Bagger Fuel

[exhog]

Now on my third tank of fuel…gauge says 2 bars, range says 80 miles, give or take. Fueling on side stand. Tank takes only 4 gallons and change to top off (I never fuel sitting on a hot bike). Brain asks, “where are those other 3 gallons?” After fill, bike running and upright and range says 260 miles. What am I missing here?

 

[lee]

How many bars does it show when full?
What mileage were you getting?
Was the low fuel waning on ?
Looks like your tank volume is 7 gallons. Is that correct?

 

[exhog]

How many bars does it show when full?
What mileage were you getting?
Was the low fuel waning on ?
Looks like your tank volume is 7 gallons. Is that correct?

Hi Lee…full bars, 40 mpg, no low fuel light (range still over 50).
Yes, 7 gal tank.

 

[pauls1150]

Slow response from the level sender?
If you were to hold the bike upright when filling, would that allow more fuel?

 

[exhog]

Slow response from the level sender?
If you were to hold the bike upright when filling, would that allow more fuel?

Could be, Paul…I just have a personal problem with straddling a 575 lb bike upright while pumping fuel. Maybe I’m just a wuss.

 

[omega man]

Could be, Paul…I just have a personal problem with straddling a 575 lb bike upright while pumping fuel. Maybe I’m just a wuss.

If you straddle a bike while fueling, Murphy's Law dictates you will drop something.
Suggestion- next time you ride with a buddy, have them help fuel you in the upright position and see if/what the difference is.
OM

 

[exhog]

Could be, Paul…I just have a personal problem with straddling a 575 lb bike upright while pumping fuel. Maybe I’m just a wuss.

Sorry, make that 757 !

 

[exhog]

If you straddle a bike while fueling, Murphy's Law dictates you will drop something.
Suggestion- next time you ride with a buddy, have them help fuel you in the upright position and see if/what the difference is.
OM

Worth a try, OM.

 

[lee]

With the information given I'm not understanding what exhog is asking.
After filling, are you saying the gauge is not showing full?
When filling on the side stand you can't completely fill the tank, unless the filler is on the right side of the tank on a K1600 Bagger.
If you want to completely fill the tank the bike needs to be on the centerstand while filling.
On bikes I've owned it only made a couple tenth of a gallon differenc between side stand and centerstand fills.

Back in my early years of riding there were two times the pump would not shut off while I was sitting on the bike.
Hearing gas sizzle on a hot engine is scary, so I'm always off the bike while refilling.

 

[exhog]

With the information given I'm not understanding what exhog is asking.
After filling, are you saying the gauge is not showing full?
When filling on the side stand you can't completely fill the tank, unless the filler is on the right side of the tank on a K1600 Bagger.
If you want to completely fill the tank the bike needs to be on the centerstand while filling.
On bikes I've owned it only made a couple tenth of a gallon differenc between side stand and centerstand fills.

Back in my early years of riding there were two times the pump would not shut off while I was sitting on the bike.
Hearing gas sizzle on a hot engine is scary, so I'm always off the bike while refilling.

Good points, Lee. I think the bike is telling me, “if you fill me on the side stand, that’s all I’ll get and I’ll tell you I’m full and give you all my bars and range I now have and show you.” I’ll try a center stand fill and see what happens. Thanks for the input, brothers.

 

[lee]

Good points, Lee. I think the bike is telling me, “if you fill me on the side stand, that’s all I’ll get and I’ll tell you I’m full and give you all my bars and range I now have and show you.” I’ll try a center stand fill and see what happens. Thanks for the input, brothers.

BTW, you mentioned 2 bars when you filled. How many bars does your bike show when full?
I'm not familiar with the K1600 bikes.

 

[pauls1150]

Also... I know for a fact that my 1150's tank does indeed have an electronic damper (dampener?) on the float assembly - otherwise, the level would fluctuate wildly anytime you accelerated, braked, or hit a bump.

 

[exhog]

BTW, you mentioned 2 bars when you filled. How many bars does your bike show when full?
I'm not familiar with the K1600 bikes.

When full, it showed full bars!

 

[rhbike]

Now on my third tank of fuel…gauge says 2 bars, range says 80 miles, give or take. Fueling on side stand. Tank takes only 4 gallons and change to top off (I never fuel sitting on a hot bike). Brain asks, “where are those other 3 gallons?” After fill, bike running and upright and range says 260 miles. What am I missing here?

Sounds roughly the same as my K1600 and others K1600's. Range does not include reserve. 80 mile range at 40mpg is two gallons. You added 4 gallons. So it sounds like only 1 gallon is unaccounted for, which is roughly what I think the reserve is.

 

[lee]

When full, it showed full bars!

I was asking for a number

 

[lee]

Sounds roughly the same as my K1600 and others K1600's. Range does not include reserve. 80 mile range at 40mpg is two gallons. You added 4 gallons. So it sounds like only 1 gallon is unaccounted for, which is roughly what I think the reserve is.

Most BMWs have a one gallon reserve.
The BMWs we have owned the tank is very close to empty when the gauge shows empty.
Some owners of the R1250 have been able to go 10 miles after the gauge shows empty.

 

[exhog]

Sounds roughly the same as my K1600 and others K1600's. Range does not include reserve. 80 mile range at 40mpg is two gallons. You added 4 gallons. So it sounds like only 1 gallon is unaccounted for, which is roughly what I think the reserve is.

RH, you’re right…this may be a math problem! The great 1600 is telling me , “fill me on my side stand and I’ll tell you where you stand…full fuel readings and a 260 mile range. Stand me up , even though I’m short, fill me up, and I’ll show you I’m full again, but this time, you’ve got about 80 more miles of range and a gallon in reserve!”