Yesterday I was trying to see how low I could get my fuel gauge to go before the light came on. I was at 204 miles, Fuel GAUGE was in the middle of the red zone, and low fuel light was not illuminated at this point. Theoretically, I think I'm suppose to get about 240 miles on a full tank. Just wondering what others are experiencing, and I realize mileages will vary, but
when does your low fuel light come on in comparison to the fuel gauge? The self test at start up illuminates the low fuel light, but mine has not come on yet. Thanks
I got 225 once, but the light had been on for some time. I was between exits on I-20 drawing the seat up into my anal coley.
Dewd,
My fuel light comes on a few minutes after the needle has been at the bottom of the red stripe on the fuel gauge. This can vary anywhere between 190 and 220 miles. It depends on what mileage you are getting, elevation, yada, yada. I reliably get 40 miles to the gallon almost regardless of wether I am hammering it or just cruising along at 70mph.
What I don't know is how many miles I have left after the fuel light comes on. It is likely an indicator of a specific volume left in the tank so YMMV. I am assuming I have ~30 miles left after the light comes on but I don't know. So I either have a 220 mi range or a 250 mi range. I generally won't push it past 230 though.
Cheers!
On a recent trip my fuel light was coming on around 200miles prior to any stop. Think the longest run I did was 220 before fueling. At the time I think I calculated that I had around a gallon still in the tank each time I fueled.
I decided to give the full tank a test to it's limits. I purchased a 1 gallon fuel bottle and filled it up, then filled up my gas tank. I rode the bike normally, meaning my daily commute and typical weekend ride until the warning light came on. I noted my mileage and kept on riding until I felt the first little miss due to fuel starvation, and noted my mileage again. At that point I added the gallon of fuel from the bottle and rode to the gas station to fill up.
I know I average 39-40mpg, and at around 215 miles my low fuel warning light should be coming on. At a point around 240 miles I'll be running out of gas........ and wishing I'd stopped at that last gas station I'd seen a few miles back....
Good information if you're using your bike to travel long distance.
I have only had my fuel light come on 1 time. I usually run until the fuel gauge is near the bottom of the red zone. When I fill up, the most I have ever put into this bike is 4.5 gallons. I wonder how much of the 6.2 gallon tank is usable?
Having worked on my fuel fittings I have had it bone dry and knew exactly how much fuel was in the tank when I filled it up. With one gallon in while empty, the light was still on. A gallon and a half will put it just above the red, but the light goes out.
I checked my mileage for the first time this week, getting about 47.3 miles a gallon on first check. I'll check it a few more times before I get the throttle bodies balanced.
Last week my light came on right before 200 miles. I topped it off and put almost exactly 5 gallons in, leaving 1.3 gallons left, right? Figure I should get another 40 before getting really low. 240-250 mile range?
I think I must have just been on the verge of it coming on. At 204 miles on the tripmeter, I put in 4.4 gallons. I think next time I'm low on fuel I will cruise around town, close to fuel stations, and let the light do its job.
I'm trying to get a sense of typical range AFTER the light comes on. I've only run out of gas once, years ago, but I have a tendency to like to ride the mountains without the extra weight of fuel. Sometimes fuel can be hard to find on those remote rides.
It's not like letting the fuel light come on voids your warranty.
It's just the bike letting you know that you should be thinking about fuel. For the most part, anytime a low fuel indicator does it's job, weather it be the petcocks of yore or the lights of today, you should have enough fuel to easily roll into the next gas station. To me, this means about 30 miles.
Quote from: "dewd"I think next time I'm low on fuel I will cruise around town, close to fuel stations, and let the light do its job.
I'm trying to get a sense of typical range AFTER the light comes on.
I can assure you there are at least 30 miles on "reserve"; I've done 50 after the light comes on. Doing laps around the block might be a bit obsessive
Most of the fuel in the 6.2gal tank is usable. I have put in 6 gallons once, after 274 miles. The low fuel light on my 01 comes on early around 170mi. I consider it a pre pre-warning light, with another 100 miles left to E :D
Quote from: "mrazekan"It's not like letting the fuel light come on voids your warranty.
