How far can you push it?

[redeye]

The Wife & I went for a short ride last nite. After about 5 miles the fuel reserve lite came on. No flashing or on & off like in the past, it just lit up & stayed on soild. We were about 10 miles in the back country of Placer County.

My question is, how far do you go when the reserve lite comes on? In my case I went about 7 miles before I found a gas station. The bike took 3.8 gals. The pump stopped at 3.2 gals & I did top off up to the filler neck. So if my math is correct I still had 1.2 gals left in the tank. I guess another question would be, is this whole 1.2 gals available to utilize if you're out in the boonies?

I read on the VROC board a member ran out of gas with his '03 FI & he had to push the bike to a gas station. He said the tank was full after 4.2 gals.

I can usually go over 30 miles in town on my 1500, which means I had at least a gallon actually available, plus the 3 pints or so (they say) you can't suck up at all.

I have the (theoretically) 5 gallon tank. I have pumped as much as 4.7 gallons into mine when it was really empty. It didn't stall, but was perhaps starting to stumble a little as I pulled up to the pumps.

[Top Cat]

I've gone 30 miles after the light came on.

[misunderstood]

I've calculated about a gallon left to use when I hit empty on the gauge of my 2000 model.

[cactusjack]

I've had my light come on, driven 10+ miles and it still had more than a gallon in it. I don't think I've ever put more than 4.3 gallons in mine.

One thing to mention: A nose down attitude on the bike makes it come on sooner. I have a taller rear tire, a slightly shorter front tire, and keep the shocks pumped up, so mine may come on sooner than some.

[blowndodge]

4.5 gallons to fill after the yellow light went on and off, depending if I was on the brakes or not. Usually on the highway i get the light at about 170 miles out. In the city about 145 miles.

[fish]

I put 4.2 gal. in yesterday and the light was on for about 10 miles

[flightdoc]

I got about 150-160 when my light comes on and I usually put about 4.3 - 4.5 gal. in it. If I'm not mistaken my 05 has a 5.3gal tank.

[jmorrow]

My light usually comes on at 140- 160 mile. Once out in S/E Colorado I had 212 mile on the trip
meter when I finally made it to a farm house on US160 and a nice elderly Gent gave us a
Gallon of gas to make it to the next town (Springfield, Co.- 27 mile) ,talk about
sweat-in it!!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif

[rlfaubion]

I've run out of gas about 5 or 6 times in the last two years. After the light comes on you should have 1 gallon. However, it will start to sputter and cough after that, but if you rock, roll & shake back and forth going down the road you can get another 5 to 10 miles out of it. I've put in 5.1 gals after having to push it 1/2 mi upgrade and coast down 1/2 mile to the station. One riding partner carries a siphon hose for me. I'm not used to having a gas gauge.

[soldierboy3502]

Does the '99 Nad have "the light" that turns on?

[audiogooroo]

Does the '99 Nad have "the light" that turns on?
Nope. 99 is a carbed bike and has a reserve. The FI bikes have the light.

To answer your question redeye I don't think the whole 1.2 gallons is avail. for use. I've ran out of gas a few times thinking I had more in there than I did. A couple of times I've gone around 30 miles after the light came on and a couple of times I've ran out before I've gone 30. Next time my fuel light come on I'm looking for gas within 10 miles. I don't trust the light sometimes it flickers and sometimes it just comes on and stays on.

[ringadingh]

Ive gone about 35 miles a few times with the light on.

[ells]

I've run out of gas about 5 or 6 times in the last two years. After the light comes on you should have 1 gallon. However, it will start to sputter and cough after that, but if you rock, roll & shake back and forth going down the road you can get another 5 to 10 miles out of it. I've put in 5.1 gals after having to push it 1/2 mi upgrade and coast down 1/2 mile to the station. One riding partner carries a siphon hose for me. I'm not used to having a gas gauge.

Pushing a Nomad 1/2 mile up hill - I think I'd let her set and go get a gas can. Maybe not a good idea on an FI

I'd rather have reserve than a gage. The reserve lets you know exactly what you have left and easy enough to keep track of things roughly up to that point with the trip meter. Maybe not a good idea on an FI since the pump doesn't like going dry.

