Reserve tank Question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,134
Likes: 4
From: Third Coast, South Texas
xxR is the amount of miles till the light and Lo comes on. At that point I need 5.25 gallons in my 6 gallon tank.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,061
Likes: 12,988
From: Texas, USA
That is pretty close to accurate today just as it was 11 years ago when kingkingking posted that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,280
Likes: 3,411
From: Idaho Panhandle
Once you learn it on your bike, it is a very useful tool. Much better than the fuel gauge. I have about 45-50 miles left when mine comes on, some have as little as 35 miles. It does not really matter, once it comes on and you refill your bike, you will know your bike. My average may not match yours. I get two up touring, about 43 mpg. So, mine comes on I have slightly more than 1 gallon left. I have gone 50 miles and added 4.7 gallon.
It is not accurate per say, but it is good enough to serve you well for riding.
It is not accurate per say, but it is good enough to serve you well for riding.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,453
Likes: 2,839
From: Oklahoma
Yes, miles remaining to a dry tank. However, it is a calculated value based on the recent average fuel consumption so your actual distance to a dry tank will vary. I am entertained that miles remaining will increase when going down a long hill even though no fuel has been added to the tank. It will also decrease way out of proportion to distance traveled while climbing a hill due to the increased fuel consumption. As a life-long professional pilot, running out of fuel is never an option and that carries over to my ground vehicle operation. Unless you are in unfamiliar territory and don't know where the next fuel opportunity is, I don't know why you would allow the fuel to get that low. These machines are too big and too heavy to push that last 100 feet to the pump. MAKE the time to fill up long before fuel gets that low and stop stressing over this stuff.
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,788
Likes: 8,668
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Actually 40 km is pretty much 25 miles, but who's counting when you're pushing a bike that's out of gas?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 856
Likes: 373
From: Duke City, NM
My 2011 RKC actually has 2 fuel gauges and will display miles remaining, but it’s all served by the same sending unit in the tank. I reset the trip odometer when filling and plan for 200 miles per tank.
