How much reserve fuel do I have?

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Oct 13, 2015 | 04:05 PM

#11

ToffeeBrown

Cruiser

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 230

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From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesee

I've ran my bike out of fuel on a couple, few occasions.
If you count on .9 gallon usable reserve, you will run yours out of fuel too.

Taking your tank off and measuring the fuel isn't testing it.
Running it down the highway until it coughs and stops running is testing it.

You don't have to believe me. Head down the highway and test it yourself.
(I regularly do... I run maximum fuel range and minimal fuel stops on a run. Headwinds cut fuel range very quickly.)

This.

I run my bike to reserve on every single tank. I have ran out of fuel a couple of times, and it sucks. I try not to go more than 10 miles on reserve, but I have been 25 miles on reserve before in the right conditions.

Oct 13, 2015 | 04:44 PM

#12

Tommy C

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Joined: Oct 2015

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From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA

I carry one of these in my bags. It's saved my butt a few times as well as other riders I've encountered on the side of the road.

Amazon.com : Laken Aluminum Fuel Bottle 1L 34 oz : Sports & Outdoors

Oct 13, 2015 | 06:29 PM

#13

skinman13

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Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 2,557

Likes: 235

From: Texas

I do not run my bike empty on reserve and have not ran it out of gas...yet. I run it until it coughs or quits and then switch it over and start looking for a gas station.

Draining and measuring the fuel in your tank IS testing the tank...it is testing the volume of fuel it can hold...DUH!

If you know what your gas mileage is for the way you routinely ride in the area you routinely ride in, then knowing that you have .9 gallon remaining that is available to your engine and how far you can probably go on that much gas is something you should know...or keep running out of gas. That is one sure-fire way to know that you need to fill-up.

My SG gets about 45 mpg, minimum, depending on atmospheric conditions, quality of fuel, and how hard I am getting down on it, so knowing this, I can safely ASSUME that I should get at least 30 miles if I go soft on the throttle...and, I am usually within 30 miles to a station. The most I have ridden on reserve is 22 miles.

Last edited by skinman13; Oct 13, 2015 at 06:31 PM.

Oct 13, 2015 | 06:34 PM

#14

Jonesee

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Joined: Sep 2006

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From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinman13

Draining and measuring the fuel in your tank IS testing the tank...it is testing the volume of fuel it can hold...DUH!

Previously you used and capitalized the term "USEFUL". What you determine to be volume of fuel remaining in the tank in a lab or a garage is not "USEFUL" when you are on the interstate and you have to roll over to reserve to get somewhere to fill up.

In my previous post I stated spec reserve is .9 gallon.
But useful to keep the bike running on the highway is about .5 gallon.
Count on about 20 miles.

Real world vs theory. Real world always wins.

Last edited by Jonesee; Oct 13, 2015 at 06:47 PM.

Oct 13, 2015 | 06:53 PM

#15

skinman13

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Joined: Dec 2012

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From: Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesee

Well, I guess I can follow your logic...you can never tell if your car seat belts work until you run your car into a brick wall to, "TEST," it.

You should probably stay away from flying airplanes...the FAA gets really pissed when a pilot runs out of fuel...real costly mistake, even if they manage to land safely at an airstrip. I guess since I come from that background, I don't take chances...or maybe it is because I do not want to have to deal with running out of gas out in the Boonies...or in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Back to the point, I KNOW I have less than a gallon of gas available to the engine when I switch over, I KNOW I will need gas soon, so I KNOW to get to the nearest gas station...and I am confident that if it ain't no further than 20 miles away, in the area I normally ride in, on a hot humid summer day, and I go soft on the throttle, I will get there...this is not a guess, it is, "tested."

Oct 13, 2015 | 07:08 PM

#16

Jonesee

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Joined: Sep 2006

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From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinman13

Well, I guess I can follow your logic...you can never tell if your car seat belts work until you run your car into a brick wall to, "TEST," it.

Ahhh, but I already admitted I have tested it.
I admitted I've ran out of fuel before. Real world test...

I have a lot of real world practice getting the maximum fuel range out of my bike between stops.

On a run, every fuel stop is preplanned and I know exactly how far I have to go to get fuel. I've also learned the impact of speed and headwinds on my fuel range, including reserve.

I also admit I've never put a vacuum pump on my tank though. You got me there...

Last edited by Jonesee; Oct 13, 2015 at 07:11 PM.

Oct 13, 2015 | 10:41 PM

#17

skinman13

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Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 2,557

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From: Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesee

Like I said, you can get real world testing your seat belts by running into a brick wall at 60 mph also...but not all that smart. I know I can ride at least 22 miles on reserve...and I didn't have to run out of gas to find out either.

I prefer spontaneity and little planning. Yes, I plan rest stops and fuel stops and overnighters on LONG trips, like out of state or past San Antonio, but other than that, I just ride and really don't worry about anything except whether or not that next bug headed toward my face is going to be a big one...unless I happen to have to go on reserve, then the need to gas up comes into the picture then I got 22+ miles to find a station.

My 2001 SG has a vacuum operated petcock. Fuel does not flow until there is a vacuum present. The fuel in the bowl will start the engine and the intake vacuum keeps the fuel flowing. To drain the tank from the petcock, you have to put a vacuum on it to open the valve to drain the fuel. I usually use a length of tubing and a hemostat clamp...just a little suck on the tube and clamp it off and thar she flows...

Oct 14, 2015 | 12:16 PM

#18

supermanotorious

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Tourer

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 260

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From: Phoenix, AZ

Thanks again for the replies, I was able to manage about 20 mi on reserve the other day, I did not run it out however, I think I need to take a small amount of fuel with me and run her all the way dry to know for sure