how much gas?

[wiredgeorge]

Wife and I spent the week doing some riding. I recall all the talk some made about "planning" to avoid being low on gas. Well, when riding in areas where you are not familiar, there are sometimes no filling stations for many many miles so there were a few times where I was running low on gas and guessing how far I could get on what I had. This is the first time I was on the final bar on the gauge and had the low-gas idiiot light come on. I thought I was on fumes and had about 165 miles on my odometer when I got to a station and ended up only able to put in right at 5 gallons of gas. What is the MOST anyone has ever put in one of these tanks? How much usable fuel is actually in the tank?

 

[Pampurrs]

Wife and I spent the week doing some riding. I recall all the talk some made about "planning" to avoid being low on gas. Well, when riding in areas where you are not familiar, there are sometimes no filling stations for many many miles so there were a few times where I was running low on gas and guessing how far I could get on what I had. This is the first time I was on the final bar on the gauge and had the low-gas idiiot light come on. I thought I was on fumes and had about 165 miles on my odometer when I got to a station and ended up only able to put in right at 5 gallons of gas. What is the MOST anyone has ever put in one of these tanks? How much usable fuel is actually in the tank?

The most I have ever put in the tank was 5.5 gallons. My low fuel light had been on for quite some time, and I was getting worried. Turns out I had another 1.4 gallons to burn. :dontknow:

 

[ARtraveler]

Wife and I spent the week doing some riding. I recall all the talk some made about "planning" to avoid being low on gas. Well, when riding in areas where you are not familiar, there are sometimes no filling stations for many many miles so there were a few times where I was running low on gas and guessing how far I could get on what I had. This is the first time I was on the final bar on the gauge and had the low-gas idiiot light come on. I thought I was on fumes and had about 165 miles on my odometer when I got to a station and ended up only able to put in right at 5 gallons of gas. What is the MOST anyone has ever put in one of these tanks? How much usable fuel is actually in the tank?

On my 998, 5.8 gallons at about 185 miles.

On my 1330 5.5 gallons at about 225 miles.

Yours may vary. When in unfamiliar territory, I fill it when I see it. Even at 50 - 75 miles.

 

[kngfsh27]

The most I have put in has been 5.9 gallons. I had gone almost 220 miles and was really nursing the last couple tenths of gas in the tank. I normally do not try to fill to the brim unless I am in the middle of a ride and know I am going to use some gas.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Wife and I spent the week doing some riding. I recall all the talk some made about "planning" to avoid being low on gas. Well, when riding in areas where you are not familiar, there are sometimes no filling stations for many many miles so there were a few times where I was running low on gas and guessing how far I could get on what I had. This is the first time I was on the final bar on the gauge and had the low-gas idiiot light come on. I thought I was on fumes and had about 165 miles on my odometer when I got to a station and ended up only able to put in right at 5 gallons of gas. What is the MOST anyone has ever put in one of these tanks? How much usable fuel is actually in the tank?

That's why that extra gallon comes in handy. Peace of mind.

 

[Bob Denman]

223 miles...
5.492 gallons.

 

[trikermutha]

on my 1330 when the gas light came on I put in 5.5 gallons in a 6 gallon tank

 

[Chupaca]

Different capasities...

not all tanks are alike...If I remember correctly the twins have a 6.6 gal capasity and the newer RT's have a 6.9 gal capasity. Now you can never get that much in the tank...needs air space. You can, or I can, figure better than a gal left when the light comes on and at my average consumption I can safely get 30+ miles. I also have a liter fuel bottle and if there is no station within 50 miles it's AAA..:roflblack:

 

[pegasus1300]

On the trip to Sturgis I put in 5.8 at one fuel stop. I had 172mi on the odo.Red light had been on for a while. One of these days I am going to have Cynthia follow me and I will ride until it dies and then see how far I can go until dry.

 

[garb55]

the most I have put in my 2014 RTL is 6.3 gallons

 

[ARtraveler]

the most I have put in my 2014 RTL is 6.3 gallons

Bwave, vewy Bwave. :roflblack::roflblack: :bowdown::bowdown:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Since you said it was down to the last bar, it sounds like you have disconnected the analog gauges so you should be getting a pretty accurate reading of gas remaining. Since you were able to put 5 gallons in I would think you had around 1 1/4 gallons remaining. I don't believe that it is possible to put in the entire 6.6 gallons due to the shape of the tank. And don't forget that your 2010 is different from the 2014 and newer so don't think you will get 225 miles on a tank.

Also, how I plan gas stops in unfamiliar territory is to use google maps or a similar program and once you have your basic route figured out, I put in stops at 120 or so miles. Then using the satellite feature I look for stations at that 120 mark if I find one, great, if not, I adjust the distance either shorter or a bit further. I think MapQuest will let you show gas stations on the map and if you have the GPS on your Spyder you can also have it show gas stations.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ann,
Didn't Scotty have it figured that the older RTs had a useable tank capacity of about 6 gallons; the rest was there for expansion space? :dontknow:

 

[wiredgeorge]

Since you said it was down to the last bar, it sounds like you have disconnected the analog gauges so you should be getting a pretty accurate reading of gas remaining. Since you were able to put 5 gallons in I would think you had around 1 1/4 gallons remaining. I don't believe that it is possible to put in the entire 6.6 gallons due to the shape of the tank. And don't forget that your 2010 is different from the 2014 and newer so don't think you will get 225 miles on a tank.