Ummmm...What's a warranty?? :lol:
'99 Girly
light is on usually 225-227 miles
once 247
at 227 it usually takes 5.3 gallons or so to fill
Quote from: "Yukon"I have only had my fuel light come on 1 time. I usually run until the fuel gauge is near the bottom of the red zone. When I fill up, the most I have ever put into this bike is 4.5 gallons. I wonder how much of the 6.2 gallon tank is usable?
All of it. I have filled with 6.2 gallons, tank is 6.4 gallons. I regularly ride 300 miles per tank, at a steady 50 MPG. My red light comes on after using about 4.4 gallons, because I have filled at that point. When it comes on, 2 gallons remaining, I know I can go another 100 +/- miles to bone dry. No sweat, ride another hour and the needle is past the red zone, going strong. (Pavement only, and of course every bike is different.)
Quote from: "mrazekan"...What I don't know is how many miles I have left after the fuel light comes on...
Why not? When it comes on, fill the tank. Subtract your fill amount from 6.4 and the result is the fuel remaining. Unless your gauge is erratic (it happens) this fuel remaining will repeat each time the light comes on. Multiply the fuel remaining times your usual miles per gallon and that is the miles you have left after the light comes on. For each tankfull, when the light comes on add your reserve miles to your current odo number and keep this number in mind as you ride down the road; gas up before you get there. Basic calculations for anyone driving from here to there. Every motorcycle, every Tiger, every car and truck will have a different "reserve miles." If you know what it is, no need to pucker your bum until you get close to "vapor only."
Has anyone experienced the low fuel warning light being on all the time? Even with a full tank! How did you fix it?
Been traveling for the last couple of weeks and it sure is annoying.
My light comes on and the gauge bottoms out occasionally - ususally a few miles after I fill her up. (Cue panicky, buttock-clenching thoughts about massive fuel leak the first time it happened) It's probably a dirty connection somewhere that I'll look for when I have time. For now, it's just another on the long list of bugs which "add character". I tend not to rely on my warnings anyway, I know she does around 200 miles to light on and that leaves at least another 40 miles in the tank, so usually aim to fill up around the 200 mile mark.
Oh, and for UK readers, don't forget American Gallons are smaller than UK ones: 1 UK Gal = 1.201 US Gals or 1 US Gal = 0.833 UK Gals. which would make my 45 mpg average 54 mpg in American terms... hmm :roll:
I always use my trip meter to measure when I need fuel.
My 'low fuel light' comes on at 212 miles and I usually have 1+ gals
in the tank, that means 60 - 70 POSSIBLE miles left in the tank... so I feel confident that I can hit 240-250 miles. Unlike Kramer on a Seinfeld show.... I have not pressed on to see how far I could go.... but I may strap a 2 gallon can to the bike and get a better idea of how far I might be able to go further into no-mans-land before I am reaqlly stranded!
PS:
For all you riders looking at aluminum panniers.... figure a 10% reduction
in gas mileage. If you are fighting the wind.... maybe 15%. Nothin like big ol boxes hangin' out there smashing bugs! So I'll use them for LD rides.
QuoteOh, and for UK readers, don't forget American Gallons are smaller than UK ones:
So lets just stick to metric values then... It would all make life a lot simpler :lol: :lol:
Ive seen 300 miles on a tank before, and usually when I get nervous and finally stop in the 200's I never have to put much in, its almost as if my 01 fuel light is the half tank light...
BUT
I noticed my milage went DOWN with larger windshield...(biggest cee bailey one)
best milage was with stock windshield I have on for the summer cause of th eheat
Quote from: "sanjoh"Has anyone experienced the low fuel warning light being on all the time? Even with a full tank! How did you fix it?
