Gas tank capacity?

[ARtraveler]

Exactly. That's the basis for my comment that I'm sure I have more than 31 miles to go. When my light has been on, I usually find it taking about 5 gallons. A very few times 5-1/2 gallons -- never more than that. Given that my light has been on for a while, either BRP's estimate is not correct or I've been running on fumes. I agree I don't expect to get 6.9 in there but I would expect more than 5 or 5-1/2 when my light has been on for some time if I had less than one gallon left when the light came on.

Also note the light is very subject to uphill/downhill. I forget which is which but it will come on early in one direction and then go out as soon as you're level or headed the other direction. I consider that a nice distant early warning system.

May I add a bit more? Agree with you totally on what you say.

Anyone willing to do the run out of gas test and let us know what the magic number is? WARNING, WARNING, WARNING The number you get may be different at different times and different from what others experience. :roflblack::roflblack:

 

[WellsboroSpyder]

Hmmm

:shocked: Please... read your manual.
BRP didn't put it in the bike for you to use it as toilet paper, when you get "caught short" during a ride... :yikes:

There's often more going on, than we as a group are aware of... 
I have been guilty f using the "Did you read your manual?" answer on more than a few occasions... Heck; I've been guilty of just about everything possible in here! 
But we honestly DO try to answer questions, and offer encouragement to everyone that pops in! 

 

[WellsboroSpyder]

Who's filling

that capasity is if filled totally. Something you can not do with the tank in the roadster (air/vent space). The gallon considered reserve is part of the 6.9 and it is a good idea to know your miles per gallon so you can judge when to get fuel after the low fuel light comes on. :thumbup:

I also think there is a difference with how you fill the tank. For instance my wife has the nozzle in the tank further and because of how stiff the pump handles is to squeeze she doesn't get as much fuel in. When the light comes on she will get a little over 4 gallons in , I can get over 5 in by pulling nozzle out a little and slowing the fuel delivery.

 

[gypsy_100]

Good find. You know how many times I scanned the manual. I gave up after an hour. :clap::clap:

I look at both the indicator light and the gas gauge as just that "indicators." I don't intentionally run it almost to the end. Based on my calculations and mpg that I usually experience 39 (conservative). I should be able to go 269 miles. 39 x 6.9. I would not try that though. Am very happy with a 200 + tank range compared to what I was getting with the 998.

I wouldn't try it either! Even when BRP is bragging about range in their promotional literature, they quote a range of 252 miles. I'm sure that's under the most optimistic and perfectly controlled conditions. Their estimate drops to 202 miles at 75 mph (naughty, naughty). Congrats on getting 39 mpg. I'm averaging 36 for the first 4,000 miles. But that's 18% better than the 30.5 I was getting on the 2011 RT (998). Like you, I like it. When on long trips, like to your state, I don't feel quite as much like I'm riding from gas station to gas station.

Off topic -- Have a great time with MurphyBrown and the whole crew. I'm sure you will!

 

[AeroPilot]

It Depends....

On a 2015 RT Limited the book says 6.9 gallon capacity with 1 gallon reserve. So....does that mean that it is a 7.9 gallon total capacity? If there is a reserve, I have not found the reserve button or switch. TIA :banghead: I will get over this though, because we love this ride.

Like a lot of threads, mileage, tires, and the dreaded oil thread; Y M M V and a lot depends on the SPEED and how heavy you are with the right grip handle. I have to just throw my two cents in and while I have run dry on previous bikes, (Hondas to Harleys) the gauges and warnings IMO on the Spyder RT we have ridden give us the best/most early warning. With over 60,000 miles on the 998 engine and 10,000 on the 1330 engine, we have never run dry, and have only put more than 5.6 gals in on a fillup, on a handful of occasions.

With our riding we know to fill up before 140 miles on the 998, and are still keeping the odometer under the 220 mile interval on the 1330. Usually takes around 5 gals either way. Your comfort level, riding style experience with your bike, and the odometer trip meter should tell you when to fuel, NOT the fuel gauge/warning light. Also beware; high speeds and headwinds as they will surprise you how much they reduce your range per tank.

 

[garb55]

I can tell you what I have done [twice] on my 2014 RTL
The low fuel light comes on as soon as I have 1 bar left on the digital fuel gauge
About 25 to 28 miles later that last fuel bar light goes off
Then I have put another 25 miles on the bike with no fuel bar lights showing
So after the low fuel light has come on I have put at least 50 more miles on the bike and have not run out of fuel
Each time I have put 6.2 and 6.3 gallons in my fuel tank

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Anyone willing to do the run out of gas test and let us know what the magic number is? WARNING, WARNING, WARNING The number you get may be different at different times and different from what others experience. :roflblack::roflblack:

The most I've ever put in my 2013 RT is 6.19 gal. I hadn't run out but I was d*** close! And I filled it up to where it was just about to run out over the filler tube. There is about 1 gallon of space left when you can easily see the gas level below the baffle, but it's hard to squeeze that last gallon in without a lot of spit back and overflows.

