My 99 Softail Custom has a 5.4 gallon tank stock from the factory. I still have the stock fuel valve although I modified it to work manually instead of vacuum. I have never checked reserve as I generally fill up when I get to about 200 plus miles. It only takes 4 gallons at 200.

 

Finally got around to measuring my reserve and NOT happy !!!!! After switching to reserve into an empty gallon container, I got ONLY about one inch of gas in the container !!!!!!! Something not right, gonna call tech at J&P CYCLE see what he says.

 

I can't recall the last time I ever had to switch to the reserve. Either with the OEM petcock or the Pingle. Had to be years ago.... I refill when the trip meter hit around 160 miles. Usually takes 'about' 4 gallons, depending on how hard I'm running.

My 93 E-glide has a 5 gallon tank. The MoCo didn't offer optional size tanks, but the aftermarket did. I'd really like to get a 7 gallon tank, but I'm afraid it would look hideous on the bike.

 

A while back I saw a 6 gallon tank on a Nostalgia.
It really didn't look good, I'd imagine a 7 gallon would look worse.

 

My bike looks worse when I sit on it....

 

A while back I picked up some small plastic gas cans that hold about a gallon or gallon and a half. The way they are shaped, they fit perfectly in my Heritage bags.

They come in handy when I go exploring unfamiliar areas. I started using them after a few incidents of running out of reserve and having to walk far.

I will post pictures when I get home. They were cheap and are perfectly sized and shaped.

 

I believe that my 92 FLSTC has only about a 3.4 gallon tank. I have only hit reserve once and then put 2.4 gallons in which would suggest that I have about a 1 gallon reserve. However, I believe I have two tanks that are connected. Does it take some time for gas to flow from one to the other? Is it possible that if I waited, I might have put more in, suggesting more primary and less reserve?


I have gotten anywhere from 52 to 33 mpg from tank to tank. Need to do more testing, but at 33 mpg and 2.4 primary, I would only have 80 miles range on primary. That seems low.


At 50 mpg on 3.4 total, I would have closer to 170 mpg. That is better.


I will have to run it to reserve a few more times to get a better sense of what I really have.


Do these numbers sound similar to other experiences with this bike?

 

FLSTC's have a 4.2 gallon tank.

 

You'll never flow gas out the bottom faster than the tanks can equalize.

 

Here's my Iron Butt tank (if I was ever crazy enough to do one):



http://www.tourtank.com/Center-Fill-Tour-Tanks.html Available in 2.5 or 4 gallon.