Fuel tank range

[alexis291]

I'm interested in what maximum fuel range people have had from their bikes? I've seen various threads about gauges and warning lights but has anyone actually run their bike until it ran out of fuel (deliberately or otherwise!)?
My gauge goes to the red and the warning light comes on at 160-180 miles, at which point I know I have a gallon left. I have made the modification to the fuel return to direct it towards the pump. I don't know though how much more range I have at this point. Has anyone tested that?


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[Martin]

You could carry a couple of containers of fuel, or get someone to follow you with spare fuel. Start of with a full tank and go until you run out , but be aware that the pump is cooled by immersion in the fuel. I fill up when the light comes on at the next available pump. Miles per gallon can vary immensely depending on how you ride and where you are riding.
Regards Martin.

[Laitch]

.  .  .  has anyone actually run their bike until it ran out of fuel (deliberately or otherwise!)?
My gauge goes to the red and the warning light comes on at 160-180 miles, at which point I know I have a gallon left. I have made the modification to the fuel return to direct it towards the pump. I don't know though how much more range I have at this point.

Several of us have run out of fuel and written about maximum mileage experience here. It's not very interesting unless a deer is struck while doing it.

If you know you have a gallon of fuel remaining when your warning bulb lights then you know how much range you have if you have made an effort to compute your mileage every so often. You compute mileage by filling your tank, zeroing your tripmeter, riding until until your warning bulb lights, filling your tank again at the earliest opportunity, noting the number of gallons it took to fill the tank then dividing the number of miles on your tripmeter by the number of gallons needed to fill your tank when you stopped. The resulting figure is your miles-per-gallon figure.

Like Martin said, it can vary according to speed, terrain and whether the dangling fairing parts from the deer strike are creating excessive wind resistance. My K75 averages 50mpg but I'm not a trailbraking, high-siding throttlewhacker so that mileage might not be typical. I ride mixed mountain, hill and flat roads both gravel and hard surface.

[MIbrick]

I tend to get about 115 miles on my K100 before the low fuel light starts flickering. Generally, it'll be on solid at start up and then after the first couple turns it'll go out, only to come back on after a couple more turns, then go back out after a couple more. It seems to stay on steady around 120-125 miles.  I figure with my average 39.5 MPG (thanks, Fuelly, for doing the math for me!) I can safely go about 140-145 miles.  That being said, I usually find the next clean looking gas stn and fill up.

My K75 averages 50mpg but I'm not a trailbraking, high-siding throttlewhacker so that mileage might not be typical. I ride mixed mountain, hill and flat roads both gravel and hard surface.

I'm somewhat envious of your 50 MPG, being 25% more than I'm getting.  I'm curious, though, if the three-pot engine is that much more efficient than the four-banger or if it really is just down to riding style.  Any idea?  My riding is predominately flat-land, straight line/grid pattern streets with occasional high speed runs on the superslab for shits and giggles (because Michigan doesn't really have much in the way of 'twisties').

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I've got two k75's and a 4valve k100.  Gas mileage is 45mpg for all three give or take.  When I am munching slab with the K75RT mileage has been as low as 38mpg. 

Typical range is around 210 miles on all three when commuting or riding around town.  On the interstate I figure maximum range at 180 miles.  It is probably more, and I did 200 in Wyoming last summer, but that was pretty scary as the low fuel light was n for an awful long time. 

I don't worry too much about cooling the pump with fuel.  I have a cooler that keeps the gas cooler and just the fuel flowing through the pump will provide a lot of heat removal.

[rbm]

[Laitch]

I'm somewhat envious of your 50 MPG, being 25% more than I'm getting.  I'm curious, though, if the three-pot engine is that much more efficient than the four-banger or if it really is just down to riding style.  Any idea? 

There are several factors operating. The K100 is a heavier bike, four cylinders typically might use more fuel than three, shifting technique, the weight of the rider, the breadth of the rider, tailwind, headwind and whether it's a heavy gravity day.

Tune up your bike, change the fluids regularly, ride it often and enjoy it for what it is. If you want mileage, an F850, F650, KLR or Vespa might be what you're after.

[MIbrick]

There are several factors operating. The K100 is a heavier bike, four cylinders typically might use more fuel than three, shifting technique, the weight of the rider, the breadth of the rider, tailwind, headwind and whether it's a heavy gravity day.

Tune up your bike, change the fluids regularly, ride it often and enjoy it for what it is. If you want mileage, an F850, F650, KLR or Vespa might be what you're after.

You'd think with all the sitting in the driveway staring at my reflection in the side of the Jeep I'd be getting infinite mileage.  :dunno Maybe on my next tank I'll commit to not being a throttlewhacker for a while and see what impact that has.

[Laitch]

. .  .  and see what impact that has.

