How do you tell when you need Fuel?

[aeschroeder]

On my old bike (Norton) after a year of riding I could tell to the drop how much fuel was in it. Now I have a 2004 Rockster and see the FUEL LIGHT but getting used to the weight and slosh factor to gauge when fuel is needed.

How does one tell when to fill up of how much fuel is left prior to the sucking sound and red light?

Alex

[DJ Downunder]

Hi Alex,

I think we all use our trip meter and just reset it back to zero everytime we full up...I have a Roadster..I'm not sure how the Rockster works.

I know that I can get at least 300 klms on a tank..my light comes on about 260 or so...you should look at topping up once the light comes on.

DJ

[aeschroeder]

MANY Thanks, I did not have such a feature on my old 1973 Bike and this is very useful. I appreciate the quick reply and great advice. I will watch the mileage for refills.

Thanks again Downunder!!!

[MIXR]

According to previous posts about this, there is some variety in when the fuel light comes on. For me, when the light comes on I've usually done around 260 - 290 kms, which equates to about 15 - 16 litres of gas depending on how careful I was when I last filled up. Reserve (light on) is a very safe 50 kms, with a max of about 80 kms.

A note of caution. I've run out as I was arrving at a service station twice now. Both times I put a smidge under 20 litres in the tank, telling me that I have about 19.5 useable litres of fuel. That makes the 'reserve' about 4 litres. Your bike may be a bit different depending the low fuel light setting.

[m@rco]

Should you ever run out of gas, gently lean the bike over all the way to the right. The remainder of the fuel on the left side of the tank will flow to the right and your good to go a few kilometers again. I've been there...

[hirsty]

Nice tip there Marco, thanks.

I'm not a fan of the fuel tank on my R, after the (garage) pump cuts out I can get another litre or two in there pumping very slowing & rocking the bike side to side to shake out the trapped air bubbles. I've seen a tip on ukGSer.com about a tank mod to alleviate this, but it seems like a lot of work.

Best tank mileage I've had so far is 176 miles, with about 35/40 of those miles after the light came on (and stayed on). It varies dramatically as to whether you're out on a long steady run, or in constant stop/start town traffic - sometimes I need a refill around 110 miles worst case.

[Arbee]

The other day my fuel light came on at 230 kms (two up) i ignored it
until it was impossible not to, the fuel pump was screaming its head off
it was 300 kms... the bike is an R1100R... when i filled it up to full on the
sidestand stand it took 18 litres yet the tank is 21 litres, maybe i could
have got more in on the centrestand as it is highly unlikely i had 3 litres
left.

[ken k]

When you fill your tank, do you put the filler tube all the way down into the tank or just in the main opening? I can never tell if the tank is full or if I should try to get more gas in the tank. I never had a bike with that type of gas tank opening before. Any hints will be greatly appreciated.
It seems to me there should be more capacitiy there but whenever I try to fill it more I end up with gas all over the tank.


ken k

[MIXR]

Ken - On my trip around Aus, we had some long stretches between fuel. I found that once the tank was 'full', I could get an additional litre to litre and a half in the tank by 'spinning' the fuel in.

Worked best by spinning it in clockwise, with the fuel nozzle set for a fast trickle and aimed almost horizontal (about 30 degrees I guess) to the filler neck in the tank.

You need to be careful and not get distracted (like did a few times!) or the fuel will spray everywhere.

I also believe that I get almost no difference in fuel fill whether the bike is on the centre stand or side stand. Others have different opinions on that. My belief is that so long as the ground is level, the ability to fill the tank isn't really affected. If the ground slopes away to the left, then the centre stand is better.