OK.... tell me I'm not insane here.   How many miles can our bikes go before refueling?    (I'm 215 lbs, assume average speed of 80 mph.   2000 model)

many more factors involved.  I got low 60's when I got my 2000 model initially. now it's high 50's.  I spend most of my time at 80+ (35 miles of interstate commute x 2 each day)

I usually can get 170 or so miles before I have to switch over to reserve. Sometimes more, if I'm driving lower speeds.

Is it possible I would have had to switch to reserve in as few as 120 miles?

OK here's the background.  I'm somewhat displeased at what I've heard from the shop.   They're basically telling me I had this problem because I was out of gas.   I was really close to declaring bullshit, because it seemed like there was plenty of gas in the tank.   So I calculated my trip since I filled up, and realized that I had probably gone 120-130 miles before I had my problem.  The first 70 or so were up PCH and into the twisties.  The remaining were on the freeway.

However, that also might explain why I wasn't able to start my bike afterwards until I put it on prime.   Is it possible I am that stupid?   Honestly, if I'm that freaking dumb let me know, because at least I know the bike is fine....

You're not stupid (probably  :nana: ), but that's entirely possible.  I ran out of gas after having done 132 miles of short-trip in-town riding, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

At least it's a cheap fix. :lol:

Oh well dont run 132 miles ... hell fill up at 100, after 2-3 fill up's and gas mileage checks ... see if you are making around 33-35 ... that means 132 miles and out of gas ... whooo hoo problem solved ... Oh wait ... 33-35 mpg = float level high or you're losing serious gas somewhere ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I think my record "short tank" was having to switch to REServe after 118 miles... or maybe it was 122 miles; but it was around 120.  That was my first tankful, and I was practicing in parking lots and the neighborhood mostly.  

After that, I try to fill up before 120 miles.

Holy crap... I can't believe this may have actually been the problem......

I'm stunned speechless.   I might just be a blazing moron.

That's OK; I paid to have a car towed to the dealer 3 suburbs away, for what turned-out to be a dead battery (hatchback door was ajar).  The dealer made me eat that, too.  I think it was $150 or something.   I try to forget.

Low Gas mileage is due to floats being too high ... if everyhting else is right ... Should be right at the top of the float bowl and no more ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Srinath, when the flats are too high, what is happening mechanically?  It puts through more gas than its suppossed to?  Resulting in more gas burnt?   And if that is the case, would that mean I'm running rich?

Thanks!  

I got 120 last time. I assume, I did not fill out the gas tank completely because my mileage is normally 60+. Check your mileage, the distance on one tank is not very representative.

I get about 160 miles to a tank of gas. I figured it should be time for a rejet and float check. The guy I picked up my GS from really didn't know anything about bikes. Right now I have the bike apart repainting different parts and replacing anything I find broken or worn. Once I'm done with everything I will be checking my milage again to see if there is any difference.

Quote from: JCHSrinath, when the flats are too high, what is happening mechanically?  It puts through more gas than its suppossed to?  Resulting in more gas burnt?   And if that is the case, would that mean I'm running rich?

Thanks!  

Yeah, I usually got 120 miles per tank too so came to same conclusion but plugs are nicely brown, so I guess it's a combination of city speeds, stop-n-go, bad quality fuel, full throtle from stop light to next one, altitude (7,000+ feet over sea level), poor valve maintenance, and fuel evaporation??

Floats set high will make a richer mix, worse they will send fuel into the airbox under hard acceleration making for a very difficult to pin point rich mix ... steady throttle will be rich and soggy if its high enough, and under decceleration/braking it might drown out the spark by being too rich ... But even a slightly high float will send fuel into the airbox under acceleration ... and not really cause the other symptoms ... A bike that has floats set 5 mm high will ne nasty under steady throttle and decceleration ... but 2 mm high ... maybe only under acceleration ... see the whole trouble shooting is going to be hard from symptoms ... because rich problems come up when you try to accelerate ... and there its acting like its not high due to fuel into air box ...  Steady throttle cruise rich works fine ... and decceleration is also OK if its richer .... so You'll never ever spot it ... I had the Srileo dude complain endlessly about getting 33mpg or less and I checked the carbs and found floats really high ... I'd say you should have the floats set right before even doing jetting work ... and one more thing ... floats are about the only thing that wear and alter the mix in the GS carbs ... and it will always make it richer ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Could that explain why the old air filter was "contaminated" with gasoline?   It was the one from before I owned the bike, but the same may be applicable

