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On my 07, the fuel light comes on after burning 3 gallons of gas, means there's still a gallon and a half in the tank. My mileage has been in the toilet lately, so my # probably won't be the same as yours,, but the math is pretty simple.
the owners manual isnt accurate. err, well, the owners manual *would* be accurate if the fuel light was also accurate hehe. lots of people (myself included) are saying that the light comes on WAY early for the FI sportsters. mine comes on at around 75 miles. ive done the math on the last 10 or so tanks and i consistently get ~40mpg. (oh, 07 1200 nightster, stock intake, VnH exhaust, power commander V.)
...i just realized i didnt actually answer your question. umm... man, do i have to do math? :P
3.3gal tank - 75miles/(40miles/gallon) = 3.3gal - 1.875gal = 1.425 gallons left.
so assuming 40mpg again, 40*1.425 = 57 miles left, give or take, once the light comes on.
Some of my Harley's have the 'low fuel light', and as far as I'm concerned they are about as worthless as the 'fuel gauge' on some of my other bikes...
None of them are accurate, and they are only "low fuel lights' and 'fuel gauges' in name only.
Best thing to do is reset your trip odometer back to "0" every time you get gas and use the odometer reading to determine when it's time to refuel.
I'm usually ready to take a smoke break, stretch my legs, or whatever after 125 or so miles on the road, so I'll just top off the tank at that time as well.
I have a 08 1200 custom and my fuel light comes on at 96 miles so i go and fill up it takes 2.6 gallons. I get about 130 miles when it get really thirsty. I try and fill up at about 120 miles.
08 1200, light comes on at about 120 miles. On a 4.5 gal tank about 1.5 gal left in tank. I'm getting 47mpg.
Now heres a little game you can play, When light comes on see how many more miles you can go before running out of fuel. I don't recommend doing this out in the middle of nowhere.
My Fuel Light comes on between 75-90 miles after a full tank (retarded I know)...because I can still ride it until around 130 and then I start getting nervous so I just go ahead and fill it up. Hahaha.
the most i've rode with the low fuel light on is 60 miles,but my bike is bone stock (until i collect all the parts i want to use to transform her into what i want) and i ride nothing but country roads and get avg of 54mpg
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