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Although my Heritage Classic is getting decent mileage, around 40 mpg, it sure does seem to have a small tank. Yesterday, the gas light went on at about 125 miles, and I was only able to pump 3.2 gallons into it. Does this sound right, or do I have a problem that needs to be addressed?
All the softails (except Deuce) have a 5 gallon tank. On the carby models the reserve is roughly 1/2 a gallon but I know from experience that it starts to cough after 4 gallons and I have to switch it over to the reserve which leaves about a gallon left. On the fuel injected models they have a low fuel level warning light that may not be so accurate. When the light comes on you may still have 1.8 gallons left.
I get exctly the same mileage and the light comes on. Harley says gauge is fine, so I go by the odometer. The gauge is on empty and I have never put more than 4 gallons to fill it.
I have the 05 deluxe and my experience is the same, light comes on very early. I have never put 4 gal in yet, since I am always parinod about running out of gas. In the backwoods of Oregon some of the stations are quite a few miles apart so I try to keep a good reserve.
I have the exact same situation on the less than 4 gallons for fill ups. I am getting closer to 33 miles per gallon, not 40 though I do like to run quick and it's city driving.
I usually fillup between 130 and 145 miles. Most I've ever had to put in was 3.4 gal. I usually ave about 41-42 mpg with rural country road, city and highway driving on each tank.
96 FLSTC -- 4.2 gal tank. The reserve gives me about a half gallon, but I'm not going to "test" it.
Carburated, not injected. I have a cam, K&N, Screamin' Eagle, oversized jets, advanced ignition, and Road King triple pipe exhaust. Evo engine gets about 95 hp according to the dyno.
Mostly hwy cruising. In fact it's ALL hwy cruising. I don't drive in town because I don't live in town.
I've been getting 45 or 50 mpg. But I don't slam on the power, and don't ride fast. It's a "cruiser."
No fuel gauges, so I use the odometer for gas monitoring. Any time I get about 100 miles on the odo, I fill up if I'm riding. The other day I had 75 miles on a tank and put a gallon in it ($3.00) because I was headed out on the country roads and a long ways between stations.
The gas stations don't care if you just want to buy a gallon to top off. I'd be anxious about trusting the reserve for anything more than about 15 miles.
Hmmm I've been about 160 miles on my Deluxe (EFI) with no light...don't remember what how much I put in the tank that time. I've only actually seen the light once and that was on a slant at about 125 miles -- drove to work and back (36 miles and still no light).
Hubby's VTX gets less Gas milage then mine...since we ride together a lot I usually fill up when he does. Been wanting to push it a bit to see how much I can get though.
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