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Custom Vehicle Discussions => Screamin' Eagle® Electra Glide® => Topic started by: 110tHunDer on October 06, 2004, 10:42:41 PM
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I know we've talked about this some before, but for you guys picking up new units it might come in handy to revisit.
Coming home on Sunday I was trying to make some time and not stop as soon/often as I had been for fuel. I put 5.294 gallons of gas into my SEEG's (5 gallon [smiley=nixweiss.gif]) tank during one stop. The bike actually began to sputter just as I was positioning it in front of the pump. The gauge, however, was still above the "E," about half way between "E" and the first mark. My advice: never let the gauge drop below the first mark (the one that represents 1/12 full). You'll be taking a big gamble that you'll make it to the next station. The gauges on these bikes (take your pick: fuel, air temp, volts, even oil pressure?) are not very accurate.
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In only three times time with the bike now I've been very pleasantly suprised on this little score. My fuel gauge (at least down to about 1/8 of a tank) seems to be pretty darned accurate. I've put fuel in at 1/2, 3/4, and a few other measures and it's been better than merely suggestive. And I sure as hell know that E is empty from when the dealer sent me out the door without fuel when I picked it up new.
My oil pressure and and volt meter readings are where I'd expect them to be and, surprisingly, my ambient air temp gauge seems to be pretty close. Off no more than 5 degrees or so no the high side. I've timed the speedo against mile markers and it's as close as they kind of a measure can tell you.
One I have been wondering about, however, is the tach. At a dead on 70 mph the tach shows 2800. I was expecting 3200-ish. It is just the stock 5 speed.
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Just for comparison, my tach reads exactly 3000 at 70. When riding with friends, however, they report that my 70 is about 75 on their scooters. Maybe the speedo error accounts for your variance in rpm. A guess at best! [smiley=nixweiss.gif]
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I us the fuel light as a guide when it comes on I have 20 miles or so left. As far as the tach where your buddys on SEEG if not that is probably the difference the SEEG is over driven at the primary sprocket.
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One I have been wondering about, however, is the tach.
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Not on an SEEG, I ride a SERK but my Tach reads 2800rpm at 70 also. Noticed this after having the PCIII installed. Prior to that it was running at about 3200RPM at 70. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]
HUH!!! do you thing the PCIII screwed up the calibration of one of your gauges?
because without a gear change that number should stay constant
[smiley=stars.gif]
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HUH!!! do you thing the PCIII screwed up the calibration of one of your gauges?
becuase without a gear change that number should stay constant
[smiley=stars.gif]
Honestly I don't know [smiley=nervous.gif], all I can say is that is when I noticed the difference. Not being much of a gear head I assumed (read ass u & me) that this had something to do with fuel mix across the powerband. All I can say is that there seemed to be an RPM change after the dyno tune. [smiley=nixweiss.gif] Now you got me wondering myself [smiley=confused5.gif]. Any other input from yourself or others would be greatly appreciated.
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And we had a discussion for awhile about wether these tanks could hold more than five (5) gallons. My comment back then was that the five gallon bagger tanks on the Electra Glides, Ultra Classics, etc. have always held a tad over 5 gallons. The proofs at the pump.....if you're using calabrated pumps (in Calif. calibration is the law). In the photo, it shows almost 3/10 of a gallon over 5!
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Hey All,
I set the trip meter each fill up and anytime after 160 miles I am lookin for fuel. Sometimes the low fuel light comes on at that time and sometimes she don't. Depends on what type of ridin I have been doing. My mileage varies between 36 and 42 mpg depending on conditions and wrist twist disease! ha ha My fuel gauge is not accurate since I changed the rear shocks to the electraglde classic touring type, thus the rear is 1" higher than the screamin eagle lowered suspension. Yes I left the front forks lowered and you really can't notice a difference other than the softer ride for momma in the rear!
[smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=beerchug.gif]
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And we had a discussion for awhile about wether these tanks could hold more than five (5) gallons.
