Trigger Wheel and MPG Data

January 25, 2001

D. Sawyer

Many have seen the information and emails about the Trigger Wheel http://www.triggerwheel.com/ and many have had varied opinions on it usefulness and performance. I found it interesting, when I first heard about the device, how it would increase torque and MPG for my 1998 Goldwing SE. I read the info on their WEB page, asked a couple of Honda Mechanics if or how it would effect the Warranty and then decided to purchase and install one.

Warranty Note: According to "my" dealer/service manager, the Trigger Wheel in of itself will not void your Warranty. If a failure occures that is linked to the Trigger Wheel then it will effect the warranty. But to simply install one should not effect your warranty and. in-fact, many Honda dealers will install the wheel for you.

I ordered and received the 6 degree Trigger Wheel and one Saturday I decided to install it. I had never tore into a 1500 Goldwing to this extent and I remembered the job it was to change the belts on my 1984 Aspencade so I was a little worried about getting this correct. By the way, I really envy the Valkyrie owners. They could literally install a Trigger Wheel on their bikes while sitting on the side of the road.

Installing the wheel ended up being a very straightforward and simple job. The hardest part I had was removing the left side belt cover because my hoses seemed to be a little tight and I had a time getting cover out. The entire job from start to finish took me all of 45 minutes with 1 coffee break. Right from the start my bike ran better. It felt like it had better torque and my bike had a hesitation problem that went away with the install of the trigger wheel.

Recently there was an article published in Wing World that I felt did a serious injustice to the Trigger Wheel. I will not go into details about it but it did make me think about MPG and Octane level I was running. In my older 84 Wing I always ran 92 Octane. When I bought my 98SE everyone I talked with said to use the cheap stuff and so long as the bike does not ping you're good to go. The Trigger Wheel install docs recommend a 92 Octane but people I spoke with said I could use as low as possible so long as the bike didn't ping. I decided to use 89 Octane until the read the article in Wing World and then I started looking close as the MPG I was getting and decided to change to 92 octane and see where it got me. This WEB page gives those results. Now a couple of disclaimers:

1. I did not start keeping track of my MPG on my 98 until I found a program for my Palm Pilot.

2. There were a couple of times I failed to enter into my pilot the exacts while at the pump and had to try and remember what the miles were based on the receipt.

3. There was 1 occurrence where I did not fill up my tank because I forgot my wallet and only had $5.00 cash in my pocket and an empty tank.

4. Most important. Your results may differ from mine and your opinion may differ from me and that's OK. This is simply to display what MY results were based on MY mileage. Your results may vary.

5. I drive my bike hard. I go fast, accelerate hard, brake hard, slam it into corners and I wind it out before shifting. Sometimes I ride 2 up but most of the time just 1. Sometimes I pull a trailer but normally I don't. My numbers are based on normal day to day life driving.

6. The data below is unaltered. It was taken direct from my Palm Pilot with the only exception being to times for some early entries. The program I use did not take into account multiple fuel stops in a single day so it did not timestamp each entry. The author of the software fixed that so on some early entries you will see some weird time of day times for fillups for some trips I did.

 

As for the Data. You will see that my stock Goldwing, without a trigger wheel, using Regular unleaded fuel, that my highest MPG reading was 48.23, and the lowest was 15.29. I will also admit that those highest and lowest readings were at a time frame that I did not do a fillup (see item 3 above) so I believe my actual highest was 44.71 and my lowest was 22.19 and my average was 29.88 mpg

The performance of the bike was flawless with the exception of a Hesitation at highway speeds when I would roll on the throttle.

