Reserves: How Far Can You Go?

I had forgotten I did not fill my tank all the way up last time I put gas in. I was on a 100 mile trip to Kalamazoo Michigan when the bike started to sputter at 125 miles on the odometer. The reserve got me at least 13 miles to Battle Creek to get gas. How far have YOU ever HAD to go on "fumes"?

 

The best I ever made it reserve was about 15 miles. It was just about out when pulled into the gas station.

 

I've gotten as much as 20~30 miles after switching to reserve, but that's with a 550 Seca.

"Reserve" is the difference in height between the two sides of the petcock filter tower's inlet pipes, so how much fuel that translates to will be different depending on the relationship of the petcock filter tube to the shape of the tank. Therefore it will vary from bike to bike, based on the shape of the fuel tanks; since they all use basically the same style petcock filters.

I'm betting that because the Secas have a "flatter" tank in comparison to the Maxims (of all sizes) that a Seca will have more fuel available as reserve; but maybe not.

GOOD question.

 

650 Seca, 5 gallon tank, I've gone 38 miles on RES, but I don't recommend trying that :lol:

It's not a fun feeling when you get to the petrol station and put 4.92 gallons in a 5 gallon tank

 

The whole trip was freeway @ 70 mph. Running out of gas on I-94 in the middle of the woods would have not only sucked but been dangerous. I'm glad I made it to a station.

 

I make it a habbit to never have to reserve. If I switch to reserve I stop and fill up . I know I can go 15 to 20 miles if I have to . I just prefer to fill up every 100 miles .

 

here's a old dirt bike trick that might help somebody out some day.
i never had to use it on a XJ but it might help.
when it starts sputtering on reserve, stop and tip the bike as far as you can to the left, your trying to get any gas that might be trapped on the right side over to the left side

 

I don't know, and I don't want to have to find out, but I think from what you guys are saying that 10 - 20 miles must be about average for most bikes, as my other bike (an FZR600R) got me at least 14 miles.

ericesh; you say 125 miles before going to reserve, how? I only get 50 - 60 miles, but then I do tend to ride pretty hard.

 

good tip! I can get about 20ish out of my max550 on reserve.

 

I get an avg of 48 mpg. Calculated. Ive used a little more than 1/2 tank by the time I get 100 miles. I went 162 miles once and didn't have to use reserve.

 

You must be driving a squeaky clean 750 very gently, I guess? It's not in your sig!

 

Made it 28 miles on the 550 before it started to sputter while stopped on a downhill slope (7% grade), luckily there was a station downhill and 500 feet in front of me.

I generally stop at the next (good) gas station after going to reserve, and if I'm going to be in traffic or on the interstate, I will switch to reserve before I need it if I'm close (90 to 105 miles) to prevent stalling or sputtering in those situations.

I hate to run it all the way down anyway because I'm not intimate with the VERY bottom of my tank and I worry about what might be slummin' down there-even with an in-line filter. Just an FYI if you do run it all the way out it's good to have tow coverage on your insurance-for $10 a year they will come get me at no charge.

Reserve capacity (or in modern cars when the yellow light comes on) is regulated by the Gov., it used to be at least 20miles in the old days-today manufacturer's are required to give you at least 40mi. Of course that's max capacity so if you ride hard...well.

 

I do drive her very gently. Speed limit or less, slow acc and dec. I have found I get about 48 mpg consistantly.

 

normal riding to and from work, I'll get almost exactly 132-135 mi per tank before it starts to sputter.
This post has motivated me to go look up the total tank capacity of my bike.... '82 XJ750 Maxim

 

She started sputtering, on reserve, as I was coming back in the driveway tonight lol. 305km on the tank, prolly about 55-58km since I switched to reserve.

Guess I can't do more then one way to work on reserve lol

NOW, I have to think of a way to get the bike to the gas station in the morning hahaha.

 

I have done this a time or two on the side of the road. Usually gets you another 5 miles or so...

 

I used to get at least 30 miles on reserve with the original 650max tank. I say this confidently because I have run it dry, twice.

The first time I was riding to my first day of class. I left the house on reserve, with only 7 miles to go. I had just switched to reserve the night before so I know I had enough to make it. Well, I hit stop and go construction, mostly stop. Needless to say, she ran dry about 2 miles short! Luckily, the gas station was in pushing range. Anyway, I was 10 minutes late for class.

HAHA, the second time was only a week later! That late arrival to class could have been received better. Long story short, a little old lady out in the country allowed me to TRY and siphon from her cars. In the end, she drove me a few miles to the station for some gas.

Anyway, I learned not to push it past 30 miles.

Some of you know better but for those who don't, that "choke" is actually an "enrichment" tool. It does not choke the engine but actually enriches the mixture. I say this because I have also learned that if you have exhausted your reserve and begin sputtering, switching to "full enrichment" WILL in FACT get you a mile or so further.

I have yet to test the 750max tank...

 

But the choke draws it's fuel from the bowl.. if the bowls are dry... how could it get more fuel... i'm confused on how you're thinking this would work.

 

I can't say why or how it works. Maybe its drawing fumes or fuel from parts unknown.

I'm NOT just thinking. This is not just a theory. It DOES work! I have done it several times.