A Close Call!

[jamiep24]

I've always wondered how far I could go on a tankful of gas on my Nomad. Well, I almost accidentally found out back in November. My light had come on and I was about 25 miles from a gas station, so I said to myself "I can get there with no problem". I got about a mile from the station and she started missing a little. First time that ever happened. I thought there was an engine problem at first. It didn't miss any more during that last mile. When I filled up, my Nomad held 5.395 gallons of gas. Now that's cutting it close. So now I know how much she will hold, anyway.

[clayton]

Well thats good to here.
I suppose that I better get to a station...thats realitivly close (within 20 miles) just to be safe.
I have an 08 also so you must have ran her dry...5.39 in gas to fill her up...that was pretty dry...:)

[1600bluekaw]

Ha don't be totally embarrassed. When I purchased my 08 Nomad brand new we were in the break in period when we were headed home the light came on & I just knew that we could make it to the pump. We were less than a mile when it starting missing & we coasted into a used car parking lot. The salesman sold me 2 gal of gas & we rode back to fuel station. Lesson learned when indicator light comes on you better be looking for fuel. My wife was riding on back & I could not talk her into pushing or hitch hiking for fuel, imagine that.

[watchman]

See here we are again with the inconsisty of the fuel light. Both Liz and I have ridden over 30 miles with the fuel light on solid, not blinking and when we filled up we could not get 5 gallons in either of the tanks. Our fuel lights usually start blinking around 150 miles and stays on around 160 miles. We have ridden over 180 miles before filling and still had over 1/2 gallon in the tanks. But, that is using the bikes trip odometer not the GPS. And all this goes out the window if we are running 80+ on the 4 lane.

[peabo2k]

I am with you watchman. I have rode over 30 miles once the light came on. I did it once and have not tempted faith again. In my case, the closes gas station was just over 30 miles from where the light came on. I was out on a long ride and totally forgot about the fact that I needed to get some gas, until the light came on.

[clayton]

Yea for the most part I think fuel gauges on a motorcycle are at best hit n miss...
Heck the only way I knew if I was low or about to run out was by monitoring the mileage.
On the 750 Shadow I own I was getting up to 55 mpg and once I hit around 175 it was time to hit a station...4 gallon'ish tank.
On the Nomad since I have owned it when I get to about 140 I gas up.
My light seems to vary but mostly comes on around 150'ish.
:)

[Jared]

I've never pumped more than 5 gallons in my bike and I too have ridden with the light on.

[taranis]

I usually start looking for a gas station around the 180 mile mark. I have found that the fuel "bar indicator" on my bike is fairly consistent. Two bars = time to start thinking about it, One Bar = time to REALLY start thinking about it. When the light goes solid I've ridden 20 miles to fill up, usually putting about 5.25 gallons in the tank.

[trosco]

I went 204 miles on a tank of gas once. Not by choice, was riding late at night, again not by choice and am very very paranoid about deer. Was running 55-60 mph and didn't even look down until the light came on in the 170's. In hill country of North AL at 1 AM not very many stations and I was sure I was walking when I hit 200 but then caught a all night station. Took 5.26 gallons to fill up so did not have much left. I normally get 38 mpg so did a little better than that but I figure tank is normally going to be dry at 190 and try to fill up between 140-160. Like Watchman, if I am pounding the interstate at 80+ then mileage drops off 3-4 mpg. Then I make my stops on the 140 side of things.

[ringadingh]

Ive ridden 30 miles or more many times when my fuel light is on, but its usually when Im in a familiar area and I know Im not far from a station.

[Cajunrider]

I've gone a little over 30 miles after the light stayed on solid. Not by choice though. Once was on the Natchez Trace where fuel stops are pretty rare unless you know exactly where they are. That one time it took over 5.2 gallons to fill it up. Never missed a lick.

[Sin City Stan]

I have to say the light is very consistant. I stopped within a couple blocks of when the light came on solid three times now. Each time I put in 4.3 gallons.

So I've got 34-40 miles left when the light comes on. Just depends on conditions and speed.

[qmaster234]

I can go 180 easy with mine, I usually get 40 mpg or better. 2006 vance and hines, Thunder K&N with cobra programmer.

[dandolfn]

I thought I was bad. Had my own close call where I had to rock the bike back and forth to feed the gas until I could get to the gas station.

My fill up was 5.15 gallons.

Never want to get that close again!!

[schoeney]

190 miles has been my max on my 2003 1500. Average 40-42mpg. Light comes on around 140.