How far can you go?

[mrbreeze]

I pulled in to a gas station on the way home from work today. The trip meter said I had gone 203 miles since the last fillup. the bike took 4.503 gallons of gas. The low fuel light never came on.

I guess I need a new bulb for my low fuel light?

[OU812]

How many gallons is the R supposed to hold?
Yes your bulb or sensor may be out.

[philbytx]

UPDATE : I was in error....two bikes, one brain...DUH!!!

The R1100R takes 4.46 US Gallons.....light comes on anywhere between 1.00 to .46 gallons left. Book says 1.0 but it really is bike dependent!!
Mine comes on at just over 1.00 gallons left....

[OU812]

How many gallons is the R supposed to hold?
Yes your bulb or sensor may be out.

My bad as I thought the R1100 was the same size as the R1150.
i wish i knew what size my R1100RT is.

[philbytx]

R1100RT - 6.6 US Gallons with a 1 gallon reserve !!!

[OU812]

No wonder I can go 250 miles before it lights up and fuel is about 5.5 gallons. I have to stop to pee every 100-150 anyway.

[mrbreeze]

R1100R takes 5.54 US Gallons.....light comes on anywhere between 1.54 to 1.00 gallons left. Book says 1.54 but it really is bike dependent!!
Mine comes on at just over 1.00 gallons left....

well don't I feel stupid. I thought it was supposed to be 4.5 gallons. My light usually comes on at about 150 miles, and then it only takes about 3.5 gallons to fill it up. I just figured I had a 1 gallon reserve. I wil double check the owner manual when I get home tonight.

[Arbee]

The unmistakeable screech of the fuel pump as the tank empties will be enough reason to buy fuel
which makes it unlikely the bike will just suddenly STOP...

[The Meromorph]

My handbook says 4.5 gallons.

[Jeb]

I've personally put in 5.2 gallons on an empty tank, though I don't know if it was bone dry. Note that if you run out on the road, you can usually remove the right sidebag (if it's installed), gently tip the bike onto its right valve cover, and rock it further over off the wheels a bit. This will slosh some remaining fuel on the left side of the tank onto the right side, where the fuel pump is.

[webmost]

You're both right: It's roughly 4 1/2 British gallons; 5 1/2 US gallons.

My reserve light comes on very erratically. She may drink anywhere from 3 to 4 1/2. Sometimes it comes on, I ride thirty miles with it on, and then it goes off and stays off for another forty. Something is sticky. Have been 200 miles on easy country roads without even cutting it close.

[The Meromorph]

My BMW Service and Technical Booklet says it's 17 liters which is about 4.6 US Gallons, about 3.7 Imperial Gallons.
This is consistent with my experience of how much I can get in the tank...

[webmost]

Maybe there's different tanks. I don't have a book; I have to google.

But look here:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=2& ... k7eXvWHJBA

and here:
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ ... -1363.html

and here:
http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/specpages/R1100R.htm

and here:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/biker ... &R=EPI-141

and even here:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=11470&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
which is where we are now

So I wonder whether they sold a small tank model. Maybe the RL is smaller, in addition to the neat paint scheme.

[The Meromorph]

HHHM. The workshop manual lists 21 liters as the capacity for the R1100R.
So even I have in my possesion two conflicting official BMW publications!


And realoem.com shows the same part number for all years of R1100R .


I've emailed BMW USA to ask them...

[The Meromorph]

From: [email protected]

Dear Mr. Henderson:

Thank you for contacting BMW Motorrad USA. We appreciate your interest in fuel tank capacity for your 2001 R 1100 R.

The higher tank capacity is for a 2002 R 1150 R. Your lower number of liters is correct specification for that motorcycle.

If you have any further questions, please respond to this e-mail or contact the Customer Relations and Services Department at 1-800-831-1117. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time.

Regards,
Doug Cavin
BMW Motorrad USA


That's the 17 liters - 4.5 US Gallons...

[webmost]

I stand corrected.
Makes you wonder how all those other sources came up with the same wrong number.