Been traveling for the last couple of weeks and it sure is annoying.
Yes, but usually accompanied by a fuel needle also on the low side.
It's usually attributed to the Fuel Sending Unit. $100 part new. Installed on the under side of the tank. I got a used one from a 2006 off eBay to fix mine. Been find ever since.
Quote from: "EvilBetty"Quote from: "sanjoh"Has anyone experienced the low fuel warning light being on all the time? Even with a full tank! How did you fix it?
Been traveling for the last couple of weeks and it sure is annoying.
Yes, but usually accompanied by a fuel needle also on the low side.
It's usually attributed to the Fuel Sending Unit. $100 part new. Installed on the under side of the tank. I got a used one from a 2006 off eBay to fix mine. Been find ever since.
So the light was on and the fuel gage was not working at all?
On mine the needle always read empty and the light was on. Occasionally the needle would wiggle a little and the light go off for a while but it always came back on after a couple mines.
Most of this was due to an older float design in the fuel sending unit. It would swell or disform and cause it to jam in the tube. The newer design does not seem to have this problem. Some times it's covered under warranty (even if your bike is out of warranty). Check with your dealer.
Otherwise the part is $120 I think. If you do it yourself, you have to pull the tank and drain it, then remove the 4 screws holding it in and slip it out. Check the gasket for any tears or other problems, otherwise reuse. Torque to 7nm if I remember right.
If your needle is working fine, this would be the 2nd time I've heard of this... someone else recently posted their light was coming on but the needle was working fine.
I RAN MY TIGER 06 TANK OUT, FILLING IT TOOK 23 LITRES WHICH MEANS THERE IS APROXIMATLY 1 LITRE IN BOTTEM OF FUEL TANK AND PUMP FILTER SYSTEM.I ALSO GET 70 KILOMETERS PLUS AFTER LIGHT COMES ON .
CHEERS ALL
Quote from: "EvilBetty"On mine the needle always read empty and the light was on.
I have the same problem. I just got a quote for a new sender for $96.48. Not bad. I have heard that the original part tends to fill with fuel and the float sinks. Apparently the new ones are better quality.
Most embarrassing thing happened last weekend. I was riding along and ran out of fuel at about 320 km (200 mi). Had to get a truck to the nearest gas station. The worst part was that I was with two friends on beemers. Darn...
There was one on eBay last search. I got mine from a 2006 for $23 shipped in December. It's been flawless.
Quote from: "Nimrod11"Most embarrassing thing happened last weekend. I was riding along and ran out of fuel at about 320 km (200 mi). Had to get a truck to the nearest gas station. The worst part was that I was with two friends on beemers. Darn...
Say it ain't so!
Dude, build yourself a siphon hose...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Stretch67/IMGP2278.jpg)
Eight feet of 3/8-inch fuel line with a primer bulb. No sucking, no mouthful of fuel... just stick the long end into the fuel source and squeeze the bulb until the fuel flows. As long as the discharge end of the hose is lower than the intake end, it will flow all by itself.
This puppy saved me a lot of time and aggravation when I mistakenly filled my rental V-Strom's tank with diesel in Coldfoot, Alaska. :oops:
The fuel line can be found at any auto parts store, and the primer bulb is for outboard boat motors.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... classNum=0 (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/344108/377%20710/0/primer%20bulb/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=primer%20bulb&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=primer%20bulb&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=6&subdeptNum=null&classNum=0)
I put the whole thing together for about 25 dollars.
Since it's so small, you can keep it in your saddlebags all the time. And you can be The Roadside Hero when your buddy, riding a Harley Sportster with a three-pint tank, runs out of gas. :mrgreen:
Quote from: "Stretch"Dude, build yourself a siphon hose...
Now you tell me????????? :wink:
My thoughts exactly. And I also intend to have a fuel bag so you can get to a station or transfer from another bike.
so with the taller screen and big square boxes my milage will suck huh...dang. maybe if I add an extended tank...