3rd Gen Fuel Range

OK, so all us 3rd Genners know that the fule gauge on our bikes is so pessimistic it's practically useless. There have been posts on how to get around that on here in the past, but I thought I'd share some of my mileage experiences for the other 3rd Genners.

I've been pushing it more and more these days, and recently I got to a personal best of 305 km (~190 mi). That was after mostly highway cruising, with some hooliganism sprinkled in here and there for good measure. When I filled the tank, I had what I thought to be enough gas still left to have gone about 320 km (~200 mi) [more on that below].

Guess what happened to me yesterday?

goofy.gif

Ran out of gas.

Mileage reading? 290 km (~181 mi).

The good thing was that this happened a few hundred feet down the road from a gas station, as I was coming down from highway speed. So when I felt it lurch the second time and then quickly die (the first lurch I had mentally written off as a bump causing my throttle hand to jump or something), I was able to engage the clutch and coast to minimize the "pushing distance".

Why the low mileage you ask? I had been tootling around with a passenger (my first time on this bike) the previous evening. Forgot to factor that in.

Here's the strange bit. When I filled it up, it came to 18.09 litres (~4.8 gallons). I always thought I had 18.9 litres (5 gal). So what that means is that the time I pushed it to 305 km (~190 mi) I was very nearly out of gas!

Anyway, just some thoughts for the 3rd Genners like me who ignore the fule light and gauge. Oh yeah - I will not be held liable for any strandings based on this information!! biggrin.gif

cbar, Aug 28 2006, 09:51 PM
Anyway, just some thoughts for the 3rd Genners like me who ignore the fule light and gauge. Oh yeah - I will not be held liable for any strandings based on this information!! biggrin.gif

I get about the same milage as you do (40mpg). Euro spec 3rd gen bikes have a manually operated fuelcock with remote on/off/reserve rotating knob, no fuel light, just the fuelgauge. When you have little over a gallon (4.5L) left in the tank you notice the bike going slower getting low on fuel. Then you turn the dial to reserve and fill here up within 40 or so miles.

My 500 Miniceptor had a manual petcock with a reserve setting. I miss it.

It would make my "range investigations" much safer! dry.gif

CBAR - you can very easily extend your fuel mileage by lopping that wind resisting sail off. I will be there next weekend to show you how its done. YOu should get at least 350 km after that....... laugh.gif

I had been tootling around with a passenger (my first time on this bike)

perhaps if you didnt do it on a bike and just got a room you would have been better off?

Good natured ribbing aside, I've been getting slightly better. Last time I ran out of gas I was at 210 miles on the trip. Unfortunatly I needed 215 miles to make it to the gas station. That should have been a long walk, but a kindly driver had a spot gas to offer up (and refused payment even). Because I have no idea how much gas was put in it from the can, I still don't know how empty it was.

210 miles is just over what I thought that I could have done on my longest trip, based on how much gas I estimated I had left in the tank. However, I should note on that particular day I saw 200 kph, and hit quite a few high speed sweepers at 160 kph, so I wasn't exactly driving to conserve fuel. squid.gif wheel.gif

I want to do a few more 300 km (190 mi) runs and check on the gas left in the tank to extend the range.

I suppose what I should really do is strap a small jerry can on the back and just ride it until it's empty a few times. idea3.gif

Kanadian Ken, Aug 28 2006, 08:15 PM CBAR - you can very easily extend your fuel mileage by lopping that wind resisting sail off. I will be there next weekend to show you how its done. YOu should get at least 350 km after that....... laugh.gif

Ah, but Ken - when I ran out of gas, the sail picked up a breeze and helped me coast further towards the gas station!

I will never cut off the fender!! goofy.gif

cbar, Aug 28 2006, 07:51 PM
I've been pushing it more and more these days, and recently I got to a personal best of 305 km (~190 mi).

You couldn't find a gas station in 305kms ??? blink.gif

johne, Aug 29 2006, 10:16 AM

You couldn't find a gas station in 305kms ??? blink.gif

Yeah, but I was trying to find out how far I can go, you dumbass! Where's my Red Foreman icon when I need it.....

cbar, Aug 29 2006, 02:35 PM
Yeah, but I was trying to find out how far I can go, you dumbass! Where's my Red Foreman icon when I need it.....

I'm just saying 305kms is long way to push a bike.



[image: IPB Image]


tongue.gif beer.gif

johne, Aug 29 2006, 10:45 AM

I'm just saying 305kms is long way to push a bike.



[image: IPB Image]


tongue.gif beer.gif

Ohhhhhh....now I get it. It's early. I need a coffee..... tongue.gif

My odometer is wildly optimistic, so my fuel range isn't what I thought it was. sad.gif

Are you Kidding Me! 300kms, I also have a 90vfr and Im lucky to Not see the fuel light come on befor 190kms. My personal best was 220 and at that point it was starting to chug.

cbar, great topic.

Made me think about how much further I can travel after the red light comes on. My longest is 231 km and then stopping to fill up ... 13.087ltrs. That trasnlates into 17.65km/litre(41.6miles/USgallon). Given that the tank has a 18.927ltr capacity, I should be able to push it to 334km before running out of gas if I maintain the same pace as that previous trip.

I will keep a closer watch on the consumption over the next couple months in order to varify any descrepencies.

The red light does come on early! Maybe too early which is propbably why I tend to fill up sooner than later.

And just a little off topic ... for those who really don't know, the sail actually helps our aerodynamics. laugh.gif

Cheers

fing02.gif

I'm glad to see this topic finally up here for discussion. I've been pushing my bike to see how far it will go and the best so far is 244 kms. I STILL haven't seen the little red light come on and when I filled up, the tank only took 16.3 litres, I still had lots of gas left! I'm going to trty and hit the 300 mark this week.

Ian

On my 91 I can get anywhere from 35 - 45 mpg. depending on how I ride.

Straight slab 45 mpg easy. Twisty's 35 mpg if lucky.

Daily commute slab/country/twisty 38 mpg. Light kicks on at 133 miles. Top it off with 3.6 gallons.

kawicowboy, Sep 3 2006, 11:29 AM Are you Kidding Me! 300kms, I also have a 90vfr and Im lucky to Not see the fuel light come on befor 190kms. My personal best was 220 and at that point it was starting to chug.

Wow - in most cases I ride in "fuel conservation" mode, but I still see the fuel light come on around the same as you. Like I said, I've done much better than 220 km though! blink.gif

bmv, Sep 7 2006, 10:56 PM cbar, great topic.

Made me think about how much further I can travel after the red light comes on. My longest is 231 km and then stopping to fill up ... 13.087ltrs. That trasnlates into 17.65km/litre(41.6miles/USgallon). Given that the tank has a 18.927ltr capacity, I should be able to push it to 334km before running out of gas if I maintain the same pace as that previous trip.

I will keep a closer watch on the consumption over the next couple months in order to varify any descrepencies.

The red light does come on early! Maybe too early which is propbably why I tend to fill up sooner than later.

And just a little off topic ... for those who really don't know, the sail actually helps our aerodynamics. laugh.gif

Cheers

fing02.gif

+1.gif on the sail!

Based on my 304 km run, I was sure I could go into the 320s easy, but the day I ran out it only seemed to take just over 18 L, so now I'm not so confident in my calcs?? huh.gif I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's verified the 18.9 L capacity.

ianmont, Sep 10 2006, 12:36 PM I'm glad to see this topic finally up here for discussion. I've been pushing my bike to see how far it will go and the best so far is 244 kms. I STILL haven't seen the little red light come on and when I filled up, the tank only took 16.3 litres, I still had lots of gas left! I'm going to trty and hit the 300 mark this week.

Ian

If you've been riding without too much agressiveness, you should hit 300 (although that entails driving for a long time with the needle buried in the red, let me tell you!). The day I hit 304 km, I was out on some high speed sweepers hitting 160 kph quite a few times, and also blasted past my dad on his Hardley at about 220 kph, so I wasn't exactly trying to sip fuel.

If you want to go much past 300 km, you might want to strap a small gas can to the back!

Samuel, Sep 11 2006, 02:16 PM
Daily commute slab/country/twisty 38 mpg. Light kicks on at 133 miles. Top it off with 3.6 gallons.

So based on my experience you're seeing the light click on at 212 km, which sounds about right to me. And then you take 13.6 L to top it off, which also sounds right.

This would all be easier if:

a they gave us a fuel gauge that actually worked

b they went back to the good old days of a manual petcock with a reserve setting! fing02.gif

Jeeze... You guys are doing good. Im lucky to hit 210-220 before the gas light comes on. But now when I think about it im only ever putting in 12-13liters of gas. Maybe I should go a little further 250 here I come.

Nick

yikes, Sep 11 2006, 03:17 PM Jeeze... You guys are doing good. Im lucky to hit 210-220 before the gas light comes on. But now when I think about it im only ever putting in 12-13liters of gas. Maybe I should go a little further 250 here I come.

Nick

Nick, you will have no problem hitting 250. Where things get dicey is up around 300!!

On a side note, who knew there were so many 3rd Genners all willing to talk fuel range!?? laugh.gif

cbar, Sep 11 2006, 03:25 PM
Nick, you will have no problem hitting 250. Where things get dicey is up around 300!!

On a side note, who knew there were so many 3rd Genners all willing to talk fuel range!?? laugh.gif

Sounds good..... Where is Dundas Ontario? Is it close enough to yonge/finch to come pick me up if I run outta gas?

yikes, Sep 11 2006, 04:20 PM


Sounds good..... Where is Dundas Ontario? Is it close enough to yonge/finch to come pick me up if I run outta gas?

laugh.gif laugh.gif

'fraid not. It's west of Hamilton, on the way to Brantford and Cambridge. Remember, I assume no liability for fuel shortages based on my asshat advice / experiences!! comp13.gif

cbar, Sep 11 2006, 08:50 PM
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's verified the 18.9 L capacity.

I thought you volunteered to be the guinea pig tongue.gif
My personal best is 45mpg. I keep a close eye on fuel consumption as a sudden change can be an indication of some engine problem.

yikes, Sep 11 2006, 09:17 PM
Jeeze... You guys are doing good. Im lucky to hit 210-220 before the gas light comes on. But now when I think about it im only ever putting in 12-13liters of gas. Maybe I should go a little further 250 here I come.

At 13L of gas you're just over 2/3s of fuel capacity, so you too should be able to get to 300km.

V4 Rosso, Sep 11 2006, 04:54 PM
I thought you volunteered to be the guinea pig tongue.gif

I did when I ran out! My vote is for 18.1 L!! I'm wondering if I've got a small-tank version! comp13.gif

I need some other 3rd Genners to run her dry so we can nail this down! Who's up for it boys!?? goofy.gif

cbar, Sep 11 2006, 11:00 PM
I did when I ran out! My vote is for 18.1 L!! I'm wondering if I've got a small-tank version! comp13.gif

You're right, post#1, ran out at 290km laugh.gif
Well, I first have to get the dent out of my tank before I can take up the challenge, sorry 491.gif

Samuel, Sep 11 2006, 11:16 AM
On my 91 I can get anywhere from 35 - 45 mpg. depending on how I ride.

Straight slab 45 mpg easy. Twisty's 35 mpg if lucky.

Daily commute slab/country/twisty 38 mpg. Light kicks on at 133 miles. Top it off with 3.6 gallons.

That's about the same for me.

Speaking of our pessimistic fuel gauges, has anyone tried modifying the gauge sender in the fuel tank to get it to be a little more accurate? Bending the float perhaps?

I have to admit, I miss a manual petcock with reserve myself. My last bike, a 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200 had a decent fuel gage as well as a petcock with reserve.

I recall a guy on the Ontario VFR list talking about possibly modding his float, but I don't know if he ever did. At the time, I was new to my VFR, so I kind of dismissed the post out of hand. Of course, now that I'm exploring the extreme limits of 3rd Gen fuel range, I'd be very interested to see if he ever did!

I just don't see the purpose of providing a fuel gauge that's SO far off. I mean, it's great to be conservative and all, but when you're THAT conservative, asshats like me start to push the limits and then run out of gas!

comp13.gif

I hit 250KM today... reserve came on at about 230KM. I filled up with 12.99liters or 3.43 US gallons.

This was all hwy mind you... but I should be able to go quite a bit further no?

Nick

Ok, so I finally made the mistake of running out of gas earlier this week! I was at 281 kms and no little red light had come on yet so.....luckily I was only 3 blocks from home but it was pissing rain out which sucked. So now I have to figure out how to change the bulb for my fuel gauge.

Wish me luck, Ian.

I'm learing to ignore my fuel light and quite possibly the gauge. Once I hit 95 or 100 miles on the odometer the fuel light comes on. And this is when I ride fairly conservatively. When I first got the bike a few weeks ago I filled up when the light came on and only put in 2.5 gallons. The farthest I've gone is 171 miles before filling up (took 4.8 gallons), and I averaged 35mpg on that tank. Maybe some day I'll test the floats, but I'm too busy riding for now.

Just got 40 even in mixed (fast and faster) riding... tank before was 36 but bike hadnet been ridden in 6 years. Changed all fluid and running semi-synth Honda oil....