6Th Gen Fill Up Questions/tips?

5.81 gallons.

That's what the svc. manual says I should be able to get in my 07 RWB.

Yesterday, while riding to Palomar Mtn./Julian (my first trip!) I got 186 miles to a full tank, which was 36.6 MPG for me on that tank. 186 miles on a tank is by far waaaay beyond what I usually get on a tank. Usually @ 170 miles the last flashing bar has been on for a while and I'm to my personal comfortable point of "get gas NOW." Out there though, as some of you locals know, gas is few & far between.

So, knowing that I was further "beyond the slash" (ala Kramer) that ever, I expected to fill up and have this bastard take the full 5.81 gallons, or damn close to it.

Nope. 5.03 filled it. So maybe I still had some more miles to put on it before I had to push.

Here's my question though: when I fill up (on all my bikes) I get it up to the neck, stop, and it then recedes a bit. So I put more in. And it recedes a bit. I do this a few times, and I run out of nerve before I run out of room, it appears. It keeps receding, and I stop, thinking that it's overfilling and draining into some unseen nether region somewhere that I'll regret. You guys ever fill up to a point that it stops receding and stays level at the top?

Or is it just filling all the nooks, crannies, and odd shaped empty spaces in the tank, and I haven't QUITE filled it, though I think I have?

Anyone ever gotten the full 5.81 gallons on a fill up? Now I'm thinking about buying/carrying a small 1 gallon plastic gas can and see what can actually get in there next time, and running it till dry.

On another note, the air temp got up to 111F on the dash. I wanted to take a foto but we were moving. Man, was it ever hot. Like riding in a pizza oven. My hottest ride yet, easily. When I got back near civilization it dropped to 105F and stayed there for a bit before dropping to 101F on my way back home.

I just put the bike on the sidestand, pull back the black evap collector on the pump,

and fill up to that metal strip that runs across the opening near the top, and I'm done.

Don't think I've pumped 5 gallons many times, if ever.

Maybe after the time I ran out and got a gallon from AAA to make it to a gas station.

The air temp will start flashing at 120 something, at least on my 5th gen.

Not that it was actually that hot, but park on the pavement for a few minutes on a hot day, and voila. :wink:

Metal strip that runs ACROSS the opening? Huh? I don't have anything that runs across the opening. I'm gonna need a foto of that.

The 111F was while we were moving, at speed, and had been for a while, in Anza-Borrego State Park. Lots of long straight stretches around there. I'm sure it wasn't that high standing still though. Probably still above 105F though.

I've put 5+ gallons in a few times, but never near the 5.81 Honda claims. Wondering if anyone has...

Not sure with fuel injection you can run that low . Here there are to many hills.

I have had my bike sputter and it took 5.2 gallons to fill .

Today my 5th gen (1999) went from 2 bars to "blinking" within minutes.... shot over to gas station and filled 4.3 gallons.... tanks holds 5.5 gallons so appears 1.2 gallon remained in tank??? :blink:

wgregt

Metal strip that runs ACROSS the opening? Huh? I don't have anything that runs across the opening. I'm gonna need a foto of that.

Mine's a fifth gen remember. I have no idea what that is just inside the tank opening, assume it has some purpose. :comp13:

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Man...what the hell IS that bar? how odd. Never heard of that before. You 5th gen guys never cease to amaze me....how DO you sleep at night? ;)

Stand between bike no side stand or center, start filling when it reaches the top stop and move bike side to side and repeat. It will drop one bar on gas gauge five minutes after a fill up unless this is done. You get used to it after one or two times. It's not that bad.

wgregt

Man...what the hell IS that bar? how odd. Never heard of that before. You 5th gen guys never cease to amaze me....how DO you sleep at night? ;)

You tell me what that thing is. I dunno.

I sleep fine at night, may get up once to drain off excess liquid.

Sorry, no pictures. :rolleyes:

Man - this post read my mind. The "fill it up and it recedes, fill it up and it recedes . . . rinse and repeat" has been bugging the S#!T out of me. I almost always fuel on the center stand so the tank's level. I stand there thinking "WHERE does it keep going??" I'd love to know what's going on with that. Some of my rides are where fuel stops can be few and far between (the owner decided to take the day off as one example) so I like to get it "full" - whatever that is on a 6th gen.

