Accuracy of miles to go readout

[GSmonkey]

On the way back from work (first day commuting on the new machine ) the fuel light came on and the countdown came on saying 38miles of range left. Now my daily commute is 30miles, so i thought that i wouldn't risk the estimate being that accurage considering the number of problems with the gauge, so decided to dive into the nearest garage.

I could then only get 12ltr in it, meaning 8ltr left. This would therefore mean the bike is assuming 20mpg. Now I now big bikes aren't that fuel efficient round town, but I'd expect more than that.

Now i noticed before under heavy acceleration down a motorway sliproad the fuel light came on before and the countdown started (previous tankfull). When I started cruising on the motorway the light went off and didn't come back on for another 20miles or so.

So I guess I have two questions:

-Anybody know what sort of mpg I can expect doing town work (London)?

-Is it common to get the fuel light coming on eroneously whilst round town, doing frequent stops and starts? Used to get this with my previous bike and I'd 'cruise' for a while and the system would reset.

 

[clerici]

Generally I get 200 miles maybe 220 from a tank.

Start with a full tank - filling the last bit is very slow.

The fuel gauge can come on early if you're cruising down the M'way (no cornering) or if on side stand on a slope, but goes out after say a roundabout before reappearing a few miles down the road.

Use trip I as a backstop?

I've been down to 19 miles indicated left to go and then put in 19'ish litres.

I remember another thread on this - there was a nil miles photo!!!

 

[Mouse]

My GS returns a pretty constant 45 mpg. I get about 150 miles before the fuel light comes on, and then about another 40 before I wuss out and fill up. I've had it down to "8 miles remaining" on the display.

 

[smartrider]

I am a motorcycle instructor so my 1200 spends a lot of time around town doing stop start type riding.

I usually get to about 180 miles before the reserve comes on it then gives me between 48 and 52 miles to go.

I have had miles to go down to 2 and got just over 20ltrs in I always slow fill the last bit and fill right to the brim. I get fed up filling virtually every day so I get as much as possable each time.

out riding by myself I usually get to about 200 miles before the reserve comes on and again its in the region of 50 miles to go

 

[Reggie]

Hi There,

the lowest I've taken the bike down to is an indicated 2 miles. I'd covered 248 miles and when I filled up the tank took 20.57 litres! The last bit of the tank takes ages to fill up!

I've noticed that the last 10 mile range seems to go very quickly!

regards

Reggie AKA The Cameraman

 

[Dave Price]

I generally get at least 200 miles range from the tank, with the consumption averaging 50mpg.
On a recent trip to Ireland, I actually achieved 60mpg two up with luggage over one tankful.
The lowest I've let the countdown mileage get to was 4 and I reckon there was about 1L left.

 

[GSmonkey]

Sounds like I should expect to get at least 200miles to the tank. I'll try taking it further into the 'red zone' until I can trust the gauge.

Any tips for filling to the brim?? On the face of it, the tank filling appears to be a pain in the arse, as it doesn't have an open neck.

 

[John Armstrong]

Todays top tip

Look for the post by Mr Dutchman about drilling the filler neck. Assuming you have the tools to remove the filler assy.

 

[Mouse]

The tools are in the toolkit .. all you need is a torx spanner I think.

 

[aspad]

fuel guage and side lean

I took my new (940kms) 12GS out of the garage this morning to drive it to the dealer for 1st service. In the garage it is always parked on the centrestand. I left it on the sidestand for about 3 mins before starting. The fuel warning light came on for several minutes and I started to get the countdown (after 320KMs on the trip since last fill) - then after approx 3-4 Kms the count disappeared and did not reappear. I mentioned this to the mechanic at the dealer. He says it is fairly common if the bike get leaned over for any period - maybe a motorway slip road could give you the same effect and fool the guage.
Currently I estimate I can get at least 400Kms from a tank on a decent run out in the country at fairly high speed.
Hope this helps

 

[Jafdp]

Hi
I got mine down to 1 mile and brimmed it with 21.19 L!
On that tankfull I got 66.8 mpg, the best ever. Previous tanks were 52 and 54 mpg. Guess I'm a bit of an anorak regarding mpg.
My GS is an ex demo from Wolaston BMW Northampton, red one with almost 12k miles on it. Had to buy it as the wait for a new one was too long. Only came across this forum the other day and am horrified at some of the disaster stories some of you are having. Touch wood my bike seems ok. My theory was that with 12k miles on it all the problems would have been ironed out.
Regards
David

 

[Russ]

In keeping with previous traditions i seem to burn more fuel than anyone else

I ride at pace, and of my 25 mile or so commute, 8 or 9 miles is in town. I usually get 130-140 miles before reserve, and have ran it down to the last bar stating there was 5 miles left on reserve, and i had done 170 miles, it filled up with about 19 litres.

