6 Gallon Tank Questions
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 552
Likes: 50
From:
The most I have ever been able to stuff into my 09 Ultra is a bit over 5.3 gallons. This was after the low fuel light had come on with about 40 miles remaining (on the indication); I ran another 35 miles or so ("lo" had appeared on the indication) and the bike started chugging as though it were running out of gas. Made it into the gas station and as I said, 5.3 gallons and a bit more. That's with the bike on the jiffy stand and I nursed as much gas in as it would take.
So unless there was something funny about that particular station's pump (like they were giving away gas), my tank sure doesn't seem to be a true six gallon one.
So unless there was something funny about that particular station's pump (like they were giving away gas), my tank sure doesn't seem to be a true six gallon one.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,134
Likes: 4
From: Third Coast, South Texas
I've come in on fumes a couple of times and put in a little over 6 gallons.
If I run the light down to "LO" it always takes around 5.25
With my usual 40 mpg avg, I figure I have 40 miles after low to get gas or I'm walking
If I run the light down to "LO" it always takes around 5.25
With my usual 40 mpg avg, I figure I have 40 miles after low to get gas or I'm walking
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
The cruise control doesn't know how much fuel is in the tank, at least it doesn't on mine!
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida, USA
Yeah, I don't get the can't use cruise comment after the light comes on, mine works fine. If I pull in right after the light goes on I put 4.2 - 4.6 gallons in the bike. Last weekend it came on and I went another 30 miles on it and I think I put in just a little under 5 but I had been riding around town some too so i think I got about 200 miles on the tank. On the highway, cruising 75 mph or so I get 185 miles out of the tank before the light comes on. Like I said, so far the most I've stretched it is to about 215 miles. So, I figure I'm getting about 40 mpg and that's how i do my ride planning.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
If I pull in right after the light goes on I put 4.2 - 4.6 gallons in the bike. Last weekend it came on and I went another 30 miles on it and I think I put in just a little under 5 but I had been riding around town some too so i think I got about 200 miles on the tank. On the highway, cruising 75 mph or so I get 185 miles out of the tank before the light comes on. Like I said, so far the most I've stretched it is to about 215 miles. So, I figure I'm getting about 40 mpg and that's how i do my ride planning.
One thing I've noticed about the low fuel light is that once it comes on, it stays on. The reason I found that a little weird at first is because my previous bike (a Honda ST1100 which I rode for 10 years), the low fuel light would just start to glow when the fuel level got close. If I went up an overpass, it would go out. When I went down the other side, the light would come on bright and then dim back down as the bike leveled off. As the fuel level continued to drop, the light would get brighter while level but still go out going up hill and back on going down. Eventually the fuel level would drop low enough that it stayed on all the time but my Ultra doesn't do that. I go over an overpass and click, it's on and it stays that way until I refill.
I just wondering if this might explain, at least in part, why some of you are having it come on so early. If you live in hilly country, it might be triggering the light prematurely due to sloshing? Mine seems to work pretty much like the manual says it should.
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
