Reserve Gas Milage

[ronnie]

Has anyone ran their nomad out of gas, and checked, or happen to know exactly how far it will go after the low fuel light comes on..... I've been about 25 miles on reserve, but, would like to know just how far it will go. I've got an o6, and I get pretty nervous, after about 25 miles... I think this would be a good thing to know, if you get into a pinch, which I'm sure we've all done, at one time or another....thanks

[waterman]

Ronnie, I haven't run mine out of gas yet. The longest I have run on a tank was roughly 180 miles which took 4.2 gallons. The reserve light was on for around 7 miles.

[cactusjack]

I recently ran my bike very low on fuel purposely because I was going to remove the tank to do some wiring. My light came on on my way home from work. I did the wiring the next day and when I finished, I rode to the gas station to fill up. The bike started sputtering and dying on me a couple of miles from my house, and I'm guessing about 20 miles or so after the light came on.

[schoeney]

I once rode 190 miles on my 4.2 gallon tank. The light came on at 150 (usually comes on @ 140).

I was on 1-5 all of the miles. Flat no hills cruising at 65. Mac says it is not good to run too long and too low on gas. Something about the gas cools something....fuel pump? Can't remember. So now when the light comes on I find the nearest station.

[swiftboot]

I have gotten 184, about 25 miles after the light came on. It will depend on your riding conditions, steep hills, stop and go, interstate speeds or just poking along at 55 on level ground with no stops etc. When my light came on I slowed to around 55 and was on level ground. chuck

[boomerang2120]

Related question: I have a 2000 - 1500 normally carb'd . It has the old style "On / Reserve" switch on the gas tank. Any experience with how long "Reserve" would take me if I ever needed it?

[dantama]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Related question: I have a 2000 - 1500 normally carb'd . It has the old style "On / Reserve" switch on the gas tank. Any experience with how long "Reserve" would take me if I ever needed it?

Reserve on that bike is 1 gallon. I consistently got 34mpg on mine, so when I switched over I always added 30 miles to the odo, and knew that I had to get gas by then. Whatever your mpg is, that is what you have left when you switch.

The petcock works as just one tube sticking up in the tank that is taller for the regular on, and when it gets out of fuel, there is still a gallon left below that tube. When you switch to reserve, you are drawing out of the bottom of the tank.

So if you forget to switch back to on after filling up, you will be drawing from the bottom. When you sputter at that point, you are out of fuel completely. I ran into trouble once when I left it on reserve for the whole tank, sputtered, reached down to put it on reserve and found that I had used up the whole tank while on reserve. No reserve left. That necessitated a stop at a farm house and asking for a splash of fuel.

[gman47]

This just happened to me!! My low fuel light comes on constantly at 130 -135 miles. I went approximately 60 miles farther ( total 190 miles) when I ran out of fuel......pulling into a station driveway!!!! What luck! From now on I'm looking to fuel up or planning fuel stops between 150 & 160 miles. By the way I put in 4.6 gallons. I haven't checked my manual yet but I believe I read it's a 5.1 gallon tank....HUUMMMMMM!! This was a good test and about what I expected. At least I had 12 other riders with me some of which could spare some fuel. I have the biggest engine (1600) over the others and therefore get a bit less mileage. As stated, driving style and conditions will cause variations in mileage.

[Sin City Stan]

Since owning my bike I've caught the light when it first came on three times and was able to gas up immediately. It consistantly took 4.3 gallons to fill every time.

So in my case when the light comes on I have one gallon left or 30-40 miles before I'm walking.

That being said, when on a trip I know pretty much before hand where my gas stops will be and more often than not it's long before I see a warning light.

I gave up running out of gas when I was a teenager.

[ringadingh]

I figure Im good for at least 40 miles. You have a 1 gallon reserve, so it depends on your fuel mileage. I usually get about 45 mpg so I figure I should be safe at 35-40 miles. Ive ridden many times with my fuel light on for 35 miles or so. My light comes on at about 150-160 miles most days.

[Jared]

My light seems to flicker on and off for about 15 miles. Not too sure when to start counting my miles. :)

Usually I fill up around 150 miles.

[timebandit]

I did 205 miles and still had little bit of gas left.
I do fill it up to the max every time.

[redjay]

The fuel pump sticks up into the tank about 4 inches. Run the tank completely empty and the pump loses a lot of cooling. The pump is $700 here in Canada.

[wheelie]

My experience was very similar to catusjack. I ran it low to do the fuel processor install went 15 miles at 70 mph, after the light came on. Did the work had to coast into the station two miles from the house.

[wheelie]

My experience was very similar to catusjack. I ran it low to do the fuel processor install went 15 miles at 70 mph, after the light came on. Did the work had to coast into the station two miles from the house.