Fuel gauge, who makes one that's easy to install?

[Radek]

Looking to install a fuel gauge - how did BMW not do this!?

[yao]

most bikes that i have ridden don't have a fuel gauge... in fact, most don't even have a low fuel warning--they just have a reserve.

that said, i've mainly ridden older (>5 years), so maybe things have changed with modern bikes.

[Radek]

Well, mine is a 2002 R1150R, so it wasn't common to have a fuel gauge, but at least a reserve light would have helped! There is none as far as I know.

These Germans are amazing at technology and precision ... so I wondered why they forgot the fuel warning of some sort. Even a 15+ years old bike had a fuel warning!

most bikes that i have ridden don't have a fuel gauge... in fact, most don't even have a low fuel warning--they just have a reserve.

that said, i've mainly ridden older (>5 years), so maybe things have changed with modern bikes.

[Sunbeemer]

Well, mine is a 2002 R1150R, so it wasn't common to have a fuel gauge, but at least a reserve light would have helped! There is none as far as I know.

There is a yellow idiot light on the upper right of the dash (about at 5 o'clock below the clock) that should come on when you have 1.4 gallons left in the tank, only 1 gal of which is useable, which should let you go between 30 to 50 miles down the road to find gas.

If it didn't come on and you ran out of gas, then maybe the lamp is burned out (unlikely) or the sender in the tank is broken (somewhat likely especially if the fuel filter has been replaced) or wiring to the light is damaged under the triple tree (most likely due to too-tight cable ties).

[Martyn]

I "zero" the trip every time I refuel. When it gets to 120 miles or so, I think about refuelling.

[Radek]

Well, mine is a 2002 R1150R, so it wasn't common to have a fuel gauge, but at least a reserve light would have helped! There is none as far as I know.

There is a yellow idiot light on the upper right of the dash (about at 5 o'clock below the clock) that should come on when you have 1.4 gallons left in the tank, only 1 gal of which is useable, which should let you go between 30 to 50 miles down the road to find gas.

If it didn't come on and you ran out of gas, then maybe the lamp is burned out (unlikely) or the sender in the tank is broken (somewhat likely especially if the fuel filter has been replaced) or wiring to the light is damaged under the triple tree (most likely due to too-tight cable ties).

Thanks for pointing it out. Now it's going to be PITA to figure out why it doesn't work ... drain the tank down to ~1.4 gallons and then test it out ...

[pebmr]

My low fuel light works pretty much all the time-even when full-maybe I should trade you... It comes on, then goes off, then on. I checked wires, but no luck with that, changed the filter and checked the float mechanism which looked ok. I use the trip odometer every fill, look for gas at about 160 miles, and start to worry at about 180 miles. I may just take my bulb out. Hope you fix yours!

[CycleRob]

This may not be a viable solution for you, but it will help with a future BMW (what else??) purchase decision. The newer generation models (R1200, K1200, F800, etc) all have LCD bar segment fuel and temperature gauges, standard equipment. The bikes/engines/transmissions/EFI are also dramatically more advanced. With the optional (~$200) On Board Computer (OBC) you manually toggle the display between Instantaneous MPG, Avg MPG, Avg Speed, Outside Air Temperature and Miles to Empty, ALL of which are very accurate and unbelievably useful. If you are contemplating a new BMW, do yourself a huge favor and SPEND the extra $$$ for that OBC. It contributes more than I ever thought it would to my 2 wheel experience.

Also, from the dubious reliability, depressing longevity, variable accuracy and the caution required when changing tires (all from owner feedback on BMW chatboards) . . . the Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system is a pass (no-go). Just get a good digital TPG like This One. That very same model worked well and for years in "a shop environment" (my former service dept). BTW, scroll down at that weblink destination for your own package deal on the good stuff BMW riders absolutely should have (Battery Tender & CrampBuster ["Throttle Rocker"]) to get the $25 minimum for free shipping. That's my experienced, brotherly advice to you, not a shameless, connected promotion. Enjoy.