A little feedback please
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
How much gas are you putting in for how many miles ridden?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 9
From: Toledo, Ohio
Right at 36 mpg on my last two refuels. All solo, easy mixed riding ( city/country). So maybe I'm about right. I do know that I got 43+ mpg on a previous tank ??? Darned if I can remember if that was a lot of highway, but it seems like a big discrepency.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
I have had 2 non-FI bikes and both ran 25 or 30 miles on reserve. May want to replace your fuel filter. The fuel filter is on top of the petcock and has a tube that establish's the reserve level. It also has a short to no tube that establishes the empty tank. It is possible to have a very dirty filter with sediment at the bottom of the filter which in effect will make the engine starve for fuel prematurly.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
36 is a little low but not inconceivable (a friend of mine gets 33).
My low end is usually about 39 but I don't ride in the city.
42-45 is usually the best I get out of mine.
With a reserve of 8 - 12 miles I definitely check the petcock screen other than that I think you are fine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
I don't think it would be the screen. The "reserve" feature is a tube that sticks up into the screen. When "on," the fuel is supplied from the tube, limiting the amount of fuel you can get out to the upper level (top of the tube.) When on "reserve," the fuel is supplied from the bottom, or from the top of the valve itself, giving you all the fuel available. The screen just sits over all this. I think either his petcock is bad, or the tube has a leak. A new Pingle petcock would fix this and be much better than the OEM petcock.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 659
Likes: 4
From: Michigan
I got a 97 heritage,, switching to reserve at 165 miles is about right. I ride double most of the time and have to switch to reserve around 155-165...reserve doesnt last very long at all it seems...maybe 10 miles of stop & go...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 9
From: Toledo, Ohio
Should've thrown this tiny piece of info. into the discussion earlier. The one time I had to push the bike into the filling station ( only 8.5 miles on reserve), I noticed audibly/ visibly that there was fuel splish splashing in both sides of tank. I don't know if that would for sure indicate the petcock or not? On the fill-up it did not take the full 5.2g capacity, I think it was right about 5 gallons. Should it run completely dry on reserve? I'm just trying to get a good take on where I stand vs. a possible problem. As of now, I don't know what to expect and am afraid to even let bike get to reserve. It would be nice to be confident in what's left once I do have to switch over.