So I've had my bike for about two weeks of actual riding and I was told by the PO that he got around 170-180 per tank and I was pretty sure he had reset the trip last time he filled up. I was sitting at 157 when I left to ride today and was thinking I should keep an eye on things. I figured I could probably get atleast 175 or more out of it considering I am 5'6" 155lbs. and the PO was quite a bit larger than me. Not that you are a giant...if you're reading this jordanearl...I'm just pretty tiny.

So I'm on a major road riding along at like 45mph and I had felt a slight loss of power but didn't really think much of it...if I just gave it a little more throttle it would kick in. Then out of no where it dies and I take the first turn off that main road that I could while coasting to a stop. I look at the trip...169.7. Just shy of the 170 mark my PO had told me about. So I'm thinking no biggie..kick in the reserve and I'll be on my way to the nearest gas station. No start. Prime...No Start. Prime, let sit, switch to Reserve...No Start. Opened the throttle a couple times...No Start. I'm still hoping it's a gas problem so I call a friend and have him bring me a gallon of gas...No Start. At this point I was beginning to think I had killed the battery trying to start it too many times. So I was going to attempt a bump start and I needed a little bit more room so I pushed the bike probably 70 feet or so. I'm about to have my friend push me and I decide I'll try it one more time...IT STARTS!

I was so relieved and so was my friend cause we were about to look like a bunch of idiots trying to push a died motorcycle. Then so I drive the bike back to where I'd placed all my gear and then head to a gas station. Once I'm there I fill up 3.1 gallons of gas. I've been reading stuff on here for quite some time and I've read that 3.5 is what most of you guys are filling up at. If you add the gallon I got from my friend and the 3.1 I filled up at the station that puts me over 4 gallons and I thought it was only a 4 gallon tank?? Also just a little confused as to why I had no reserve and I some how ran the tank completely dry. Any thoughts?

It is possible that the hoses to the tank have been reversed.  As I recall, there are two hoses coming from the tank.  One goes to the "RUN" standpipe, the other goes to the bottom of the tank and is the "RESERVE".  If they're reversed, that could explain your problem.

Edit:

Here is Kerry's fuel hose routing page:

http://gstwin.com/fuel_hose_routing.htm

Sure enough, there is a reserve and run hose.  I bet they're reversed...

Also, the GS has a 5.3 gallon tank unless it is a CA model.   

Quote from: GeeP on October 28, 2007, 06:34:54 PM
Also, the GS has a 5.3 gallon tank unless it is a CA model.   

only if its a post 01, the older ones have a 4.5 gal tank (take off .5 for cali)
i'd bet the hoses are reversed 

It's a '90 with a 00 engine...I think the tank is still from the '90 though. Me and a friend did take the tank off awhile back to mess with some stuff. Maybe we just didn't put the lines back on right. I'll take another look at it later. For now I'll just fill up sooner.

Quote from: CndnMax on October 28, 2007, 06:57:46 PM

Quote from: GeeP on October 28, 2007, 06:34:54 PM
Also, the GS has a 5.3 gallon tank unless it is a CA model.   

only if its a post 01, the older ones have a 4.5 gal tank (take off .5 for cali)
i'd bet the hoses are reversed 

Yep, you're right.  I was thinking he had a post 01 GS.  Pretty bad, I ride a '96 with a 4.5 gal tank.  If I go thinking I have 5.3 gal I'm going to end up on the side of the road (again).  Racing petcocks don't have reserve.   

Edit:  I generally fill up at 150-160 miles.  The bike averages 52-54 MPG on the interstate at 80MPH.  I could go longer, but without a reserve I'm SOL if I run dry.   

WELL SOL WAS ME TODAY!!!

hmmmm, i never had any troubles out of the reserve not workin, id say you might have swapped hoses.  but the mileage sounda about right, maybe ur just wringin it out more then me

also what you have to remember is that with the way the tank is shaped, theres some gas that is in the tank that falls into the pockets that while in the tank, you can't use it

Quote from: Prafeston on October 28, 2007, 07:05:37 PM
It's a '90 with a 00 engine...I think the tank is still from the '90 though. Me and a friend did take the tank off awhile back to mess with some stuff. Maybe we just didn't put the lines back on right. I'll take another look at it later. For now I'll just fill up sooner.

Until you get the hoses switched back, you should be able to run in the reserve position for about 120 miles and then switch to the ON position as your reserve.  The petcock will route the fuel as long as it's getting something from the tank.

I found out the hard way also that I'd reversed the hoses but fortunately was able to coast to a nearby filling station.  I thought I was getting really great MPG.  It died at about 193 miles.

They say if you can ride while doing a crazy balancing act with the bike leaning to the left, you can get a bit more out of it.  This would not be recommended by MSF and I doubt the police officer would let you off the hook for attempting such a foolish stunt.

BH

Yeah I'm almost positive the hoses are switched. I probably just switch it to the reserve, which is now on, and then switch it to on, which is now reserve, when I'm running low. I plan on doing a little work this winter on it so when I do that stuff I'll make sure those hoses are hooked back up. Thanks for help guys!

same thing happened to me last month...switched to reserve and it wouldn't start.  I will check the hoses this weekend.  Funny thing was my bike died right in front of a police station and they were staring at me like an idiot lol. 

I hate cops...argggh!