r1150gs tank range

[Psalliss]

hi ive only had the bike a week and am just trying to work out whether fuel usage is about right. ive done 75 miles and have one bar left from half a tank. was kind of expecting more like 100 from half a tank.

50 miles of that has been a quick ride up from lancaster to kirby and back.

would the 75 miles therefore be about right

 

[Aidan1150]

At a steady 70mph you should get 180 - 200 miles from full to wondering if you're going to make the next station.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Don't think you can rely on the bar gauge... mine looses one or two bars for first 100Km then starts to drop more quickly. I fill up when the odo reads around 280 - 300Km but the light has only ever come on when I first rode the bike home (previous owner didn't leave much in the tank ...) If you want to know what MPG it's doing try using Fuelly.com - my 1150GS gets around 50mpg which I'm happy with

 

[davegs]

Guage

Don't rely on it, it will come up again when you go up and down a few hills!,
take a can with you and run it dry the only accurate way to judge it and reset the speedo trip when you fill up.
dave GS

 

[longdog]

The fuel guage is an indicator and is not a linear progression. Use your trip mileage recorder and learn how it relates to the fuel indicator.

 

[twizzle]

I always refill at 180.... Had an arse clenching ride in France one Sunday evening when I recorded 205.... Never again....always set the trip and ignore the fuel gauge ....

 

[Old Codger]

As the others

have said
Do not rely on the bars only the Trip Meter
Brim the bike and reset trip
Fill up at about 180miles
Work out your mpg from that from your different types of riding
Then you will learn how much over the 180 you can comfortably push it
My 03 1150 averages about 50mpg and im not that gentle with it

If you do run out you can always gain a few more miles by laying the bike gently onto its offside to move trapped fuel from the nearside of the tank to the fuel pump side

 

[Sleepy]

When I use to commute from Chelmsford to East London, I regularly went to 250 miles before refilling, (whilst making progress )

I did know where every fuel station was, so could plan almost to the last mile.

 

[QuickNick]

When the tank is full the fuel at the top is at its widest point in the tank and you'll lose bars on the gauge slowly but as the level drops to the fuel in the narrow part of the tank they disappear quicker. I can get 80 to 90mls before losing 1 bar from full and once I get down to 4/5 bars they'll disappear in 60 to 70mls. 200mls should be easilly do-able if your no thrashing it.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

When the tank is full the fuel at the top is at its widest point in the tank and you'll lose bars on the gauge slowly but as the level drops to the fuel in the narrow part of the tank they disappear quicker. .

Why didn't I think of that thanks for explaining it anyway

 

[Psalliss]

thanks guys sounds like the economy is about right as it was only half full when i picked it up and the last 3 bars as mentioned didnt last long at all.

 

[ahutcheon]

I typically get a bit over 200 miles from brim full to the fuel light coming on, but I don't think I see any more than 75 miles (probably less) from half gauge to one bar. So another vote for: only worry about brim-to-brim consumption, learn how non-linear the fuel gauge is, rely on the trip mileage as a better guide.

 

[Psalliss]

just stuck a tenner in on way to work as yellow light on and went back to pretty much where it was when i bought the bike

 

[oblertone]

If you're careful ...

... you'll get about 10miles/litre; but if you spank it about, you'll still get 10miles/litre

 

[dod]

45 to 50 mpg

On my 2003 R1150GS twin spark + ABS I get 50 mpg (11 1/2 miles/lt) gentle riding or more usually 45mpg (10 miles/lt).
With one of the spark coils gone I was only getting 35 mpg! (8 miles/lt)

 

[G.C.]

... you'll get about 10miles/litre; but if you spank it about, you'll still get 10miles/litre

Is the correct answer.

 

[ahutcheon]

just stuck a tenner in on way to work as yellow light on and went back to pretty much where it was when i bought the bike

Unless you're paying 99p/litre that's about a third of a tankful despite what the gauge says and you're doing fine.

 

[Ugly Cow]

f you do run out you can always gain a few more miles by laying the bike gently onto its offside to move trapped fuel from the nearside of the tank to the fuel pump side

I have read this before so tried it, it sounds logical but does not work