What distance do you get?

[Azoroth]

I have been trying to find out what distances people typically get out of a tank of gas. I can't really find anything on this.

I am also trying to find out how big the reserve is and how far people can go on reserve typically.

I have a '80 special with a K&N filter, saddlebags, luggage rack and sissy bar. Also have a good size windshield.

Anybody have any input? Thanks

[crazy steve]

You've got a 4 gallon fuel tank, with about 1/2 gallon reserve. Depending on what kind of mileage you get, do the math... Typical is in the mid-30s.

The larger standard tank holds 5.3 gallons, the Venturer tank about another gallon more, both with about the same reserve.

[MaximPhil]

I have been trying to find out what distances people typically get out of a tank of gas. I can't really find anything on this.

I am also trying to find out how big the reserve is and how far people can go on reserve typically.

I have a '80 special with a K&N filter, saddlebags, luggage rack and sissy bar. Also have a good size windshield.

Anybody have any input? Thanks

Hi Azoroth,
Although i ride a Venturer I have attended enough rallies with guys riding Specials. In theory a Special will go 100 miles before Reserve however in practice the riders all want to stop every 90 miles for fuel.
I suggest you strap a fuel can on the rack ( with fuel ) and take her for a ride. Last time I tried the reserve I had to walk the last mile
Phil

[ddragon63]

I make it a point to put gas in mine every 130 miles give or take. I can go 150 for the most part without getting into the reserve. I try and not have to flip the switches while rolling down the hwy. YMMV

[DGXSER]

Dragon's numbers are a little misleading. You have an SF but with a Standard tank. For me, around 100 I start looking for a fuel stop.

[BA80]

I can go 100 miles regularly on my special, further if I keep the tach under 4000 on the highway. Tod, Harry and I got close to 40 MPG following Bob Falter through Iowa last summer cruising at 60-65. We generally cruise on the super slab MUCH faster and average around 30MPG which works out to about 100 miles per tank before hitting reserve.

I like the stops every couple of hours myself. It breaks up the monotony and lets the blood run back into my backside.

[ddragon63]

Dragon's numbers are a little misleading. You have an SF but with a Standard tank. For me, around 100 I start looking for a fuel stop.

yes forgot to mention that. I have a SF with a standard tank. So I carry another gallon or some more fuel than the special tank.

[Azoroth]

Well I went for a ride today. My dad and I went down around Utah Lake. I Was at 112 miles when we filled up. Put in almost exactly 3 gallons. Doing the math, that's 37 MPG. This is about the fourth time I have tracked it and i consistently get 37MPG. So theory is I could go 130 miles before I have to switch to reserve.

Only problem is we had a major headwind on the way down. guess that just gives me a buffer to have a longer range on a non windy day.

[Jeffintampa]

gas

Thats pretty much what I get, I put in 2.7 gallons today and had gone 90 some miles. My fuel light comes on 105 or so, My bike has become a daily driver to work.

[Azoroth]

Thats pretty much what I get, I put in 2.7 gallons today and had gone 90 some miles. My fuel light comes on 105 or so, My bike has become a daily driver to work.

I would ride to work and school if this Damn snow would go away. Needs to warm up a bit here as well. I can handle pretty cold but 20 degrees is a little low.

[RODS454]

To reserve

The only time I ran The Cruise Missle down to reserve it was at 106. Won't do that again, as one of the floats stuck and spilled gas into the air box. I was a little frantic trying to get it stopped. It was my fault, as I had turned the petcock to prime inadvertantly. Turned it back and tapped on the bowls, and all was right again.

[Azoroth]

I had that problem with the float sticking right after I cleaned the carbs. Tapped it and it stopped. I was worried I was going to have to clean them all over again.

[GLoweVA]

My question

So, I've got an SG that once I get fixed up, I plan on riding to work everyday and I'm reading all these guys say what they can get on a tank full.
My round trip is 59 miles, so 2 days worth would be about 118 miles.
Do you think I can make it?
It's all interstate, so regular cruising speed and no fairing. (but might get one at some point)
At about 35mpg (guesstimate) that should be 3.5 gal.
It's a 4gal tank (with a .5gal reserve) (right?)
So, I figure I should be able to make it home on the 2nd day without having to switch to reserve.

Thoughts?

As it is now with my G, I'm at the gas station every other morning anyway.

[bikerphil]

I did a little experiment with my Special today. First I filled up a one gallon can (exactly one gallon) and put it in the saddle bag. I had filled the tank yesterday and zeroed the odometer. I rode the bike and the red warning light came on at 116 miles. I had to switch to reserve at 120 miles. I kept going and finally the engine started sputtering at 152 miles. BTW, I am only running the left side fuel tap, the right side has a block off plate. I dumped in the one gallon of gas and went to the gas station which was about a mile away. The bike took 2.94 gallons plus the one gallon = 3.94 gallon of fuel for 152 miles of all different riding conditions. So 152 / 3.94 = 38.58 mpg. Pretty good considering I fought a head wind for about 30 miles. BTW, it was a beautiful day, 76º and sunny.

[cywelchjr]

You've got a 4 gallon fuel tank, with about 1/2 gallon reserve. Depending on what kind of mileage you get, do the math... Typical is in the mid-30s.

The larger standard tank holds 5.3 gallons, the Venturer tank about another gallon more, both with about the same reserve.

The standard and venturer both have 1.1 gallons left when you switch to reserve (it's in the manuals, reserve capacity is 1.1 gallons for the standards). This means that whatever your gas mileage is, figure about that many miles after switching to reserve with a standard, my experience when I had modded petcocks that actually gave 1/2 gallon reserve capacity I got almost exactly 15 miles from switch to reserve to dry (and yes, I FOUND the dry point a couple of times), but it at the same time increased the distance before going to reserve. With proper petcocks I get around 120 to 130 before reserve around town and around 160 or so on the road.