pushing the range limits!

[peels]

Gas light on at 160miles... it hit 180 as I rounded the corner into work this morning. And as I leaned...I think I felt it sputter.

I am only on my second tank....first tank, I averaged 43mpg(riding pretty hard). So with 5 gallons, I thought 200 was easily doable....planned to fill up this afternoon..

THankfully, the gas station is 2 blocks away. wish me luck, ill be heading that way at lunch. L-O-L

so, what are you folks' range records? Just curious. Kind of an OCD thing for me....

[Zaasu]

I get about the same on my '02. However, I've never really pushed after the warning yellow light comes on. I usually try to plan to fill up at about 140/160 miles.

[Biff's R]

I've done over 200 miles on a tank, but not very often. I usually fill up around 160 miles. See how much fuel you put in and then run the numbers, but remember that about a quarter gallon will not be accessible.

[peels]

remember that about a quarter gallon will not be accessible.

ohhhhhh so NOOOOOOW you tell me..... L-O-L I made it to the stop light in front of the station.

welp, I've pushed heavier bikes. seriously. And it was only around a corner.

Plus I was motivated to push faster by one of my field engineers who pulled up behind me with his blinkers to help (read: HECKLE) me.

Now, 160 will be my max, not 180. NOTE: 180 was my goal mileage on a tank, based on the first one getting to 165 on just under 4 gallons.....i was at 181 when it died. DAMMIT! SOOOO CLOSE. 1 mile killed me!

anyways, while I am embarrassed and feel like a complete moron...Lesson learned...now I KNOW. And NOT learning it on a road trip in the middle of nowhere. As you can probably tell, this is not my first time running a bike dry. My old yammie had no gas gauge OR tripodometer.

Best part is: now, my wife can say "told you so" AGAIN.

have a nice weekend all.

[f4tweet]

I tried that with my old '83 R100. I thought I would push it just another 20 miles to the next gas stop. It turned out to be 35 miles. I pulled into the gas station and put 6.15 gallons in a 6.2 gallon tank. I went 260+ miles. I never did that again.

[peels]

I tried that with my old '83 R100. I thought I would push it just another 20 miles to the next gas stop. It turned out to be 35 miles. I pulled into the gas station and put 6.15 gallons in a 6.2 gallon tank. I went 260+ miles. I never did that again.

yeah I'd be "sweating bullets" very happy that I learned this with a one block push, vs 15 miles.....

[Dr. Strangelove]

On the road you'll get much better mileage. In town my light usually is lit when on the sidestand at around 125-130, and when upright steady at around 145 ish. The latest I've seen my light go on is in the low 190s, and the farthest I've dared on a tank is 223. On my trips typically around 160-174, but that is highway.

I've found the light to be very reliable to mean you have about a gallon left, so when you become accustomed to your typical mileages, you will know how much fudge room you have.

John

[peels]

On the road you'll get much better mileage. In town my light usually is lit when on the sidestand at around 125-130, and when upright steady at around 145 ish. The latest I've seen my light go on is in the low 190s, and the farthest I've dared on a tank is 223. On my trips typically around 160-174, but that is highway.

I've found the light to be very reliable to mean you have about a gallon left, so when you become accustomed to your typical mileages, you will know how much fudge room you have.

John

yeah, I just pushed the limit too early. BAsed on ONE tank. first tank was an 80 mile ride home, then 60 mile trip, and 40 miles of commuting, all highway. then still filling up and being a gallon shy of full fillup.

second tank was alot of cruising my little boy around town He loves riding....

[riceburner]

Good going, there's some mods you can do to the tank to get yourself an extra 2 litres of gas in there - do a search for 'filler neck mod'.

Also, if you're stopped about a mile or so from the gas station, you can get the extra bit of fuel from the left side of the tank into the right by laying the bike down GENTLY onto the right cylinder, (put your or gloves or something between the cylinder head and the ground if you're worried about scratching the paint), then tilt the bike over as far as it will go. Then slowly lift it back up onto it's wheels (I'd suggest learning how to do this properly - search youtube for BMW off-road training centre for starters). The fuel in the left side of the saddle will have sloshed into the right side, you'll have a mile or two more gas.

