Filling up my bike..

[paula4u]

Running an Burgman 400 K8, I noticed lately that I seem to be filling up with only just 7 litres .. while on side stand I fill it to the top even when straight it doesnot go down.. seems a bit little

Now I know I dont ever run it empty but isnot the tank 13 litres?

[Chet_Benson]

3.6 / 13.5
Figure out your mpg. How many miles have you been and you can answer your own question?

[paula4u]

mpg is ok I was wondering if my fuel gage was a bit off, I'll take it down to empty ish.. and re check. Just wondering if I let it go down to seriously low, is the tank going to be full of rubbish and its not a wise thing to do,,or is that just an old wives tale? Grey bimbo at work today..


ah ... of course american gallons and uk gallons different size no wonder mpg's look different.

[Daboo]

I always fill my tank when it is on the centerstand. You'll never get a full tank when using just the sidestand. After I get the fuel to the bottom of the tank opening and just an inch or so up the tube, I'll stop and then rock the bike. You'll see trapped air come out and you can then fill it up a bit more. I do this 3-4 times. It isn't much extra gas, but when you're getting 65 mpg, you can go a long ways on that small amount.

Putting the bike on the center stand is more a matter of technique, than size, strength or weight. There's a video of a small woman putting her Burgman 650 on the centerstand with no trouble at all.

Chances are, it won't hurt anything to run the gas down to "empty ish". I'd think about bringing along a small container of gas though till you get used to the place where the gauge is at the bottom of the red, as you find out how much gas is left. Even a half-mile is a long way to consider pushing the bike to a gas station.

Chris

[paula4u]

Yes thanks Chris I think I shall start doing that again back on centre stand..used to do it but got lazy but when you are suddenly riding a lot.. I rather want to make sure my tank is really full. I broke a bone in my right foot (not healing so weaknes developed) so sometimes i use my left foot to put it on centre stand but no excuse for laziness ..

It's not hard to put it on centre stand Its having then knack of it.. burgman seems well balanced untill I load it up

btw Chris i quite liked those reflective strips.. I had to do a repaint job and I only did the edge till i got more time and higher temperatures so i used the strips to divide..the old and new paint.. and a few extra strips here and there..

[paula4u]

Ill buy a little bottle for petrol, ran about but know my next petrol is 30 miles away.. bought it where is was cheap got 170 miles out of my full tank.. and still only managed to put into it 9.85 litres.. drats so according to that I can easily get 200 miles out of a tank with normal riding?

[Raoul The Great]

It is not a good idea to fill the fuel tank right up to the rim. When the pump stops pumping, you should not force more fuel in. The reason being with increased heat, fuel expands and room must be left in the tank for this expansion.

[Daboo]

So much depends on how many miles (or kilometers) you're getting per gallon...US or UK gallons.

I'm averaging around 60 mpg now with winter temps and winds, plus slower traffic. Last summer on a trip with warmer temps and fewer stops, I was averaging around 70 mpg. 60 mpg * 3 gallons = 180 miles with a half gallon to spare. Maybe 210 miles tops. On the other hand, 70 mpg * 3 gallons = 210 miles with a half gallon to spare. Maybe 245 miles tops.

If you're counting on making 215 miles because you've done that in the summer time and it is now winter and winter-blend petrol, you might be walking 5 miles.

I try to monitor my gas mileage on the MPG dash readout, and compare it with what it comes out to be when I calculate the miles ridden with the fuel added. Generally, there's about a 3 MPG difference with the actual being higher than the readout. I can then do a mental calculation as I'm riding to judge how far I can go before finding a petrol station.

Chris

[InfernoST]

I usually fill up while sitting on the bike and only manage to put in at the most 2.5 US gallons when the needle is hovering around the red area.

[Elliott Larron]

I Fill mines to the brim with the richest taste of brim,

Then i rock it left & right front to back, then the Fuel drops down each time and then put more and more each rock.

Gary,

[TeeMon]

paula4u,

I'm curious. What is the price of regular unleaded there in your part of the world?

I'm located between San Francisco & Sacramento, California, USA and our prices (today) are:

Chevron $4.25 gal Shell $4.29 ARCO $ 4.09 that's all the gas (petrol) stations here in this small town.