 

[gypsy_100]

Not a problem for me as I mentioned above that my light usually goes on at 205/210. I usually don't go much over 150 when riding with akspyderlady and her 998 which has the light go on at 150 or so. We can do 185 or so on the 998--but that is pushing it to the max.

With over 60,000 miles on the 998 engine and 10,000 on the 1330 engine, we have never run dry, and have only put more than 5.6 gals in on a fillup, on a handful of occasions.

With our riding we know to fill up before 140 miles on the 998, and are still keeping the odometer under the 220 mile interval on the 1330. Usually takes around 5 gals either way. Your comfort level, riding style experience with your bike, and the odometer trip meter should tell you when to fuel, NOT the fuel gauge/warning light. Also beware; high speeds and headwinds as they will surprise you how much they reduce your range per tank.

I agree. However I'm envious of the 1330 mileages you both are getting. My 998 experience is very similar. But on the 1330, I fill up at about 180+ and put in 5 or 5-1/2 gallons. Never pushed it to 200. With 4K on the bike, I think it's "broken in" so I figure that's about as good as I'll do. Not complaining. As I said above, I'm pleased with the increase over the 998 but I can't figure out how you guys are getting over 200 miles and 39 mpg. Now that I've looked up what the warning light is supposed to show, it'll make me even less likely to push a little further. Time to move on... We've beat this one to the ground.

 

[Bob Denman]

Theoretically, if the light comes on and indicates that you have one gallon remaining, then when you fill up, it should take 5.9 gallons, right? My light has come on and I can barely squeeze 5 gallons into the tank. :gaah:

Pam

:dontknow: I don't know what's going on...
I have never seen the "FILLMEUPNOW!!!" light, yet I've put as much as 5.492 gallons in the bike in one filling.
My opinion, is that the new gauges are FAR more accurate than the previous versions. I used to rideby my trip odometer; now, I ride by the gauge. :thumbup:

 

[gypsy_100]

I can tell you what I have done [twice] on my 2014 RTL
The low fuel light comes on as soon as I have 1 bar left on the digital fuel gauge
About 25 to 28 miles later that last fuel bar light goes off
Then I have put another 25 miles on the bike with no fuel bar lights showing
So after the low fuel light has come on I have put at least 50 more miles on the bike and have not run out of fuel
Each time I have put 6.2 and 6.3 gallons in my fuel tank

The most I've ever put in my 2013 RT is 6.19 gal. I hadn't run out but I was d*** close! And I filled it up to where it was just about to run out over the filler tube. There is about 1 gallon of space left when you can easily see the gas level below the baffle, but it's hard to squeeze that last gallon in without a lot of spit back and overflows.

:dontknow: I don't know what's going on...
I have never seen the "FILLMEUPNOW!!!" light, yet I've put as much as 5.492 gallons in the bike in one filling.
My opinion, is that the new gauges are FAR more accurate than the previous versions. I used to rideby my trip odometer; now, I ride by the gauge. :thumbup:

Good to know you can actually put more than 6 gallons in there and you have not been run totally dry. That's the most I can recall anyone ever putting in. Bob, I guess what we're seeing here is variability in when the light comes on from bike to bike. My 2011 and 2014 come on before the gauge is at bottom, much like described above, and I put 5 or 5-1/2 gallons in when I finally fill it up. It sounds like yours is coming on more in line with the BRP specs, that is it will come on just in time for you to run out of gas! 30 miles under optimum conditions. Let's hope you never find out the hard way.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: This must be "Bike to Bike" differences... :thumbup:

 

[garb55]

:dontknow: I don't know what's going on...
I have never seen the "FILLMEUPNOW!!!" light, yet I've put as much as 5.492 gallons in the bike in one filling.
My opinion, is that the new gauges are FAR more accurate than the previous versions. I used to rideby my trip odometer; now, I ride by the gauge. :thumbup:

I have seen the low fuel light a few times
But the "FILLMEUPNOW!!!" light comes on when my stomach growls :roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: You have one of those also???

Mine actually NEVER goes out... pps:

 

[Mr. White]

As you gentlemen get older, you will go by your bladder gauge, not your gas gauge...hee hee I fill one and empty the other @ 150 miles....works for me. As Clint says "it is hell getting old".

:spyder2:

 

[Bob Denman]

My Grampa Denman used to say,
"There's nothing wrong with getting old; but it IS a bit unhandy at times."

 

[2dogs]

Now.......

What was that I said about all the different answers you'd get to your fuel capacity question..............:roflblack: :roflblack: You've just got to love this site, it's the best one around. :thumbup: