Just how much fuel can you get in the tank of the R1250GS?

[Chisurz]

As someone new to the 1250GS (but with years on a 2005 1200 - See the "For Sale" section), I'm still trying to work out what the real range of the bike is and how much fuel I can actually get in the tank. Tuesday evening, with the "Range Remaining" figure down to zero, I pulled in to the local petrol station to quench the 1250's thirst. Carefully filled to about an inch from the top of the filler tube, the bike drank 18.58 litres. Now the manual says the usable tank capacity is 20 litres, so either there is still a litre and half of petrol in the tank when it gets down to zero range, or the range remaining figure isn't particularly accurate, or the manual isn't particularly accurate either. Any thoughts?

On the (bargain, one owner, see For Sale section) 1200 also in the garage, the trick to getting more fuel in was to remove the rubber tube sitting in the filler aperture. This enabled a bit more fuel to be squeezed and so extended the range by a few miles. What is the trick with the 2022 1250 to get that little biut of extra fuel in the tank??

 

[littleade]

The first will depend on how hard you ride it and what type of journey you do, the 2nd will depend on how much fuel is still in the tank

My 1250GS used to say there was somewhere between 235-240 miles left when I filled it up if that's any help. I rarely went onto reserve before filling up again either because those I was riding with had less range than me I needed a break so filled up anyway or I could complete a day's riding on a single tank full so for my purposes the tank range was never an issue.

 

[Pukmeister]

With the range capability of any GSA, if you haven't managed to sort your shit out and find a petrol station by the time its empty, you should really be driving a nice safe car like all the other idiots.

(An exemption applies for those with the stupid fuel strip).

 

[Wapping]

Any thoughts?

Loads. But best not shared.

 

[Bigcats]

Jesus whenever I go out with other lads they have to fill up twice for my 1 fill up because the range is that good.

 

[Bem]

What is the trick with the 2022 1250 to get that little bit of extra fuel in the tank??

Put it up on the main stand - go slowly towards the end - shake it on to each stand leg trying not to drop the bike - strap on a 5 litre extra, green or red it matters not.

 

[theoneandonly]

i ran out of fuel , at least 3 times in 10 years with my GS , despite it having a 25lt tank.
my Sportster , with a small tank , i've only ever ran out once.
GS is .....i can do another 10 miles easily....not.

 

[Chisurz]

Put it up on the main stand - go slowly towards the end - shake it on to each stand leg trying not to drop the bike - strap on a 5 litre extra, green or red it matters not.

For some reason I can't see shaking the bike back and forth on a petrol station forecourt ending particularly happily for me...

 

[Chisurz]

I needed a break so filled up anyway or I could complete a day's riding on a single tank full so for my purposes the tank range was never an issue.

Indeed, I'm of an age where I know that need for a break quite well. That said, on the old 1200GS ('05, see For Sale ), I've had tour days when doing silly miles and would be filling up more than once and eeking out the miles because French petrol stations never used to be open on a Sunday...

 

[Chisurz]

Loads. But best not shared.

Oooh! Please do...

 

[GSian]

Oooh! Please do...

No! You don't want those.

 

[Arsey]

Put it up on the main stand - go slowly towards the end - shake it on to each stand leg trying not to drop the bike - strap on a 5 litre extra, green or red it matters not.

That’s assuming you haven’t removed all your stands to save some weight !


Sent from my N65

 

[Chisurz]

With the range capability of any GSA, if you haven't managed to sort your shit out and find a petrol station by the time its empty, you should really be driving a nice safe car like all the other idiots.

(An exemption applies for those with the stupid fuel strip).

I completely agree and take your point regarding the GSA (and thoughts about Volvo drivers too - Now, what have I done with that nice safe car that I drive...?).

