So, I Ran Out of Gas...

[Brodie]

I'd be surprised if a gas station would let you put gas in anything other than an approved Gas Can - especially in Oregon where they by law are to hand you the nozzle to pump, and take it back to hang it up.

Brodie

 

[wetwolf]

Oregon sux when you want to fill up. I look at the pimply faced kid and look at the bike. Then I hand them the keys and say "Don't scratch it or you won't be working here tomorrow"

werx every time

 

[Uncle Hud]

... or NJ, where they don't trust you to fill up your own tank.

 

[RichDoyle]

We're drifting the thread (what else is new) but I thought I'd comment on the Oregon thing.

Only a couple of years an Oregonian. But my experience has been that for bikes they hand you the hose and let you fill it yourself, so it isn't such a big deal. FWIW, there's a Shell Station in Bend where the attendants come out with the old 30's-style white uniforms and caps like in the old Texaco commercials. Gotta love it

EXCEPT

Traveling in the less-populated areas in off hours (i.e., middle of the night) you could run into situations where every station in town is closed. But last year it was changed so stations in a number of rural counties could leave the pumps powered up for self-service when they closed up to allow folks to gas up. A bill this year allows you to pump your own gas at all hours in most of these same counties, including mine and several nearby.

 

[roger dodger]

I was riding home (MN) from MO on Saturday... 2 up riding about 80 mph at 44 on the count up....

I got her home and put 6.1 gals into the tank. Whew ... I hoped we wouldn't run dry after 250 miles w/ 2 mi to go.

Isn't it hard on a fuel pump to run it so low it doesn't get cooling from fuel? I think playing it safe sounds best.

 

[RossKean]

Isn't it hard on a fuel pump to run it so low it doesn't get cooling from fuel? I think playing it safe sounds best.

People keep saying that but I haven't heard of a pump failure as a result of running out of fuel on the FJR. Anyone else heard of it happening in real life?

 

[Ignacio]

Isn't it hard on a fuel pump to run it so low it doesn't get cooling from fuel? I think playing it safe sounds best.

People keep saying that but I haven't heard of a pump failure as a result of running out of fuel on the FJR. Anyone else heard of it happening in real life?

Some people keep missing the point. I doubt you ever will hear of a pump failure excursively from running out of fuel. It's not a binary thing that would be single reason. It's speculation that running them dry contributes to a shorter life and part of the reason it's a NEPRT thread.

 

[RossKean]

To be honest, the only FJR pump failures I have heard about were ones caused by someone breaking off a fitting or getting it plugged up with something (i.e. Radio Howie). There may have been a couple cases of problems with O-rings or seals but I wouldn't attribute these to running a tank dry.

Certainly not a common issue!

 

[Spud]

To add another data point. I just refueled with 64 miles on the count-up reserve odo. Bike took 5.85 to fill. Thought I might finally get over 6 gallons in. I'm going to stop stressing when the count goes over 30 like I used to.

 

[hppants]

FWIW- my gen 1 would suck more gas out of the tank then my current gen3. On the gen1, I ran out of gas twice and put 6.6 gallons in it both times. On my gen 3, I've run it twice to the point of "farting" and each time it took 6.3 gallons. Remembering my gen 1 experiences, after the first fart, with no other choice, I was able to continue another 3-4 miles or so. So - apples to apples, maybe my current bike would pull 6.4 before absolute dry. I'd rather not find out.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Well, I am reassured by the general opinion that one can go over 30 miles on the "count-up" reserve. Now let's see if I can actually change my riding habits to match!

 

[hppants]

On my current ride, I've gone 50 plus change miles on the count up.

I know it's splitting hairs, but I think the manufacturers should publish what the bike will pull out of the tank, not the volume of the tank.

 

[C&C]

As reserve can vary (slightly) from bike to bike, an owner ought to measure how much fuel can be added (to full) when reserve is first reached. My bike is just about 1.6 gallons when first reaching reserve; I pretty much know my mpg so confidence in fuel to empty is fairly high.

 

[hppants]

The problem is - at least for me.... I can't count on using the full 1.6 gallons on the current bike like I could on the Gen 1. The current bike will only pull about 1.3. What good is the fuel capacity if you can't burn it? I used to count on 60 miles for reserve count up - 40 mpg (which is VERY conservative), 1.5 gallons. Now, I count on 50 and I'm looking and planning to stop at 30.

It's not a big deal East of 110 longitude. But west of there - it can be. I like to tour in the remote mountainous places. I've had a couple of situations where I've had to re-direct my route 20-30 miles so I'd be sure to cross a town that I knew had fuel, or risk running out in the wilderness.

6.4 gallons is still a big tank - I just think Yamaha should be realistic.

 

[HotRodZilla]

The problem is - at least for me.... I can't count on using the full 1.6 gallons on the current bike like I could on the Gen 1. The current bike will only pull about 1.3. What good is the fuel capacity if you can't burn it? I used to count on 60 miles for reserve count up - 40 mpg (which is VERY conservative), 1.5 gallons. Now, I count on 50 and I'm looking and planning to stop at 30.
It's not a big deal East of 110 longitude. But west of there - it can be. I like to tour in the remote mountainous places. I've had a couple of situations where I've had to re-direct my route 20-30 miles so I'd be sure to cross a town that I knew had fuel, or risk running out in the wilderness.

6.4 gallons is still a big tank - I just think Yamaha should be realistic.

Not sure what's up with your bike, but I've put 6.6 gallons in my '07 before. There should be no change in the way fuel is stored or released from the tank, so I'd expect all FJRs can use all 6.6. Either way, getting down to the last .1 or .2 gallons is risky.

 

[eflyguy]

I've only once had to put in 6.5, but I didn't go out of my way to shake the bike and keep trying. I have put in close to 6.5 on several occasions, and noted my f-trip to be around 50. I average 37mpg, fwiw. I would never do that out in the country, but in town, I'm never more than a mile or so from a station. I've completely run out twice on my Gen I FZ1, I don't care to repeat that experience on the FJR!

 

[FJRay]

I always get gas well before the need arises . It's easier than stressing or pushing. I did the same thing on the FJR when it had a fuel cell on it. Never pass up the opportunity to get gas or piss.

 

[Brodie]

^^^^^^^^^^

That's no fun!

How can we brag about doing something like that?

 

[Spud]

Finally got 6 gallons in mine yesterday. 64 miles on the count-up odo, the whole way on reserve was mostly 3rd and 4th gear heading up and over Lolo Pass. Nothing better than a nice hot day on a windy road and an empty fuel tank. Bike definitely feels more nimble without 40 pounds of fuel riding up high

 

[Uncle Hud]

I'd expect there to be differences in fuel reserve between Gen1 and Gen3. Design variables, even slight ones, will make a difference in tank shape, hose angles, filler cap sleeve, etc, etc. All I need to worry about is the reserve capacity on my (gorgeous) FJR.

But I agree completely on gas opportunities in the Great American West -- they aren't as plentiful as those east of the Mississippi. One other word: unless you're on the Interstate, gas stations in the rural south often close for the evening, and that may be 6 pm on Sundays.