Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tank size & MPG & range - 2011 Nightster

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2015 | 01:08 AM
  #1  
zebani's Avatar
zebani
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Default Tank size & MPG & range - 2011 Nightster

Hi guys. I have a '11 Nightster for the last 8 months or so and am wondering about the tank size. Originally the bike should have 3.3 gallons tanks if I am not wrong, but my gas light comes on after 60 miles of riding. However, when I fill the tank it always takes a gallon and a half. So 40 mpg is what I am getting almost constantly. Since I don't want to run out of gas, I always fill the tank once the light is on. I was wondering if you guys can identify the tank size based on the pictures? Thanks a lot in advance





 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2015 | 05:00 AM
  #2  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Wink

Nothing wrong there! If you don't have one you can probably download the owners manual from the H-D website, just go to the Owners tab. That will confirm what your tank size is.

You know how much fuel you have used, 1.5 gallons, so leaving the 0.3 as last reserve you know that you can ride for another 1.5 gallon's worth, or as far again as you have ridden since you last filled up. When riding locally, where you know the gas stations, you can afford to push close to running out, but quite obviously when on a trip play safe and refuel earlier. We all have to go through the same routine when changing bike!
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2015 | 05:14 AM
  #3  
Mr_Taipan's Avatar
Mr_Taipan
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 994
Likes: 43
From: Essex, England
Default

My Iron has a 3.3 (US) gallon tank on and I ignore the light as it tends to come on around 70 miles.

I use my bike to commute on and my journey is 64 miles a day. I fill up at 128 miles every second day and there is still a bit left in there.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2015 | 11:15 AM
  #4  
Søren Rix Petersen's Avatar
Søren Rix Petersen
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 602
Likes: 56
From: denmark
Default

mine came on 180km drove too 190 and filled 8,93 liters
100miles is 160km, so roughly 112,5miles before the light came on
i think a us gallon is 3.78541 so i put 2,359 gallons off fuel in the thank at 190km/118,75 miles, i have standart stage 1 chip, SE eu street cannons and stage 1 airclaener
i have now change to stage 1 A/C with k/n ill se if that changes anything. i ride almost 2 the miles before my light comes on 2015 iron
regards
RIX
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2015 | 12:00 PM
  #5  
zebani's Avatar
zebani
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Default

So it is normal that the gas light comes on after 1.5 miles of riding and there is still another 1.5 gallons left in the tank. That's awesome then. I don't have to try to find a gas station as soon as the light comes on thanks a lot everyone
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2015 | 12:16 PM
  #6  
user 62642348's Avatar
user 62642348
Banned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 358
Likes: 10
Default

I can confirm what others have said. It's not necessary to fill up immediately when the light comes on, just to be aware that you're going to have to fill sometime soon.

My '15 Iron has a 3.3 gallon (12.5 liter) tank. The light comes on anywhere between 170K and 190K, depending on what kind of riding I've been doing. So I either fill up on my way home, or make sure that I fill up when I'm starting my next ride. On a group ride, it's different; because others on the group rides I do are generally on full-touring rigs, I like to fill as soon as I can after the light comes on.

My Iron is only barely broken in, with ~2,700K on the clock. I'm finding that my fuel economy is gradually improving as I put more kilometers on the bike. It's a never-ending learning curve.

Congratulations on your "new" bike, by the way. It's a good-looking piece of machinery.

Alan
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BareBones
General Harley Davidson Chat
3
Apr 11, 2013 07:36 PM
RKC1972
Touring Models
4
Jun 16, 2012 12:08 PM
upnorthbiker
Sportster Models
8
Sep 5, 2007 10:57 AM
SteveInCA
Sportster Models
4
Jul 3, 2007 07:22 AM
Johnny B Good
Touring Models
13
Jul 10, 2006 05:38 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:24 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE