I've had my Dyna for a few days and so far have filled up twice when the gauge reads about 1/8 and took about 3.5 gals. Now I understand this thing has a 4.8 gal tank. 2008 FXDL. Mileage was crappy but the air filter was filthy, so I replaced the filter and filled it up. Hoping for better mileage (34.5 mpg). That's not my question. Mileage varies. But it occurred to me that maybe it's my fueling technique. I just put it on the jiffy stand and pump until it shuts off. Look in the filler and it's about 1/2 inch maybe from spewing out all over me. I did try to top it off and got maybe 1/10 gal more until the little drain hole was covered. Gauge both times went right up to the Full mark barely.

Is that pretty normal for a Dyna? in other words when the gauge says E is it really empty or do I still have some gas in there?

 

What's normal is for these gauges to be inconsistent from one bike to another. If you squeeze out the last few ounces when you're filling up it won't make much difference.
The most accurate way to figure out your range is to use the trip meter.

 

Sounds normal to me.

My FXDC had a 4.5 gallon tank. Never took that much, even when I ran it down to the low fuel light. But, when that comes on you've got roughly a gallon left, so that makes sense. Taking around 3.5 gallons or so when you're almost down to empty. After I spewed gas all over once or twice I stopped trying to fill it to the brim.

Around town in mixed riding I got 45-ish mpg, and I'd flirt with 50 at a steady 65 mph.

 

You could fill a small camping fuel canister with gasoline and keep it with you on the bike. Reset the trip odometer and see how many miles you can go before the low fuel light comes on. Reset the trip odometer when the low fuel light comes on, then ride it until you run out of gas. Use the fuel in the canister to get you to a gas station. Then you will know your range.

 

I guess there is a low fuel light... I've never seen it...LOL
On my Ultra the low fuel light comes on and I still have over a gallon.

 

Thanks for the tip. I've often heard of folks doing this but never tried it myself. But that is the only real way to tell how far you can go. Something we all should do with a new bike. I know my Ultra, when the fuel light comes on I've refueled it within a mile and always took 4.5 to 4.8 gal (5.8 gal tank) If my new Dyna is roughly the same I'll be happy.

 

This MSR bottle fits quite well in one of my tool bags.
They are mounted on my fender struts.

 

The fuel gauge sensor is just a float on a bent piece of wire. How much gas you have when the gauge shows empty depends on the bend of the wire. The last time I had the tank off, I emptied it completely and refilled 1 gallon at a time & noted the reading.. but I still use the trip odometer to tell when to look for a gas station.

 

Dont trust your gauge. learn to trust your ears and how much slosh there is.

 

My Guage will be on almost empty but the most I have put in it on a fill up is 2.5 gallons. And I have never seen the low fuel light yet. So I think they are off a little. Even the dealer told me to not trust the Guage and to keep an eye on the fuel.

And YES the fuel mileage does seem crappy on mine too.