5.81 Gallon gas tank on a 2003? HELP

Hey, When i had one bar left on my gas gauge, I filled it up to the very tip at the gas station and the pump indicates every time that I filled up 3.85 Gallons. Now, i know the tank wasnt completely dry when i filled it, but before i did fill it, i looked inside and saw that there wasnt even a gallon there to be honest. The specs on the bike says its a 5.8 gallon tank.....where are my other 2 gallons?

Im worried about this, so if someone could please enlighten me

 

from before i filled it, there was just no way there way even more than just one gallon in that tank. Ive had this bike a week now...its a 2003 with 8k miles on it. I calculated the miles per gallon by resetting the trip to zero, rode 5.42 miles, and filled it up again and it only took 1.131 gallons so i divieded the miles by 1.131 and said i was getting roughly 45mpg.....which is right according to the specs i've seen online. I wonder if fuel gauge is ready wrong.... i dunno. i get about 155 miles off a full tank

 

Do you, Have you waited for your "one" bar to start flashing; then continue to ride another 15-20 miles? Well... I have and my bike still won't take a whole 5 gallons. Alright, someone out there fess up. When you completely ran out of gas how much did it take to top off.

 

I always full the tank till I have gas in the filler neck. I figured the warning was coming on early so I kept riding, only to find out it was not kidding. Based on my MPG avg, I put my reserve at 25 miles and once that damned warning starts flashing, I listen. Ever try pushing an OG (Outta Gas) .25 ton VFR 2 miles, in 100 degree weather and 95% humidity?

 

Id say the gas gauge is off because even when I fill mine to the top, about 10 miles into riding the first bar disappears. And I believe the manual says when the last bar starts flashing you still have 2 gallons left.

 

My first bar also disappears around the 10-15 mile point but I learned the hard way in July 07 the manual's 2 gallon reserve theory is :bs:

 

2 gallon reserve? that is 2/5 of the tank. Not true. The last bar on my 5th gen comes on when I have approx 25 miles left=less than a gallon. I get about 220 miles before that happens. I fill it until the gas hits the filler hole.
I would have your gauge checked.

 

Are you filling up with the kick or the center stand? If you aren't using the centerstand -which most of us don't, and the gas station has a sloght slope -which most do, your not actually filling the tank up all the way. when you drive off are you down a bar and when you are on a slope does the last full bar come back? I've only got 6 hundred miles on my VFR so I can't say my mpg is acurrate yet. I tried this with my katana and the center stand let me add almost an extra gallon in.

 

With a level grade, kick stand down and tank filled to the rim I can go 160 miles before the low fuel light warning comes on, at this point I have usually used 3.8 gallons when I filled up again. I have gone 200 miles before filling up and it required 5.2 gallons. I think when the warning light comes on it 1.5 gallon reserve and the very most 1.8 gallon reserve.

 

I have gone as far as putting 4.5 gallons in my 05, on the center stand. Ya the last bar was flashing.

 

I rarely put more than 4.2-4.5 gallons into my 00. I set a new personal best MPG riding to & from Bubba Zanetti's BBQ. I went 279.9 on a total of 5.34 gallons. That equates to 52.4MPG. I filled up in DE at 1/2 tank & then again in Browns Mills & added the two fill ups together. I always fill the bike on the center stand.

If anyone is really interested in finding out what their bike will realistically do on a tank of gas, get an old 1QT oil bottle or any petroleum safe container that has a clearly marked amount. Fill it with benzin bleifrei. Double wrap it in ziplocks & toss it in the tank/tail bag. Ride a KNOWN loop with a gas station on it. Ride that loop continually or end up on it when you get low on fuel. Ride until the bike sputters. Record the mileage. Pour in the 1Qt of gas. Ride to the gas station. Fill up & do the math. Mileage at the time you ran out divided by the fuel minus the 1qt equals MPG.

I'm thinking about doing this on the Hawk. It only gets 90-100 before reserve.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2: