Hands Up Who Has Run Out of Fuel

[gvw]

Just happened tonight on the G12SE, thought I would get 50km on the reserve, got me at 40.2km.

Luckily I was only about 300m short of a gas station Took 16.5 litres.

[pete roper]

Paging Mr, Hagan! Mr. Hagan to the courtesy phone!!!!

Pete

[Ad B]

Hi GVW,

sorry, I have to keep my hands down...
mmmmpppfff... , running out of fuell is not the smartest thing to do after 40 km driving on your reserve...
I have been about 35 km on my reserve, had to do 15,5 ltr in my G12.
I think I won't do more on reserve on country roads.
At long distance and high way use with common speed it can be more.
But I'll rather stop at 200-230 km than taking the risc to a multi km walk along the high way.
Learn the behaviour of your bike... at any conditions.

Ad B

[Bill Hagan]

Hi GVW,

****

running out of fuel is not the smartest thing to do after 40 km driving on your reserve...

****

I think I won't do more on reserve on country roads.

****

But I'll rather stop at 200-230 km than taking the risc to a multi km walk along the high way.
Learn the behaviour of your bike... at any conditions.

Ad B

Don't think GVW was claiming to be a genius in this, just human. And, while I do not know the situation all over Europe, there are -- even in the east of the US - many desolate stretches without fuel for many miles. Plus, while I suppose most any commercial automotive fuel is better than a sputtering coast to the side of the road in BFE, Nowhere, many of us believe prayer and a sinless life will get us to a fuel point with non-ethanol premium-grade gasoline for our sweet machines.

Paging Mr, Hagan! Mr. Hagan to the courtesy phone!!!!

Pete

Thanks. It's true. Happily, had my support staff along.

[Greyo]

OK, I bet nobody's gonna match my "2011 Dummest G8VSE Owner" record: I've done it twice in 6 months...

[ghezzi]

I have run out twice in the car when the trip computer had a hick-up and said I had 140k to go, with a 70 litre fuel tank that variation is possible.

With any new bike I would drain and measure capacity and reserve. Zero trip whenever I fill up. When I hit reserve a quick mental calculation will tell me how far reserve will last at current usage rates.

However, the Bellagio has no tap so I am relying on a yellow light and another computerised trip meter, hope its more reliable than the Ford item.

The "Hagan" support system is very wise until you know for sure.

[Mark111]

Did this deliberately 6 months ago on my way home from a weekend trip.
As I had a couple of litres of spare fuel with me and not that far from home I let it run dry to see how far I could go on a tank and on reserve.
I hit the reserve light at 230km and it came to a stop at 300km so I got 70km out of the reserve. I was on my own carrying camping gear, throw over bags and rear ventura rack bag and a tank bag, so reasonably heavily loaded. I also continued at the same pace which was at or above the local speedlimits where appropriate so I wasn't being deliberately conservative but wasn't in pretend racer mode. Worked out to be 5.5km per 100 liters or 50mpg (imperial)

I regularly let it run to 40-50km on reserve whilst looking for fuel but I always check the fuel usage on the instrument display before taking this decision, obviously if consumption is high I tend to be a bit more conservative and fill up earlier. I find the fuel usage reading on my bike to be very accuarate as I have compared it wih manual refill caculations may times. My bike has always been pretty efficient and I am happy to trust my instruments.

Mark

[Ad B]

Hi,

it wasn't my intension to say sombody is really stupid or a dumbo....
But I'm going to laugh every time I hear this or see somebody standing along the road ,
who I will try to help, off course.
And maybe I'm living in a luxurious enviremont.
I always can get fuell within 10-30 km. In strong religious regions (yes, we still have them... ) not on Sunday...
Driving on the highway in Europe, most of the time, the distance till the next gasstation is written on the first sign of a petrol station.
Than I can calculate if I'm going to take gas at 190 km or (for instance) at 240 km (if the next is at 50 km...).
I can drive and calculate at the same time , take gas better 10 km to early than 100 mtr to late and more of this.
That's why I'm not a walker...

Ad B

[john zibell]

Ad B,

What you say about Europe is true. That is why since the mid 90s I've wanted to get the fuel tank designers here to the US and send them on a ride. Fuel stops here can be few and far between, and there is no signage to tell you the distance to the next fuel stop. Tiny tanks make long distance riding interesting here. I went so far as to modify the fuel tank on my 1998 EV to 6.8 US gallons so I could get somewhere and not worry about running out of fuel. I even kept that tank for my 2003 EV (just had it painted to match the bike). It wasn't until 2006 and the 6 gallon tank on the 1100 Breva that I parted with the cash for a new bike. I would have kept the 2003 until it was completely worn out other wise.

[Greyo]

I always can get fuell within 10-30 km. In strong religious regions (yes, we still have them... ) not on Sunday...

Well, here in the south-eastern US bible belt we still have prohibition-era county laws that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday... so much for the separation of church and state... anyhow, I definitely prefer that than not being able to find gas