ol' school]

I am running a Dobeck EJK Gen 3 fuel processor on my Kawasaki Nomad 1700 CSC Kruze trike. I had it on when it was a two wheeler and it gave it a performance boost and was averaging 41 to 42 mpg. Since the trike conversion it averages 38 to 39 mpg and still has plenty of get up and go. To me that isn't enough gas mileage lose to get concerned about. It is to be expected with the extra weight and wind resistance the trike kit adds. The benefits of the trike far out way the few mpg lose.

Dobeck offers a military discount, a police/firefighter discount, a racer discount and a forum member discount. The discounts vary from 10 - 30% depending on which you qualify for. Their customer service is outstanding.

[Rick Kay]

As a reference for you, when I converted my Harley with the CSC kit, the fuel mileage dropped from an average of 43 MPG to an average of 34 MPG. RWHP dropped from 92 as a 2 wheeler, to 84 as a trike. I haven't done anything to recover the former performance. I just keep it in the powerband and have fun!

[2Paps]

Thanks to all who have replied. I think the wisdom imparted is to wait and see what impact the kit has and make a decision from there. So here I sit waiting, not so patiently, for CSC to deliver my kit.