Tank Protector

[rashy68]

What do you think of my petrol tank protector? I know it's not a British bike but I was born in the UK and I think it gives it a bit of individuality.

[Twisted]

If you wanted to Aussie it up a southern cross on one side of the tank would work

[Hughesy]

I like it. I think it looks good. It's who you are.
But it doesn't matter if I or anyone else likes it, or not.
It only matters what you think.......and the pit crew!

[ThatOtherGuy]

I like it too, as long as you are happy then that's all that matters.

[codajastal]

I also like it

[rashy68]

Yeah very happy with it. I got it for $15 on ebay. I also picked up another one that is mainly black on has a small Suzuki logo on it. It cost me 99 cets including postage. 

[kyled25]

just noticed your bike has 517 miles awesome!

[mister]

Rashy, quick question.... did you Zero your trip meter when you last tanked up?

[slipperymongoose]

Looks good breaks up the colour.

[rashy68]

I bought the bike brand new and got it before I got my learners. My brother rode it home for me from Peter Stevens. I reset the trip metre for the km's I have done. Done some more since the photo but still only got 1200 km's on the clock. It only cost me $7,200 on the road so I figured I may aswell get it new seeing though second hand bikes were only about $1,000 cheaper.

[mister]

Trip meter is mainly used to let you know hire closer you are before hitting reserve.

Thank up, reset trip  ride until you hit reserve, take notice how far you went. Tank up, reset, flip to main, ride until reserve. Now you have a good idea on range and can reset after each fill so you know when you area getting close.

Michael

[rashy68]

Thanks for the tip Mister. I will do that from now on.

Cheers

[ThatOtherGuy]

I actually keep a log, when I fill up and I assume we all fill up completely being a small tank, I write the odometer reading on the receipt (reset the trip meter as well), the receipt has the fuel volume, date and cost already.  I then enter that into a Google doc spreadsheet which tells me mileage, km/l, l/100kms, cost per kilometre and the last two calculated columns tell me the potential kms per tank and then with reserve (helpful for knowing when I need to refuel without hitting reserve).  Then knowing the type of riding I was doing I can see if there is anything wrong with any of the bikes such as potentially needing a tune or something similar.  Last column is for general information such as chain lube/tension, servicing and any other miscellaneous work I do.  Works well and keeps me on top of the servicing and maintenance.

[Bear]

 

[prmas]

Rashy, I am not sure how this thread got onto fuel consumption but I can share my experience with you. This is one subject we did not discuss Last Sunday. As you are still riding gently/running in/learning you should comfortably get 430-450km before you need reserve. My best so far is 480 before switching over with very gentle riding. My experience so far is that my consumption does not vary much between suburban and gentle country riding. I have found if you keep the revs under 4500 you will get very good economy. Once you regularly go over 5000 you will find the economy will drop of noticeably. The worst figure I have had is 392 on the main tank in very strong head winds and ridden fairly hard (up to 130k) in 39 degrees last November. That is the only time I have ever had to buy fuel whilst on a day ride. Several times I have covered more than 500 in a day without buying fuel and my riding mates have had to fill up once or even twice. In 10,500km my overall average is 3.56L/100km. 
I hope to ride with you again soon.

Cheers,
Macka

[Banzai]

Macka, I don't know how you get that far on a tank. I usually ride pretty gently and usually only get between 350 and 380km before needing to go to reserve.

I've never heard anyone describe the GS500 tank as small. It isn't huge but it seems to be bigger than average.

[prmas]

My bike is standard except for the sprockets which are 18/37. This sounds like a big change and it is but it did not change the economy as much as you might expect. The improvement in economy was about 5%. It mostly just changed the feel of the bike. It now loafs along on the freeway at 4300rpm. I never even think about fuel until at least 400km. Tomorrow I am riding with two mates and will expect to cover 275km on about 10-10.5L. I usually short shift and don't push it hard up the hills. On rare occasions I will let it wind up but it has never been over 7500 rpm.

Macka

[kyled25]

@thatotherguy:  If you use fuelly.com you can just text all that stuff from your phone while at the pump and it will automatically add it to your account, sounds like your doing a more in depth maintenance log though. I keep a separate maintenance log w/ receipts as "proof of service", but I would never remember to add each tank of gas/chain lube to it tho .

[ThatOtherGuy]

@thatotherguy:  If you use fuelly.com you can just text all that stuff from your phone while at the pump and it will automatically add it to your account, sounds like your doing a more in depth maintenance log though. I keep a separate maintenance log w/ receipts as "proof of service", but I would never remember to add each tank of gas/chain lube to it tho .

yeah, I have been described as a bit OCD.

Thanks for the fuelly.com tip, unfortunately the SMS option is only for US, UK and Canada, so I'd still have to enter the data via PC anyway.

[Hughesy]

Hey Rashy. Cool photo on your avatar. Guess that's your place.