[sjbmw]

Yellow light = 150.
Except when I am riding home from the Finger Lakes Rally Yellow Light = 180
It's a long ride downhill

Yellow light means immediate gas now.
I never poke the gasoline gods.

[peels]

Good going, there's some mods you can do to the tank to get yourself an extra 2 litres of gas in there - do a search for 'filler neck mod'.

Also, if you're stopped about a mile or so from the gas station, you can get the extra bit of fuel from the left side of the tank into the right by laying the bike down GENTLY onto the right cylinder, (put your or gloves or something between the cylinder head and the ground if you're worried about scratching the paint), then tilt the bike over as far as it will go. Then slowly lift it back up onto it's wheels (I'd suggest learning how to do this properly - search youtube for BMW off-road training centre for starters). The fuel in the left side of the saddle will have sloshed into the right side, you'll have a mile or two more gas.

OK... thats funny right there. But...I do have the motech crash bars on there...cylinders are safe... that would have looked funny, sitting at the stop light.... drop bike on side at the light. "no ididnt crash, IM gettin gas!!!!!"

think Ill go with sjbmw and just not "poke the gas gods" anymore L-O-L

[CycleRob]

Here is an old pic of when I re-fueled on-the-highway and utilized the drilled/sawed filler neck to overfill the fuel tank. I rode near the speed limits, sometimes drafting fast moving 18 wheelers and ran the supposed 1.1 gallon reserve down until a fueling station appeared. Yes, it was getting just over 50 MPG, possible with smart throttle control and the ignition timing being advanced about 2 degrees. It was also ALL 6th gear cruising with an already hot engine. I had a full but unused 1 gallon red plastic fuel jug in the right system case for insurance.


The modified filler neck, (right upper portion of view) so my hard tubed hand siphon could access the bottom of the tank . . . also allows that overfilling:


EDIT: To update to a better, faster photo host.

[peels]

NICE WORK.

hadnt heard of that mod yet.

that right there is stickin it to those "gasoline gods" -as previously mentioned . LOVE it.

[Will]

Well, I've had my bike for about 4 months now (upgrade from '76 R750/5) and was surprised by the lower milage - light goes on at around 145 and I take it seriously. - tho I do look for an un-ethanol gas station if I can get there in 25 or so miles. - What's the prevailing opinion on no ethanol gas?

[Steve in VT]

Jeez, maybe it's the good gas up here in Vermont, but I usually don't get a low-fuel light until around 200 miles. I usually put in about 5 gallons. The 40-mile warning seems pretty accurate - I've gone as low as 12 miles. I usually keep it below 6K on the tach, and figure I'm averaging about 50 mpg. That's with the bags, micro-windshield, no top case. Better than my '84 R65LS.

[towerworker]

I remember going a shade over 200 a couple times prior to fueling. Light would typically come on around 170-180. My best mileage was 54.1 and that was actually riding 2-up on the BRP averaging 45-50 mph. I could typically get 50 mpg riding solo. But the 50 stuff goes away quickly as soon as I got ambitious with the throttle. I think the specs give the fuel capacity at 5.4 gallons but about a gallon or so is not available as I understand it.

It's been 3 years since I last had opportunity to check the fuel mileage. I'm about ready to remedy that.

[sstein]

People seem to get a range of miles per tank, and the warning light comes on at different times for different people. I remember last time I was inside the tank trying to fix my fuel level sending unit (to no avail) I noticed that there appear to be 2 different positions - a higher and a lower - for the fuel level sending unit. My bike is a '02R. In other words, the unit can be slid along its mounting post inside the tank. This may contribute to some of the variation we see.

I just wish my light would work. Anyone in Providence, RI want to come by and diagnose my fuel light issue?

In any event, I always refill the tank when I get to around 140-150 miles. 160 miles is pushing it for me. I avg 40 MPG with mostly stop and go riding. I have run out of fuel too many times to admit.

[peels]

much better mpg this last tank. less in town, a little less right hand.... light on at 157 had 176 on it with a 4.2 fillup. just shy of 42. about what Id expect....I am pleased.

However, I Learned something yesterday. refueling..I popped open the cap, and about a quarter cup of water dropped right into the tank... my boys had helped me give it its first bath. I'm guessing that drain hose is clogged....

Im thinking thats not going to do much for the mpg... LOL ill be taking the tank off and draining it soon....