Date

Time

Cost

Capacity

Price

Start_Miles

Diff_Miles

Location

MPG

Note

8/31/99

12:00 AM

$7.57

4.453

$1.70

3855.3

0

San Jose

Fill up

9/2/99

12:00 AM

$6.95

4.110

$1.69

3978.0

122.7

San Jose

29.85

Fill up

9/8/99

12:00 AM

$8.29

4.710

$1.76

4126.0

148

San Jose

31.42

Fill up

9/11/99

12:00 AM

$5.86

3.530

$1.66

4229.0

103

San Jose

29.18

Fill up

9/13/99

12:00 AM

$5.83

3.644

$1.60

4340.0

111

Cupertino

30.46

Fill up

9/15/99

6:00 AM

$8.04

4.845

$1.66

4487.6

147.6

San Jose

30.46

Fill up for AZ

9/15/99

8:00 AM

$6.59

4.176

$1.58

4623.9

136.3

Colinga

32.64

Fill up

9/15/99

9:00 AM

$3.06

1.801

$1.70

4678.7

54.8

Lost hills

30.43

Lost hills

9/15/99

10:00 AM

$4.43

3.054

$1.45

4764.8

86.1

Tehapchi

28.19

Fill up

9/16/99

6:00 AM

$5.85

3.444

$1.70

4868.8

104

Barstow

30.20

Fill up

9/16/99

7:00 AM

$3.42

1.773

$1.93

4917.4

48.6

Ludlow

27.41

Fill up

9/16/99

8:00 AM

$6.40

3.750

$1.71

5009.5

92.1

Needles

24.56

Fill up

9/16/99

9:00 AM

$6.21

3.549

$1.75

5103.7

94.2

Blyth

26.54

Cash fill up

9/16/99

10:00 AM

$7.26

4.126

$1.76

5200.8

97.1

Tonepah

23.53

Fill up cash

9/16/99

11:00 AM

$4.51

3.421

$1.32

5296.6

95.8

Casa Granda

28.00

Fill up

9/17/99

12:00 AM

$5.17

4.011

$1.29

5419.7

123.1

Tucson

30.69

Fill up

9/21/99

12:00 AM

$5.09

4.073

$1.25

5536.7

117

Tucson

28.73

Fill up

9/22/99

12:00 AM

$2.32

1.757

$1.32

5593.0

56.3

Tucson

32.04

Fill up before 10 to home.

