Fuel Mileage/ Fuel Tank Size

[NancysToy]

That's the only way I've ever ridden any of my bikes. Most of them didn't even have a gas gauge.

Most bikes don't....at least not the vintage stuff I am used to. They did have reserve tanks, however, which the modern bikes do not. The gauges are then a necessity of sorts. That being said, I go mostly by the miles, with an eye on the gauge. It doesn't matter what it says when you are low, as long as you know where that spot is...and what you have left as a cushion from that point. Just one more thing...a rider doesn't have to run it all the way down. 100-120 miles is plenty before I need to stretch, rehydrate, and get my blood moving. My marathon riding days are over. JMHO

 

[Bob Ledford]

My new RT turns on the low fuel light on when there is a little over 3 gal (11-12 liters, I think) left in the the tank. The gauge reads empty at that point as well (???)​

You.r statement lacks a lot of information that would greatly impact many respondents.

my RTL at less then 1,000 miles was showing EMPTY and would take 4 gallons to fill in 120 miles. Which is 30 MPG by my math. Now at 3,600 miles with a combination of rural and city is taking 3.6 gallon in 130 to 140 miles. When ever the gas pump icon lights up I can always figure that it will take 4.0 to 5.9 gallons. The most I have ever poured in the tank has been 6.0 gallons.

One thing that I have discovered to increase fuel economy is to elevate the gear to tach readings to the range of 4,000/5,000 for cruising and shifting. That will make you nuts for a whileuntilyou get used to having that Rotax engine spinning so high. But personally it was easy for me because my rig hits a sweet spot around 4,350 RPMs and it just hums there.

hope this gives youa point or two I know when I asked the same questions I was glad for the support everyone gave me. Don't be afraid to keep detailed notes on your RPMS mileage 1 or 2 up city to rural.

Enjoy your toy......

latest fill up 129 miles took 4.1 gallons of Hess 93 octane gas gauge was bouncing around in the red an thr fuel pump icon was alternating between warning and no warning.

 

[jthornton]

Just my rambling but in today's technology the frigging gas gauge should just work. If it don't work properly make them fix it... I have 6 vehicles and 5 have perfect gas gauges, what is wrong with this picture? Heck my gas gauge in my 1956 VW Beetle was as accurate as could be and I only used reserve once...

John

 

[bzbaeren]

RPM's

You.r statement lacks a lot of information that would greatly impact many respondents.

my RTL at less then 1,000 miles was showing EMPTY and would take 4 gallons to fill in 120 miles. Which is 30 MPG by my math. Now at 3,600 miles with a combination of rural and city is taking 3.6 gallon in 130 to 140 miles. When ever the gas pump icon lights up I can always figure that it will take 4.0 to 5.9 gallons. The most I have ever poured in the tank has been 6.0 gallons.

One thing that I have discovered to increase fuel economy is to elevate the gear to tach readings to the range of 4,000/5,000 for cruising and shifting. That will make you nuts for a whileuntilyou get used to having that Rotax engine spinning so high. But personally it was easy for me because my rig hits a sweet spot around 4,350 RPMs and it just hums there.

hope this gives youa point or two I know when I asked the same questions I was glad for the support everyone gave me. Don't be afraid to keep detailed notes on your RPMS mileage 1 or 2 up city to rural.

Enjoy your toy......

I noticed the same thing with the RPM,s and you can feel the performance better through the seat of your pants.

 

[IndianaPearl]

Analog verses digital.

I have read everything on these gauges and how to get to digital. Well I finally got the nerve to get into the dash and unplug the analog gauges..... It works and I like it. Don't have to look all over the dash for info. It's all in front of you. :yes::yes:

 

[Ex-Rocket]

While we are talking about the fuel gauge, I got a question to ask everybody. I have a 2012 RTS and the gas gauge on my bike once it goes below full the needle is always jumping all over the place when I either accelerate or brake kind of hard. Is this common with all Spyders? I have had other fuel gauges on other bikes I have owned and they just didn't move all over the place when the fuel sloshed in the gas tank like the Spyder does. Just seems to be a very cheap performance fuel gauge to me, or maybe something is wrong with mine.

