So my question is: Where does everyone get the fuel level to when you consider your tank full?
Well,if your 08 is anything like mine, part of what you are experiencing is the gauge bar flashing and the F odometer starting long before you get to the 1.4 gal that the manual states. Mine seems to kick on with about 2 gal left in the tank. I always fill to the bottom of the restrictor plate. No sloshing around and waiting 10 seconds or anything,either. Stick the nozzle in,put the lock on,pump shuts off,top it up and away I go.
Mike
I've been meaning to ask about this since I got my '08 (after riding a '90 Concours for 15 years). My preference is to go as long as possible between refills (I liked my Connie 7.5 gal tank ;^) and part of why I didn't even bother to test ride the new Connie. That and I commute approx 50mi daily, and the less time refueling the better
I've been accused by my wife of being closet (or not so closet) OCD type.
I've found that
- From the time the fuel first hits the bottom of the fuel filler neck, with patience I can easily get another 1/3 gal in the tank, sometimes a little more, before the fuel stays about 1/4 in above the plate. Most of the time I have a 15-20 mile ride to work, so will use up that fuel, or am headed home and park in the garage (so not worried about getting hot and needing to expand).
- different stations pumps work at different rates. If one station's pump splash on you, try a different technique and/or different station.
At the different stations I use, I've found partial pressure on the pump once it hits the restrictore allows a slow, steady, non-splashing fill-up. Some are faster than others and I have to put some in, let it settle, repeat, others are slower and I can simply let it keep flowing until it rises and stays above a certain level.
My question - why set the restrictor plate where it is? I've been doing this for the last 4 months (7k miles so far) since I got the bike. Am I harming anything? Can I get more in? my patience usually wears out after a minute or so / 1/3 gal. Can I safety shoot for more? .. yup that /OCD/geeky.. oh well