9/22/99

6:00 AM

$6.20

4.139

$1.50

5701.6

108.6

Gila bend

26.24

Fill up

9/22/99

7:00 AM

$3.58

2.038

$1.76

5757.8

56.2

Tonepah

27.58

Fill up cash

9/22/99

8:00 AM

$4.22

2.892

$1.46

5832.8

75

Quartzite

25.93

Fill up no receipt

9/22/99

8:30 AM

$6.82

4.372

$1.56

5948.9

116.1

Needles

26.56

Fill up cash

9/22/99

9:00 AM

$7.15

3.706

$1.93

6041.0

92.1

Ludlow

24.85

Fill up

9/22/99

10:00 AM

$4.61

2.924

$1.58

6124.3

83.3

4 Corners

28.49

Fill up

9/22/99

11:00 AM

$5.03

3.183

$1.58

6221.5

97.2

Bakersfield

30.54

Fill up

9/22/99

11:30 AM

$3.03

1.803

$1.68

6267.8

46.3

@ I 5 off 46

25.68

Fill up cash forgot to write down had to guess

9/22/99

12:00 PM

$5.78

3.440

$1.68

6356.7

88.9

20 or so from 152

25.84

Fill up cash

9/23/99

12:00 AM

$6.92

4.393

$1.58

6480.6

123.9

Cupertino

28.20

Fill up

9/27/99

12:00 AM

$7.28

4.185

$1.74

6609.1

128.5

San Jose shell

30.70

Fill up

10/4/99

12:00 AM

$6.82

4.375

$1.56

6752.9

143.8

Cupertino

32.87

Cash

10/7/99

12:00 AM

$7.62

4.485

$1.70

6890.8

137.9

San Jose

30.75

Fill up

10/9/99

8:00 AM

$3.94

2.318

$1.70

6963.3

72.5

San Jose

31.28

Fill up for carp

10/9/99

10:00 AM

$6.59

3.662

$1.80

7062.4

99.1

King City

27.06

Fill up

10/9/99

1:00 PM

$6.10

3.676

$1.66

7173.0

110.6

Santa Maria

30.09

Fill up

10/10/99

6:00 AM

$5.38

3.130

$1.72

7262.9

89.9

Santa Barbara

28.72

Fill up

10/10/99

8:00 AM

$4.74

2.824

$1.68

7345.4

82.5

Santa Maria

29.21

Fill up

10/10/99

10:00 AM

$6.96

3.868

$1.80

7458.0

112.6

King City

29.11

Fill up

10/12/99

12:00 AM

$7.68

4.523

$1.70

7589.0

131

San Jose

28.96

Fill

10/17/99

12:00 AM

$7.40

4.462

$1.66

7734.7

145.7

San Jose

32.65

Fill up

10/21/99

12:00 AM

$7.57

4.618

$1.64

7873.9

139.2

San Jose

30.14

Fill up for Vegas

10/21/99

5:00 AM

$5.64

3.440

$1.64

7975.6

101.7

Ponch

29.56

Fill

10/21/99

6:00 AM

$5.40

3.217

$1.68

8064.1

88.5

Lost Hills

27.51

Fill

10/21/99

8:00 AM

$4.05

3.005

$1.35

8150.8

86.7

Tehapachi

28.85

Fill

10/21/99

8:15 AM

$6.29

3.494

$1.80

8244.4

93.6

Barstow

26.79

Fill

10/21/99

8:30 AM

$3.43

2.170

$1.58

8306.4

62

Baker

28.57

Fill up Cash

10/22/99

12:00 AM

$5.94

3.883

$1.53

8406.4

100

Las Vegas

25.75

Fill up

10/24/99

12:00 AM

$4.92

2.830

$1.74

8486.7

80.3

Las Vegas

28.37

Fill

10/25/99

12:00 AM

$5.84

3.436

$1.70

8598.8

112.1

Primm

32.63

Fill up

10/25/99

1:00 AM

$6.43

3.574

$1.80

8708.9

110.1

Barstow

30.81

Fill up

10/25/99

2:00 AM

$4.07

2.754

$1.48

8793.5

84.6

Mohave

30.72

Fill up

10/25/99

3:00 AM

$5.90

3.556

$1.66

8898.2

104.7

Lost Hills

29.44

Fill up

10/25/99

4:00 AM

$5.20

3.213

$1.62

8989.4

91.2

firebaugh

28.38

Fill

10/27/99

12:00 AM

$7.80

4.759

$1.64

9123.6

134.2

San Jose

28.20

Fill

11/1/99

12:00 AM

$6.81

4.152

$1.64

9248.8

125.2

Cupertino

30.15

Fill up Credit

11/5/99

2:00 PM

$7.75

4.729

$1.64

9390.4

141.6

San Jose

29.94

Fill up Credit

11/5/99

3:30 PM

$6.49

3.934

$1.65

9519.5