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103 Eagle, I assume you were kidding about the shocks/fuel gauge accuracy? You do realize that it is just a float in a puddle? A slight increase in rear height, or frt height or the weight of you or a passenger will have such a min effect it would not be measureable.
But again, I know you were being funny!
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And we had a discussion for awhile about wether these tanks could hold more than five (5) gallons.
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Not on an SEEG, I ride a SERK but my Tach reads 2800rpm at 70 also.
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Just rode home from dinner...was doing 73 @3000RPM.
/bill
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Between 70 and 75mph I'm at 3000rpm. I know this because that's where I set my cruise when I'm on the freeway. I've already gone 30 miles after my low fuel light has come on. Put in over 5 gallons of gas, I think it was less than 5.1 gallons. It was another ten miles to home, I wonder if I would have made it?
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Tank holds 5.31 gal. I know [smiley=cry2.gif], it a great way to meet people. Wife doesn't think so.
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on the way home last night 70mph=2800rpm 74mph=3000rpm
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FYI
Riding in to work this morning, 70MPH at 2800,
Gas light came on 142.2 miles into the tank. I'll fill up on the way home.
Race tuner, SE Air cleaner, V & H Slip ons
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At 70 MPH I'm at 2800 RPM.. On a ride to Wichita, KS two weeks ago, my guage was right on E and it held 4.82 gallons. I was praying for a gas station. Where I was driving there [smiley=nervous.gif] was no gas station for about 35 miles, and it was getting dark, I was really sweating it!
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Now what I really want to know is where is your tach when you bury the speedo (@120) mines just over 4500 [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]
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OK...I'm the wimp of the group and only have gotten the tach to just over 4000 in 5th...around 102.5
Also, I just took the bike out with a gps...and got the following results
Speedo@73mph (3000RPM)
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OK...I'm the wimp of the group and only have gotten the tach to just over 4000 in 5th...around 102.5
Also, I just took the bike out with a gps...and got the following results
Speedo@73mph (3000RPM) GPS 69.1-70.1mph
Speedo@40mph GPS 27.8-28.0mph
I held the GPS in my hand as riding since I haven't got a mount for the bike.
/Bill
Is your GPS a high quaility one? if so, do you believe it to be more accurate than your gauges? [smiley=afro.gif]
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Yeah, that's a huge difference at 40mph! The local law enforcement here uses one of those portable speed indicators to show oncoming traffice their speed as they approach. They move it around from location to location to keep the speed in check on some of the residential areas (30 - 40mph zones). I've found my SEEG's speedo is pretty darn close to what that thing says at least in that speed range.
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DAMN Cordless keyboard!
Yes, the GPS is accurate, with SA off and a WAAS unit it has phenominal repeatability and accuracy.
Unfortunately my fingers cant tell between a 2 and a 3!
It was 37.8-38.0...
/Bill
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Thanks thats much more acceptable, I can live with a 2% margin of error [smiley=oops.gif]
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Really glad this "let's check the speedo with the GPS" deal got started. [smiley=laugh.gif] Did some really tall talking with the highway patrol when I got stopped with the cruise on, no hands and fooling with the GPS trying to check my mileage. Good news is the trooper is also a biker and after some laughs and a cup of coffee, he admitted that he just wanted to meet the guy who would consider using a cell phone while motoring down the highway. Bottom line.....39.3 mph with 40 indicated. As a side note, the trooper has an '05 SEEG Yellow on order and will be joining this site. Probably good as I'm sure I'm not the only one who can use all the help I can get from the traffic police.
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My local deputies use the local radar machine too, and they were so nice as to leave it down the road from my house for a week. I tried it several times...setting the cruise at 50 and riding toward it. I was off by 3-4 mph each pass.
I would bet that the radar was correct. Especially because I led our road trip group, and always set the cruise at 75 or 80. Others would ask me at stops why I was riding at 83, instead of a round number easy to find. Hmmmm.
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At freeway speed my speedo is about 4-5mph slower than my GPS street pilot. Have had it to 136mph [smiley=shocked2.gif] on the GPS and had not hit the rev limiter yet. But gas mileage at those speeds is not good 135 miles on a tank.
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At freeway speed my speedo is about 4-5mph slower than my GPS street pilot.
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At freeway speed my speedo is about 4-5mph slower than my GPS street pilot.
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And this from a "Granny" bike.....
Freakin' crotch rocket in touring bike clothing.
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At freeway speed my speedo is about 4-5mph slower than my GPS street pilot. Have had it to 136mph [smiley=shocked2.gif] on the GPS and had not hit the rev limiter yet. But gas mileage at those speeds is not good 135 miles on a tank.
It sounds like a lament that you can't ride more than an hour at a time....understandable.
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OK-OK I'm sold, should I start a new thread or do you wanna discuss GPS's here? What brand are you using? how much did id cost?
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Will start a gps thread we are a little off on this thread.
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MFG if I ride it like a normal person or in a group I get 45-48mpg but when you push the bike it gussels fuel and so you can't get far thus 125-135 miles on a tank of fuel.
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Mr Magoo,
The best thing about these CVO's is the ability to run just a little bit stronger than the norm on a bike that has a rather unique paint job with just a little more and different chrome.
I was making two points.
Given the fact that the CVOs address style, with chrome and paint, as well as image, through increased power; the issue of handling and mileage is up to the rider. Throughout many different threads we have looked at handling from many issues. Tires, suspension, and seat comfort are some of them. Given the fact that the MoCo has not addressed the issues of comfort, handling and mileage, I was saying that an hours worth of extreme excitement in dealing with riding at this pace on this bike is about the limit of excitement that a rider would want at one stretch, then a break might be in order while refueling.
Mike
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Mr Magoo,
The best thing about these CVO's is the ability to run just a little bit stronger than the norm on a bike that has a rather unique paint job with just a little more and different chrome.
I was making two points.
Given the fact that the CVOs address style, with chrome and paint, as well as image, through increased power; the issue of handling and mileage is up to the rider. Throughout many different threads we have looked at handling from many issues. Tires, suspension, and seat comfort are some of them. Given the fact that the MoCo has not addressed the issues of comfort, handling and mileage, I was saying that an hours worth of extreme excitement in dealing with riding at this pace on this bike is about the limit of excitement that a rider would want at one stretch, then a break might be in order while refueling.
Mike
HUH?
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HUH?
what did not make sense, ofender?
The thread took a turn toward speeds running and mileage.
I commented that because of handling and mileage not being addressed by the MoCo and left up to the owner.
In prior posts within this thread, there was a discussion about the innacuracy of the guages; seems to run consistant in what the MoCo is delivering as its best bike. From my experience, I thought that running a CVO for longer than one hour (a tankful) at a time just might be unnerving with considerations of operator fatigue.
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I've already rode a full tank down to almost nothing(2.5 hours), about 155 miles without stopping. I do this almost every Sunday during the summer. I have no idea what you're talking about Mike. These are TOURING bikes. That's why they come with cruise control.
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MFG to use a cliche, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I believe that they have addressed these issues, it just depends on the individual on wheather or not they fit your personal riding needs. For example many have changed the seat on these scooters wanting more comfort, I find the seat quite comfortable. [smiley=beerchug.gif]
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I've already rode a full tank down to almost nothing(2.5 hours), about 155 miles without stopping. I do this almost every Sunday during the summer. I have no idea what you're talking about Mike. These are TOURING bikes. That's why they come with cruise control.
You are correct, Brad. The reason that you have no idea is because you did not ride your bike at 130mph plus for the hour. There is a huge difference in the speed that you are talking about. Lets see, 5 gallons in two and a half hours. 155miles divided by 2 1/2 hours puts you at 62mph getting 31mpg. Now more than double that speed for one hour and check your shorts to see how comfortably you are while high speed touring. You have not convinced me that you are making a valid point in this dialogue. You have convinced me that you enjoy a leisurely pace.