This summer I went 190 miles and had the last bar blinking for a while. No sputtering, but I pumped 4.9 gallons. Switchblade's experience would lead me to believe that the usable capacity is a bit over 5 gallons. Two fuel rules I try to live by are "if the group gets gas, I get gas - always". Secondly, my arse needs a break more frequently than my tank needs fuel so I try to make the two coincide - which has me filling up about every 100 to 150 miles if I'm riding solo.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one, Cogswell. We are having the same filling sequence thoughts. I look around for a puddle, and usually lose my nerve.

Next time I'm in Autozone or Pep Boys, I'm looking hard at gas tanks to figure this thing out. 190 is impressive. Nerves of steel, my friend. Nerves of steel...

You mentioned "usable" capacity. Fill me in on what that means. If it says it holds 5.81 gallons, then....you're thinking that's not ACTUAL capacity?

The 190 miles was due to me violating my first rule . . . one of the few times I ever have. Had to pound the lesson back in to my thick skull . . .

By usable I mean that the fuel pump may not be able to pick up the entire volume in the tank. If for example sloshing causes the pump inlet to alternately become submerged and then not, it will draw air rather than fuel and not deliver continuous pressure to the injectors even though there's some left. This might be a good winter project - get it down to almost empty, run it in the garage until it stops. Siphon and measure what's left, then measure what it takes to refill to get the net amount. 5.8 vs 5.3 and it's sputtering - 1/2 gallon seems like a lot for Honda to leave on the table.

Cogswell

The 190 miles was due to me violating my first rule . . . one of the few times I ever have. Had to pound the lesson back in to my thick skull . . .

By usable I mean that the fuel pump may not be able to pick up the entire volume in the tank. If for example sloshing causes the pump inlet to alternately become submerged and then not, it will draw air rather than fuel and not deliver continuous pressure to the injectors even though there's some left. This might be a good winter project - get it down to almost empty, run it in the garage until it stops. Siphon and measure what's left, then measure what it takes to refill to get the net amount. 5.8 vs 5.3 and it's sputtering - 1/2 gallon seems like a lot for Honda to leave on the table.

Great idea .

I'd say ANY amount is a lot for Honda to leave on the table. To me, 5.81 gallons should mean....oh...5.81 gallons. What if I was new bike shopping? If tank capacity was important to me, and I bought on that number, I'd be...not pleasant with my dealer about it.

All the tanks I've seen dry pull from the lowest point in the tank. Anyone know what the inside of our tanks look like? What's in there, if anything? I know my 4th gen has a float & bracketry to light the FUEL light on the dash when it gets low, so I'm assuming ours has something to flash the last bar on the dash as well?

wgregt

Here's my question though: when I fill up (on all my bikes) I get it up to the neck, stop, and it then recedes a bit. So I put more in. And it recedes a bit. I do this a few times, and I run out of nerve before I run out of room, it appears. It keeps receding, and I stop, thinking that it's overfilling and draining into some unseen nether region somewhere that I'll regret. You guys ever fill up to a point that it stops receding and stays level at the top?

Or is it just filling all the nooks, crannies, and odd shaped empty spaces in the tank, and I haven't QUITE filled it, though I think I have?

Yes, i was doing the same with my Dominator, but on VFR (6th gen) there is no point, because that volume that frees up is too small.

Where that fuel goes? :)

Gas tank of motorcycle is built so that we cannot fill it up to the neck in first attempt. Some air remains inside. If you ride right after filling up, then it's ok, but if you fill up much more than it wanted, do not leave the bike in sun ;). Air in tank is thing that can be compressed when fuel gets warmer and wants to expand. If there is no air/too less air left, then fuel will come out of somewhere when warming up.

To add to the confusion of gas tanks, my 5 Gen has a plate that has a smaller hole that will only fit in unleaded gasoline nozzles, so it is hard for me to fill it up without having to move the nozzle away to look at the level. I normally just fill it up to just to the bottom of the plate. If I am really good, i.e. easy on the throttle I can get about 250 out of tank of gas on the 5 Gen. On my 6 Gen, I still only get ~200 on a good day and 180 on a "fun" day! I usually fill to the bottom of the lower opening in the tank on the 6 Gen. I usually keep the bike upright so that the level is based on upright riding position. On my Duc I have to be careful doing this as when the bike leans on the side stand, the bike starts to "mark it's territory".

5 Gen gas tank. Does anyone know if this inner plate is removable. It almost looks like a "knock out" piece that can be removed with a hammer and punch.

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6 Gen Gas tank.

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landlover

Stand between bike no side stand or center, start filling when it reaches the top stop and move bike side to side and repeat. It will drop one bar on gas gauge five minutes after a fill up unless this is done. You get used to it after one or two times. It's not that bad.

Just to try n get this straight in my head.

