Low Fuel Warning - 5th Gen

At what point does your low fuel (flashing bar) come on?

I've always thought my came on early. At 160 miles on a full tank, single bar comes on and starts flashing. Today, I rode it for about 20 miles once it started flashing. Finally go to fill up, and it only takes 4.7 gallons, so I know I still had .8, or almost a full gallon left. (And I FILLED it).

Gas mileage isn't bad (180 / 4.7 is 38mpg).

Thoughts?

 

160 seems a little early for the light to be turning on. I think my 2001 turns on at around 200 miles or so, then I run it a few more miles. I average around 45 mpgs. Check your tire pressure and air filter.

 

My low fuel light usually starts flashing around 200 miles. I have ridden 20 miles with it binking. Been getting 47 mpg commuting 60 miles round trip, about 40 miles being interstate speeds.

 

When mine starts flashing, I still have a gallon left. It will only take about 4.7 gallons at that point to fill it up. Nice to know you have a gallon left when you're out in the boondocks with fuel stops few and far between.

 

Just yesterday, I let it get down to a single blink. I was at about 175 miles, but had been riding hard (high RPMs) for the previous 35 miles or so. When I filled it up, it took almost exactly 4.5 gallons (meaning ~1 gallon left)

I set my Garmin Zumo's fuel gauge (miles per tank) to 210 (still a bit conservative), but never wait for it to get that low anyways.

 

So notwithstanding actual gas mileage (as that varies depending on driver style, conditions, altitude, person's weight, etc. etc.), it does seem that the flashing begins when there is approximately 1 gallon of fuel left.

Don't know why, but I always thought it was supposed to start flashing when there was less than 1 gallon. Based on this info, it seems mine might just start flashing a little earlier - somewhere around 1.3 to 1.5 gallons left.

Thanks, folks.

 

depends where i am riding it..all hiway...easy go 200 + miles, around town or flogging it up the side of the mtn..much less.....where did you ride?

 

On tour my '99 is around 190 to 195miles before start of flash, a mate on a '01 Gen5 with similar milage usually uses a fraction less gas stop to stop put it partially down to the '01 having o2 sensors and leaning out when cuising.

 

When I first got this bike, I spent a lot of time on the highways. I ran out of gas once, and that suuuuucked!

But now, I'm probably 90% back roads and 10% highways. The last time I saw 5th (or 6th) gear was some stupid bike rally I went to a month or so ago.