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I and some of the people that i ride with like to ride fast it will probably be my down fall. But in groups or with the little woman I ride much different.
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MFG to use a cliche, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I believe that they have addressed these issues, it just depends on the individual on wheather or not they fit your personal riding needs. For example many have changed the seat on these scooters wanting more comfort, I find the seat quite comfortable. [smiley=beerchug.gif]
Several points, ofender.
You are correct, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
The issue of comfort and handling are not dealing with the superfluous padding differences on the seat. The comfort and handling deal with a suspension that does not wobble at speed (see tank slapper lawsuits) and is not sluggish at low speeds, does not need a shock absorber change-out and does not need a product added to the rear suspension to accomodate the feeble engineering attempt made by the engineering department that is being strangled by the accounting department and undermined by the assembly operation. CVO falls short. As Marg said in her recent post in another thread, "We are set up with bikes from a manuf. line with automation and quick weld jobs... not detailed custom work - factory custom work... Custom most likely because it's "customizing a few from a basic line of bikes"."
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Sorry, but I gotta say something.
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Sorry, but I gotta say something. I started this thread to give a heads-up about the accuracy of the fuel gauge not to start talking about what an overwhelming POS Mike thinks CVO bikes are. Mike, if you want to complain about how crappy you think these bikes are with regard to the suspension/seat/welds feel free - there are already threads going for that. Hell, you even started 3/4 of page full of polls on the suspension yourself.
But notice I said "how crappy you think these bikes are." Many of us like ofender, Magoo, Goose and me have put serious miles on these bikes without complaint about comfort. Maybe you need to actually spend some seat time in a Sreamin' Eagle Electra Glide before you make yourself look ridiculous with these public comments.
The criticism that comes forth about these bikes has nothing to do with that, Brian.
The factory is promising one thing through their Custom Vehicle Operation and delivering less than paid for.
The idea of a king of the hill motorcycle should be executed better than what is being offered.
The criticism of the bikes only stems from the myriad of problems that the MoCo is capable of rectifying at a manufacturing, engineering and quality control level and has not yet done so. The difficulty of getting problems rectified at a level higher than the dealer is frustrating.
H-D has come a long way in their engines and the fit and reliability of those components and should be commended.
Mike
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Mike, what is the factory promising?
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. . . If you took a poll of all the SEEG owners, I bet most of them are very satisfied with their bikes. . .
A poll to determine SEEG owners' overall satisfaction?
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The fuel guage is not accurate. Wasn't on my last two Ultra Classics, either! I knew that before I bought this bike and it was not a weighing factor for me. All my other bikes didn't even have a gas guage, so it's not a whole lot different.
We buy em and ride em cause we love em. I'd take any Evo, Twin Cam Ultra Classic or my SEEG over any Shovelhead, Pan head or Knuckle that I ever owned......you couldn't ride those damn bikes without working on them. Harley is not producing a "perfect" product yet, but they are leaps and bounds above the bikes they used to make.
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Heck I thought putting all this after market stuff (seat, shocks,handlebars, mini disc,etc.) was called personalizing the bike. Who makes a bike that every owner is happy with right off the floor???
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Heck I thought putting all this after market stuff (seat, shocks,handlebars, mini disc,etc.) was called personalizing the bike.
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I think the fuel gauge is as accurate as it needs to be, it always does the same thing. Stays on full for 100 miles then goes down quick. I always know about how many miles I have left. Just got back from a hundred mile ride by myself, I laugh at my buddies that won't ride when its below 50 but think nothin of snowmobiling when it's 15 degrees. This is some of the best riding of the year, winter is long enough without puttin the bike away too soon. On the way back from Tomahawk this year I had to siphon gas from my bike into my brothers knucklehead when he ran out. Gotta love it.
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personally I prefer this gauge over opening the gascap and looking in!!! LOL [smiley=1syellow1.gif]
I am willing to bet most of us are only concerned with this gauge when it reaches the big "E" [smiley=oops.gif]
and my experience with the big "E" is that it is quite accurate in telling me I need to refuel!!!
