I know lame thread, I was out riding yesterday and the gas light came on at 120 miles. Ive had this bike for a year now so still getting familiar with it. Reserve kicked in a few miles later. I got a 2008 FXSTC that has a 5 gallon tank so wtf? maybe its a fluke, will fill it up to the top and try it again....I know reserve comes on at 1 gallon left, but still that makes it 30 miles to the gallon. No mods on the engine except stage 1 V&H exhaust, filter and an FP3. Bike runs great...I do tend to ride the **** out of it, came from a sport bike background so i do twist the throttle hard and ride mostly back roads like a bat out of hell. Very seldomly do i just cruise on the freeway, in fact i never do. what do you guys get for mileage?

 

1. Fill up the bike
2. Reset the trip meter
3. Ride until the low fuel light comes on
4. Fill the tank and divide the miles by the gallons
5. Note your mileage per gallon
6. Multiply MPG by tank capacity
7. Total from step 6 equals approximate mileage until you run dry

As a pilot I've learned not to trust electronic fuel gauges. For what is worth, I get 34MPG on my Ultra (110") and 37-40 on the Fat Boy (114"). I can go about 180 miles on either bike before I get nervous. I plan my gas stops on miles rather than what the gauge says.

 

Depends heavily on how fast you're going. On my 2018 M8, 114", Stage II, I can say the following:
Spirited riding, blasting through corners and back roads, about 40 mpg
Constant 75mph, about 40 mpg
Sane riding, 55-70 mph, about 45 mpg
Constant 45-50 mph, country back roads, leisurely touring with nowhere particular to be and no care as to when I get there, about 53 mpg

I don't think I've seen a tank below 40 mpg, and certainly not one better than 53 mpg.

Again, that's an M8, and a modified one at that, so the actual numbers aren't relevant to your situation, but the fact is the type of riding can make the MPG vary by about 33%, and high speeds are enormously detrimental to MPG, as is heavy acceleration.

What I can't account for is stop and go city commuting traffic, because I don't do that type of riding, but I'm sure that'd make mpg plummet further.

In that case, your MPG probably isn't out of line. That type of riding is when I get the worst MPG on my bike too. Depending on how hard, how fast, and how frequent, I don't know that 30 is totally out of line, but it does sound low. My M8 experience isn't going to match up to your TC experience, so hopefully others who ride like you do will be able to help.

 

My light comes on consistently at 170-175 miles. The analog gauge matches this. If I fill up as soon as possible after the light comes on, I generally am able to put 4 1/2 gallons in it.
I am an aggressive rider but don’t beat on it.

 

I have an '03 Fatboy with a carb. I go on reserve at about 165-170 mostly on highway riding. In city riding go on reserve about 150-155 miles.

 

13 Fatboy

Stock I got about 225 miles a tank.

Stage 1, I have no clue. Analog gauge is completely out of whack, it'll read empty with 3 gallons left. Digital reading might be closer but only about 150 miles to the tank going by that. Haven't seen the light come in a long time. Digital read 35 miles left and the light still hadn't come on.

One day I'll remember to trip at the pump. Just keep forgetting it.

 

I hit 168 on my 93 Heritage yesterday and still hadn't hit reserve. When I filled it up it took 4.2 gal. Combination highway at 70-80 mph and city. I would get slightly better mileage with the windshield off.

 

170 miles before reserve but I found the last 11 mile range indicated is unusable when on reserve. By my reckoning and the fact the Imperial gallon is 2 pints larger than the US gallon your range and fuel economy is far off the normal expectations. When full to capacity I have an indicated fuel range of over 200 miles and that is on a 110. I too ride with scant regard to economy and faster than I should perhaps?

 

Seems it varies. Everyone gets different results.

On mine, it's 130-135 miles to the fuel light. At that point it takes 3 gallons to fill (five gallon tank), give or take. By recording mileage and gallons, I know my ultimate range is a shade over 200 miles at 45 mpg.

Like b407driver posted above, don't rely on electronic gizmos to really know what you have in the tank.

I wonder if Amelia Earhart knew how fuel was in that Electra she was flying after the low fuel light came on?

 

Not enough.