129.1

King City

32.82

Fill up Credit

11/5/99

4:30 PM

$5.08

3.178

$1.60

9629.4

109.9

Santa Maria

34.58

Fill up Credit

11/8/99

12:30 PM

$4.88

3.049

$1.60

9721.2

91.8

Carpinteria

30.11

Fill up Credit

11/8/99

1:30 PM

$4.82

3.012

$1.60

9805.8

84.6

Santa Maria

28.09

Fill up Credit

11/8/99

3:05 PM

$6.15

3.732

$1.65

9918.7

112.9

King City

30.25

Fill up Credit

11/10/99

5:30 AM

$5.00

3.052

$1.64

10049.0

130.3

San Jose

42.69

Cash

11/15/99

6:13 AM

$7.77

4.740

$1.64

10152.9

103.9

San Jose

21.92

Fill up Credit

11/18/99

2:41 PM

$6.80

4.632

$1.47

10297.1

144.2

Cupertino

31.13

Fill up Credit

11/22/99

6:21 AM

$6.74

4.113

$1.64

10416.9

119.8

San Jose Shell

29.13

Fill up Credit

11/24/99

8:58 AM

$5.95

3.628

$1.64

10524.6

107.7

San Jose Shell

29.69

Fill up Credit

11/28/99

3:35 PM

$7.85

4.788

$1.64

10664.7

140.1

San Jose Shell

29.26

Fill up Credit

12/2/99

5:28 AM

$7.11

4.340

$1.64

10784.3

119.6

San Jose Shell

27.56

Fill up Credit

12/3/99

6:45 PM

$6.23

3.997

$1.56

10900.5

116.2

San Jose

29.07

Fill up Credit

12/7/99

5:29 AM

$7.67

4.677

$1.64

11052.0

151.5

San Jose Shell

32.39

Fill up Credit

12/10/99

6:55 AM

$7.33

4.475

$1.64

11187.5

135.5

San Jose Shell

30.28

Fill up Credit

12/15/99

8:58 PM

$7.57

4.621

$1.64

11322.1

134.6

San Jose Shell

29.13

Fill up Credit

12/17/99

7:17 PM

$4.51

2.893

$1.56

11409.1

87

San Jose Exxon

30.07

Fill up Credit

12/18/99

3:53 PM

$6.51

3.973

$1.64

11548.9

139.8

San Jose Shell

35.19

Fill up Credit

12/21/99

6:06 PM

$8.49

5.183

$1.64

11691.9

143

San Jose Shell

27.59

Fill up Credit

12/22/99

5:51 PM

$3.17

1.985

$1.60

11753.6

61.7

Freemont Shell

31.08

Fill up Credit

12/23/99

7:06 PM

$7.17

4.544

$1.58

11897.3

143.7

San Jose 76

31.62

Fill up Credit

12/26/99

10:58 AM

$7.45

4.561

$1.63

12023.5

126.2

San Jose Shell

27.67

Fill up Credit

1/3/00

8:49 PM

$7.70

4.696

$1.64

12156.8

133.3

San Jose Shell

28.39

Fill up Credit

1/6/00

2:13 PM

$7.05

4.466

$1.58

12277.2

120.4

Cupertino Chevron

26.96

Fill up Credit

1/7/00

6:52 PM

$5.27

3.339

$1.58

12374.7

97.5

San Jose Shell Saratoga

29.20

Fill up Credit

1/9/00

8:39 AM

$6.56

4.264

$1.54

12506.2

131.5

San Jose Milpitas 76

30.84

Fill up Credit

1/13/00

6:33 AM

$6.00

3.662

$1.64

12642.0

135.8

San Jose Shell

37.08

cash

1/14/00

12:32 PM

$6.62

4.192

$1.58

12735.0

93

San Jose 76

22.19

Fill up Credit

1/17/00

4:37 PM

$6.73

4.260

$1.58

12875.7

140.7

Milpitas 76

33.03

Fill up Credit

1/20/00

5:44 PM

$7.83

4.778

$1.64

13023.7

148

San Jose Shell

30.98

Fill up Credit

1/21/00

6:50 PM

$6.63

4.252

$1.56

13153.0

129.3

San Jose Milpitas shell

30.41

Fill up Credit

1/26/00

6:54 PM

$6.12

3.733

$1.64

13259.2

106.2

San Jose Shell

28.45

Fill up Credit

1/31/00

2:13 PM

$6.70

4.041

$1.66

13376.6

117.4

San Jose Shell

29.05

Fill up Credit

2/3/00

2:05 PM

$5.87

3.969

$1.48

13500.7

124.1

Cupertino

31.27

Fill up Credit

2/4/00

6:44 PM

$4.81

3.010

