Gas Tank - I'm Confused

[gnirtsnod]

Thanks, Bob. So you're saying that you think I still had a gallon left? I guess the only way to really check this is to let it completely run out.

Erik, I was going 70 mph oh the highway for 5 or 10 minutes, so about 5 to 10 miles. Can't remember exactly.

I carry a one gallon spare tank in my frunk - always! One way to determine "approximately" how far you can ride after the light comes on is to carry a can (full) and check how many miles you can go after the light comes on, before the engine just stops. Did I tell you that the Spyder doesn't sputter, run, sputter, die? It just stops when out of gas. I know and that's why I carry the spare can. ...Don

P.S. The carry can is a Roto-Pax one gallon and fits nicely in the bottom, back of the frunk. Lots of peace of mind and you can sell the gallon for $25 if one of your friends runs out while on the Blue Ridge Parkway. ;-)

 

[mpapatonis]

Funny

Funny, because the Blue Ridge is exactly what I'm prepping for.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Mmm..I want both. I'll have to pull it and see, there is either an extra wire to signal computer that the gauge is connected, or it's going on resistance difference once it's connected. I'm betting on extra wire so it should be a case of identification and a bit of a snip (no don't call the Mohel, I can handle it!).

Like Bob says, can't have both. All the wires go into the cluster, and several are connected together. The cluster processor does all the sorting out of the signals. To paraphrase an old line, "You can't fool Nanny!"

 

[mpapatonis]

Accurate

Are the digital meters accurate enough that it's worth using them instead?

 

[Bob Denman]

Some folks seem to think so...
But from what I've seen; the 2014 analogs, are a WHOLE lot more accurate than the previous versions... :thumbup:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Finger gage...cheap...works too!

I fill up. I stick my finger in the tank just a little way. If I see gas on my finger, then it's full. I drive 125 miles. I stick my finger in the tank as far as possible. If I see gas on my finger, I don't need gas yet. If I don't see gas on my finger, I get gassed.

My my finger stinks, but I've not run out of gas.

 

[bullant12]

With my 2010, I ran it until the tank went dry and cut the engine (twice and not on purpose). On both occasions I remember filling up the tank to 5.9-6 gallons.

Not with my 2013. As soon as the light comes on, I am looking for a gas station. Tank usually goes from 4.5 - 5 gallons.

 

[Bob Denman]

So far, the most fuel that I've ever had to put in mine was 5.49 gallons; the low fuel light had not yet some on... :shocked:

 

[AeroPilot]

237 miles on a tank of gas..low fuel light was on

Wife and I just filled up after running 237 miles, my 15 base RT SE6 and her F3T SE6 rode on secondary roads at 66-68 mph with a SLIGHT TAIL WIND. My low fuel light was on for the last 27 miles, and her low fuel light just came on as we rolled into town. When we filled up both took 5.9 gals for an average of 40.1 mpg. I was a little nervous after the last "bar" on the gas gauge went out, but since I thought I could count on her to pick me up we were okay. I don't think I have ever put 6 gals of gas in at a fillup, but I have on at least one other occasion ridden 30 miles with the fuel light on without running out. YMMV

 

[Grandpot]

I just fill up every 100 miles. Keeps the blood pressure down.

Rules to live by:

1. Never pass up a chance to fill up.
2. Never pass up a chance to pee.
3. By all means, never trust a fart!

 

[Bob Denman]

 

[jerpinoy]

Can Am are smarter by not accurately set the fuel gage.:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:. They don't let us by the road side. They will look bad isn't?:banghead:

 

[AeroPilot]

Still waiting to hear from someone who has reached the 250 miles per tank

While we certainly enjoy the 200 miles per tank over the 150 miles we could get with the Twin 998 model, I don't think we'll ever see the touted 250 miles per tank stated in the sales pitch for the 1330 engine. I do feel that the wife's F3T has a better chance of hitting it tho' with her 6.9 gal tank capacity. But 200 miles plus sure gives us better range than most bikes we ride with here in the west where gas is often a "long way to go".

 

[ARtraveler]

While we certainly enjoy the 200 miles per tank over the 150 miles we could get with the Twin 998 model, I don't think we'll ever see the touted 250 miles per tank stated in the sales pitch for the 1330 engine. I do feel that the wife's F3T has a better chance of hitting it tho' with her 6.9 gal tank capacity. But 200 miles plus sure gives us better range than most bikes we ride with here in the west where gas is often a "long way to go".

For the 250, I am guessing--test driven at 50 mph downhill, with the wind at your back.

 

[AeroPilot]

That would be the way to do it.. definately at the lower speed

For the 250, I am guessing--test driven at 50 mph downhill, with the wind at your back.

"*Tested at constant speed. Fuel mileage may vary depending on Spyder RTS models, personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition, vehicle configuration and other conditions. Up to 202 miles tested at constant speed 75 mph (325 km at 120 km/h). Break-in mileage may vary."

I nominate Bob D for achieving the first mileage per tank goal (sales literature of 252 per tank, speed not stated), but doubt anyone can reach the 75 MPH goal of 202 miles on a public highway with an RTopcorn:. Hmmm...what would it take?

 

[Bob Denman]

Somebody can make it to 260 miles... nojoke
My best is only 236.4 miles: but I only took 5.557 gallons (42.5 mpg)
That should leave somebody with about a gallon's worth of more miles! :2thumbs:

My ride for that tank was largely on the interstates: running an indicated 62 mph.
(Actual GPS reading was 60 mph.)

 

[ARtraveler]

"*Tested at constant speed. Fuel mileage may vary depending on Spyder RTS models, personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition, vehicle configuration and other conditions. Up to 202 miles tested at constant speed 75 mph (325 km at 120 km/h). Break-in mileage may vary."

I nominate Bob D for achieving the first mileage per tank goal (sales literature of 252 per tank, speed not stated), but doubt anyone can reach the 75 MPH goal of 202 miles on a public highway with an RTopcorn:. Hmmm...what would it take?

The good side: most of us don't buy them for their economy--although for me, the 1330 is an improvement over the 998. 39-40 vs. 31 or so. :thumbup:

 

[DGoebel]

I too bought one of the Reda 1 Gal Motorcycle spare Gas Cans, and in preparation for a Smackdab ride of 700+ miles through NE, SD, and ND on a pretty sparsely populated route and for my Iron Butt SS1K ride. Never needed it, but did take my '13 Spyder out for several mileage test runs, with the intent of seeing how far I could get at modest 65 MPH driving. Best was 187 miles and it ran dry, like others have said, no sputter, just off while rolling down MN Highway 60. Used the tank there, got back to Gas station and put in 6+ gallons. The Analog Gas gauge read empty at 156, the Reserve light came on before that. With Tail winds and modest speeds.
On the Smackdab ride we rode into very high winds the whole afternoon, sometimes over 25 mph directly into our faces. We were on Reserve (dash low fuel light on) in less than a hundred miles sometimes. I think one of our fill ups was only 20mpg, putting in 6 gals for 120 miles.

 

[OverHillAndDale]

The 2014 gauges appear to be MUCH more accurate! :thumbup:

I also have a 2014 and my digital gauges annoyed me. When my bike was a full as it would allow, the top segment of the digital gauge never lit up. I went back to the analog gauges a year ago and I personally found them more usable.

I once got in a handle when I couldn't find gas after the fuel light came on, and I was pulling my trailer on an interstate. I went just over 30 miles and found gas with no issue. That's as far as I EVER intend to push my luck!

 

[Bob Denman]

Some of the BEST stories come from experiences like yours!
(Glad to hear that there was no "walking, and long faces" in your story! :thumbup