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My gas gauge is probably relatively accurate. Accurate enough anyway. More important is that it fills the hole in the fairing in a way that looks good with all the other things that fill holes in the fairing. For gas gauging, however, I use the trip meter and watch for the little red light. So far my little friendly red light seems to kick on when I've got almost 3/4 of a gallon left. Or three liters if you're waiting on something yellow [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif] .
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My gas gauge is probably relatively accurate.
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Your little fuel thingy lights up red?
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I'll be darned. That's cool 'cause the amber can be a bit hard to see in the middle of the day.
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Hmm, maybe some guys couldn't find their thingy in the middle of the day so it was changed to red to help them out [smiley=6.gif]
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My gas gauge is probably relatively accurate.
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Yeap, my thingy is red
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SHOUD THIS BE ANOTHER POLL [smiley=nixweiss.gif] RED FUEL THINGY OR AMBER FUEL THINGY [smiley=nixweiss.gif] WHAT COLOR IS YOUR THINGY [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]
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SHOUD THIS BE ANOTHER POLL [smiley=nixweiss.gif] RED FUEL THINGY OR AMBER FUEL THINGY [smiley=nixweiss.gif] WHAT COLOR IS YOUR THINGY [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]
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Mine is amber.
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I know we've talked about this some before, but for you guys picking up new units it might come in handy to revisit.
Coming home on Sunday I was trying to make some time and not stop as soon/often as I had been for fuel.
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Well I didn't get quite this far (only put 5.14 gallons in on fill-up), but 103tHunDer brings up two good points.
Gary, FWIW on a completely empty tank I filled up the red bike once with 5.5 gallons. Just to give an idea of max volume if you ever get "out there" and are having to stretch it for distance.
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Gary, FWIW on a completely empty tank I filled up the red bike once with 5.5 gallons.
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So, at 38mpg, which is about what I usually get on the highway, I could've run another 7.8 miles!
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Best advice is to look for gas when tank get's half full. These bikes are to heavy to push
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It's really not necessary to live with the inaccurate gauge; there is a real easy "fix" that will allow you to adjust it to read exactly where you want.
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That's some good chit there, Jerry. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] I'd forgotten about that thread. Like hotlineguy from TX, care if I come on over? Oh, there might be some Brembo calipers in the tour-pak that we could put on, too. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]
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GRC,
I had remembered reading somewhere about fix. Today when I was searching for information I searched "fuel gauge" to find this thread. Thanks for bringing that back to my attention.
Now on the other hand after reading this (and not being to mechanically inclined). I want to suggest that the next CVO gathering on East Coast include one day of "Tech Support". Those with the expertise could perform such repairs. As I said before I'm not to mechanically inclined, but I can buy cold refreshments [smiley=drink.gif] and have no problem retrieving them as requested. ;D However I will have a limit to how many I retrieve for you while working on my bike
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GRC,
I had remembered reading somewhere about fix. Today when I was searching for information I searched "fuel gauge" to find this thread. Thanks for bringing that back to my attention.
Now on the other hand after reading this (and not being to mechanically inclined). I want to suggest that the next CVO gathering on East Coast include one day of "Tech Support". Those with the expertise could perform such repairs. As I said before I'm not to mechanically inclined, but I can buy cold refreshments [smiley=drink.gif] and have no problem retrieving them as requested. ;D However I will have a limit to how many I retrieve for you while working on my bike
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Has anybody noticed that the Brits consistently get about 20 - 25% better gas mileage (mpg) than the Stateside guys get?
Why??
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Has anybody noticed that the Brits consistently get about 20 - 25% better gas mileage (mpg) than the Stateside guys get?
Why??
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Has anybody noticed that the Brits consistently get about 20 - 25% better gas mileage (mpg) than the Stateside guys get?
Why??
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Used to happen to me a lot in the old days (before the metric system), couldn't figure out how I got much better MPG once I crossed the 49th parallel!