If i sit on the bike and fill it right to the top, then carefully sway it from side to side, i should be able to get more fuel in?

I have noticed that when i fill, after 10 or 15 miles its dropped a bar.

Then again, i never really know how much its got in because the fuel gauge moves soo much depending whether im going up a hill, down a hill, or whatever.

I believe I have gone to 205 miles in the past. (About 5.4 gallons @ 38 mpg) 190 is usually my preffered gotta get gas now mileage.

Nobody

wgregt

Here's my question though: when I fill up (on all my bikes) I get it up to the neck, stop, and it then recedes a bit. So I put more in. And it recedes a bit. I do this a few times, and I run out of nerve before I run out of room, it appears. It keeps receding, and I stop, thinking that it's overfilling and draining into some unseen nether region somewhere that I'll regret. You guys ever fill up to a point that it stops receding and stays level at the top?

Or is it just filling all the nooks, crannies, and odd shaped empty spaces in the tank, and I haven't QUITE filled it, though I think I have?

Yes, i was doing the same with my Dominator, but on VFR (6th gen) there is no point, because that volume that frees up is too small.

Where that fuel goes? :)

Gas tank of motorcycle is built so that we cannot fill it up to the neck in first attempt. Some air remains inside. If you ride right after filling up, then it's ok, but if you fill up much more than it wanted, do not leave the bike in sun ;). Air in tank is thing that can be compressed when fuel gets warmer and wants to expand. If there is no air/too less air left, then fuel will come out of somewhere when warming up.

Makes sense. I'll try this before a run :).

My car does a similar thing. Its got a seperate expansion tank and a little button in the filler neck. When this button is pressed it allows the expansion tank to be filled and you can get an extra gallon of fuel in.

wgregt

I'd say ANY amount is a lot for Honda to leave on the table. To me, 5.81 gallons should mean....oh...5.81 gallons. What if I was new bike shopping? If tank capacity was important to me, and I bought on that number, I'd be...not pleasant with my dealer about it.

All the tanks I've seen dry pull from the lowest point in the tank. Anyone know what the inside of our tanks look like? What's in there, if anything? I know my 4th gen has a float & bracketry to light the FUEL light on the dash when it gets low, so I'm assuming ours has something to flash the last bar on the dash as well?

That's a bit harsh. Most fuel tanks have some amount of unusable fuel. Besides, it's doubtful that you can refuel to exactly the same level every time - plus or minus a couple of tenths is more likely.

VFR4Lee

wgregt

Metal strip that runs ACROSS the opening? Huh? I don't have anything that runs across the opening. I'm gonna need a foto of that.

Mine's a fifth gen remember. I have no idea what that is just inside the tank opening, assume it has some purpose. :comp13:

[image: attachicon.gif]100_7727.JPG

That bar's what you balance and tighten the gas with :comp13: .....torque values are listed on the Honda common service manual......strange but it's SAE not metric..... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Beck

VFR4Lee

wgregt

Metal strip that runs ACROSS the opening? Huh? I don't have anything that runs across the opening. I'm gonna need a foto of that.

Mine's a fifth gen remember. I have no idea what that is just inside the tank opening, assume it has some purpose. :comp13:

[image: attachicon.gif]100_7727.JPG

That bar's what you balance and tighten the gas with :comp13: .....torque values are listed on the Honda common service manual......strange but it's SAE not metric..... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I'll do that right after I change the blinker fluids. :laughing6-hehe:

Otaylor38

landlover

Stand between bike no side stand or center, start filling when it reaches the top stop and move bike side to side and repeat. It will drop one bar on gas gauge five minutes after a fill up unless this is done. You get used to it after one or two times. It's not that bad.

Just to try n get this straight in my head.

If i sit on the bike and fill it right to the top, then carefully sway it from side to side, i should be able to get more fuel in?

I have noticed that when i fill, after 10 or 15 miles its dropped a bar.

Then again, i never really know how much its got in because the fuel gauge moves soo much depending whether im going up a hill, down a hill, or whatever.

Yes. Burp it. Silly but the truth. Five minutes after a fill up it would drop a bar and posted the same question a few years ago and that was the reply. Is it worth the time depends on you.

My next time out on this bike I'm filling this mother up until my boots are wet, no matter how long it takes.

And to me if it lists 5.81, then I expect 5.81. If it's less, then list it as less. Not harsh to expect some truth in something like this.

Not sure how "burping" it changes anything. Wouldn't liquid find the correct level as it goes in?

