realized there's no fuel gauge today...the hard way - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

AwwsChwA · 06-19-2004, 09:58 PM

So I'm riding from one job to the next, and just off the 15N freeway, the bike starts acting really strange...surging, stalling, poor idle...well, I managed to get it to a safe spot and tried to think of hte most basic things first...sure enough, no fuel. I didn't even think of it, I'm so used to having a fuel guage to look at that I just completely forgot about it. I was only about a quarter mile from a gas station, so I just rolled it there and filled up. Another valuable newbie lesson learned the hard way. I'm just thankful that the bike waited till after I was off the freeway to act up.

DrBob · 06-20-2004, 01:50 AM

What bike do you ride? Most have either a small auxiliary tank, or a fuel pick-up lower in the tank, so that when you run out you can switch the petcock to 'reserve' and get another few miles before you have to push. I have gone 30 more miles on my reserve. Forgive me if you were already on reserve and just forgot. Either way, it is good to get into the habit of re-setting the trip odometer to zero and keeping an eye on the miles you have gone on that tank, just in case you forget to put the petcock back on 'run' when you fill up. I forget all the time, but when I get to about 125 miles and I haven't had to switch to reserve yet, I have always caught my error before being stranded.

AwwsChwA · 06-20-2004, 10:50 AM

I had no idea bikes had reserves on them until I got to work and one of the guys told me

So yea, now I'm aware of the reserve, and I'm also watching the trip meter. Definitely won't be making the same mistake twice. Oh, and the bike is a 1981 GS450S.

Marcos · 06-20-2004, 01:40 PM

Hey, you in the SoCal area? I'm another newb with a GZ 250. I'm still on my learners' permit, so no freeways, but if you're close, maybe we can go riding? I'm near Pasadena.

AwwsChwA · 06-20-2004, 08:00 PM

I'm in san diego, I highly doubt we could meet up without using freeways. I can't use freeways either, but I do anyway for commuting the short distance (bout 8 miles) to and from work. I went mountain biking up in the Cuyamaca mountains today, and MAN, I can't wait until I have my license so I can ride the freeways out to the mountains and ride the twisty roads

06-19-2004, 09:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	realized there's no fuel gauge today...the hard way So I'm riding from one job to the next, and just off the 15N freeway, the bike starts acting really strange...surging, stalling, poor idle...well, I managed to get it to a safe spot and tried to think of hte most basic things first...sure enough, no fuel. I didn't even think of it, I'm so used to having a fuel guage to look at that I just completely forgot about it. I was only about a quarter mile from a gas station, so I just rolled it there and filled up. Another valuable newbie lesson learned the hard way. I'm just thankful that the bike waited till after I was off the freeway to act up.

06-20-2004, 01:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,703	What bike do you ride? Most have either a small auxiliary tank, or a fuel pick-up lower in the tank, so that when you run out you can switch the petcock to 'reserve' and get another few miles before you have to push. I have gone 30 more miles on my reserve. Forgive me if you were already on reserve and just forgot. Either way, it is good to get into the habit of re-setting the trip odometer to zero and keeping an eye on the miles you have gone on that tank, just in case you forget to put the petcock back on 'run' when you fill up. I forget all the time, but when I get to about 125 miles and I haven't had to switch to reserve yet, I have always caught my error before being stranded. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

06-20-2004, 01:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Marcos Seat Tester Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles/Guanajuato Posts: 63	Hey, you in the SoCal area? I'm another newb with a GZ 250. I'm still on my learners' permit, so no freeways, but if you're close, maybe we can go riding? I'm near Pasadena. __________________ ---- Ser naco es chido.

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06-20-2004, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	I had no idea bikes had reserves on them until I got to work and one of the guys told me So yea, now I'm aware of the reserve, and I'm also watching the trip meter. Definitely won't be making the same mistake twice. Oh, and the bike is a 1981 GS450S.

06-20-2004, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	I'm in san diego, I highly doubt we could meet up without using freeways. I can't use freeways either, but I do anyway for commuting the short distance (bout 8 miles) to and from work. I went mountain biking up in the Cuyamaca mountains today, and MAN, I can't wait until I have my license so I can ride the freeways out to the mountains and ride the twisty roads

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