Running out of gas

[Kevhunts]

Did you have extra fuel onboard? If not I bet you had a pucker factor going. ::025::

No spare fuel on board but, I was confident I could roll about 50 miles past the warning based on previous fill up's.
I contemplated pushing it to 75 miles but my favorite road-side assister was still at work. ;D

 

[maddog5150]

So far the most miles I have put on a single tank had the following info:

Miles: 259
Gallons put in: 5.648
MPG: 45.86

My best MPG on a single tank so far has been: 46.24

I feel pretty confident that if I was easy on the throttle I could squeeze 275 miles out of a tank. I am pretty happy with that! ;D

 

[sail2xxs]

Hmmm, I don't remember my '06 ST1300 having one and AFAIK they current ST1300 does not either. There are still some ST1300 folks here so perhaps they can confirm. Joe - you out there?

My 2006 ST1300 didn't have it, nor did my ST1100. Actually, this is the first bike I've owned that has a filler restriciton. The 800 GS had a fairly narrow fill opening though.

I'm finding that topping off the tank can result in a bit of splashback.

Chris

 

[markjenn]

Gallons put in: 5.648

Good info, I think is the current high-water mark on overall capacity. Did you stop when the gas first touched the filler neck or did you work to get extra in?

- Mark

 

[Twisties]

Well, ran it dry. One cough a few hundred feet early. Pulled off, was idling normal. Accelerated to 35. Stopped for red light. Died while at idle. Added two 20 oz cans of fuel (MSR bottles) = .313 US Gallons (G). Started right up, and I mean right up. Was a gas station within 75 feet. Pulled in and filled to the bottom of the filler neck insert on side stand. Took 5.290 G. Total is then 5.60 G usable capacity.

Obviously you might squeeze a bit more in there if you were planning on riding before it could expand, but for general use as designed I think we have 6.08 G tanks of which .48 is expansion capacity and 5.6 is nominal usable capacity.

Now, the gauge. It has 5 divisions. Mine read:

Full for 60 miles,
4/5 to 116 miles, e.g. for 56 miles
3/5 (looks like half) to 165 miles, e.g. for 48 miles
2/5 to 200 miles, e.g for 35 miles
and 1/5 with empty indication flashing for 62 miles.

Normally I would not think my achieved fuel economy varied a great deal over the ride, but dissapointingly the 35 miles segment had a net 5500' elevation drop in it over about 20 miles. That seems significant within such an already short segment.

The avg fuel economy came up 49.4 mpg. I come up with 46.8 based on a single tank actual, assuming the odometer is accurate... and that is still in question.

In any event, my conclusions are that we have 5.6 G usable, that fuel gauge is not linear in performance and tends to misrepresent the lower half of the tank, and that when the gauge flips to E (1/5) I actually have 1.2 G left in the tank.

 

[markjenn]

Obviously you might squeeze a bit more in there if you were planning on riding before it could expand, but for general use as designed I think we have 6.08 G tanks of which .48 is expansion capacity and 5.6 is nominal usable capacity.

Thanks for collecting the data. You said you fueled it to the bottom of the tube while on the sidestand - I wonder if you would have been able to get more in on the center stand. A previous poster didn't run the bike dry and got a little more fuel in than your data indicates. And 20 oz MSR fuel bottles? I thought they came in 11, 22, and 33oz sizes.

If your data is representative and the center stand doesn't make a big difference, then shorting us nearly 10% of the stated fuel capacity is poor form on Yamaha's part. While being slightly optimistic on fuel capacity is more/less par for the course, a half gallon is a big discrepancy.

- Mark

 

[Twisties]

Thanks for collecting the data. You said you fueled it to the bottom of the tube while on the sidestand - I wonder if you would have been able to get more in on the center stand. A previous poster didn't run the bike dry and got a little more fuel in than your data indicates. And 20 oz MSR fuel bottles? I thought they came in 11, 22, and 33oz sizes.

If your data is representative and the center stand doesn't make a big difference, then shorting us nearly 10% of the stated fuel capacity is poor form on Yamaha's part. While being slightly optimistic on fuel capacity is more/less par for the course, a half gallon is a big discrepancy.

- Mark

They are 22 oz bottles but the fill line in each bottle is at 20 oz. I came as close to the fill line as possible. Surely within 2 oz. As for the other poster, yes, we differ by 0.05 G or about 6 oz. I call that well within single tank measurement error, and note further that I don't recall him mentioning the details of how he filled. I guess I should go back and look, but not worth it to me. The center stand may make a difference. I didn't test it.

 

[markjenn]

They are 22 oz bottles but the fill line in each bottle is at 20 oz. I came as close to the fill line as possible. Surely within 2 oz. As for the other poster, yes, we differ by 0.05 G or about 6 oz. I call that well within single tank measurement error, and note further that I don't recall him mentioning the details of how he filled. I guess I should go back and look, but not worth it to me. The center stand may make a difference. I didn't test it.

Sounds like you're careful and on top of things. I think your general conclusion is probably right - Yamaha shorted us a little under a half a gallon.

- Mark

 

[Bundu]

In any event, my conclusions are that we have 5.6 G usable, that fuel gauge is not linear in performance and tends to misrepresent the lower half of the tank, and that when the gauge flips to E (1/5) I actually have 1.2 G left in the tank.

great job Twisties! I have not explored my S10 fuel in that detail, but your results tie up with what I have been 'feeling' - I once filled up with 21.3ltrs (5.63Gal) and now realise the tank must have been close to bone dry.... ???

