Ran out of gas but there was still some in tank?

[gitarman]

So I'm ridin home from work today and my bike starts boggin down...so I switched to reserve. This was at 150 miles on the tripmeter so I was a lil confused by that. Anyway I pull, no push, it into the gas station and open up the tank. I can still see gas in the bottom of the tank, oh say 1/2 inch judging by the overflow stem that runs down the middle. Is it normal for the bike to run out of gas even if the tank isn't completely empty?

[Kerry]

Absolutely.

The most I have EVER been able to put into the ~4.5-gallon tank on my '99 is 4.368 gallons. (See Day 3 from my 2003 BC trip and a related GStwin post.)  And that was after pulling over several times and coaxing a few more miles out of the tank with the PRI setting on the petcock, leaning the bike over, etc.

[yamahonkawazuki]

yup, every fuel tank ive ever seen is somewhat like that. (even cars), you look into the tank, thinkin "ive got plenty ", when in face youre dangerously low  :dunno: