Had to get gas on the way home tonight, so feedback is faster than anticipated. Bike was reading 1/8 tank, 35 miles to E. 177.1 miles on tank. Took 4.386 gallons, figures up to 40.37 mpg. 1 1/2 days of work commute, running 70-75 both ways, mix of cruise control and just cruising. Full tank read 237 for range, in less than 40 miles dropped to just under 7/8 of a tank. So now I'm wondering if it's an electrical issue related to sender or gauge. I know, old school just run the trip is simplest. But why ride a bagger with a gauge if it's not useful/accurate. Or maybe I'm just grasping at straws.
Any input from y'all would be greatly appreciated...it just seems like this is a new issue of being inaccurate and it's frustrating.
Thanks y'all!

 

The gas gauge on my new Road King basically tells me I have gas, or I may not have gas. If the needle is touching reserve, I still have a half a tank. It’s not terribly useful. The gauges on my Glides were mucho better.

I’m checking my trip meter at fill ups on my gas guzzling FLHP. It will tell me I’m getting mileage of 37-43 MPG if I stop to do the math, (range reading 222-258). I never checked actual mileage with the trip meters on my 2020 and 2022. They both gave an initial range of 275-315 routinely. But I don’t think I was actually getting that kind of mileage.

 

When bike shows 230 miles to empty that is based on what you have been and currently are doing. The number can change fast.
If you doing short trips cold weather that number will drop fast. It is a guide .

Example you have been riding ease ,speeds down bike not working you stop fill up it show 230 miles but as you keep riding it does not change.
The system is catching up.
Then you get the urge to ride hard full on throttle high RPMS red line. You look down and it shows 150. It id now reflecting your last little fun time.

 

Miles to empty, at least on my bike is a guesstimate, like Smitty said, it's giving you an estimate on current riding. Highway, cruising at one speed, will say higher, back roads or if you're riding a little more "spirited" it'll recalculate for a lower number usually, then if you go back on the highway the number will come back up to reflect the driving conditions change.

When in doubt and to mitigate any bad times? I just treat the gas gauge and miles to empty gauges on my bike like a guestimate. I know at 110-112 miles on the trip I start looking for a gas station. Now, I know I have more fuel and that I can go longer, but I'd rather have the option of pulling into a gas station as opposed to "I need a gas station NOW" scenario. Wiggle room really. Gas station out of gas, pumps don't work, closed because the staff is at Church down the road (yeah, that has happened to me lol) least in those I'll have enough fuel to get to another spot.

I just don't get much fun when the miles to empty gauge changes from numbers to "LO" and you have no idea where in the back country you are or where the nearest gas station could be. Start thinking real fast on how much of a PITA it's gonna be to push and if you can even find a safe spot on the side of a farm road with no blind curves to even pull the bike over if the gas cuts out.

 

I use a fuel tracking app called Simply Auto. I fill up, record mileage off trip meter and enter data. I reset odometer to zero at fill up and i can safely get 200 miles on a tank. 2021 Street Glide with 6 gallon tank. I typically average mid 40 mpg. I ride to about 200 miles ( 230-240 on a trip) then check fuel gage. Refill when gage shows low. If you could use this app, or something similar, and ride for a number of fill-ups, that should give you a good idea on your range and mileage. I don't trust the electric gas gage nor do I trust any onboard electric tracking.
Hope you can get this figured out!

 

I appreciate the input all around, gonna continue to mess with it. I guess the real reason it's bothering me is because the gauge and range on this bike have always been accurate since new...I got used to being able to rely on it and now I'm annoyed that I can't. Maybe mine has been a unicorn all these years and has finally decided to fall into the "normal Harley" rut.

Has anyone seen issues with the float getting a leak, or the resistor for the float giving issues? In my mind those are the most likely causes, just don't have much experience with Harley in this sense. Came off of a 2005 XL1200C and this is my first bagger, owned since new in August of 2015. I'm experienced with the old school trip meter method, just didn't want to have to go back to that.

Just thought I'd see if anyone else had encountered similar issues. 40-42 is normal on mine, just don't know why the gauge is losing it's mind.

 

Today. To find out how far I can go after I receive the '0' miles/gas left in tank on '24 Road Glide. At the '0' I set the trip meter to zero and kept on riding. Steady 75mph on cruise, little fluctuation in speed. Traveled 35.7 miles 'till the bike started to cough.

 

You are brave! Then what, ran out of gas in the left lane on the interstate? Ha ha If I recall correctly isn't reserve usually 0.7 to 1 gallon?

 

Carried a gallon in a can.

 

That was that time. The next time it may be 10 miles more or less you never know . It based on estimates of what you have been doing.