Fueling Siverwing

From recent trips:

SilverWing 600 has 16 liter tank, a little over 4 USgallons, probably a little small for touring on 50mpg machine.

Reg fuel works fine, in addition to fuel gauge, I use trip miles A as reminder----I do not want to run out of gas and hate walking


Some rules I use:

at 75 miles in totally unknown territory=look for fuel
100 miles in kinda known territory=start looking for fuel

In well known territory at 125 miles begin looking.

Recent ride to AK, most I put in----14.2liters one stop in Canada, in US 3.2 gallons. Both times I felt walking might be coming up.


Only one place I have ridden to in N America that requires carrying extra gas, is the road in Quebec leading to James Bay----road is private, long way go to next gas, I bought gas can and used on way up and way back BMW K-75----gave away when no longer needed.

Just got back today from a trip along the Oregon Coast. After riding 300 miles of coast line and admiring the beautiful scenery I was constantly aware of the limitations of the Swing tank. I hate that last remaining bar that blinks away as a constant reminder that you need to find a gas station in short order. Riding in unfamiliar territory your never quite sure how far the next station is. At one point and after considerable time on the blink I was so pleased to see a gas station in the wilderness that I could have hugged the pump attendant. I was sure I would have to do some walking.

My observations, I also use the A trip to keep track;

First bar disappears at 88kms on the money!
Last bar starts blinking at 280 to 300kms.
I travel at mostly 90-110 km/hr on the highway

I was contemplating carrying a 1 litre gas bottle but could have, should have, would have!

My observations: I got about 20km/litre. The last flashing bar indicates there are exactly 4 litres left, so you're good for another 80 km. I always carried a 5 litre plastic gas can when I was going long distances, so I knew when the last bar started flashing I was good for another 180 km.

My 1st. long trip I ran out of gas on interstate 94 in Minneapolis, scary. I now carry a 1 qt. can with me. Haven't had to use it.

Chilliwing wrote:

<>My observations, I also use the A trip to keep track;
First bar disappears at 88kms on the money!
Last bar starts blinking at 280 to 300kms.<>

Rule of Thumb says: The miles showing when that first bar drops out will be your effective miles per gallon. And given that the fuel for first bar and the last bar both the same then, in your example, you would have approximately  88kms left once that reserve starts blinking.

You metric folk will need to adjust that Rule of Thumb for liters per hundred kilometers though.

Tim

edit to correct format error

Fuel often/don't trust electric, electronic stuff/ trip miles better and you probably will not be walking/pushing.

Like John, I always reset my trip meter when I fill up. But I've noticed what Tim said is true. When the first bar goes out if I make a point to remember the miles on the trip meter it is the same as what I average in MPGs. Also if I get gas when the bar starts blinking it takes about 3.2 gallons. So the first bar is one gallon and the last bar flashing is about a gallon. I believe bigbird has pointed this out before also so it must be pretty standard.

Doesn't much matter to me. At my age the bladder needs service before the fuel tank! :lol!:

GHM-PM wrote:

Doesn't much matter to me.  At my age the bladder needs service before the fuel tank!   :lol!:

Probably true for many of us that haven't admitted it yet

Last mileage check was 46.3 mpg on local streets. I always carry a metal liter fuel bottle as a backup and refresh it monthly. Went from 70+ degrees on Monday in Chicago to snow last night with 10 - 15 ft. waves on Lake Michigan. 2014 riding days will be few and far between now. Had jury duty all this week, so I missed the nice weather Monday and Tuesday! This may be the first time I participate in the U.S.M. C. Toys for Tots ride in December, weather permitting. I'm on the opposite end of Chicago, so weather has to cooperate. Apparently, Scoot Jockeys Chicago participates, so that may be an incentive.

Were expecting our first snow tonite. "crap"

I have gone past 200 mi. on the odometer many times. I usually start looking for gas stations around 175 mi. and try to be sure to get it before 190.

I only ran out of gas once at 196 and I called a friend to bring me a couple of quarts from his lawnmower gas can. I was inconvenienced about 20 whole minutes. I did have a family size Papa Murphy's pizza in the trunk I was worried about getting too warm. (They always look at me funny picking up a big a** pizza wearing motorcycle gear.)

No offense, but sometimes I think everyone else riding a swing is an old lady.

Think about John's math for a second. He claims to get 50mpg. He knows the tank is just OVER 4 gallons. He starts looking for fuel at 75 MILES. 75!!! Even when he knows where every gas station is and how far to get there, he starts looking at 125! Why is he looking FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR OF RIDING AROUND HOME? Is he looking for that station with gas $.05 cheaper? for THREE gallons? So he can save fifteen cents?

Oh wait, I forgot John's standards for gas station bathrooms. Never mind, I understand now.