Tank Capacity & Range

jsqueri · Post by **jsqueri** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:43 am

I'm one of those guys that hates to get off the bike too soon even when the fuel reserve light is on.

My question is, has anyone run the tank dry to get the acutal usable capacity? And what's an avg mpg touring?

I just got back from a trip and it seems like I was getting 45 mpg on the low side, with severl 48's.

js

Yahoo-Boy · Post by **Yahoo-Boy** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:19 am

I've run out of gas, but didn't do it to find the usable capacity...I have no idea how much it held after that as opposed to a normal fill-up. Sorry.

That mileage seems in line with my interstate trips, but I'm usually much lower because of all my city riding.

The only thing I'd improve about my Rockster is a 200+mile range on a tank of gas!

Dred80 · Post by **Dred80** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:33 pm

When my light comes on, I have a gal 1/2 US left. This usually happens around 150 miles after I fill up. I once went 209 miles between fill ups but that was out of nessesity as I could not find an open station in the middle of nowhere at night. The last few miles were nerve wracking to say the least. It took 4.9 gallons to fill the tank which is a little too close for me.

wardie · Post by **wardie** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:27 pm

236 miles running at above freeway legal speeds. Not an inch further 236 miles. Please don't ask me how I know this!

Post by **boxermania** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:11 pm

jsqueri

Depending on the mods and highway speeds

Reserve on - 160 to 190 miles
Maximum mileage - 200 to 236 (new record by wardie)

You will never run the tank dry since some gas will always be trapped on the low portion of the tank opposite the fuwel pump pick up. If you actualy run dry, just tip the bike over to the right side to get some gas to come over and you'll run a couple more miles.

Best advice.....don't run dry, if you can help it, first, it's dangerous, second, it's embarrasing......

Post by **NoRRmad** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:14 pm

It's also not good for the fuel pump.

Rock986 · Post by **Rock986** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:52 pm

The furthest I have run is 187 miles, and the bike took 3.9 gal US, which is about 48 mpg.
Usually have about 175 miles on the trip, when the light comes on, and usually takes 3.5 gal or less, which is about 50 mpg.

I just turned 4300 miles tonight, so the bike isn't quite broken in yet. Lots of smiles, so far, though.

shelion · Post by **shelion** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:49 pm

Hmmm, my low fuel light comes on when I hit about 140 miles. Of course, I'm not particularly easy on the throttle and my rock only has 1200 miles on it. Does mpg improve as the engine settles in?

Post by **DSKYZD** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:41 pm

The most I've ever put in was at my last fill up:

4.89 Gallons

I had only gone 190 miles, all city traffic work commute and one 50 mile flogging on my favorite road. That's just under 39mpg, the worst I've ever calculated. When I'm doing more highway running I've seen 52mpg.

DSKYZD

Yahoo-Boy · Post by **Yahoo-Boy** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:06 am

shelion wrote:Does mpg improve as the engine settles in?

Not in my experience. My mileage is the same as the day I rode it home, and that was 14k miles ago.

I had only gone 190 miles, all city traffic work commute and one 50 mile flogging on my favorite road. That's just under 39mpg, the worst I've ever calculated. When I'm doing more highway running I've seen 52mpg.

I've never gotten 190 miles...even on interstate only trips. I must ride more squiddly than I realize!

jsqueri · Post by **jsqueri** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:35 pm

Well I finally found out the answer to my own question. I coasted into a station on Sunday and put 5.2 gallons in to fill it up.

So now I know.

Thanks for the feedback.

My mileage has been improving (up to 13k now) from the first fill up. I can get upwards of 48 if I'm not being too aggressive and 43 if I am. Avg now around 45.

My problem is that the reserve light seems to go on around 3.8 gallons or 175 miles, and I'm good for another 50. That's too soon in my opinion.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:38 am

My bike's reserve light comes on around 3.75-3.8 gallon as well. Once I forgot my wallet and pushed the bike to over 200-miles to get home. I filled up 5.1-gallons. Personally that's too close for comfort for me.

wierd bob · Post by **wierd bob** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:32 pm

I only get 130 - 135 miles before my warning light comes on. It usualy then takes about 14.5 - 15 litres to fill it. Always a bit paranoid about running on the reserver light. i only average about 35mpg. Admittedly I use all of the revs.

wbob · Post by **wbob** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:23 am

My low fuel light comes on with a considerable amount of fuel left in the tank. This is true especially when parked on the side stand. The light goes out after I drive the bike a short distance. Recently, the light came on and it took only 2.4 gallons to fill up. That is probably less than 1/2 of the tank capacity.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:13 pm

man, i just read this thread and realized if i'm getting under 40mpg maybe i'm "riding more squiddly than i realize".

yahoo-boy, i hardly knew ya, but i still miss you brother! i think i'm going to concentrate on riding a little slower and getting better mileage....

pepe · Post by **pepe** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:41 pm

just get a small gas tank, strap it back on your BMW and ride out as far as you can with full tank till it runs out. Look at your mileage and memorized it. Then fill it up from your small gas tank. There, problem solve.

PEPE

04Rockster · Post by **04Rockster** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:13 pm

Typically, my best is 40 MPG. Reserve comes on around 135-140. Usually fill up around 160 and it takes a little more than 4 gallons. Been that way since I bought it (13000 miles ago). I ran out of gas once at 189 miles - sloshed the bike around and it started back up, rode 1/4 mile to a gas station and put almost 5 gallons in it. I don't think I ride it that hard, I commute on mostly highway, 80 mph (indicated) in sixth.

jsqueri · Post by **jsqueri** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:48 pm

Well I finally answered my own question. Ran out and was able to coast into a station. Put 5.2 gallons in and got 240 miles on that tank full. So if you have a light that seems to come on prematurely like mine, and your bike is broken in (my range started out at 160 and now breaks 200 without a sweat after 12,000 miles) you should easily top 200 miles unless you are going for land speed records.

js

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