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"How many miles to the fuel light?" poll

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:33 pm
by cbesey
So the ever present "127 miles on 3.7 gallons = 34.3 MPG" thread got me wondering, mainly because of all the folks talking about near 200 between fill ups. I've experienced all from the light at 125 to 150 and still going at time of refill.

And seeing how I've never started a poll, how could I resist...

Given regular riding meaning about 1/3 of miles around town and freeway getting there, the rest riding in a "spirited" fashion with twisties and whatnot, how many miles do you expect before seeing the fuel light come on?

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:41 pm
by Buckster
I must say that since I have changed to synthetic oil that is usually 150 or more now.
It used to be 140 pretty regularly.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:18 am
by towerworker
The lowest I recall was 125 miles and the highest was around 185-190. Generally 165-180.

Wayne

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:23 am
by Arbee
I think a properly tuned bike will make all the difference

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:42 am
by Biff's R
Lowest around 120 highest around 185.

Average is 155-165. If I fill up immediately after the light comes on I only put 3.5-3.75 gallons of fuel.

A fresh air filter added 3-4 mpg.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:41 am
by maduko
There's also a huge difference between droning down the interstate and hammering through the twisties. I've seen everywhere from 120 to 155.

I've noticed the dual-spark bikes seem to consistently get better mileage.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:45 am
by riceburner
naff poll.


I'm currently getting around 155"ish" for my commuting, BUT I'm using 98octane fuel and i've done the filler cap mod so I'm getting (at a guess) upt to another 2 litres of fuel in per fill up (3 times a week).

So I don't think my actual mileage has changed too much tbh.

(roads are mostly large open country or small town traffic.)

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:24 am
by priapismic
Sometimes as low as 135 or so miles, average is between 142 - 150 or so miles. That's with my rural road commuting and backroad bashing. No stop & go, little traffic, running just a bit over the limit, usually. Sometimes I'll get to around 160, like on highway trips.

If I fill up immediately when the light comes on, I'll put in about 3.6 gallons. Mileage fluctuates between 40 - 41 mpg on my daily routine (rural road commuting & backroad bashing) to mid- or high 40's on highway trips. (Why do I get better mileage running at 80+ for hours on end?)

SMILES PER ££££

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:21 am
by REDSTAN
\:D/ :smt023 the first week in Sep 07 i did a tour of scotland with my son he was on a Honda transalp/650 me on the RRRRRRRR.
total miles 1873. 155lts gas/petrol ave about 53.5miles per gal. :smt026 :smt026 :smt026 ( see my post UK SMILES PER POUND) POSTED ON THE 16 SEPT 2007PAGE 3

Love the MPG

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:29 pm
by superdarren
Like most of you my mileage fluctuates based on driving. The lowest I've seen the light come on is 155 miles. Yesterday I toped the tank off and I went 191 miles down the highway and still no light before I filled up. I drive almost all highway miles and I get pretty darn close to 50mpg doing 80+ mph the whole way. Way better than the 14mpg in my F-150. I love it.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:59 pm
by scribblin
This morning I reached 200.1 on the trip meter before the light came on briefly and went back off. I stopped to fill up at 201.2, still with no light. When I leaned the bike on its stand, the fuel light flickered and then stayed on. The bike took 3.821 gal., meaning there was still about 1.579 gal. left in the tank at 201.2 miles. (See full recounting in the mileage thread.) This is a 2004 R1150R with about 5,000 miles on it. (I've owned it for two days.)

- Tony

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:22 pm
by joe bar
My Rockster seems to run cinsistely at 150 miles before the light comes on. I've had it as low as 138ish but it's nearly always 150.

My friend runs 180+ before the light comes on on his R1150R, couldn't figure the difference until I realised he had the higher 6th gear fitted.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:25 pm
by challey
Worst was at about 125 miles, best almost 200 (this summer on my mostly slabway trip back from the MOA). Around town with lots of traffic lights it generally comes on at about the 135 mile range, on the highway around 180 or so.

Takes just under 4 US gallons to fill if I stop soon after the light comes on, so the usable reserve is something like 1-1/4 gals/4 litres.

Charlie

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:34 pm
by Rockosmith
Generally see about 195 miles until the fuel light comes on. It will take 4.3 gal. to fill. Sometimes a little better and sometimes not quite that much. This is on my '04 Dual Spark with 45k miles.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:45 pm
by iowabeakster
mine comes on at about 175, takes 4 gallons to fill at that point.

all highway, no in-town at all.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:05 pm
by wile e
Between 150-170miles and fill up at 200miles. With 1.5gallons as a 'reserve' I feel comfortable traveling well into the yellow light section.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:46 pm
by bransan
typically 180 - 190 mi. usually takes 4 gallons. I travel long distances most ever time I go somewhere, tank to tank, always 4 gal. at roughly the same mileage. 30,000 mi 04' R1150R.

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:32 pm
by Ian
Range depends - but 180 is the normal figure

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:12 pm
by TicTac50
95% of time the light was on at 167 miles.
With an AeroFlow screen the light comes on now at 155 miles. 4.3 gallons and the tank is full again. 35 to 38 MPG. One time I got 205 miles out of tank of gas and ran out of gas about 200 feet from the gas pump. Maybe it is my driving but I never had 50 miles to the gallon, like some other people get. My bike is 2002 but some parts from 2002 do not fit my bike and I have to go to 2001 model. The prime example was the bulb for the tail light. Maybe my computer has an old software? :) :) :)

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:17 pm
by scribblin
Played a little yesterday and again last night with a couple of other bikes on side roads. Fuel light came on this morning at 197.5, as opposed to 201.2 the last time. Filled up at 201.5 with 4.032 gals., so mileage was 49.98, or basically 50 mpg vs. 52.66 last time. I'll take that!