For me though, and it is purely a personal choice and I intend no disrespect to the fine GSA, it is the extra mass of the GSA (substantial when including that fuel load) which has always made me prefer the slightly smaller, slightly lighter, slightly lower GS, albeit with its smaller tank and commensurately smaller range. Plus I'm getting slightly old; the 1250GS is already a good number of Kg heavier than my trusty old '05 1200GS, even in stock condition, but if I can maximise the fuel I can get in it at each refill, then it reduces the number of times I have to haul it on to its centre stand!

 

[Pukmeister]

Most of us (myself included) are more limited by the range between piss stops, not fuel stops.

 

[Chisurz]

Most of us (myself included) are more limited by the range between piss stops, not fuel stops.

Well... yes... quite... That and the joints that I find seize up from sitting in the same position for a long time...

 

[karlp]

As someone new to the 1250GS (but with years on a 2005 1200 - See the "For Sale" section), I'm still trying to work out what the real range of the bike is and how much fuel I can actually get in the tank. Tuesday evening, with the "Range Remaining" figure down to zero, I pulled in to the local petrol station to quench the 1250's thirst. Carefully filled to about an inch from the top of the filler tube, the bike drank 18.58 litres. Now the manual says the usable tank capacity is 20 litres, so either there is still a litre and half of petrol in the tank when it gets down to zero range, or the range remaining figure isn't particularly accurate, or the manual isn't particularly accurate either. Any thoughts?

On the (bargain, one owner, see For Sale section) 1200 also in the garage, the trick to getting more fuel in was to remove the rubber tube sitting in the filler aperture. This enabled a bit more fuel to be squeezed and so extended the range by a few miles. What is the trick with the 2022 1250 to get that little biut of extra fuel in the tank??

Strikes me as fairly obvious.
1. Just because the range states empty it does not mean the tank is empty
2. You did not fill the tank - even using your statement above it is obvious you could have got more in the tank.

 

[twizzle]

Regardless of how modern my bikes have been… from brand new to 20 years old ….I work out a 2/3rds range in miles and use the trip meter … setting to zero every refill….

As my ownership knowledge develops I fine tune,

Currently on my GSA (1150) it’s 200miles and my Dyna 110 miles….

 

[L2RKE]

Yes you can remove the filler neck and drill a hole in it to increase the amount of fuel you get in, but you won't have the air gap for expansion that BMW have designed in. Your choise. Never had a problem with range myself without needing to modify things. I could get well over 200 mls on my RS without panicking.

 

[Chisurz]

Strikes me as fairly obvious.
1. Just because the range states empty it does not mean the tank is empty
2. You did not fill the tank - even using your statement above it is obvious you could have got more in the tank.

Thank you for those observations.
1. True - and that is the point I'm making really, and hoping to learn from others experience with respect as to just what this margin (between range showing zero and actual contents of tank) actually is. So any further info in that regard is very welcome.
2. Fair point and a possibility, though with a few decades of experience filling motorcycle fuel tanks I'm fairly used to going very slowly with the last few drops and waiting for the level in the neck to slowly subside and stabilise, meaning I think I know when I've at least reached the point the manufacturer would probably regard as full. But I'm new to this particular model, so hence my desire to learn from others, just in case I'm missing something.

 

[Chisurz]

Yes you can remove the filler neck and drill a hole in it to increase the amount of fuel you get in, but you won't have the air gap for expansion that BMW have designed in. Your choise. Never had a problem with range myself without needing to modify things. I could get well over 200 mls on my RS without panicking.

That is interesting, thank you. The air gap / expansion gap was also a consideration for the old '05 1200GS, although I never had a problem with the tank being overful, even in very hot environments. That might be because the old GS still had a neck with depth, albeit a bit shorter without the additional rubber/plastic insert BMW out in there (that many of us took out), meaning there was still expansion space, just a little less. I'm guessing that your hole-drilling suggestion would require me to unscrew the filler neck assembly and I can see that this would work. However, my personal preference is not to make holes where the manufacturer didn't intend them! And all the points made above about 200+ mile range and saddle time are very true.

Worst case is I live with it and adjust accordingly - not a bad thing perhaps as I head towards the Zimmer frame...