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[Plasmaman]

I would greatly appreciate comments concerning my poor mileage on the 2003 SERK. I purchased the bike with a USB Power Commander. The bike has K&N air cleaner, Rinehart pipes. After reviewing many of your past posts concerning fuel useage I am led to believe that 40 mpg is not unreasonable in normal (65-75 mph highway) driving. This bike is consistent in about 33.5 to 34 mpg. I have a regular height clearview windshield installed. I have serviced the A/C and changed plugs. This morning I contacted our most trustworthy Harley dealer and asked if in their opinion would removal of the PC and installation of a Race Tuner benefit my mpg. The service rep said that they no longer will even service a PC but also added that the Race Tuner may not alter the poor mileage issue. Am I asking for more mpg than this 103 engine will do or is this bike using too much fuel? As always, your thoughts are appreciated.Thanks in advance,Plasmaman

[Capo]

I would greatly appreciate comments concerning my poor mileage on the 2003 SERK. I purchased the bike with a USB Power Commander. The bike has K&N air cleaner, Rinehart pipes. After reviewing many of your past posts concerning fuel useage I am led to believe that 40 mpg is not unreasonable in normal (65-75 mph highway) driving. This bike is consistent in about 33.5 to 34 mpg. I have a regular height clearview windshield installed. I have serviced the A/C and changed plugs. This morning I contacted our most trustworthy Harley dealer and asked if in their opinion would removal of the PC and installation of a Race Tuner benefit my mpg. The service rep said that they no longer will even service a PC but also added that the Race Tuner may not alter the poor mileage issue. Am I asking for more mpg than this 103 engine will do or is this bike using too much fuel? As always, your thoughts are appreciated.Thanks in advance,Plasmaman

Plasaman,
one thing I am absolutely clear about is the power to tune when the right person is doing the tuning. While I have no practical experience with the PC, I have one SERT (03 SERK) and 1 Super SERT (08 SECU) and when mapped correctly it will impact mileage as significantly as torque and hp. The SECU had a poor tune/map and mileage was barely 27-now with an improved map (Awaiting tune today) the mielage is averaging 33 and has hit 36 on a 200+ freeway ride with average speed of 70. This week I did a cam upgrade and will be getiing the first real dyno run so we'll see. Search the sight for member Springer and PM him for his thoughtful insight-he is a Wizard IMO. Hope this is helpful.

Ride Safe!

[sadunbar]

I would greatly appreciate comments concerning my poor mileage on the 2003 SERK. I purchased the bike with a USB Power Commander. The bike has K&N air cleaner, Rinehart pipes. After reviewing many of your past posts concerning fuel useage I am led to believe that 40 mpg is not unreasonable in normal (65-75 mph highway) driving. This bike is consistent in about 33.5 to 34 mpg. I have a regular height clearview windshield installed. I have serviced the A/C and changed plugs. This morning I contacted our most trustworthy Harley dealer and asked if in their opinion would removal of the PC and installation of a Race Tuner benefit my mpg. The service rep said that they no longer will even service a PC but also added that the Race Tuner may not alter the poor mileage issue. Am I asking for more mpg than this 103 engine will do or is this bike using too much fuel? As always, your thoughts are appreciated.Thanks in advance,Plasmaman

I previously had two 2004 O/B SEEG's with the 103.  High flow air cleaner assembly, Rinehart Tru Duals, Power Commander and dyno tunes by Wayne Hanson/Speeds Performance Plus resulted in 40/42 mpg on both bikes.  Your SERK should do better (lighter weight/less wind resistance).  Get a better tune... Not a dealer tune unless you know the tuner is plenty experienced, but a professional PC tuner like Wayne Hanson, John Golden or others.

[Midnight Rider]

There's nothing wrong with the PC or the SERT...in the right hands.  Both will do an excellent job.  Find a GOOD tuner who likes the PCIII, tell him your riding style, and get a better tune for typical cruising throttle positions.  It has been my experience that when you get any HD over 70mph, at least with the 5 speed, your mileage goes down dramatically.  On my 06 SEUC, with PCIII and a good tune for both power and cruising economy, I would get around 40mpg IF I kept the speed under 70 and the rpm under 3K.  Bump that up to 80mph, and it would drop the mileage down to 35/36.  That was running two up 90% of the time.