I average around 40ish mpg (still better than the 29mpg i got from my VFR). You have to be patient filling it up, i'm not, which is probably why my figures are worse than anyone elses!

 

[GSmonkey]

Russ, I'd say I'm a rapid town rider as well. I'm normally commuting round town at 06:00, therefore have lots of clear roads, but its still stop start so heavy acceleration.

Looks as though I might be heading for a similar tank range of 170miles round town then.

Better than my Honda before, 30mpg, 90miles to reserve

 

[eyeguy]

I was told by a motorbike journo mate of mine, that, when he had one on long term for an article, he ran his down and found out that when it says 0 miles to go, you've just started reserve! It's a pet hate of his.

Mine's a late model(sept) and so, I ran it down to 0, then blithely rode for another 20 miles before filling up, by which time it was on vapours! Perhaps the early gauges calibrated 'empty' differently, but I always just use the trip, and when I've done 200 miles, fill up( mostly town work BTW), and its about 18-19 litres

As to drilling the filler neck, are you mental? If you fell off, and ended up under the bike (off road bike-duhhhh) petrol could leak past the filler cap and onto you/hot exhaust, hence the inset neck, it's a big safety feature. Remember what happened to Goose in Mad Max.......

 

[John Armstrong]

As to drilling the filler neck, are you mental? If you fell off, and ended up under the bike (off road bike-duhhhh) petrol could leak past the filler cap and onto you/hot exhaust, hence the inset neck, it's a big safety feature. Remember what happened to Goose in Mad Max.......

Won't an undrilled neck only stop that amount (from its top to bottom) leaking out if the bike is totally upside down? Or, if the tank is full next to burger all difference if it caught alight? I was under the impression it was more to do with expansion space cold / hot fuel, splash back and unleaded nozzle size.

 

[Tobers]

If you dont want to drill the filler neck, a simpler method is to remove the rubber insert at the bottom of the filler neck. This is quite easy to do - just stick your finger into the neck, grip it against the rubber insert and pull it out upwards.

Though maybe not as effective as the drilling method, it lets you fill up quicker and stops petrol spurting out as air is forced through small gaps between the nozzle and the rubber bit.

 

[Gonzo]

In keeping with previous traditions i seem to burn more fuel than anyone else

I ride at pace, and of my 25 mile or so commute, 8 or 9 miles is in town. I usually get 130-140 miles before reserve, and have ran it down to the last bar stating there was 5 miles left on reserve, and i had done 170 miles, it filled up with about 19 litres.

I average around 40ish mpg (still better than the 29mpg i got from my VFR). You have to be patient filling it up, i'm not, which is probably why my figures are worse than anyone elses!

Not worse than mine Russ. London commute from Essex part dual track, part central London, plenty of stop and go - no more than 185m to a tank. My experience pretty much echos yours.

 

[Russ]

Well, i filled up list night, and the guage said 12 miles to go, i filled and filled and filled, the fuel was well over the rubber insert and practically overspilling the metal lip of the tank. So i sat and bounced the bike a few times to remove the air and the fuel was still well over the rubber neck, but it was far enough down that i could close the cap.

The pump read....18.98 Litres! (if i'd got it up to 19 it would have been all over me!) Lets see how far that lot gets me!

I sympathise Gonzo, but it soooo much fun on the GS, who cares?

 

[Gonzo]

Quite...........a mere observation not a moan!!

If I wanted 65mpg I would have kept the 650 thumper!!

 

[eyeguy]

When I first got my 12, a mate of mine, who's a bike journo, no less, and has a real issue with paying for petrol, moaned that when he tested an early model, and it showed 5 miles to go he stopped for squirt, but found out that 0 miles to go means that reserve is just starting! He ranted about this in various mags BTW.
So, I blithly ran mine for 20 miles past the 'o to go' indicator, and when I stopped to fill it, it was running on fumes. I now set the trip and refuel at 200 miles, mostly London townwork, and the gauge usually reads 0 when I refill.
I'll check how much goes in and let you know.
As to drilling the filler neck- if you do this are you a bit simple? The reason the neck is recessed is to prevent it leaking past the cap when the bike is upside down, which happens on a off-road bike. This is a crash safety requirement for YOUR and OTHER people's safety.When you drill the neck to allow an extra teaspoon of gas to go in, and you fall off with your leg stuck under it, petrol could drip onto you and ignite, think of the Goose in Mad Max! Hey, but what do I know, go torch yerselvvves....