Why a RES position at all??

[dmp221]

OK maybe I'm missing something so amazingly obvious...but why do bikes come with 3 positions?  Aren't 2 enough, an ON and a PRI?  One vacuum actuated, the other gravity fed?  What's the purpose of the RES. position?  I know what it does, just wonder if it's needed at all?  Can't most people set the trip-odometer back at fill-ups, and calculate when they should gas-up again?  The RES just sems like idiot-proofing to me (unless, maybe...<gulp>...I'm the idiot?)  OK what's the scoop?

[JasonB]

Ever hit your res early? Ever not reset the trip? Fill the bike up to the same spot every time and the same way?

[glenn9171]

Why have a gas guage in your car?  Can't you just go by the sticker that comes on the window and figure how many miles you have left on the tank?  It's a safeguard.  Not everyone keeps an eye on their odometer 100% of the time they are riding.  Depending on how you ride, you will get a great varyance in your mileage.  I once only got 160 miles before reserve.  The last tank I got 199.  I have hit as high as 232 once.  Should I have to fill up every time I hit 150 miles just to be safe?  

How would one know when to fill up the first time if they didn't have reserve?  Run out of gas completely 20 miles from nowhere?  Keep circling a gas station until they started sputtering?

My point is...why would it benefit us to NOT have reserve?  A savings of $2 on the price of the bike?

[Kerry]

Idiot-proofing isn't exactly the gentlest term for it, but I'd say that's basically the idea - for all of us "idiots" out there.

Some folks are more into enjoyment than analysis; they prefer to enjoy the ride and the scenery rather than keep track of the whirling numbers on their gauges.

I see several possibilities:

* Maybe you can't always afford to fill the tank completely.
* Maybe someone helps themselves to the contents of your fuel tank.
* Maybe you get widely-varying MPG numbers because of riding in the city / country / headwind / tailwind / ??[/list:u]Myself, I lean to the analytic side.  But even so, on my recent 10-day trip to BC my MPG numbers were all over the map.  At one point I got within a couple tenths of a gallon of running my tank bone dry.

But if life is simpler for you (or if you want it to be) you might consider bypassing the petcock altogether and running your RES fuel line directly to the carbs.  Then you don't even have to worry about PRIme!

[dmp221]

OK my question's been answered.  It is basically what it says...a reserve, in lieu of a fuel guage.  You've all made excellent points, I just thought there might be something more to it.  Ah, well, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar!  (Hmm, I wonder how many know what THAT one means...?)
Thanks for the answers.

[vtlion]

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

should we just call you "Siggie"?  

[JasonB]

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

should we just call you "Siggie"?  

I Think Bill is the more Apt name.

[dmp221]

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

should we just call you "Siggie"?  

I Think Bill is the more Apt name.

     LMAO!!! Gotta love a highly educated, well-read motorcycle message board!  Tooo funny!!