 

[my3gs]

This is a good APP u can see a lot of info on it from Avg cost to yearly cost and a lot more.It is free and is called Mileage. The icon is yellow with a black gas pump on it. i know i get from 21 to 29.8 3.8 to 5.4 gal

 

[Jeriatric]

While we are talking about the fuel gauge, I got a question to ask everybody. I have a 2012 RTS and the gas gauge on my bike once it goes below full the needle is always jumping all over the place when I either accelerate or brake kind of hard. Is this common with all Spyders? I have had other fuel gauges on other bikes I have owned and they just didn't move all over the place when the fuel sloshed in the gas tank like the Spyder does. Just seems to be a very cheap performance fuel gauge to me, or maybe something is wrong with mine.

Two fixes. Have your dealer do BRP's latest fix, which includes a software update and gauge replacement(it is a fix that works). Or, you can disconnect both the fuel and temp gauge so they read out on the main display. Do a few searches and you'll find lots of conversation on the subject.

 

[Dragonfly]

With all the talk about fuel mileage, my question is how much of the nozzle do you put in the tank for fueling? If I put the nozzle in up to the vapor catch it takes forever so I have gotten into the habit of only inserting the nozzle about an inch my current mileage is 27 MPG. BTW (new Spyder owner with 800 miles WOW) I use aCar on my Android Phone for logging refueling.

 

[NancysToy]

With all the talk about fuel mileage, my question is how much of the nozzle do you put in the tank for fueling? If I put the nozzle in up to the vapor catch it takes forever so I have gotten into the habit of only inserting the nozzle about an inch my current mileage is 27 MPG. BTW (new Spyder owner with 800 miles WOW) I use aCar on my Android Phone for logging refueling.

I insert the nozzle just below the "no-lead" ring. I fill slowly, just until the fuel starts to spurt out the baffle vent slots. If you go faster or farther, you risk pushing fuel into teh emissions canister. That fuel is lost, and will hurt your mileage.

 

[retirednick]

Yeah the fuel economy is not the best, but the ryding and smiles make up for that. I get about 220 kms per tank, mix of city and hiway. Follow the suggestion provided on this forum and you can't go wrong.

 

[poordom]

Good evening folks,

In looking at this thread, I came to wonder, what octane do you use in your trike.

In Canada we go as low as 87 octane, I also think that our gas contains Ethanol.

Any recommendation, I noticed some hesitation, ( Little hesitation )

Dom

 

[Star Cruiser]

I insert the nozzle just below the "no-lead" ring. I fill slowly, just until the fuel starts to spurt out the baffle vent slots. If you go faster or farther, you risk pushing fuel into the emissions canister. That fuel is lost, and will hurt your mileage.

Scotty, Great tip on the "over filling". I have to admit that I have done that on occasion & did not realize that is where the "Spillage" went. I don't think I will ever get 25 litres (6.6 US Gal) into my Spyder! Typically when I am rYding in the US the light is on around 150 miles and I put in just over 4 gallons. In Canada it is generally about 250 km and around 17 litres. If it actually DID hold 25 litres, I'd be able to travel 350 km (220 miles). I ran it to empty once with a 1 litre can of fuel in the frunk. When I filled it up I needed 21 litres so I would say it is pretty close to 22 litres capacity (5.8 gal, US)

 

[AeroPilot]

HD Road King gauge is worse--

That's the only way I've ever ridden any of my bikes. Most of them didn't even have a gas gauge.

My 07 Honda shadow with 3.7 gal tank gets right at 150 miles when I have to switch to the reserve last half gallon and this is what I usually do on normal commutes. My O7 Road King however has an analog gauge on the left side of the 5 gallon tank that shows Full for the first 80 miles before ever moving and is the only bike in the last 20 years I have run dry as when the fuel light appears dimly on the instrument lightbar, you better be within 10 miles of a gas pump or you're walkin. Much less useful than the Spyder digital gauge on the wifes 2011 RT which gives you at least 30 miles to find a gas station when the light goes on (and you still have 1/2 gal in the tank when you fill up).

Odometer is the way to go, and I have never run out before 140 miles on the Shadow, 140 miles on the Spyder, or 180 miles on the RK.