$1.60

13578.2

77.5

Milpitas shell

25.75

Fill up Credit

2/6/00

2:01 PM

$3.84

2.360

$1.63

13649.0

70.8

San Jose

30.00

Fill up Credit

2/6/00

5:56 PM

$5.76

3.602

$1.60

13776.7

127.7

Salinas

35.45

Fill up Credit

2/8/00

4:48 PM

$7.73

4.659

$1.66

13919.7

143

San Jose Shell

30.69

Fill up Credit

2/14/00

2:30 PM

$7.86

4.736

$1.66

14053.5

133.8

San Jose Shell

28.25

Fill up Credit

2/15/00

7:23 PM

$7.97

4.805

$1.66

14199.2

145.7

San Jose Shell

30.32

Fill up Credit

2/18/00

7:45 AM

$7.45

4.383

$1.70

14317.7

118.5

San Jose Shell

27.04

Fill up Credit trip

2/18/00

10:35 AM

$6.50

3.696

$1.76

14425.8

108.1

Firebaugh

29.25

Fill up Credit trip

2/18/00

12:22 PM

$7.08

4.320

$1.64

14536.4

110.6

Buttonwillow

25.60

Fill up Credit trip

2/18/00

2:42 PM

$5.82

3.991

$1.46

14638.2

101.8

Lancaster

25.51

Fill up Credit trip

2/20/00

9:22 AM

$5.98

3.937

$1.52

14742.2

104

Hesperia

26.42

Fill up Credit trip

2/20/00

11:21 AM

$5.20

3.134

$1.66

14848.7

106.5

Goreman

33.98

Fill up Credit

2/20/00

2:29 PM

$5.23

2.975

$1.76

14981.7

133

Colinga

44.71

Fill up Credit trip

2/21/00

9:17 PM

$6.91

4.066

$1.70

15136.8

155.1

San Jose Shell

38.15

Fill up Credit

2/25/00

1:17 PM

$8.63

5.140

$1.68

15276.6

139.8

Cupertino shell

27.20

Fill up Credit

3/1/00

5:16 PM

$8.71

4.737

$1.84

15404.0

127.4

San Jose Shell

26.89

Fill up Credit

3/3/00

9:40 PM

$10.14

5.123

$1.98

15548.3

144.3

Belmont

28.17

Fill up Credit

3/4/00

12:31 PM

$8.23

4.117

$2.00

15671.9

123.6

Ignacio

30.02

Fill up Credit

3/4/00

9:43 PM

$9.58

5.045

$1.90

15840.3

168.4

Cupertino

33.38

Fill up Credit

3/9/00

2:15 PM

$5.00

2.633

$1.90

15967.3

127

Cupertino

48.23

Cash no fill

3/12/00

6:28 PM

$9.05

4.525

$2.00

16036.5

69.2

San Jose Shell

15.29

Fill up cash

3/13/00

2:11 PM

$4.66

2.331

$2.00

16107.6

71.1

San Jose Shell

30.50

Fill up cash

3/14/00

2:39 PM

$8.35

4.283

$1.95

16249.6

142

Cupertino

33.15

Fill up cash

3/16/00

2:54 PM

$7.58

3.683

$2.06

16356.7

107.1

San Jose Shell

29.08

Fill up Credit

3/18/00

1:56 PM

$5.41

2.626

$2.06

16440.5

83.8

San Jose Shell

31.91

Fill up Credit

3/18/00

6:29 PM

$5.16

2.530

$2.04

16533.1

92.6

Santa Cruz

36.60

Fill up Credit

3/21/00

2:05 PM

$9.00

4.593

$1.96

16666.6

133.5

Cupertino

29.07

Fill up Credit

3/27/00

6:20 AM

$9.78

4.749

$2.06

16809.3

142.7

San Jose Shell

30.05

Fill up Credit

3/29/00

8:52 AM

$8.67

4.211

$2.06

16929.6

120.3

San Jose Shell

28.57

Fill up Credit

4/4/00

5:21 PM

$9.39

4.791

$1.96

17077.3

147.7

San Jose Shell

30.83

Fill up Credit

4/6/00

6:08 PM

$7.43

3.795

$1.96

17195.9

118.6

San Jose Shell

31.25

Fill up Credit

4/8/00

5:05 AM

$5.89

2.944

$2.00

17291.0

95.1

San Jose 76

32.30

Fill up Credit

4/8/00

1:12 PM

$7.82

4.164

$1.88

17431.0

140

San Jose

33.62

Fill up Credit event

4/9/00

1:54 PM

$8.02

4.223

$1.90

17575.6

144.6

Cupertino

34.24

Fill up Credit

4/11/00

1:47 PM

$8.30

4.372

$1.90

17714.8

139.2