Oh, I've learned to gas my bike up when it gets no lower than 1/2 tank reading on the fuel gauge. I've had close calls when I've let it get lower and there aren't any gas stations around.

[convertfromVespa]

When I had my Burgman 650, I typically refueled at 125 -150 miles. I am not one for pushing a bike. I pushed a Vespa P200E 35 miles, that was enough.

[Elliott Larron]

The Problem is to Never let it get that Low!! Always keep filling it with GAS to keep the Needle at the top, $2.00 or $3.00 every few hours, I never seen the Needle at empty or 1/2, Because i always keep gas Constantly Full.

At are Chevron, Gas is $4.37

seems to have went down a little, Some say that by the end of the year it may reach $5.00

Gary L,

[TeeMon]

I think that Gary has the right solution to avoid running out of fuel. I plan to try to keep my tank full or gas up whenever possible when I'm on a long ride, especially going over the High Sierras, the small towns in the Gold Country and other back roads.

And I took two small (quart size) fuel bottles out of storage to take with me on those rides. I did not enjoy my last couple of rides when I was low on fuel, somewhat lost, and no idea where I might find a gas station.

And because of a severe back injury, I cannot push my bike any distance at all. When I was young I pushed my 305 Honda Superhawk several miles and it wass not fun at all.

[RandyT]

I figure right around 180 miles, and I fill it up, and I still have over half a gallon left. Riding easy I think the best I've gotten was 215 and still had a half gallon left. I'm right around 180 now..I'll fill up on Wednesday and see what's left.

[cliffyk]

<snip> Just wondering if I let it go down to seriously low, is the tank going to be full of rubbish and its not a wise thing to do,,or is that just an old wives tale? <snip>

Wive's tale, the fuel pump inlet and strainer is at the bottom of the tank; if there were any "rubbish" and such it would be the first thing pumped out whether the tank were full or not...

[convertfromVespa]

My understanding is that it is not good for the fuel pump to be run dry. It is also bad for fuel injection system.

I know that there is a thread somewhere on this forum that discusses the topic of running out of fuel.

[Davej]

paula4u,

I'm curious. What is the price of regular unleaded there in your part of the world?

I'm located between San Francisco & Sacramento, California, USA and our prices (today) are:

Chevron $4.25 gal Shell $4.29 ARCO $ 4.09 that's all the gas (petrol) stations here in this small town.

Oh, I've learned to gas my bike up when it gets no lower than 1/2 tank reading on the fuel gauge. I've had close calls when I've let it get lower and there aren't any gas stations around.

Average fuel cost here in UK.....£6.20 per gallon........($9.84)

Most of the cost of our fuel, thanks to our wonderful government and disgusting fuel tax system !!!

rant over

davej.

[Monoplex]

Average <snip> UK.....£6.20 per gallon........($9.84)

Most of the cost of our fuel, thanks to our wonderful government and disgusting fuel tax system !!!

I'll grant you that my exposure is limited, but I will say that UK roads that I saw were in a much better state of repair than those in the U.S.

[Elliott Larron]

And I took two small (quart size) fuel bottles out of storage to take with me on those rides. I did not enjoy my last couple of rides when I was low on fuel, somewhat lost, and no idea where I might find a gas station.

And because of a severe back injury, I cannot push my bike any distance at all. When I was young I pushed my 305 Honda Superhawk several miles and it wass not fun at all.

I pushed my Burg 400 Down the street it was not easy, of course it was not a gas issue is was a Power issue, your right about one thing it's Dangerous,

Good ideal TeeMon, i can see it would be hard to keep fuel in the tank, at all times becuze when your out there on those roads there not to many gas stations , country roads are 35 to 100 miles apart.

$9.84 gallon you better Pack your bags, or get a Vectrex

Gary L,

[convertfromVespa]

...get a Vectrex

Gary L,

And a long extension cord......

[paula4u]

paula4u,

I'm curious. What is the price of regular unleaded there in your part of the world?

I'm located between San Francisco & Sacramento, California, USA and our prices (today) are:

Chevron $4.25 gal Shell $4.29 ARCO $ 4.09 that's all the gas (petrol) stations here in this small town.

Oh, I've learned to gas my bike up when it gets no lower than 1/2 tank reading on the fuel gauge. I've had close calls when I've let it get lower and there aren't any gas stations around.

current price is £1.32 to £1.42 per litre depending on where you get it..