A lesson from a new guy to other new guys

colobluefox · February 24, 2007, 03:43:39 PM

CHECK YOUR FUEL BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!

I just got back from my three mile ride down the highway. I only made it three miles because my bike died. I couldn't figure out what the problem was. It wouldn't start and wouldn't start. I got mad and was shaking the bike back and forth. When I was shaking it, it would start and run till I stopped shaking it. I looked in the tank and sure enough what I thought was "some fuel" was actually no fuel. I also learned that I have my fuel and reserve line backward. The bikes full now after a nice little push back to the gas station.

So there you have it. I'm a 'tard. Learn from my mistake.

Blu_Spd_Dmon · February 24, 2007, 04:07:49 PM

This mysterious fanomanon has only happened to me twice and a half

elcabron · February 24, 2007, 04:56:55 PM

Do behave yourself. Get a bike, fill it up, zero the mile meter, run it til the gas hits reserve, note the miles, rinse and repeat

TarzanBoy · February 24, 2007, 06:56:55 PM

Every rider has run out of gas at some point. I ran out of gas one one of my first rides out with my roommate. Lucky for me I still had some reserve, so we pulled into a gas station and filled up.

Susuki_Jah · February 24, 2007, 11:28:14 PM

pretty soon you will know how much gas you have by the weight of the bike when you get on it.

ledfingers · February 25, 2007, 01:51:07 AM

i ran out on my way home from work at 3am... Theres was a long stretch of the 8 that didn't have any gas stations directly off the freeway (i had to go 30 miles each way, but all freeway) and i ran out just as i passed the last exit (i was dead tired so i wasn't paying attention to the trip meter, which is how i tell when i'm low on gas), so switch to reserve, ran out again 1 exit before the first gas-stationed exit. So i called a friend to come bring me a gas can, then he shows up almost an hour later and says "i don't have a gas can, i called AAA" so i waited 45 mins for them to show, finally got some gas, went and filled up, and made it home at 5:15am. I didn't wake up until i had to go to work again at 6pm

pingpong · February 25, 2007, 02:57:18 AM

Happened to me too. My hoses were reversed, and I ran out of gas on the highway. Lucky for me another rider passing by in a pickup was able to help me get it back home (I was in the left side emergency lane, mind you, so getting myself off the highway would have required some real Frogger finesse). JW, how many gallons can I expect from the reserve?

ledfingers · February 25, 2007, 03:04:06 AM

i got 10 miles out of it...but wide open in 6th going up a mild but long hill

Wrecent_Wryder · February 25, 2007, 06:27:34 AM

M6

colobluefox · February 25, 2007, 12:42:30 PM

I took the bike out this morning. Ya, it runs lots better with gas in it. Oh well, I feel better about my fuel filter now. I thought that it might be causing my problems.

CBR JOCKEY · February 25, 2007, 02:57:17 PM

Second thing you should always check on these bikes is the oil level. Being an air cooled engine it will tend to use up oil on long rides on hot days ....this happened to my wife last summer when we took the bikes on a weekend trip. Stupid me didn't know about GS500 oil usage on hot days. So her bike started to slow down and act real funny on the last leg of our journey...we pull over and turned the engine off and you can smell oil vapourizing off the engine..... checked the dip and it was dry but still some oil in the sump if yo screw the dip all the way in...thank god there was a gas station up the street. Topped her off with some oil and we made it home that night.....CHECK GAS and you OIL.....ride safe guys...... sorry for stealing the thread.

pandy · February 25, 2007, 08:08:59 PM

I'm too paranoid to run out of gas. I couldn't push my bike 10 feet, so I'd have been stranded.... I *have* however let the oil get a little low at times....

baco99 · February 27, 2007, 05:51:28 PM

i can usually tell by the sound of the gas sloshing around, or by wrapping on the tank.

nightrider · February 27, 2007, 07:14:09 PM

rapping not wrapping

baco99 · February 27, 2007, 08:00:08 PM

danke

FearedGS500 · February 27, 2007, 11:24:06 PM

i know when its getting close to having to get gas... i get about 170-180 miles before i hit my Rer. once i hit that .. i have about 60miles or so before i HAVE to get gas

3imo · February 28, 2007, 08:59:44 AM

I just pull my trusty winebag out and siphon or drain a spot of fuel from a friend, pour it into the tank and be on my merry way.

oh yeah, then I dispose of the winebag asap.

thanks Srinath

RVertigo · February 28, 2007, 05:31:27 PM

Yeah... Reserve is helpful...

You hit it and you know you have 1 Gallon left.

Unnamed · February 28, 2007, 06:45:32 PM

Quote from: nightrider on February 27, 2007, 07:14:09 PM
rapping not wrapping

No, he was right. You probably just hadn't thought of covering the tank with something, it helps slow fuel consumption.

As for the oil, CBR Jockey is right, I got myself stranded a couple miles from home when my oil light came on, and had to get my brother to drive over with some. The oil is a nuisance because really, who checks the oil that often?

aaronstj · February 28, 2007, 06:57:18 PM

Quote from: Unnamed on February 28, 2007, 06:45:32 PM
The oil is a nuisance because really, who checks the oil that often?

Anyone following TCLOCS.

(Err, not that I do...)

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A lesson from a new guy to other new guys