And how come: two 5th gens...one WITH the bar across the tank, and the tapered hole, and one without? Huh?

Conedodger

I believe I have gone to 205 miles in the past. (About 5.4 gallons @ 38 mpg) 190 is usually my preffered gotta get gas now mileage.

205 on a tank is....astounding to me.

wgregt

My next time out on this bike I'm filling this mother up until my boots are wet, no matter how long it takes.

And to me if it lists 5.81, then I expect 5.81. If it's less, then list it as less. Not harsh to expect some truth in something like this.

Not sure how "burping" it changes anything. Wouldn't liquid find the correct level as it goes in?

And how come: two 5th gens...one WITH the bar across the tank, and the tapered hole, and one without? Huh?

Conedodger

I believe I have gone to 205 miles in the past. (About 5.4 gallons @ 38 mpg) 190 is usually my preffered gotta get gas now mileage.

205 on a tank is....astounding to me.

I bet the tank would hold 5.8 if it did not have the pump and filter stuff in it also. It's likely the displaced volume of the mechanical stuff is at least 1/4 gallon - if not more.

I had a 2001 VFR before my 2006 and that little fill hole was a real oddity. I never understood it and never liked it.

I've seen around 384 km (238 miles) and put just a bit over 21 liters (5.5 gallons) on the centre stand. This is around 43 US MPG which is easily done puttering about on a 70 mph Interstate.

Bone stock 6th gen and I have verified the accuracy of the odometer via GPS

Best Ive ever done is 186 without the bar flashing but a single bar, of course as soon as it went onto its side it was flashing.

Wonder why the 5th gen is so much better on fuel. I always thought the vtec was suppose to help fuel mileage and and the weight difference between the two isnt that extreme. Must be a combination of things like ecu, headers and mapping along with vtec

238? Now, this has just got to stop. If I put 238 miles on a tank, I'd dance naked around the bike at the next gas stop.

The pump and filter are INSIDE the tank? Did not know that. Fine, but I still say subtract that from the capacity when you list it then.

43 MPG is an easily obtainable figure and that would give a theoretical 250 miles before the 5.8 gallons is all gone.

Check out the averages on Fuelly: http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/honda/vfr800_interceptor/2007

175 miles is my routine tops as far as a tank goes. I'm usually in the 34 MPG area at most. My 36.6 this weekend was my personal best ever. I'm not stock though. If I saw 250 miles on a tank I would probably not recover from the shock.

Yeah, I'm on fuelly as well, and I check those numbers now & then, and I'm always impressed by them.

Ive installed 5.3 gallons on a few occasions, when Ive went farther than I wanted, but Ive never actually ran out of fuel. 5.3 gal is close enough. Usually about 5 gal is the most I install on average 15 or 20 mile after red flash.

Spud, fairly flat where you live ?

I had the same question. It would alternate between blinking and not blinking and then went strictly to blinking for a while. 4.9 gallons, and I filled it up to the neck with the burping technique. Didn't check the miles, although I will start doing that. I am dumbfounded.

How many miles should I expect to get with a blinking light?

For comparison, my K12S has a 5 gallon tank, and the most I have ever put into it is 4.5 gallons.

We also have to include the accuracy of the pump. Would gas stations underestimate the amount of gas (slightly) so as to not overcharge?

"This might be a good winter project - get it down to almost empty, run it in the garage until it stops." call me crazy for saying this, but ya never know !!! KEEP THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN, and interior doors to living quarters closed and add a big old box fan to push contaminated air away from the garage....just saying ...had a friend, his wife and daughter come real close to having the big sleep, all from exhaust gases entering the house and poisoning them while they slept... a C-O alarm saved their bacon, but they had a time trying to come up from the "sleep" to respond to their alarm.

Switchblade

Spud, fairly flat where you live ?

Fairly Flat? compared to where, Florida , southeast or North Texas or the I35 corridor , the answer would be no. 500 to 2000 ft is the max range.

Once the red goes solid and doesn't bounce back to black, I wouldn't count on more than 30+ miles, that's about as far as Ive pushed it, and I know if Ive a got 20 miles atleast to get to a fuel station after solid red and no fluctuation, I normally lower the rpm levels between gears, in order to ensure I make it. I may have seen 5.45 gallon once. I doubt there was a cup of fuel left.

Your low mpg might have something to do with your right wrist technique.

YoshiHNS

Your low mpg might have something to do with your right wrist technique.

Nothing new there. :laugh:

Red? Black? Where is there red on the gauge? I am colorblind, but...is that last flashing bar red? Never knew that if so.

wgregt

Red? Black? Where is there red on the gauge? I am colorblind, but...is that last flashing bar red? Never knew that if so.

Yeah the last bar starts blinking red . But here with the hills it go from a solid black bar to a blinking red bar few minutes.

Which usually means pumping a couple gallons of "Dragon Gas" from Deals Gap store.

Duc2V4

5 Gen gas tank. Does anyone know if this inner plate is removable. It almost looks like a "knock out" piece that can be removed with a hammer and punch.

[image: attachicon.gif]IMG_1687.JPG

My 5th gen has the same and I actually like it. Just stick the tip of the nozzle in hole and let it fill. The pump shuts off when it gets to the top just like it does when filling your car, then I can pull it out and top it off a little more. No splashing gas on the tank or me.

I'm on the first riding season on my 2007. I normally just fill and go. Last night I took my time filling the tank and I noticed that the gas level kept receding. I had the bike on the center stand and didn't try to wobble or shake for extreme maximum fullness. I just waited a few seconds and filled it three or four times. I read this thread yesterday and never knew.

Huh.

Fuel light was flashing just now, so I stopped and filled up. 181 miles, 4.7 gallons. I would easily trust going another 20 miles.

I don't do anything special when I fill it. Center stand, fill to the bottom of the neck, close the cap.

Conedodger

Fuel light was flashing just now, so I stopped and filled up. 181 miles, 4.7 gallons. I would easily trust going another 20 miles.

I don't do anything special when I fill it. Center stand, fill to the bottom of the neck, close the cap.

Sounds like you arent riding fast enough then! Haha.

Nah. Im all seriousness. Iv achieved that on a run, but usually im blasting around local roads.

Otaylor38

Conedodger

Fuel light was flashing just now, so I stopped and filled up. 181 miles, 4.7 gallons. I would easily trust going another 20 miles.

I don't do anything special when I fill it. Center stand, fill to the bottom of the neck, close the cap.

Sounds like you arent riding fast enough then! Haha.

Nah. Im all seriousness. Iv achieved that on a run, but usually im blasting around local roads.

You're right. It is mainly commuting to work these days.

With breathless anticipation, today I attempted to solve the receding gas question. Or at least try like hell to see how full is actually full.

While riding, the last bar began to blink, and I decided today was the day.

Bike on centerstand, like I always do. Filled it quickly to the top of the neck, only to watch it recede again. I did the "twist the bars back & forth thing" like you guys suggested to see if that did anything for me. Not much. It still receded, still took more gas.

After 2-3 more minutes of adding dribbles over & over, I got to the point to where one side of the filler neck was right at the top, and one side was about 1/8" from the top. Made sure not to spill or overflow any, and couldn't add any more without having it spill over into the OUTER flow area (still inside the tank itself.)

There was no "air" under the AL ring this time. The level was at least to the bottom of the AL filler ring.

Only thing I don't know is this: How much gas is left when the last bar starts to blink? I probably put maybe 1-2 miles more on it after the last bar started to blink.

Anyhow, I put in 5.235 gallons, which is more than I ever have, I think. This theoretically means I had .575 in the tank when I started the fill-up. Does this seem possible?

I've put 25.7 miles on it so far, and I still have all the bars. In the past, one bar usually drops off after 10-15 miles. So maybe I'm on to something here, and just never took the time to REALLY fill it up before? I'm determined to ride like an old lady, and get 200 miles to a tank for my first time. We'll see...

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If I fill up right at the blinking last bar mine holds 4.5 gallons. Just fill up today but next I will try your procedure and report back .

On Sunday I decided not to fill up or put any gas in until I made it to the meeting point, which by coincidence was a gas station. When I hopped on in the morning I had one bar and 170.00 miles on the ODO, which was zeroed out at the last fill up. At first I was a little hesitant as the last thing I wanted to do was run out of gas heading to a meet up, how embarrassing would that be?

Anyway, after turning into the Main Street that takes me to the freeway, I suddenly had 2 bars! Ok, less hesitant now and I went in my way. I knew that the distance I had to go was somewhere in the 30 mile range, so this would be close. I monitored the gauge to see when it was going to drop back down to one bar, this happened at around 180 miles, but the one bar started flashing at 192 miles. When I got to the meeting point my ODO read 200.2 miles. Almost 30 miles on the dot door or door!, that's cool.

So I proceeded to fill up like I normally do and ended up putting in 4.75 gallons. This means I had about a gallon left and if mileage is somewhere in the mid 30's, I could have ridden back home and still had a few ounces left, that I wasn't willing to test, at least not that morning.