Very, very, very few dealers can tune worth a chit, from everything I've read/heard.  Find you a good independent tuner who is expert with the PCIII.

[SBB]

There's nothing wrong with the PC or the SERT...in the right hands.  Both will do an excellent job.  Find a GOOD tuner who likes the PCIII, tell him your riding style, and get a better tune for typical cruising throttle positions.  It has been my experience that when you get any HD over 70mph, at least with the 5 speed, your mileage goes down dramatically.  On my 06 SEUC, with PCIII and a good tune for both power and cruising economy, I would get around 40mpg IF I kept the speed under 70 and the rpm under 3K.  Bump that up to 80mph, and it would drop the mileage down to 35/36.  That was running two up 90% of the time.

Very, very, very few dealers can tune worth a chit, from everything I've read/heard.  Find you a good independent tuner who is expert with the PCIII.

Terry is right on the above.

Check out the dyno sheet for Nancy's SEEG and tell me what tuner was used.
With miles put on Friday and today we got 40 mpg.
The fuel line is basically level. That's the key!

[kojak]

I would greatly appreciate comments concerning my poor mileage on the 2003 SERK. I purchased the bike with a USB Power Commander. The bike has K&N air cleaner, Rinehart pipes. After reviewing many of your past posts concerning fuel useage I am led to believe that 40 mpg is not unreasonable in normal (65-75 mph highway) driving. This bike is consistent in about 33.5 to 34 mpg. I have a regular height clearview windshield installed. I have serviced the A/C and changed plugs. This morning I contacted our most trustworthy Harley dealer and asked if in their opinion would removal of the PC and installation of a Race Tuner benefit my mpg. The service rep said that they no longer will even service a PC but also added that the Race Tuner may not alter the poor mileage issue. Am I asking for more mpg than this 103 engine will do or is this bike using too much fuel? As always, your thoughts are appreciated.Thanks in advance,Plasmaman

If your SERK is in good running shape, clean ac, good plugs, fuel filter, tire pressure etc, sounds like you need a good tune. Shouldn't make a difference with a PC or SERT for gas mileage purposes on a 2003. Around 38-40 mpg seems average for most SERK's, even with 110's.

[Plasmaman]

I will attempt to find someone in our area that is qualified to do a good tune on the bike. Power Commanders are not well thought of in this area so I may change to the race tuner just to find a good shop. No decision yet, just exploring the options. I appreciate the input from everyone.
Thanks,
PLasmaman

[SERK3]

I "m riding a 07 SERK 110", 6 speed, V&H TRUE DUALS, BIG SUCKER, PCIII at 70 using cruise control riding 2 up i'm getting 42 to 44 mpg, get above 70 mpg drops, riding around here in the mtns. mpg drops to about 34 to 36.  i know that mine is running a little rich on the fuel. If yours is a 5 speed i would guess you are about right.

[Plasmaman]

Took the SERK to "The Dyno Difference" in Dallas Texas today. We ended up removing the Power Commander and installing a "Direct Link ECM". The PC was so old that Ed did not have the software in house. He offered to go and try to download it if we wanted. The Direct Link is similar to the Race Tuner but does require its own black box to tune. It is also much less expensive than the RT. The PC was not tuned properly and the front cylinder was way rich causing the poor mileage. Apparently whomever tuned this bike back in 2003 only tuned one cylinder. My horsepower with the PC was 83.2 and torque 95 ft/lb. After installing the Direct Link, hp is 93.4 and torque 104 ft/lb. The mileage has increased from 34.5 to 39.7 on the first tank driving through Dallas and then interstate for a total of 110 miles.Ed at the Dyno Difference did a great job of explaining the process. He was very professional in his work and a pleasure to work with. I have no regrets in using his business and would recommend anyone that else in the Dallas area to do the same. His number is 214-675-0051. Brian Todd's Independent Cycles in Allen Texas also told me that Ed was a good tuner.The entire ECM process is new to me and I am learing as I go. I did learn that I am too Damm old to be driving in Dallas. Those folks just ain't normal. After dodging an 18 wheeler, a girl passed talking on the cell phone while using the other hand to emphasize her conversation although the caller could not see her. Who was driving??Plasmaman

[Twolanerider]

Took the SERK to "The Dyno Difference" in Dallas Texas today.

Congrats on finding a skilled tuner.  That's not the proverbial "half the battle."  It's the whole thing.  Have fun with a better running bike .