[rlfaubion]

[quote:okpjob7n]I've run out of gas about 5 or 6 times in the last two years. After the light comes on you should have 1 gallon. However, it will start to sputter and cough after that, but if you rock, roll & shake back and forth going down the road you can get another 5 to 10 miles out of it. I've put in 5.1 gals after having to push it 1/2 mi upgrade and coast down 1/2 mile to the station. One riding partner carries a siphon hose for me. I'm not used to having a gas gauge.

Pushing a Nomad 1/2 mile up hill - I think I'd let her set and go get a gas can. Maybe not a good idea on an FI

I'd rather have reserve than a gage. The reserve lets you know exactly what you have left and easy enough to keep track of things roughly up to that point with the trip meter. Maybe not a good idea on an FI since the pump doesn't like going dry.[/quote:okpjob7n]

I agree on the reserve idea. When I pushed the bike, I was on I-5 in No Calif. because I was on an incline I had no idea what was at the top of the hill. You might understand my joy to see a downhill 1/2 mile coast to a station. I-5 can be the worst place to run out of gas in California with many miles between gas stations.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s31/rlfaubion/10.jpg

I hope this thread doesn't jinx me. I have never ran out of gas on the Nomad, nor have I had the light come on. I stop and get gas about every 125 miles. That also lets me mix regular and premium with about a 50/50 ratio. I get regular one time and premium the next. Usually about 3 gallons at a time.

[dank]

Mine takes 4.2 gallons when the light comes on. I have gone 26 with the light on, but never had the nerve (or need) to go more.

[dogdoc]

I've gone 25-30 miles after the light came on but wolfman is right, sometimes the light stays on and sometimes it flickers. makes you wonder.

You do have to consider the conditions under which you're riding. In town I might get 32 MPG but maybe 29 in the cold of winter. On the freeway I might get 45 or 33 depending on speed and wind direction. I've got as low as 28 and as high as 50. If you're short on gas, keep the right hand steady, short shift, keep the speed down, and hunker down behind the windshield. It all helps.

[waterman]

I've only pushed it once to have the light on. Ran another 15 to 20 miles and put in 4.2 gallons. I really only put 150 miles on before I am ready to stretch the legs. If the wife is on, it might be 100 miles before she wants to stretch. Since I am stopped, might as well fill up.

[coacha]

My 99 goes about 130 with two up before I have to switch over to reserve. I probably have around .7 gallons left at that point. I have gone another 30 on it and filled up with about 3.7 gallons. I hate the feeling of sputter.

[unwind2]

I hope this thread doesn't jinx me. I have never ran out of gas on the Nomad, nor have I had the light come on. I stop and get gas about every 125 miles. That also lets me mix regular and premium with about a 50/50 ratio. I get regular one time and premium the next. Usually about 3 gallons at a time.

We stop every 160-170 miles. It's good to get off and strech the legs.....also I'll alternate on stops some....drinking water or soda (we carry iced down drinks with us)....next stop...restroom. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

My '99 has only a 4.2gal tank...... but it's so much faster I don't care!!! ;)

[macmac]

My 06 works like a clock. Get fuel at 170 miles and I never see that light. I know it will be ON very soon though.

Since the pump is in the tank and likes being cooled by the fuel itself, it isn't the best idea to make a habit of riding with thart light one, counting the last few miles to get more.

The pump will heat and that will shorten it's life. So far I have never heard of a pump failing, but I bet they are pricey, just the same.

[BandC]

I have about 1 gallon left when the light goes on. As far as pushing the Nomad, I heard you shouldn't push them unless your'e within 50' of a hospital emergency room! :)

[redeye]

UPDATE: I've been riding the bike to work this past week. I had the light flicker on & off for about 5-6 miles on wednesday. I put 3.9 gals in the tank at 162 miles. Most of the miles were on the freeway doing 70-80 mph as shown on the speedometer.

