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[Pete7539]

It does kinda seem like it learns or compensates for the way you've been driving. I know I've topped off completely and had some pretty big differences in range to empty. Never rode it down too low. I know my car definitely does change up to 100 miles depending on driving habit on previous tank. And I've ridden that low just to see what I'd really get. Once I hit 18, every 200 feet or so it'd drop another mile. At the end I had 1 remaining and had to get gas at a more expensive station because I was afraid to pull a Kramer and push it to the limit.

[2018_FLTRXSE]

I find it changes depending the terrain and the speed. Have you ever noticed that the r value increases when you are riding down a loooong incline. On the other hand when you are ascending the r value seems to go down much more quickly. I think it should be used only a rough indicator of remaining mileage.

same here... my daily commute is roughly 18 miles, downhil and basically flat terrain... the trip meter actually increases going downhill and decreases rapidly climbing the grade on the highway headed home, 60-70 average speed...

I do notice that the '12 tank with the side fill though 6 gallons wont hold 6 gallons. I've squeezed 5.74 gallons at basically zero on the trip.

on my old '09 that had the center fill it took 6.1 from virtual E.

[Vyscera]

same here... my daily commute is roughly 18 miles, downhil and basically flat terrain... the trip meter actually increases going downhill and decreases rapidly climbing the grade on the highway headed home, 60-70 average speed...

I do notice that the '12 tank with the side fill though 6 gallons wont hold 6 gallons. I've squeezed 5.74 gallons at basically zero on the trip.

on my old '09 that had the center fill it took 6.1 from virtual E.

The range computation isnt very accurate, its more of a dummy warning. As stated above, I went 20 miles past the range saying I had no fuel. Keeping track of miles ridden is a better bet if you want to go through a whole tank.

[grc]

The range computation isnt very accurate, its more of a dummy warning. As stated above, I went 20 miles past the range saying I had no fuel. Keeping track of miles ridden is a better bet if you want to go through a whole tank.

Miles ridden (odometer) is only a good bet if everything always remains the same.  Same exact amount in the tank when you reset the tripmeter to zero, same exact fuel formulation, same exact riding conditions, etc.  In other words, in the real world just going by miles ridden is about the poorest method if you want to use the entire tank without running out along the way.

The best method is to check the calibration of your gauge.  In other words, exactly how much fuel do you really have when the gauge reads 1/4, 1/8, etc.  Then you can either compensate mentally if the gauge isn't real accurate, or better yet calibrate it so it is accurate.  And if you have to have an error, it's much better to have the gauge read a little pessimistically than optimistically.  Think of it as a reserve, like in the old days.

I would never assume a Harley gauge, or the miles to empty feature, is even remotely accurate.  If you plan to try to squeeze the last half gallon out of the tank, it would be a very good idea to check the accuracy of the gauge beforehand, when you aren't in danger of being stranded on the side of the road somewhere.

Jerry

[ultrafxr]

My 'r' is very accurate which is surprising since my gauge is very inaccurate.  You would think they get their info from the same source.  

Anyway, my gauge shows 'empty' long before the low fuel warning light comes on.  Last year when returning from a road trip I was near home and did not want to stop even though I was low on fuel.  I had a spare gallon in the Reda gas can with me so was not all that concerned.

When the 'range' reached about 8 to 10 miles (can't remember exactly) then just says 'lo.'  I drove several more miles and sure enough ran out of gas.  So at least for me on my bike I think I can trust the 'range' feature.

[ffltjeff]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread but just curious what does everyone consider a full tank?  Is it on the side stand with wheel turned to the left, wheel to the right, or standing up straight and topped off?   

[9 1/2 Beers]

My 'r' is very accurate which is surprising since my gauge is very inaccurate.  You would think they get their info from the same source.  

Anyway, my gauge shows 'empty' long before the low fuel warning light comes on.  Last year when returning from a road trip I was near home and did not want to stop even though I was low on fuel.  I had a spare gallon in the Reda gas can with me so was not all that concerned.

When the 'range' reached about 8 to 10 miles (can't remember exactly) then just says 'lo.'  I drove several more miles and sure enough ran out of gas.  So at least for me on my bike I think I can trust the 'range' feature.

 Jerry, Mine is the same way, I think it's a matter of getting to know your bike. I have got to know how far i can go on " LO"

 Imho : I think there is 1/2 gallon left at LO. depending on the bike is how far you can go once LO comes on.

[grc]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread but just curious what does everyone consider a full tank?  Is it on the side stand with wheel turned to the left, wheel to the right, or standing up straight and topped off?   

There actually is an official definition that Harley uses, but the details escape me at the moment.  I think most of us tend to fuel up with the bike on the jiffy stand with the wheel straight ahead or slightly to the right, while standing on the left side.  This allows the best access to the filler with the nozzle without the handlebar in the way.  But of course I could be wrong.  And of course things are a little different if you're talking about a center fill tank versus a side fill tank.

To me full is when the fuel reaches the bottom of the filler neck with the bike on the jiffy stand.  That leaves proper room for expansion.  Filling it to the brim with the bike level leaves no such room and can lead to spillage if you fuel up and then park for awhile.  Expanding gasoline (gas sitting directly over a hot V-Twin will do that) will be vented to the ground under your high priced scooter, and you need to hope a smoker doesn't flip a burning butt nearby.  Your car or truck fuel tank is designed to control this for you and is actually very difficult to overfill.  On the other hand your Harley tank is about as unsophisticated as a tank can be, so the rider needs to use good sense when filling it.

Jerry

[ffltjeff]

That makes sense.   
Thanks Jerry

[2018_FLTRXSE]

Jerry, Mine is the same way, I think it's a matter of getting to know your bike. I have got to know how far i can go on " LO"

 Imho : I think there is 1/2 gallon left at LO. depending on the bike is how far you can go once LO comes on.

I think its less than that... at least my 09 was that way.. it left me stranded with 11 miles left on the "r" once.... that was a horrible morning! (I should have just filled closer to home but I was being cheap.. thank goodness for great friends!)

When I fuel up my '12 its on the stand, wheel to the left.. fill to just at the bottom of the neck... however last fill up I rode about 5 miles to my friends place and parked a hot bike out in the sun... it puked out the filler neck (it was actually coming up through the flush mounted gas cap.)

Normally upon hitting the road the r displays somewhere between 225 and 250 to E.

[S.E.Chic]

245-255?
is that Downhill?
Wow...

Not all downhill. Back roads, mountains, interstate. I did remove the cat, put 2" fullsac baffles, and used TTS Mastertune with the file they suggested for my set up. It runs cooler and still gets this mileage!

[T-Hawk]

My gauge and miles remaining seem to be very accurate... if not a little generous.  Daily commutes to an from the '4 letter word' I'll average 34mpg.  When the gauge gets to the emptyish mark, the low fuel miles remaining comes on showing 34 miles to go.

While on the open road it's a little different... getting on average 38 to 42mpg, then the light comes on usually indicating what my mpg was at that time.

Our trip to Texas proved just how generous the gauge and 'r' indicator on my bike is.

After completing 175 miles or so, with no gas station in site between point A and B, I was getting a bit worried.  The 'r' came on and indicated I had 36 to go... the 'low' came on after the 10 to go had lapsed, and I still ran it for another 21 miles until a 'mom & pop' gas station appeared at the extreme edge of Amarillo.

I filled it to the brim with only 5.75 gallons... with a sigh of relief.  Apparently, slowing down to 50mph in that long stretch of the unknown, helped save some mpg and I averaged out for that leg with a total of 40mpg... and may have even been able to go another 10 miles to the 'corporate' gas station just around the corner.   

[Lkn4advtr]

I do a lot of distance riding and found the only way to make good distance is to keep moving. As long as there is fuel in the tank, I keep riding. The GPS on my bike allows you to find fuel near your destination, current route, current position etc.. Using this feature on current route I can maximise the fuel in my tank by finding the furthest gas stop on my route within reach. Having said that I just returned from a 10,000 mile trip to Nova Scotia and back via Laconia bike week and then down to the dragons tail in the smoky mountains before returning to California. The "r" to me means remaining distance under current driving conditions. At 10 miles remaining it switches to "low". Without changing your driving conditions you should get the 10 "r" miles plus another hidden 7 - 10 reserve miles before running out. My experience has brought me into many gas stations taking 6 gallon fill ups. the most I have taken  is 6.206 gallons and the record for our group is 6.232 gallons. I have not pushed the bike yet although I have been quite nervous.

[NETacoma03Fatboy]

FYI mine does the same thing. I go by the odometer. No more than 190-200 miles till I'm out

+1

[Robin Keegan]

I conducted this excercise for the first time only last week on the ride home from the H-D 110th Anniversary Rally in Rome. According to the book, the Low Fuel warning light should come on when 1 US gallon (3.79 liters) remains in the tank.  My light came on and the available range indicated was 41 miles.  I then rode another 20 miles to my local gas station where the indicated range was 27 miles.  I carefully topped off the tank and put 15.15 liters in, indicating that 3.75 liters remained so it seems that the available range system is somewhat pessimistic.