[copper wing]

I see the specifications listed that it holds 6.6 gallons of fuel. Is that correct?
When I fill up I fill it up into the small filler neck about 1/3 of the way up. As full as I can get it without making a mess of spilled fuel.
I typically get 41 to 42 miles per gallon.
When the fuel gauge reads almost completely empty after around 200 miles, I stop to fill up and it usually only will take 4.6 to 4.8 gallons. Do I really have another 1.8 gallons of fuel in the tank?
If so, I can go another 70+ miles before running out.
Is that your experience?
Do you watch the fuel gauge or go by mileage on the trip meter?
Thanks for your suggestions or advice!

 

[Quepsiphi18]

I use both as I know my riding style gets me about 220 miles to tank. When my low fuel light comes on I know I have about 30 or so miles before totally empty. The fuel gage is pretty reliable and I trust it as you never know when you could be burning extra fuel


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[copper wing]

I use both as I know my riding style gets me about 220 miles to tank. When my low fuel light comes on I know I have about 30 or so miles before totally empty. The fuel gage is pretty reliable and I trust it as you never know when you could be burning extra fuel


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But apparently my fuel gauge reads empty when I still have another gallon and a half in the tank???? Seems odd.

 

[AZgl1800]

the fuel gauge on the 1800s is not worth a darn.
it is just like the one on the 1500s, the Fuel Tank is an irregular size, it is not Rectangular,
therefore, the float level is not representative of the actual fuel remaining.

the 1/2 gallon mark on my 2002 is about the closest mark to being "almost accurate" as a fill-up will require about 3.5 to 4 gallons at that point.

on my 5,000 mile tour several years ago, I got pretty good at estimating the last 1 gallon in the tank, I just waited until the Low Fuel light lit up, and that proved to be able to give me about another 45 miles before it ran out of fuel.

as I was always going to a Destination, I used the Garmin GPS option to show "Up Ahead" which would tell me how many miles it is to the next available gas stop. If there were 2 or more stations listed, I assumed that at least one of them was still open and selling gas.

Doing that, I was able to consistently pump in 5.8 to 6.2 gallons of gas at each fuel stop.

I always carry a 1 gallon, Leak Proof plastic Jerry Can in the right saddle bag, it fits perfectly and leaves almost as much storage for soft goods as before. I store Frogg Toggs and the bike covers there, a half cover, and a full cover. Plus some extra bungee cords, etc...

 

[AZgl1800]

a couple of years ago, I rode to Ponca City, OK to meet with a friend for lunch.

I topped off with fuel as I left home, so I knew exactly how much gas was in the tank that morning.
At Ponca City, I was showing about 3/8 to 1/2 tank of gas and I knew that I had seen several gas stations on the way there, and planned to get gas at the half way point.

Well, the gas station I saw at that town was out of business, so I pressed on.
The next town up ahead that had fuel according to Garmin was only about 35 miles, so easy to just press on and fill up there. uh??? that station was out of business also...

The next available fuel stop was now at 42 miles from where I was at, and the Low Fuel light was just beginning to show barely.... so on I went.

That next stop was at a new Casino and they were selling lots of fuel there, so no problem.
the pump declared that I had pumped in 5.938 gallons of gas, which meant that only 0.6 gallons of gas was left in the tank.

as I mentioned, I had 1 gallon of gas in the saddle bag, so I was not going to be walking.

in case you didn't see the Avatar, my bike is a 2002

 

[DaveO430]

the fuel gauge on the 1800s is not worth a darn.
it is just like the one on the 1500s,

On 06 and later the gauge is dead on accurate. 1/2 is exactly 1/2, E is just that, doesn't mean enough. The low fuel light comes on with 1.1 gallons left. I have many times on my 08 and 2010 got to a gas station just when the light comes on, it holds 5.5 gallons at that point.

 

[copper wing]

the fuel gauge on the 1800s is not worth a darn.
it is just like the one on the 1500s, the Fuel Tank is an irregular size, it is not Rectangular,
therefore, the float level is not representative of the actual fuel remaining.

the 1/2 gallon mark on my 2002 is about the closest mark to being "almost accurate" as a fill-up will require about 3.5 to 4 gallons at that point.

on my 5,000 mile tour several years ago, I got pretty good at estimating the last 1 gallon in the tank, I just waited until the Low Fuel light lit up, and that proved to be able to give me about another 45 miles before it ran out of fuel.

as I was always going to a Destination, I used the Garmin GPS option to show "Up Ahead" which would tell me how many miles it is to the next available gas stop. If there were 2 or more stations listed, I assumed that at least one of them was still open and selling gas.

Doing that, I was able to consistently pump in 5.8 to 6.2 gallons of gas at each fuel stop.

I always carry a 1 gallon, Leak Proof plastic Jerry Can in the right saddle bag, it fits perfectly and leaves almost as much storage for soft goods as before. I store Frogg Toggs and the bike covers there, a half cover, and a full cover. Plus some extra bungee cords, etc...

Sounds like a great plan....thanks!

 

[copper wing]

a couple of years ago, I rode to Ponca City, OK to meet with a friend for lunch.

I topped off with fuel as I left home, so I knew exactly how much gas was in the tank that morning.
At Ponca City, I was showing about 3/8 to 1/2 tank of gas and I knew that I had seen several gas stations on the way there, and planned to get gas at the half way point.

Well, the gas station I saw at that town was out of business, so I pressed on.
The next town up ahead that had fuel according to Garmin was only about 35 miles, so easy to just press on and fill up there. uh??? that station was out of business also...

The next available fuel stop was now at 42 miles from where I was at, and the Low Fuel light was just beginning to show barely.... so on I went.

That next stop was at a new Casino and they were selling lots of fuel there, so no problem.
the pump declared that I had pumped in 5.938 gallons of gas, which meant that only 0.6 gallons of gas was left in the tank.

as I mentioned, I had 1 gallon of gas in the saddle bag, so I was not going to be walking.

in case you didn't see the Avatar, my bike is a 2002


View attachment 323794

Great information! Thank you.