You sure it was gas ... and these were K&N's right ... I thought you switched to stock after the first round of this problem ... Anyway You might have also had a idiot mechanic at the wheel ... cos floats are supposed to be set or checked every thime you open the carbs ... now I cannot check level wiht the carbs apart ... so any float level setting I have to adjust it with carbs apart, and assemble it and then check with my U tube method and if any further adjustment is needed take them apart again and adjust it and re fit it and test it ... lucky for me the first time I nearly nail it on all the carbs that come to me, and second try is it for those that I dont get spot on in the first ... else I'll be doing it all week on each set of carbs ... Most mechanics dont do U tube ... they do some funky ass measuring and set it to 14mm or whatever ... and never check with U tube ... You do U tube ... see where it is and set them to where it should be ... and the problem should disappear ... of course a whole list of other problems might show up cos you have stock jetting in there ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Here is part of that first post in the MY BIKE DONE GONE AND DIED! thread:

Quote from: JCHRight at about 200 miles my bike died. I was on the freeway going about 75 mph when the big started to almost sputter I thought that I was low on gas, even though I knew I had plenty. I turned the petcock to reserve but the bike continued to slow and jerk. I ended up running out of speed in an area with no shoulder, and I had to duckwalk the last 100 feet until I got to the shoulder.

I waited 10 minutes, turned the petcock to PRI and set the choke on full. It started and ran long enough for me to get off the freeway.

I remember thinking, "I wonder how he knew he had plenty of gas"?  But since you went on to give the overheating explanation, what could I say?

BTW, I guess the 200 miles you mentioned included a fillup at around the 80 mile mark?  If not, then you were definitely out of gas.

I usually fill my stock (except for a K&N drop-in air filter) '99 somewhere between the 160 and 180 mile mark.  But there were times when I had to switch to REServe 20 or 30 miles sooner than I expected ... usually when I had been riding into a headwind, or going uphill a lot.

Sorry about all the hassle.  Take a good look at the fuel level in the tank, and never let yourself be fooled again.

If it helps you feel better, there's a similar flashback story in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" where the narrator and his young son headed off on a long two-up camping ride in the rain, and the bike eventually went slower and slower until it puttered and died.  He reasoned that the rain was at fault, and they were forced to scrub the trip.  They hauled the bike back home somehow, and it wasn't until weeks/months later that he realized the thing had just run out of gas.  It remained a heartbreaking memory for both of them ever after.

But I don't think he ever ran out of gas again....

---------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: Hey, I remembered that story pretty well!    To read it for yourself:

* Go to

http://www.design.caltech.edu/Misc/pirsig.html

* Do a Ctrl-F search for the phrase "I remember Chris"

* Read the next 10 (short) paragraphs.[/list:u][/i]

Srinath: I only get about 110 miles to a tank of gas. Thats mixed freeway and city riding. Yesterday I put 3.2 gallons in at the 108 mile mark... thats 33mpg. Not so hot.

Anyway, my bike also has pretty poor fueling. It feels.. well, less than smooth, especially picking up off of idle. Could my floats be too high? Or would having my flaots too high cause this?

I still want to send my carbs to you sometime soon.... -_-

Quote from: EisenfaustSrinath: I only get about 110 miles to a tank of gas. Thats mixed freeway and city riding. Yesterday I put 3.2 gallons in at the 108 mile mark... thats 33mpg. Not so hot.

Anyway, my bike also has pretty poor fueling. It feels.. well, less than smooth, especially picking up off of idle. Could my floats be too high? Or would having my flaots too high cause this?

I still want to send my carbs to you sometime soon.... -_-

mpg has to be measured over time.... like over 4 or 5 fillups at least.



srinath does an excellent job on carbs... I couldn't be happier w/ mine.