So theory says, I can get 200 out of a tank most of the time, as long as I don't get too paranoid by the flashing bar, but why take a chance if there's a gas station along the way, that's how I look at it.

It'll go farther than you think. I've gone over 210 miles to a tank on several occasions. This summer I got one tank of 415.6 kilometres which is 257 miles. 18.35 litres to fill it which is 4.84 gallons. You can check it out in my fuelly link below. (High altitude, constant speed, quite a bit of descent, no hooning the throttle).

I've gotten up to 244 miles while coming home from a trip north and when I filled up to the top lip, the meter showed 5.2 gallons. I still had half a gallon to go.

Reserve started flashing at 211 miles.

I was floored.

Super: 257 miles, and it took only 4.84 to fill it comes out to 53 MPG, which is....amazing. And also about 20 MPG MORE than I have ever gotten.

And after all those miles, the tank only took 4.84 to fill it, which means you had almost (.97) a full gallon left. Which is amazing again. If you had run it dry that puts you at about 310 miles for the full tank...another amazing thought (esp. when I get about 170-180 to a tank.)

Including Recal now....these numbers are quite astounding to me. Wow.

That's it. I'm buying a 1 gallon plastic tank for the rear rack this week. I gotta see what I can get. Too curious now. I gotta see what's at the end of that last flashing bar.

wgregt

That's it. I'm buying a 1 gallon plastic tank for the rear rack this week. I gotta see what I can get. Too curious now. I gotta see what's at the end of that last flashing bar.

That's a good method for bikes with carbs, but aren't evil things supposed to happen to your fuel pump, injectors and catalytic converter if you run a 6th gen dry?

I've run out of gas completely twice - about 30,000 kilometres ago. Still going....

Naaahhhh....I drained this bike early on after I bought it. Didn't know what the flashing bar meant. Oops.

wgregt

Super: 257 miles, and it took only 4.84 to fill it comes out to 53 MPG, which is....amazing. And also about 20 MPG MORE than I have ever gotten.

And after all those miles, the tank only took 4.84 to fill it, which means you had almost (.97) a full gallon left. Which is amazing again. If you had run it dry that puts you at about 310 miles for the full tank...another amazing thought (esp. when I get about 170-180 to a tank.)

Including Recal now....these numbers are quite astounding to me. Wow.

That's it. I'm buying a 1 gallon plastic tank for the rear rack this week. I gotta see what I can get. Too curious now. I gotta see what's at the end of that last flashing bar.

Is this on an 07, are you sure you bike is running right, seems it would have to be severely lean to see that kind of mileage or run only the interstate at 45 mph.

The best Ive ever seen with concrete tires and 100 degree temps with all highway was about 46 or 47 mpg, and that was about 7 years ago, before they changed U.S fuel and before I ran stickier tires. most my riding nowdays is tight track based and I see about 37mpg, I can cross 42 mpg range nowadays with a lot of open high speed sustained stuff. But your 10 mpg beyond that, so either severely lean or something weird. Just not normal from seeing years of the averages.

It's a 2005. Nothing out of the ordinary and not running lean. Check my fuelly link below, I consistently get over 40 regardless of terrain. Maybe it's riding styles. The distances are confirmed by GPS.

Over 40 is not abnormal, I was referring to over 50.

Over 50 is a rarity. Not entirely sure why this has happened on a few occasions.

The best I've recorded from my 6th gen was 46 mpg (on the interstate) and the worst 33 (flogging it over Beartooth Pass). For mixed / spirited riding it's usually around 42.

2006, 212 miles- mostly secondary roads at a pretty good pace with about 60 highway miles at 75-85. The red was blinking for at least about 45 miles iirc

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wpbarlow

2006, 212 miles- mostly secondary roads at a pretty good pace with about 60 highway miles at 75-85. The red was blinking for at least about 45 miles iirc

[image: ScreenHunter_105%20Sep.%2017%2012.41.jpg]

Man, I wish we had your gas prices!

Conedodger

Man, I wish we had your gas prices!

:biggrin: NJ does have relatively low gas prices. And the best part is when you get gas for the car, by law they have to do it.

wgregt

With breathless anticipation, today I attempted to solve the receding gas question. Or at least try like hell to see how full is actually full.

While riding, the last bar began to blink, and I decided today was the day.

Bike on centerstand, like I always do. Filled it quickly to the top of the neck, only to watch it recede again. I did the "twist the bars back & forth thing" like you guys suggested to see if that did anything for me. Not much. It still receded, still took more gas.