Also, how I plan gas stops in unfamiliar territory is to use google maps or a similar program and once you have your basic route figured out, I put in stops at 120 or so miles. Then using the satellite feature I look for stations at that 120 mark if I find one, great, if not, I adjust the distance either shorter or a bit further. I think MapQuest will let you show gas stations on the map and if you have the GPS on your Spyder you can also have it show gas stations.

I will have to sharpen my "planning" skills because I am not used to riding such a gas hog with so little gas available to me. I was on alll unfamiliar roads and on the holiday weekend most of the stations that were in smaller towns were not open. I am pretty good with situational awareness issues so should be better at what you call planning. Also, I have a 2010 RT. No analog gauges. I have added a digital voltmeter. I was on one bar for at least 20 miles with the low fuel light on and barely put in 5 gallons. I had a 76 KZ900A4 and its tank is listed at 4.2 gallons. I ran it dry once accidently; or at least used all the gas available at the petcock. 3.8 gallons. I was testing a new petcock to see how far I could go on reserve and ended up pushing the bike about 2 miles on a very hot/humid day to the nearest station. Could only add 3.8 gallons. I had done my calculations on 4.2 gallons and could hear gas sloshing somewhere in that bone dry tank before filling it. I have to assume a 2010 Spyder RT tank (regardless of factory rating) can't get to all the gas it is supposed to hold.

 

[ricford]

not all tanks are alike...If I remember correctly the twins have a 6.6 gal capasity and the newer RT's have a 6.9 gal capasity. Now you can never get that much in the tank...needs air space. You can, or I can, figure better than a gal left when the light comes on and at my average consumption I can safely get 30+ miles. I also have a liter fuel bottle and if there is no station within 50 miles it's AAA..:roflblack:

The fuel bottle is really good advice. I totally ran out of fuel out in the Joshua Tree National Park, as far back in the park as possible. Someone had the sense to have a rubber hose and siphoned off a liter of gas that got me downhill to the 29 Palms Highway for fuel. The next day I bought a fuel bottle. I gave it away when I traded my K1200LT off. BUT have since bought a new one to keep in the rear trunk of my Spyder. I bought the Forest Green 1 liter bottle and 'almost' filled it with premium. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...aps,219&rh=i:outdoor-recreation,k:fuel+bottle There are other stores and there are several options here. This is just a starter link. Then, when your guage gets to the bottom, you'll not be alarmed about the instant need to buy gas. How far a liter will take you I suppose depends on how far you twist the grip.

 

[bobgeorge]

I notice my low gas light normally comes on at the 160 or so mile limit. I stop for gas shortly after that. I normally put between 5-5.5 gallons in the tank.

 

[robmorg]

Ann,
Didn't Scotty have it figured that the older RTs had a useable tank capacity of about 6 gallons; the rest was there for expansion space? :dontknow:

I ran out of fuel last week on my 2013 RT, and got 5.8 gallons in. That was at 161 miles. I had been getting about 170 miles from a full tank of gas since the recall. There was a gas station right up the road. :sour:

On my trip up to Spyderquest , I consistently got a tad over 30 MPG (which computes to a range of about 175 miles). But that was mostly on interstates riding between 65 to 70 mph. So, not surprisingly, your range somewhat depends on what kind of riding you've been doing since you filled up last.

 

[Bob Denman]

I ran out of fuel last week on my 2013 RT, and got 5.8 gallons in. That was at 161 miles. I had been getting about 170 miles from a full tank of gas since the recall. There was a gas station right up the road. :sour:

Hi Rob,
Do you think that this small discrepancy may have been due to the tank not quite getting a full drink from the last fill-up? :dontknow:
And I fully understand that there's no such thing as a "Small Discrepancy"; when it's your bike that needs pushing. :shocked:
Are you up at G.E.L. yet?

 

[Gray Ghost]

On the trip to Sturgis I put in 5.8 at one fuel stop. I had 172mi on the odo.Red light had been on for a while. One of these days I am going to have Cynthia follow me and I will ride until it dies and then see how far I can go until dry.

The way I did that was to put a 1 gal can in one of the saddlebags, filled the bike and the can and then took off riding around the county. Made sure I was always within about 20 miles of a station. When the bike ran dry I made note of the mileage, dumped the gallon in and made my way back to a station.

 

[robmorg]

Hi Rob,
Do you think that this small discrepancy may have been due to the tank not quite getting a full drink from the last fill-up? :dontknow:
And I fully understand that there's no such thing as a "Small Discrepancy"; when it's your bike that needs pushing. :shocked:
Are you up at G.E.L. yet?

Yeah, I did the trip in one day. That gives me more time to spend with the vendors and still do rides.

Since the recall, I don't need to allow room in the tank for the gas to boil. :shocked:. So now I consistently fill up to where I can see the fuel at the top of the tank.