What happens with AE if it runs out of gas?

Well, I just stumped the service tech at the local Yamaha dealership by asking him that question. Interesting question indeed.

donkey rider said:

With a regular clutch I'd just disengage it and roll off the highway. But what happens with YCC-S?

Click to expand...

The bike will be in gear with the clutch engaged until around 1100 rpm (remember the rear wheel will be spinning the engine). At that rpm the clutch will disengage, the engine RPM will drop to zero and you will coast to a stop. When you turn off the key the clutch will re engage as usual. If you want to push the bike, either turn on the key, or manually shift to neutral as I described above.

Don't forget to chant when you push...



Brodie

[SIZE=36pt]EXTREME CAUTION!!![/SIZE]

When an AE runs out of fuel these events can happen...

1) Bike dies.

2) Bike no longer runs.

3) Bike will no longer accelerate.

4) Bike will run real lean.

5) Fuel mileage will increase significantly, if going down hill.

6) Brakes will last longer.

7) Trips will seem much longer.

8) Will ruin your whole day.

9) Speeding tickets will decrease.

10) Not as much fun.

11) Electrical will soon fail, if continuously used.

12) Transmission fluid will need to be changed sooner.

13) Engine oil will last longer.

14) Chicks won't ask you for a ride.

15) Friends won't ride with you.

16) You'll get hungry.

17) You'll need to rotate your saddlebags more often.

18) Bust will come live with you.

19) Johnny80s will buy you lunch (Just kidding, he'd eat it, not buy it).

20) The forum will dogpile you on Friday's.

So please, be careful.

Miles Krase said:

How about just roll down on open stretch of road and highway speed, hit the thumb kill switch and see what happens? Isn't that about as close to a controlable "out-of-gas" situation? Thats what I would do....

Click to expand...

I actually had this happen to me on the AE (actually, a rather large GPS unit I had suction-mounted to the tank fell over and hit the kill switch...don't ask). It just slowed and costed to a stop. No wheel lock up. However, I did have to rock the bike back and forth a little to get it back down to neutral for a restart.

I remember a Forum Member here a couple of years ago wondering the same exact thing and he decided to try it in an empty parking lot. He got up to speed and turnned the ignition key off and like

Brodie & wnyfjr just said, NOTHING HAPPENED!! It did exactly what has been stated above. Coasted to a stop! But then, the Mall Cops came out and Beat the Shit Outta him with their sticks!!

Poor Bastard was having a Real Bad Karma Day!

wnyfjr said:

<snip>However, I did have to rock the bike back and forth a little to get it back down to neutral for a restart.

Click to expand...

Did you have to manually shift to neutral?

                                                                  It should start in any gear.

Brodie

An you still peed a bit din' ya?

Majic? Ol' dood? Ya need to consult with a Doctor.. :lol:

:jester:

It doesn't do anything different from a "nomal" bike that runs out of gas. You have no power, but it will coast in gear, for a little bit. Coast to the side of the road, pull off if you can, and call somebody to bring you some gas. Higher gears will engine brake less, but as you slow down enough to reach low enough RPMs, you have no choice but to downshift and stop, or just plain stop.

You could practice this, you know. You won't be able to shift, but just reach down and turn the key off, coast for 3 or 4 seconds. When you turn the key back on the engine will fire because it's being turned over by the bike's momentum. Downshift if you need to and carry on about your way. Don't practice in traffic, especially at night, as your lights will go out. At least until we get to know you better, and then we'll re-evaluate!

donkey rider said:

Well, you never know what might happen. During my last trip to Chicago from NYC I've had an instance when the gas station where I was planning to refuel was closed, and the nearest one was over 35 miles away.
I'd still like to know for certain what happens with the YCC-S...

Click to expand...

Trying killing your engine with the kill button while underway. Let us know what happens.

Brodie said:

wnyfjr said:

<snip>However, I did have to rock the bike back and forth a little to get it back down to neutral for a restart.

Click to expand...

Did you have to manually shift to neutral?

It should start in any gear.

Brodie

Click to expand...

I've never tried to start it in anything other than neutral...I always look for that friendly green light before firing it off.

wnyfjr said:

<snip>
I've never tried to start it in anything other than neutral...I always look for that friendly green light before firing it off.

Click to expand...

My bike almost never saw neutral. I stopped in first, parked in first, and always started in first.

                      I never had a problem on my side stand either, first gear is the closest thing to a parking brake we have.

I also waited at long traffic lights in gear.     

And I learned early to never blip the throttle, just ask Tyler with her AE moment. :lol:

Sorry Tyler, I just couldn't resist.



Brodie

Somehow I think that turning the ignition off or switching the engine cut-off switch is not the same as running out of gas, because in both cases it might remove power from the YCC-S, whereas if it just runs out of gas - YCC-S might still have the power to properly disengage.

It's weird, though, that it appears nobody _really_ knows what'll happen. As unlikely an event as it is, I think it's still better to know _exactly_ what happens in this case, if not for other reason then just out of curiosity.

donkey rider said:

Somehow I think that turning the ignition off or switching the engine cut-off switch is not the same as running out of gas, because in both cases it might remove power from the YCC-S, whereas if it just runs out of gas - YCC-S might still have the power to properly disengage.
It's weird, though, that it appears nobody _really_ knows what'll happen. As unlikely an event as it is, I think it's still better to know _exactly_ what happens in this case, if not for other reason then just out of curiosity.

Click to expand...

Here's what happens: At about 65 miles on the reserve mileage indicator the bike starts missing. Jerking the bike side to side to get it running again. It will get you a few more miles. At 69 miles the engine dies. There is some engine breaking as you pull to the should. As the RPMs drop, the clutch engages, you can then downshift. When you come to a stop the bike is in first gear, shift into neutal. No drama at all.

This happened to me this summer on a long four lane road in Kentucky. I thought I could get to the next big town for gas. The ST1300 I was riding with ran to the next gas stop, 14 miles away, bought a gallon of water, dumped it out, filled it with gas, brought it back, and got me going again.

Lessoned learned:

1. Running out of gas on an AE is no bigger deal than any other bike. It's just as embarrassing.

2. Approximately 69 miles is all you got once the reserve kicks in.

3. Don't try and hang with a ST1300 for distance between gas stations.

The kill switch might disable the shifter, the key definitely will. Give it a try. At least the kill switch won't disable the lights. Hit the kill switch, see if you can shift. If not, reset the kill switch and let the motor refire. You're no worse off than before the trial.

If it does let you shift (although I don't think it will) you can try to get all the way down to neutral before you stop, but the shifts won't be smooth. I think it'll be confused by conflicting throttle, vehicle speed, and RPM readings.

I don't think it will let you shift on the kill switch, though, because I think the kill switch also removes power from the motor control unit.

Regardless, as said above, if you run out of gas, you're not gonna get thrown off the bike into the road. The bike will coast until it runs out of momentum, which really won't take long dragging the engine. As engine speed drops, the clutch will disengage, and should remain disengaged as long as the key is on. If you didn't make it down the gears for some reason, and if you're gonna push the bike, cycle the key to turn off the headlight.

And what happens when an AE dies for some other reason while underway? I once had my non-AE FJR die in heavy traffic. I was going ca 40 mph and was able to pull in the clutch and coast between cars in the adjacent lanes to get to a shoulder. With an AE, I'd have been s.o.l. as the engine braking pulled me down to nothing there in that horde of Escalades and Hummers. !

Due to experience with trying to start a Chevy pickup on a sloping drive and frying 3 fuel pumps

[ duh ]- I'm not a big fan of running a pump dry...

If you are so curious, and none of us know what we are talking about, why don't you go find out.

Take an extra gallon of fuel with you and let the bike go empty. You'll be close to home, the incident was planned, and you have extra fuel with you to put it in and get going again. It seems a couple of people here have actually lived the event, and told you exactly what would happen. Most times, we are smart enough to not run out of fuel, and a small percentage of those smart enough to not run out of fuel ride AEs. That makes the number of people on AEs who have actually run out of fuel a pretty small number. Go figgure.

If you are in an area as populated as that between Chicago and NY, and you run out of fuel, I think what the bike will do coming to a stop is probably not your biggest problem. :blink:

This is cracking me up. This is just too bloody simple in any way. I mean, if you run out of fuel hit the kill switch or don't. Pull over, jump off the bike, what ever. Do you really think Yamaha would design a bike that when it runs out of gas it'll do you harm? THINK!

Knifemaker said:

I guess the only way to really know is for you not to buy an fuel for awhile and see what happens for yourself.

You would think there is some pre-programed action if one does run out.

Click to expand...

shouldn't take too long to find out

FJRBluesman said:

This is cracking me up. This is just too bloody simple in any way. I mean, if you run out of fuel hit the kill switch or don't. Pull over, jump off the bike, what ever. Do you really think Yamaha would design a bike that when it runs out of gas it'll do you harm? THINK!

Click to expand...

The point was to find out whether the bike will coast enough to get off a busy highway and not get hit from behind, when you suddenly start to decelerate in the hammer lane.