 

[Tremor38]

FWIW, I was 36 miles into "reserve" and it took 5.6 to fill up.

You must like to crank on it I've owned big bikes before, but not since 2001, so it was kinda weird watching the trip meter reach 120km with all four bars of the fuel gage still showing! I was taking it pretty easy on the throttle most of that time.

 

[shuhite]

Ran mine dry today.

294 miles on tank that was filled to bottom of neck thingy.

Went 64 miles after reserve started flashing.

I poured one gallon(measuered at pump) from my one gallon Rotopax can.

Rode 13 miles to gas station and filled with 4.94 gallons of non ethanol fuel.

Mpg on bike said 54.4 avg. Actual mi. 49.49

Thats 5.94 gal.

Rocky.

 

[stevepsd]

Sounds like you're careful and on top of things. I think your general conclusion is probably right - Yamaha shorted us a little under a half a gallon.

- Mark

I would not be so sure.....On my Tiger the difference between filling up to the top of the tank while on the side stand vs. with the bike is upright is a bit over a third of a gallon. I have not checked on my ST, but will do it at my next fillup (tonight).

 

[Don in Lodi]

Not empty, but, 153 miles and 3.1 gallons on center stand. 49.3 mpg. 210 miles on return trip, 4.2 gallons on center stand, 50 even.
::021::

 

[markjenn]

Thats 5.94 gal.

Encouraging. 5.94 vs. 6.08 would be within what I would consider the normal liberties taken with specifications. And although the OM says 6.08, the web site advertises 6.0.

Understand, insufficient fuel capacity is one of my pet peeves about today's bikes. I think the designers of motorcycles are way too caught up in making their bikes look sleek and forgetting that versatility and flexibility also sells motorcycles. I wonder if many of them even ride or if they ride, ever take a decently-long trip on a bike.

Every touring bike should have comfortable 300+ mile range, just like most cars. An ADVENTURE touring bike, that is by nature designed to explore backroads were gas station availability and hours are even more spooty, needs more. The only mfg who has truly addressed this so far is BMW with the 8.9 gal capacity on the GSA.

This article is about sportbike range, but shows how ridiculous the issue is with this type of bike.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/08/md-opinion-cant-get-home-on-the-range/

- Mark

 

[Twisties]

Ran mine dry today.

294 miles on tank that was filled to bottom of neck thingy.

Went 64 miles after reserve started flashing.

I poured one gallon(measuered at pump) from my one gallon Rotopax can.

Rode 13 miles to gas station and filled with 4.94 gallons of non ethanol fuel.


Mpg on bike said 54.4 avg. Actual mi. 49.49

Thats 5.94 gal.

Rocky.

Assuming your fuel economy remained constant at 49.49 mpg your 13 mile ride used .26 G, so actually your capacity is 5.68, or 0.08 greater than what I got. Given the potential for differences in fuel economy over a very short distance, and single tank error for both of us, I would consider our results in agreement, and nominal capacity appears to be in the 5.6-5.7 G range.

Did you fuel on the side stand or center stand? On your refuel, the 4.94 G fill up, you also filled to the bottom of the filler neck insert?

Thanks for adding another data point! If we can get a few more I think we'll have a good grip on it!

Jan

 

[Twisties]

Encouraging. 5.94 vs. 6.08 would be within what I would consider the normal liberties taken with specifications. And although the OM says 6.08, the web site advertises 6.0.

Understand, insufficient fuel capacity is one of my pet peeves about today's bikes. I think the designers of motorcycles are way too caught up in making their bikes look sleek and forgetting that versatility and flexibility also sells motorcycles. I wonder if many of them even ride or if they ride, ever take a decently-long trip on a bike.

Every touring bike should have comfortable 300+ mile range, just like most cars. An ADVENTURE touring bike, that is by nature designed to explore backroads were gas station availability and hours are even more spooty, needs more. The only mfg who has truly addressed this so far is BMW with the 8.9 gal capacity on the GSA.

This article is about sportbike range, but shows how ridiculous the issue is with this type of bike.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/08/md-opinion-cant-get-home-on-the-range/

- Mark

I understand your feelings, but for me the important thing is just to know the actual capacity so I can plan accordingly.

 

[maddog5150]

Good info, I think is the current high-water mark on overall capacity. Did you stop when the gas first touched the filler neck or did you work to get extra in?

- Mark

I always fill with the bike on the center stand. I get to the filler neck, and then work to get a little more in there.

 

[markjenn]

Assuming your fuel economy remained constant at 49.49 mpg your 13 mile ride used .26 G, so actually your capacity is 5.68, or 0.08 greater than what I got. Given the potential for differences in fuel economy over a very short distance, and single tank error for both of us, I would consider our results in agreement, and nominal capacity appears to be in the 5.6-5.7 G range.

Good catch. You're right, any fuel used from the time it sputters until the time it is refilled must be accounted for too.

- Mark

 

[3putt]

49 mpg is good, 5.7 gallons is good. over 275 miles on a tank is GREAT! Only can dream the Multi12 would do that even with a 6 gallon tank.

 

[shuhite]

Bike was on center stand. Filled to bottom of filler neck.

I did this to see how far 'my' bike would go with 'me' twisting the throttle.

At 250 miles or sooner I have to find gas. I am looking for a permenent place to secure my 1 gal. rotopax container.
I have the OEM side cases and have'nt been able to bring myself to drill holes in them yet.
I just got back from a 1500 mile trip to Idaho and carried my container in the right case, fits well in there.

I do love riding this bike!!

Rocky.