I can report that on my bike the speedometer is fast by 10%,
BUT the odometer is right on. I've been driving to the same job over the same route for the past 18 years, & it's exactly 27.5 miles from my front door to the job. The bike trip odo recorded exactly 27.5 miles. -Rich

My satrun reads 29.0 miles from my driveway to my work parking lot. My nomad reads 30.0

I think pablo was saying that his odometer is slightly off too but not as bad as the speedometer. My speedometer is also off 10% as checked by road work radar signs.

[Todd]

My satrun reads 29.0 miles from my driveway to my work parking lot. My nomad reads 30.0

I think pablo was saying that his odometer is slightly off too but not as bad as the speedometer. My speedometer is also off 10% as checked by road work radar signs.

Dang Saturn...you need to have it looked at wolfman http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[rlfaubion]

It's my understanding if you're speedo is off by 10% or more, Kawa will fix it under warranty. So our local service manager told me. However, I doubt that would work for me as I don't run stock size tires so I haven't inquired further about it.

My speedo is more correct since I went from a 150 rear to a 160 rear tire. For older Nomads with speedo drive on the front wheel, that won't work of course.

As for the light, Mine comes on every Friday, part way to work. Sometimes it even comes on Thursday night if I've been "riding with abandon". I ride to work and back with it on which is another 15~25 miles, and I fill the gas Friday evening. If I ride on the weekend, I fill the tank again Monday Morning, and one tank get's me to work and back a whole week.

OK, I'm not actually trying to brag here. My point is that my yellow light has been coming on every Thursday or Friday for 4 1/2 years just from my normal commuting. I don't believe this poses any form of problem as far as shortening pump life. Ma Kaw designed in enough "extra" gas to keep it covered.

So on my '99 the speedo is to the front wheel?

Yup.

[redeye]

So on my '99 the speedo is to the front wheel?

So with no drag on the rear tire, your bike MUST faster than newer models, RIGHT?????????????

That undersized Maxxis tire just makes the speedo read faster.... ;)

[blowndodge]

So on my '99 the speedo is to the front wheel?

<marquee>You are no Nomad mechanic!!!</marquee>

[doctorgski]

We ran out of gas about 5 days ago, after 183 miles. Light was on for 28 miles. Could only put 5 gal in the 5.3 tank. Next time : light on - looking for a station

[ringadingh]

We ran out of gas about 5 days ago, after 183 miles. Light was on for 28 miles. Could only put 5 gal in the 5.3 tank. Next time : light on - looking for a station

Its not often I can get 155 miles before the light comes on, Mines comes on between 120 and 135 most times. At around 180 miles Im running on fumes.

[flightdoc]

Mine comes on at about 140 too. I feel uncomfortable if I don't fill up by 160 but have gone 180+. I get 40-42mpg consistantly so when the light comes on I always assume one gallon left and even thought I could go 40+ miles I try not to exceed 30 miles before filling up.

[dantama]

Mine came on last week and I was riding around the city, eventually it would stall at every stop light and I'd shake it back and forth hoping that more gas would get to the pump.

When I pulled into a station, I put 4.85 gal in it.

Mine runs really poor if you get down that far.

[redjay]

Hi All, I filled the tank tonight for the first time on my recently acquired 05 Nad. Although it was full to within an inch of the filler cap it never registered as being full on the nacelle tank gauge and was one bar below full. It had the bike upright when filling it.
Is this normal ?

[ells]

Redjay, something is not right. I believe most people fill them on the side stand and only to the bottom of the filler neck tube. When I do on my 05 all bars are lit and stay lit for about 40 miles before the first one drop out, which is what you would expect. There are cautions in the MOM about filling past the bottom the that filler neck.

Hi All, I filled the tank tonight for the first time on my recently acquired 05 Nad. Although it was full to within an inch of the filler cap it never registered as being full on the nacelle tank gauge and was one bar below full. It had the bike upright when filling it.
Is this normal ?


That is normal if you fill it with the bike upright because you aren't filling it all the way up. You should fuel it on its side stand. More fuel will flow into the left portion of the tank. Like ells said fill it to the metal part of the filler neck but not past