After 2-3 more minutes of adding dribbles over & over, I got to the point to where one side of the filler neck was right at the top, and one side was about 1/8" from the top. Made sure not to spill or overflow any, and couldn't add any more without having it spill over into the OUTER flow area (still inside the tank itself.)

Have you payed your attention to volume of gas you were able to add this way? That's the main thing i'm curious about - is there a point to spend those extra 2-3 mins filling up ;).

I just did a 2101 mile five day trip. The mileage varied widely, but so did the riding, both speed and terrain. My longest single ride between stops was 202 miles and I still had 2 bars lit. I added 4.65 gallons at that stop. My shortest was 180 with the red light flashing and added 4.21 gallons at that stop. Weird.

GPfan

I just did a 2101 mile five day trip. The mileage varied widely, but so did the riding, both speed and terrain. My longest single ride between stops was 202 miles and I still had 2 bars lit. I added 4.65 gallons at that stop. My shortest was 180 with the red light flashing and added 4.21 gallons at that stop. Weird.

Weird...you had to add more gas when more bars were lit?! :blink:

Conedodger

wpbarlow

2006, 212 miles- mostly secondary roads at a pretty good pace with about 60 highway miles at 75-85. The red was blinking for at least about 45 miles iirc

[image: ScreenHunter_105%20Sep.%2017%2012.41.jpg]

Man, I wish we had your gas prices!

I was at $3.94/gallon when I posted on page 5. What you got to say about that?

Conedodger

GPfan

I just did a 2101 mile five day trip. The mileage varied widely, but so did the riding, both speed and terrain. My longest single ride between stops was 202 miles and I still had 2 bars lit. I added 4.65 gallons at that stop. My shortest was 180 with the red light flashing and added 4.21 gallons at that stop. Weird.

Weird...you had to add more gas when more bars were lit?! :blink:

Yes, i found it very confusing. I compared mileage numbers with the other bike on the trip and we were at very similar totals, but totally different fuel used.

I close the gas cap after fill up, then shook the whole bike today and then re open gas tank almost got .2 more gas in the tank.

Nobody

Have you payed your attention to volume of gas you were able to add this way? That's the main thing i'm curious about - is there a point to spend those extra 2-3 mins filling up ;).

I didn't see the numbers, but it was worth the additional time to me. Next time I'll check and see how much more I can get in this way.

Did another fill up yesterday that took me to the point of blinking single bar.

180 miles. Single bar left

195 miles. Flashing single bar

202 miles. Filled up with 4.75 gallons again.

Based on these numbers, I'm getting roughly 42 MPG.

Cheers

wgregt

I was at $3.94/gallon when I posted on page 5. What you got to say about that?

Ouch! We were at $3.65, but is down about 10 cents today.

Duc2V4

Based on these numbers, I'm getting roughly 42 MPG.

I'd surely be happy with 42 MPG. I put another 10 miles on mine today. Still have all the bars. I've got like 45 miles on this tank so far.

I went 52 miles with light blinking, 6th gen. It took 5.5 gallons. No sputter or anything and it was in the mountains.

My gauge is so pessimistic. If I fill up as soon as the light blinks its always 4.8 gallons. Ive had the fuel pump out of one and it seems like it will pick up almost all the fuel.

My gauge goes down 1 bar almost instantly.

Absolutely the best. My 6th gen can't go that low of gas without sputtering.

soichiro

My gauge goes down 1 bar almost instantly.

My 08 takes about 12-14 miles to lose the first bar, but the 2nd last usually goes for 30-40 miles.

Luckily, with an average consumption of ~45 miles per gallon (Imperial), I know my 22 litre tank will get me 220 miles before dying (there are ~4.55 litres per Imperial gallon).

I've pushed my luck (or at least thought I did) with the blinking light on for a while, 15-20 miles. But whenever I fill it up, it's like 4.9 gallons. I don't think I've ever seen it over 5. Guess I'm too nervous about running out.

On a related note, what's the benefit of putting the bike on the centerstand to fill it up? I just straddle the seat, keeping the bike upright. I don't see any point in getting off the bike to put it on the stand. (I always use pay at the pump.)

Actually, a U.S. gallon has 3.785 litres. That will affect your fuel economy calculation quite dramatically. Unless you are in the UK.

Skids

soichiro

My gauge goes down 1 bar almost instantly.

My 08 takes about 12-14 miles to lose the first bar, but the 2nd last usually goes for 30-40 miles.

