reserve gas capacity - 74 roadster - how far can you go?

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storm42 said:
I know L.A.B's posts are always good, but, there are so many variables to this that no one can give an accurate answer, strap a can of fuel to the back and ride until you run out, then you know how far YOU can go.
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Yes, although the question asked was "typically" how far but I agree there's no accurate answer.
 
jbruney said:
I think pulling into a station regularly, about every 70-80 mi., and stimulating the local economy a bit is the best bet if one wants to keep the roadster tank. Besides a stretch, trip to the head and a drink of water prevents fatigue keeping one alert on the road.... visual inspection on an old machine never hurt either. Safety first.
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And with all the whinging about the diminutive Roadster tank, I can confidently ride my HiRider tank (2 Gal) to 80 miles, where I need a break anyway as well ;-)
 
storm42 said:
I know L.A.B's posts are always good, but, there are so many variables to this that no one can give an accurate answer, strap a can of fuel to the back and ride until you run out, then you know how far YOU can go.
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I somewhat agree. everything is subjective. best thing I can do is ride X-number of miles, get gas and calculate my MPG's. probably need to do this over several events to come up with an average MPG and add in a safety factor. if the tank specs at 2.6 gals, I would guess I have at least 2 gallons usable, and if i'm in the ballpark at 50 MPG, that would fit in with the 100 mile mark as mentioned. sure would be nice if my speedometer had a trip odometer. I wouldn't have to think so much - :D
 
joe czech said:
sure would be nice if my speedometer had a trip odometer. I wouldn't have to think so much
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Speedometer, trip meter and configurable fuel level warning... among other things.

reserve gas capacity - 74 roadster - how far can you go?
 
Tornado said:
And with all the whinging about the diminutive Roadster tank, I can confidently ride my HiRider tank (2 Gal) to 80 miles, where I need a break anyway as well ;-)
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I have a steel Hi-Rider tank as well. Use 100 miles as my maximum limits and make a note of my odometer when I fill up. I also like having clear fuel lines because I can start to see air in the top of them as the fuel is sloshing around in the tank and intermittently filling the lines.
 
joe czech said:
is that a garmin? details....
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Yep, Garmin Zumo 550. This one's discontinued but they have newer and better now. Their Zumo series is motorcycle specific. Mine came with a handlebar mount and power wiring plus a suction cup mount for the car. Weatherproof, big buttons. Besides navigation it keeps track of max and average speed and how many miles since you last filled the gas tank. It warns me when I'm 30 miles from what I programmed as my fuel range.

No voice prompts when in the motorcycle mount, unless you have a wired or Bluetooth headset. I just bought an awesome Arai Signet X helmet with a Bluetooth headset and I'm lovin' it. The Zumo pairs to both the headset and the phone in my pocket. (Yes, I pull over if I answer a call).
So, as long as the GPS is with me I have a "gas gauge".
 
Lazyeye wrote. 1st of all, I have difficulty comprehending that anyone is getting 60 mpg with a Commando, dual Amals or single Mikuni. If so, it must be
a very boring riding experience.

Your welcome. I spent hours getting my 2 Amals running correctly a long time ago. I do long distance riding. Being a mechanic, I have a lot of respect for that heavy lump of steel spinning in those alloy cases. I have to get home, so rarely go over 5000 rpm and cruise just over 4000. Besides, the speed limit in this country is 100 kph. I have also met trucks using my side of the road on blind corners. I am 69, and know how it hurts when you ferk up. I have done my share of using my front wheel as a plough as well.

Something more for you to "comprehend".
 
I almost ran out my first week on the Commando but the bike sputtered right in front of the gas station. As I filled my tank and pondered a solution I remembered the plastic dials my mom had on her knitting needles to count rows (?). So I rode to the knitting supply store, bought (2) knitting row counters, (the kind that slips over the knitting needles, google it) and slipped them on the air cable. I never found out how far my reserve took me because I never came close to running out again

When I fill up my tank I set the dials on the row counter to the mileage on the odometer + 100 miles. It makes a easy reference point, especially if I don't ride the bike frequently enough to remember where I went after I filled up. When my odometer gets close to my target # I head to the gas station. People who look at my bike usually ask what those weird little pink dials are for and after I finish making up far fetched stories I explain my simple solution.
 
Today I had time to drain, and pull the taps from the tank, inspect the screens on the taps. (It was freshly repainted when I put it together a year ago)
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When I started it then, the RH, Main BAP fuel tap had a leak, so I replaced it. Well, I ran it out of fuel last summer, and reserve had just a short go.
Today I proved the main (standpipe visible on the right) tap is faulty. I drained the tank, with bike on the mainstand, motionless. Figuring I’d have a pint or more when I unscrewed the tap, I was surprised there was NO FUEL that poured out. The standpipe is not sealed at the bottom, allowed the RH side of the tank to drain fully.
 
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concours said:
Today I had time to drain, and pull the taps from the tank, inspect the screens on the taps. (It was freshly repainted when I put it together a year ago)
View attachment 17722View attachment 17722View attachment 17723View attachment 17724View attachment 17725
When I started it then, the RH, Main BAP fuel tap had a leak, so I replaced it. Well, I ran it out of fuel last summer, and reserve had just a short go.
Today I proved the main (standpipe visible on the right) tap is faulty. I drained the tank, with bike on the mainstand, motionless. Firuring I’d have a pint or more when I unscrewed the tap, I was surprised there was NO FUEL that poured out. The standpipe is not sealed at the bottom, allowed the RH side of the tank to drain fully.
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Nice paint job.

I know you are one of the most knowledgeable people on here but just to say I have had bad experiences with those small plastic filters. Two of them cracked and leaked.

Actually on my DR Suzuki not a Commando but it still might happen
 
Back in the old days - on my 71 Commando Roadster - when I was young and very fast (weren't we all?), I did mileage checks occasionally and typically got around 35 MPG on my stock bike. At the time I thought that was incredible gas mileage! :) I have never done a mileage check on my 850, I just know it will go further with the fastback tank than I care to ride without a break anyway so we get along very well! Typically I refuel at around 100-120 miles. My BMW R9T's range is about the same.

My other two bikes (BMW R1200RS, Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe) both have (Gasp!) ACTUAL Fuel Gauges! Curiously they both have an indication if you are riding on "reserve." Seems a strange concept if you have a fuel gauge but sometimes tradition dies hard! ;)

As is the case on my 850 Commando, I have never actually checked the mileage on either bike. They easily go "far enough" on a tank. The R9T has the strangest 'fuel gauge' of anything I've seen. It doesn't show you the fuel level at any time but it tells you when you go on 'reserve' and then displays the mileage accrued from that point on. Totally useless as far as I can tell since there is no range indication. Telling me how far I've gone on reserve when I have no idea how far I can go on reserve seems a bit silly. I guess BMW figure you should ride the bike once till it is totally out of fuel and then see how far you went 'on reserve' so that in the future you'll have some idea how far you can go on reserve. Bizarre!
 
johnm said:
Nice paint job.

I know you are one of the most knowledgeable people on here but just to say I have had bad experiences with those small plastic filters. Two of them cracked and leaked.

Actually on my DR Suzuki not a Commando but it still might happen
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I had one break clean off... but I was hooning at 40mph on a washboard gravel road. No doubt they degrade. I had spares on board, having noticed distortion.
 
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OP, I measured 2-1/2 pints from reserve tank half. But that’s static, so unrealistic.
 
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