GL1500 Range before fuel light

5076 Views 17 Replies 12 Participants Last post by D Hook, Sep 3, 2006

chrisjones3

Discussion Starter · Sep 17, 2005

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Folks

Juyst got my Gl1500 and I am trying to get a feeling for the range I can expect before the fuel light coming on. I understand this will vary on riding styles and road condition considereble but just wanted an idea.

Cheers

Chris

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Ruaidh

· #2 · Sep 17, 2005

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hooo boy! You're about to get an ear-full, but here's my two-pence worth. I've got an '85 Aspencade (yes, I know, different bike...) but I get about 225-230 miles before my "I'm thirsty" light comes on. I don't ride all-out but it's mostly freeway commuting and freeway speeds, with occasional forays into higher regions.

Ruaidh

hockeydad33

· #3 · Sep 17, 2005

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My 84 Aspencade does not have an "I"m thrsty" light. The bottom hash mark on the digitl dash starts to blink at about 210. I found out when that lst mark goes out and the gas gauge is totally blank I have 1 gallon left.

exavid

· #4 · Sep 18, 2005

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The 1500 is supposed to have the 'feed me' light come on when there's approximately one gallon left. Mine is pretty close to that. I can get a little more than 200 miles before it comes on if I haven't been pushing it too hard. I've gotten 256 miles out of a tank and had about half a gallon left, but I was very worried for the last 40 miles. The light on my bike comes on just as the gauge needle passes the red mark.

fatalattraction

· #5 · Sep 18, 2005

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And from my experience, the fuel gauge isn't all that accurate anyway.

Tonys96

· #6 · Sep 19, 2005

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If the bike is runnung well, you should be seeing 40-44 MPG, let's use 42 MPG, you have a 6.5 gallon tank with 5.5 gallons usable before the low fuel warning light.

That should give you 230 miles to the low fuel light with another almost 40 miles to empty.

Now your actual mileage may vary, you should check it over several tanks, then you can set your tripmeter when filling and know how much gas you should be putting in your tank as well as how much is left any time during the tank.

I've found my fuel gauge to be highly pessimistic in telling me where empty is, but I know how far I can go by the tripmeter and low fuel light.

chrisjones3

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 19, 2005

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Thanks for the responses. Reason is the gauge on my first tank is showing empty after 100miles. Bike is a bit rough on pick up so I wondered of it need the carbs calancing etc.

Will wait until the light comes on for a few tanks before I do anything

exavid

· #8 · Sep 19, 2005

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How much gas does it take when the gauge is showing on the E redline?

fatalattraction

· #9 · Sep 20, 2005

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Mine can read differently the next day. If I show 1/2 tank tonight, it may show 1/4 tomorrow without even starting it. Mine is not the only one, I've heard of others doing it too. So fill it up and see. I betcha you won't get much more than 2 gallons in it after 100 miles.

exavid

· #10 · Sep 20, 2005

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2.5-2.8 gallons is my estimate!

chrisjones3

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 23, 2005

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Will let you know in the next few days. Just got back from Brazil and currently no one has any fuel at all around here. Keeping my head down right now until this storm passes - then I will get outand get some fuel in it. I will run a couple of tanks through it before ido anything anyway

Cheers

Chris

mark1247

· #12 · Sep 24, 2005

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My fuel gauge is much the same, very odd. I thought it was the sender unit up the duff! I fill the bike to the brim, after around 50 miles it drops to about 1/2 a tank, it then drops rapidly to show empty. I have never waited for the light to come on (not sure it even works, guess I should test it). I am in the habit now of filling up when I have covered around 160 miles, just to be safe.....I really don't fancy pushing it.:shock:

I have been meaning to run it dry for the last 2000 miles to see just what I do get, although I am always to keen to just keep riding.:grinner:The weather is closing in, so I want to use it as much as I can before the dreaded winter lay up.

Ruaidh

· #13 · Sep 24, 2005

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chrisjones3 wrote:

Will let you know in the next few days. Just got back from Brazil and currently no one has any fuel at all around here. Keeping my head down right now until this storm passes - then I will get outand get some fuel in it. I will run a couple of tanks through it before ido anything anyway

Cheers

Chris

Good luck, Chris. I spent this past week working with the evacuees from Katrina/New Orleans that were shipped to Utah. Lots of interesting stories...

Ruaidh

karaison

· #14 · Sep 1, 2006

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Hello.

I'm starting to get concerned. I have a 2000 SE. It has 50,000 miles, doesn't smoke, seems to run fine. When I read 42 mpg I gasped. My best so far is 36. Conservative riding, shifting between 1800 and 2200 depending on the drive. I put a new air filter on it and seems to make no difference. I ride mostly to and from work, about 10 miles on the freeway. The fuel mileage seems to be worse on the open rode. I read a thread that said 70 to 75 was a good speed for the bike. But it seems to suck more fuel on the highway for long period of time, 140-160 miles at a time. My only other problem is my cruise light comes on but it won't engage. I hear 2 clicks from each brake and clutch switch. I've had the seat off a few times and haven't seen anything unusual.

Any suggestions to look for for fuel mileage and cruise.

Thanks,

Alan

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ccsailor

· #15 · Sep 1, 2006

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Same here My fuel gauge has to be completely under the "E" before the low light comes on I carried around a 1/2 gal can for a few weeks to find this out as I'd never seen the light come on. Anyway I get about 180-190 miles per tank on the hwy and about 150-170 running around town I figure 35 mpg average My Miata does better than the Bike

jemj

· #16 · Sep 1, 2006

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You're all lucky.I got my 89, 1500 just over 8 weeks ago and the fuel light came whilst still showing 1/4 tank so I ignored it. Big mistake!!!! Yes I ran out and had to ring for my son to bring some fuel. I then tried bending sender float rod upwards and have the fuel ight on at 1/8 tank on gauge. I will remove and bend it to correct position soon but now ride until light comes on and then head fornearest fuel station. I have worked out between 180-200 miles to the tankfull depending how I ride (Iwish we could pay your fuel prices as Uk average is £5 per gallon).

Hope this helps.

Thanks Dean.

Rudy

· #17 · Sep 1, 2006

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Mine starts it's early glow cycle about 175 miles in.

D Hook

· #18 · Sep 3, 2006

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jemj wrote:

You're all lucky.I got my 89, 1500 just over 8 weeks ago and the fuel light came whilst still showing 1/4 tank so I ignored it. Big mistake!!!! Yes I ran out and had to ring for my son to bring some fuel. I then tried bending sender float rod upwards and have the fuel ight on at 1/8 tank on gauge. I will remove and bend it to correct position soon but now ride until light comes on and then head fornearest fuel station. I have worked out between 180-200 miles to the tankfull depending how I ride (Iwish we could pay your fuel prices as Uk average is £5 per gallon).

Hope this helps.

Thanks Dean.

Yeah, but we wish we had your cool accents!:goofygrin:

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