Look for soft surfaces during that research.

[White Dog]

I tend to get about 115 miles on my K100 before the low fuel light starts flickering. Generally, it'll be on solid at start up and then after the first couple turns it'll go out, only to come back on after a couple more turns, then go back out after a couple more. It seems to stay on steady around 120-125 miles.  I figure with my average 39.5 MPG (thanks, Fuelly, for doing the math for me!) I can safely go about 140-145 miles.  That being said, I usually find the next clean looking gas stn and fill up.


I'm somewhat envious of your 50 MPG, being 25% more than I'm getting.  I'm curious, though, if the three-pot engine is that much more efficient than the four-banger or if it really is just down to riding style.  Any idea?  My riding is predominately flat-land, straight line/grid pattern streets with occasional high speed runs on the superslab for shits and giggles (because Michigan doesn't really have much in the way of 'twisties').


Laitch eluded to riding gravel roads, so his speed is probably 20-30 mph slower than on paved roads, which typically means better gas mileage.  Maybe Vermont needs to use some of their tax revenue to pave more roads. 

[Laitch]

Laitch eluded to riding gravel roads, so his speed is probably 20-30 mph slower than on paved roads, which typically means better gas mileage. 

Many people who drive in slow moving traffic will attest to the fact that slower speed doesn't necessarily translate into better gas mileage. Uphill riding and downhill engine braking don't raise miles-per-gallon figures either. Some riders just learn to get optimal performance from their bikes in most conditions; others don't. Throttlewhacking lowers the mileage but heightens the thrill. My thrill comes from keeping the bike upright and looking feckin awesome doing it.

Legislative effort in Vermont right now is mostly devoted to getting high legally and killing yourself affordably. Road and bridge improvement is in the queue behind the choosing of the state's leafy green vegetable.

[bizzaro]

I almost ran out of gas just a couple of weeks ago.  I don't remember the exact mileage, but it was in the 203-212 mile range. I was about 3 miles from home.   I got home on fumes. I didn't think I was going to make it. On the  right hand corners and hills I was cutting out and would shake the bike a bit to keep it going.  I always try and get gas well before 200 miles have clicked off. 

Also I assume the the odometer and the speedometer both work off the pulse generator. ( I could be wrong and I am sure we will find out soon) So if you have adjusted you speedometer to read a more accurate speed than the ridicules 10 MPH advance set at the factory, your MPG will reflect this.

[bocutter Ed]

If you want mileage, an F850, F650, KLR or Vespa might be what you're after.

I get very good milage sweeping/tailgunning a bunch of scooters. Top speed ~60-65mph and no sudden acceleration ...

[White Dog]

100% gas, correct?

[bocutter Ed]

100% gas, correct?

That was probably Imp gallons ...

[Laitch]

100% gas, correct?

If it matters, my bike's mpg average is made with 10% ethanol in the fuel, which is the only fuel type it consumes.

So if you have adjusted you speedometer to read a more accurate speed than the ridicules 10 MPH advance set at the factory . . .

My bike's speedo matches at ± 2 mph every speed monitoring traffic sign I've come across, and my GPS. I see the hand of a sinister cabal among NHTSA, BMW marketing, Garmin, Tom-Tom and who knows what else toying the accuracy of our precious gimcrack Motometers and the very foundations of our abilities to trust.

The movie Brazil foretold all of this, if I'd only paid attention back then.

[rbm]

100% gas, correct?

Yes, 100% gas.  Shell V-power in Canada has 0% Ethanol.  Occasionally, I fill with Premium from Esso or Petrocan which has the least ethanol, but mostly stick with Shell wherever possible.

[alexis291]

This post has come up with some wackier  answers than I was expecting! However such is the joy of Motobrickers. It was a serious question because I am now commuting over 100 miles per day and trying to judge how low I dare let my fuel level go so I don't have to fill up every other day if I can avoid it. I know that in theory I will have about 50 miles if I have a gallon left in the tank when my warning light comes on but what I'm not sure of is how low the level can be before the pump stops sucking it up. Sounds like bizzaro has been to the edge of the envelope.


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[riots100]

Commuting around Los Angeles, my typical range is 200 miles @ 42-48mpg.  If I'm doing long freeway time above 65mph, the milage will drop to 35-38mpg.

[BlueK11LT]

On a long run earlier this week I got around 210 miles from filling the tank full to the yellow warning light coming on

[White Dog]

I have monkeyed with the adjustment gear on my fuel sender unit so many times I have worn the teeth off of it.  I was having trouble with the warning light coming on early--like less than 100 miles.  My last attempt kept the warning light off for 135 miles but I had introduced another variable of removing the flapper, which I read, would allow more gas into the tank.  So, I will be starting with a brim full tank of gas and we'll see how long that goes.