Luckily, with an average consumption of ~45 miles per gallon (Imperial), I know my 22 litre tank will get me 220 miles before dying (there are ~4.55 litres per Imperial gallon).

Damn it! I lost all my current mileage data from my "full to the brim" fill-up tonight when I was messing with the battery connections! Turned the key when I was done, and....clock was wrong and I was back to 0.0 on the trip odo's.

So....looks like this will have to wait till my NEXT tank now. Damn it! Ithought I was actually gonna break 200 miles this tank!

Just reading through this thread. Im still quite new to the VFR.

when the fuel gauge flashed red and black, is the next one empty? Or does it go solid red, then empty?

once you see a red flash get gas within 40 miles or you could be pushing. red doesn't go solid.

Cheers mate :)

So I just came back from a 3-day tour in Central Oregon and I thought of this thread as I was filling up. Here's a tank I managed from Central Oregon, up through the cascades and down into the Portland area. It was very cold and very wet so I was keeping to the limit or 10 over at the most to stay warm.

[image: cAzCb0a.jpg]

There's two systems of measurements here so I'll do the math wizardry for y'all

US: 235 miles / 4.9 gallons = 48 MPG

Metric: 378 km / 18.5 litres = 20.5 km/l or 4.9 l/100 km

That's extremely good for cold and wet weather, is your bike stock on sprocket size and mufflers, what kind of tires?

My run over to Eastern Oregon this w/e (in sunny weather) on my 6th gen netted me about 38 mpg - stock gearing.

Bone stock with a Givi rack and 55L top case. Running Bridgestone T30 tires

I still got to get mine back into rotation to try again, but these results look promising for me to get 40-ish MPG for the 1st time.

I'm back in the hunt on this as the VTEC 800 just got it's turn at bat this week. I just put in 5.05 gallons like I would fill it normally, and then kept at it in the interest of science and cheapness, and stopped filling at the same location I did before (just at the top edge of the AL inner ring) and ended up @ 5.400 gallons even.

Someone asked earlier about how much more I could get in, and was it worth it, so looks like I put in .35/gallon more than I would have normally (about 45 ounces more.) I'll post up when I'm pushing it.

Pretty interesting thread. When I'm out on a long all-day ride, I regularly get 220 miles out of a tank before I gas it up for fear of running out. I think the most I've ever pumped into it at once was 5.5 gallons. And I think the farthest I've ever travelled once I have the blinking warning is close to 30 miles. I was sweating that one. Gassed up at a marina and paid boat prices for gas, then within a half mile found a gas station.

Interesting thread indeed. I got 340kms out of 21 litres the other day. (That's 211 miles 4.38 us Gal / 4.95 imp Gal). 50% spirited riding up the mountains, 50% cruising on flat back roads.

I guess that works out to be 48mpg US or 42mpg uk.

i know that I've gotten 5.6l/100kms before which is 42mpg US / 50.44mpg uk.

Do you guys use us or imperial gals to calculate this?!? Some times I see people posting above 50mpg and others surprised by that amount. Maybe there's a mixup between uk and us?

I noticed the fuel light flashing around 40kms (24miles) before I filled up. I thought I was running dry but looks like I might have had a bit of room left, however I only fill to bottom of the neck and have never worried about swishing or waiting. Maybe I should looking at this thread.

There is a mix up between UK and US i think mate.

It confused things somewhat haha.

Especially when im not old enough to work in imperial (im from the UK) so i have to convert everything into litres so i understand haha

Afraid I don't have good news to report: Filled up the 800 today. Seems this "perfectly filled" tank only got me 33.7 MPG. I got 180.4 miles before I stopped to get gas. My usual mileage to fill up is around 170 or so, so I pushed it a bit, but still only got 5.455 gallons in it, which mean technically I still had .355 gallons left before I was pushing it. When I opened it and pushed the bike around, I didn't see any gas in it at all, so if it would truly have held more, it must have been down low somewhere.

Thing is, I've gotten as much as 36 MPG in the past, so this wasn't my best work. Still shy of my 200 miles/tank hopeful mark though.

I tried to hold out, but I was riding in an area without many choices, and the stations were few. I didn't think I could make it to my destination.

I swear I'm getting the next 1 gallon can (all I have seen so far is 2 or 2.5 gallon ones...ideas?) I see so I can strap it on the back when I have one bar left and run it dry for a true test. I tried to keep this entire tank below the 7k VTEC threshold, but man that's tough to do...short shifting before 7k is a PITA.

Give it a real world test. Rev the snot out of it. :beer:

Snot clogged engines get poor mileage. So I hear. :goofy: