How many mile should i get from a full tank? 91 GS

On my '99 (same tank and fuel system) I get about 180 miles before switching to REServe.  That's using the "maximum fill" technique at the gas station.

Riding into a stiff wind on the highway can drop my mileage by up to 30 miles on a tank.  Riding with a good tailwind can bump it up by 10 or 20.

REServe should supposedly give you another gallon, but it seemed to kicked in at different fuel levels on the two GS's I've owned.  I have often suggested running into the REServe on purpose, and then running the tank all the way out on the REServe setting at least once, so you will have a good idea of how far it will take you in a pinch.  Of course you would either want to carry some extra fuel, or be willing to play with the PRIme setting in order to limp down the road 2 or 3 miles (at most) to a gas station.

I just ran out (had to switch to reserve) at 128.1 miles on my brand new 500f. I also try to use Kerry's maximum fuel technique.  :dunno:

my uk spec gs does same as kerry's bike.roughly 180 then i need to go onto reserve, which normally does another 50 miles or so....like kerry says add a strong headwind into the equation and it is lower

Mines the same (GS500F)... get around 180-190 miles, switch to reserve, have another 55-60 miles left.

on my '91 canadian model (is there a difference  :dunno: ) gs, I get about 240 km before switching to reserve.
Working out the fuel consumption, it is consistently 25 km/liter. That's a combination of city and highway.
My riding style is not very aggressive.

Quote from: KerryOn my '99 (same tank and fuel system) I get about 180 miles before switching to REServe.  That's using the "maximum fill" technique at the gas station.

What does that translate to for your mileage?  I got a scarily regular 63 'round town and 70 on long trips, and never got 180 before reserve.  I would fill to the bottom of the filler neck with the bike on the side stand, though.

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: KerryOn my '99 (same tank and fuel system) I get about 180 miles before switching to REServe.  That's using the "maximum fill" technique at the gas station.

What does that translate to for your mileage?  I got a scarily regular 63 'round town and 70 on long trips, and never got 180 before reserve.  I would fill to the bottom of the filler neck with the bike on the side stand, though.

When my bike was newer I would get low-60's.  But for the past long while I've been getting mid-to-high 50's.

Didn't you have a 2001+ model, with an "extra" .8 gallons of capacity?  I'm beginning to think that there IS something weird going on with the newer fuel selector or vacuum connection or something.  (The tank-mounted petcock is the exact same part.)

Tell you what - next time I hit REServe I will fill the tank the same way you did, and then see how much more I can get in there.  That won't be a definitive test for '01+ models though, considering the different tank shape.

No, I had an '00; I think that was the last year for the seat that fit me?

Quote from: RoadstergalNo, I had an '00

OK, good to know.

Reviving an old one...

Another data point.  I got to the spluttery point today on the F and pulled into a gas station less than a mile later.  I filled up almost exactly 3.5gal using my usual method - on the side stand, fill until it hits the bottom of the filler neck (on the left-hand side).  With 1 gallon of reserve, there's 0.8gallons I'm not getting in there by not putting it on the center stand.  That still gives me a darn good range, though - ~240 miles, if this mileage holds up after breakin.  I think I won't sweat the extra gas unless I'm taking a long trip.

We have a '93 which is suppose to have a 4.5 gallon total, with .9 of that reserve.  My daughter was riding the GS yeterday and had to put it on reserve.  The bike was ridden about another 5 miles before we filled it up.  I only put in 2.7 gallons when filling it to the bottom of the filler neck with the bike straight up.  The only thing that I can conclude is that it the total capacity is 4.5 gallons including the air space at the top of the tank.  This air space could be in the .5 to 1 gallon range.  Does anyone have any data on this?  Does it seem normal to only add 2.7 gallons?

Only 100 miles, that's 160Km, for a full tank of 95 octane EuroSuper unleaded fuel.

110 miles, 180Km for a full tank of 97 octane leaded fuel.

'91 GS500 with 39000Mi (63000Km), oil consumption problems
and surely leaking valve seats.

Thunder Competition exhaust, stock jetting (37.5&120) and needle
up with 2 washers.

I run out of gas once and learned the hard way:

My 2004 GS500F will go 248 miles before it needs to be switched to reserve. Of course the number is probably more like 247 since I coasted about a mile. haha.

Now I reset the trip meter every fill up and only go to 200 miles, so I still havea buffer of around 48 miles, PLUS the reserve tank. (I gotta think ahead living out in the boonies!).

:mrgreen:

I've got to say I'm surprised by what I read here.

As with Roadstergal, I also pleased to get decent gas mileage.  I do a lot of short trips that really drinks gas, but when I pushed it to see what "need REServe" feels like, I easily went 180 miles.

But if I go on a trip, it's a whole different story.  Sips gas like fine wine.  I can easily get over 200 per tank, maybe even upwards of 250 before REServe.    All this is with stock jets, exhaust, steady riding style and 87 Octane Regular petrol.

As for how to get the most in there, I agree -- put it on the center stand or stand her up to pour it in.  I believe you can get about a 1/3 gallon more if you let the foam settle and go for filling up the void space rather than settling for the bottom of the filler neck.

If I had a gallon bottle of gas with me and went to bone dry at rural road speeds, I figure I could get over 300 miles on a tank.  Who (besides my butt) says the GS500 can't tour.

Quote from: RedShiftIf I had a gallon bottle of gas with me and went to bone dry at rural road speeds, I figure I could get over 300 miles on a tank.

A regular tank bag or tail bag can hold a couple gallons of gas (or a 12-pack of Summit Pale Ale!):

Oh about 200 until i hit reserve...sometimes 210...but thats with pretty hard riding so i'm sure it can go higher.

What's the riding feeling or "sign" when it's time to put it on REServe?  Does the bike chug or something?  Sorry I know this might be a dumb question, but just wondering what to expect?

Thanks

weel she starts to sputter like she is dying, and sometimes will run on one for a while before all the gas is sucked out of the carbs.

Can't remember exactly, but I've had around 320km and filled up before it hit reserve, but I think the mech stuck the fuel hoses on backwards last service and I did 370km and still no cutout so there's something definitely fishy going on.

I usually fill up every 300km whether it needs it or not.