Fuel Gauge reading on Vaquero

[0vationdave]

II replied to a post and realized it was on the 1500/1600 forum, so I am re-posting here.

On my 1700 Vaquero, after riding down south, I noticed my fuel gauge seemed OK until I hit a 1/4 tank, then the gauge goes from 1/4 to "FUEL-FUEL-FUEL" flashing and the gauge at zero in nothing flat. So I fill up, and I get about 3.2 or something stupid. So how much fuel does the bike REALLY hold, and how many miles can I REALLY go???? I am having a hard time believing that after my fuel light is flashing I have almost 2 gallons left??!?!?

Anyone else see this? Is this normal?

Thanks,

Dave

[cactusjack]

Don't rely on the gauge, go by mileage. I have yet to see a motorcycle fuel gauge that is very accurate.

[redjay]

I can get 270 kms on my Voyager before I get the low fuel warning.
You are correct, 1/4 tank left and low fuel warning are very close together.

[Peg]

I've asked the same question before, but never found anyone who was inclined to be the guinea-pig and run their VV or Vaq right out of fuel for the sake of research... Understandable really, when there's a chance it could damage the fuel pump.

When my Fuel display starts flashing, I switch over to odo A (that cancels out the flashing warning), and reset it to zero. I know from experience that I have 50km (30 miles?) at least of fuel left in the tank, so can start making calculations to find the next available gas stop.

[0vationdave]

I didn't know that cancelled the flashing, but good to know, thanks for the tip. I think a better way to check the tank would be to drain it after the fuel light comes on, but that's just me. My concern (at the time) was riding in the mountains where fuel stops can be a bit more distance between sometimes. So, when I got low, I was pretty much ready for a break anyway, so I just stopped and fueled up & stretched at the next opportunity (never had to push it too much).

[boyntonbeachrider]

I have found that I usually have a gallon or so left before my warning light comes on. Usually get 4 to 4.3 gallons into tank after fill.

[Mr-Grimm]

The manual says that the light comes on with 1.3 gallons left. Leaning in curves or even putting the bike on the stand is going to trick the sending unit. I'm not pushing an 800 lb bike anywhere so I just fuel up when it comes on.

[The Black Knight]

I can get 270/280 kms on my Vaquero before I get the low fuel warning. I usually refuel my bike not over 250 kms covered. :wave:

[captj3]

When my light comes on I usually take 4.3 gals of gas. Most times I just fuel up when I'm near a station, there is no way in hell I'm pushing this bike to get gas...lol

[27vulcan]

Just got an 09 voyager and noticed the same thing, seemed like the gauge dropped like a rock once it it 1/4 tank. I Had 900 classic before and remember seeing a fix for that one, as it was inaccurate. Changed a resistor i believe.

[hlknvlcn60]

It's pretty typical of Kawasaki cruisers to have you thinking you are suddenly running on fumes when indeed you may have up to two gallons or more. My '02 Meanstreak 1500's fuel warning light comes on with only about 110 miles on the trip meter but that bike holds 4.5 gallons and gets average about 45 MPG. My Vaquero holds 5.3 so when the warning light comes on with that bike, I would assume you still have at least a gallon and ahalf left. Nice thing about the Vaquero...set your trip meter and run the bike off a full tank until the light flashes, and then check your total mileage on that run and figure about 37-40 mpg....do the math. I never rely on fuel gauges on bikes, they're never accurate just go by your tripmeter. I also understand the range mode miles total read out on the Vaq is pretty accurate too.

[ctc6698]

Might be better if they'd just put the gas valve back under the tank so you could flip her when she sputters doing 60 down the highway.....ahhhhh, the good old days.:tup:

[toogun]

Might be better if they'd just put the gas valve back under the tank so you could flip her when she sputters doing 60 down the highway.....ahhhhh, the good old days.:tup:
But it really sucks when you inadvertently had moved it to reserve went you started out.....sputter sputter....damn.:tup:

[redjay]

The good old days, fiddling around with a choke lever until the bike warms up, float bowls flooding, valve lash adjustments, oil leaks. kickstarters, Lucas electrics. I remember the good old days :)

[Old Bear]

The good old days, fiddling around with a choke lever until the bike warms up, float bowls flooding, valve lash adjustments, oil leaks. kickstarters, Lucas electrics. I remember the good old days :)
Yup, that's what I remember as well ... >:(
My fuel gauge has been very consistent, which to me is what is most important. I too have wanted to drain the tank and see exactly how much it really holds.
Speaking of being annoyed by silly stuff, the marks on the fuel gauge are actually in 1/6 increments. So we go E, 1/6, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 5/6, F. Trying to say that with understanding over the headset to another rider? Fugitaboutit!

[Longshot1587]

When my light comes on I usually take 4.3 gals of gas. Most times I just fuel up when I'm near a station, there is no way in hell I'm pushing this bike to get gas...lol:yep:

I'm with Captj3. I have a hard enough time moving the big girl around in the garage...

[JD Hog]

I've asked the same question before, but never found anyone who was inclined to be the guinea-pig and run their VV or Vaq right out of fuel for the sake of research... Understandable really, when there's a chance it could damage the fuel pump.

When my Fuel display starts flashing, I switch over to odo A (that cancels out the flashing warning), and reset it to zero. I know from experience that I have 50km (30 miles?) at least of fuel left in the tank, so can start making calculations to find the next available gas stop.

Peg, thanks for this tip :tup:

I was a little concerned when this happened and I lost the read outs and the gas gauge >:( You would think that Kawasaki would put this information in the owners manual :???:

[HwyRider]

The tank holds 5.3 US gallons.

[hlknvlcn60]

REDJAY laughing my ass off the good old days....remember 'em well the carb issues and having to reach down and flip the lever on the petcock. How funny! That could be treacherous if you are riding in rush hour traffic. I have never seen a fuel injected scoot with a petcock, ever. Most fuel gauges on bikes always have you thinking you are running out of fuel before you actually are as a precaution, just to get you to the pump and keep your tank on the upper full end. I suppose if one of us wanted to take a chance on the fuel pump, you could bungee a gallon of gas on your luggage rack and do a test, see just how far a full tank could go just cruising and know once and for all.

[aron77]

I don't pay much attention to the gas gage at all. I haven't had the bike long but I usually get about 200+ miles on a tank and on the upper end up that range I put about 5 gallons in so I'm pretty confident with that range. Now I did do that one day and totally disregarded the gage and incessant flashing light knowing that I had at least a gallon still in there but I forgot that I had been stuck in a bunch of rush hour traffic on the way to work and when I got gas it was over 5 gallons so that was living dangeriously.

So my experience, and I posted about this on the other forum and they tended to confirm this, was you can get at least 200 miles on a tank and anything over that you better have done some easy riding or you are really pushing it. But I usually fill around the time the annoying flasher comes on and I usually end up with around 4-4.5 gallons of gas.