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Just echoing what everyone else says about the guage accuracy, but I have a red 2005 SEEG with an amber light (wish it was red)
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My low fuel light is more amber than red also.
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My low fuel light is more amber than red also.
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No, you're not.
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Amen on the "run away" feature. Been there and done that. Now, the master switch for the cruise gets shut off when I even guess there might be a town or city ahead.
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You guys have my undivided attention now. What's this about a cruise control 'run-away'? Does it really happen and is there anyway to avoid it and still use the cruise control. I've grown to really like that bugger and use it a lot! But, I don't want that stroker motor to have a mind of it's own, either. [smiley=nervous.gif] spyder
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You guys have my undivided attention now.
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Me too.
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So, the amber light is a "low fuel" light.............
I thought it meant I was going to stop running in 3-5 miles!
Actually I never use the gauge, reset the "a" trip meter at every fill up and figure I need to fill up again before I hit 175 miles.
Most I put in my tank so far? 4.8 gallons.
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Actually I never use the gauge, reset the "a" trip meter at every fill up and figure I need to fill up again before I hit 175 miles.
Porthole, I'd guess that most of us are mile counters for fuel. Seems that most here have been riding long enough to have not had fuel gauges so just learned that way. Doing it that way means we don't have to care whether the gauge is accurate though (is that a benefit of being old?).
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So, the amber light is a "low fuel" light.............
I thought it meant I was going to stop running in 3-5 miles!
Actually I never use the gauge, reset the "a" trip meter at every fill up and figure I need to fill up again before I hit 175 miles.
Most I put in my tank so far? 4.8 gallons.
You get 175 miles on the 103?
My fuel light usually comes on around 130 miles and I might get 145 out of it. I think one time I got 152 on this bike. Although, they just found a small leak in my fuel line when they replaced my valve guide seals.......so I'll see what I get now.
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I'd guess that most of us are mile counters for fuel.
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You get 175 miles on the 103?
JC, at 175 miles, mix of highways and byways I put in between 4.2 and 4.5 gallons on average. My mileage varies between 38 (mostly city) to, so far, a high of 43 on the highway, doing about 75.
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2Lane, ah yep, been counting the miles since I had my 2.2 gallon sporty. Although with only 2 gallons I ran out of gas more often then I care to remember. :-X
But did you do this? If I ran out of gas once I too often then ran out again on the next tank. Too addled or pissed off after pushing the bike the first time to remember to switch it from reserve back to fuel before taking off and leaving the scene of the stupidity.
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My fuel light usually comes on around 130 miles and I might get 145 out of it.
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But did you do this?
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I don't recall and I plead the 5th
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Porthole, I'd guess that most of us are mile counters for fuel.
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Jerry,
Can't disagree with a word of what you wrote. My odometer pretty much always rests on the first trip odometer for fuel purposes. But we've all got our quirks. Speaking to silly engineering though, I can't help but chuckle every time I even get close to the low fuel warning light coming on. I mean, come on, right behind the tail of the speedometer needle at cruising speeds? How dumb is that? I didn't think I even had one for the first month I had the bike.
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accurate fuel gauges have been around for decades
GRC,
Although the gauge will never be more then an "indicator", you can have it adjusted. I brought my bike in with 160 miles on a tank of gas and had the dealer adjust the gauge to just above empty.
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GRC,
Although the gauge will never be more then an "indicator", you can have it adjusted. I brought my bike in with 160 miles on a tank of gas and had the dealer adjust the gauge to just above empty.
porthole,
I know - I used to do that with my carb bikes.
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You get 175 miles on the 103?
My fuel light usually comes on around 130 miles and I might get 145 out of it.
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I also reset the trip meter at every fill up and end up filling up somewhere between 140-150 miles, depending on how heavy I am on the throttle. I have on several occasions put more than 5 gallons in my tank. I guess I either like to push it or have gotten so comfortable with the trip meter resetting and reading technique that I have been able to note that the tank is slightly larger than 5.0 gallons, of course I also fill the tank to the rim ;D.