Author Topic: How far will a tank take you?  (Read 6038 times)

Offline billday

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How far will a tank take you?
« on: July 22, 2019, 06:07:20 PM »
Somewhere recently I said how I always gas up around 150 miles.

On Friday I proved to myself that I can go 180 on a tank. I didn't set out to make this point, it was exciting going deeper and deeper into the Adirondacks not knowing when I'd see fuel again . . . took just a hair over 4 gallons.


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  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline caveman

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2019, 06:52:27 PM »
I"m looking for gas around 120 miles on my RT or LT if riding hard and can get 180 or a bit more if taking it easy. If I push those big fairings over 80/ 85 MPH it seems like all I do is go gas station to gas station! On the 75S I get 200+ most all the time unless pushing very hard.
  • Kennerdell, PA.
  • 87 K100RT, 88 K100LT

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2019, 07:48:35 PM »
BillDay, looks like you are getting the standard U.S. 45mpg with your brick.  I have 60,000+ miles of experience with 4 of the beasts so far, and unless I am hammering my bike at 85 into a headwind I get a pretty consistent 45-48 mpg. 

As for the farthest I've ever gone, it was across Wyoming through a 95 mile stretch of nothing taking a "shortcut" to get to Rawlins for the night.  When I finally got to a gas station, I had about 230 miles on my tripmeter.  My RT took a hair over 5 gallons.  For the last 20 miles the fuel pump was screaming in agony.  The pucker factor was pretty high that evening.

I commute 108 miles round trip to work and back.  I fill the tank approximately every other day, at around 190 to 205 miles.  I've been doing that with four different bikes for about 5 years and not had a problem.  I know I can go further, but the low fuel light can be annoying at night.  It comes on with my bikes about 188-190 miles when there is still a bit more than 1 gallon of fuel left in the tank.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline stokester

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2019, 08:47:09 PM »
BillDay, looks like you are getting the standard U.S. 45mpg with your brick.  I have 60,000+ miles of experience with 4 of the beasts so far, and unless I am hammering my bike at 85 into a headwind I get a pretty consistent 45-48 mpg. 
///CUT///
That's pretty much my experience as well but that fuel lamp staring at me starting between 130 to 150 miles depending on my city/highway riding is always an irritant.  I still like my airheads petcocks where I know how much is left when I switch to reserve.
  • Yorktown Virginia
  • '94 K75S Dakar Yellow - '93 K75S Seiden Blau - '91 R100RT Bermuda Blue- '78 R100S Smoke Red
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2019, 09:08:35 PM »
that fuel lamp staring at me starting between 130 to 150 miles depending on my city/highway riding is always an irritant. 

it seems odd that the lamp comes on with nearly 2 gallons(40% of tank capacity) remaining.  The spec for the tank is that the warning light comes on with 5 liters remaining in the tank.  There is an adjustment for when the lamp is triggered.  It may be misadjusted.

Our friend RBM has posted some good information on this topic.

http://www.k100-forum.com/t9265-messing-with-the-in-tank-fuel-sender

  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Past-my-Prime

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2019, 09:25:29 PM »
Fuel light comes on at 280 or so kilometers. 170 miles
I ran out once at about 360 kilometers. 220 miles
refill always by 330 by the Odometer - 200 miles but usually 290 partly to keep my fuel pump cool and partly because I dislike the red light.
Take usually about 17 liters if I go that far.
so 5 l/ 100 km = just under 50 mpg and I do not drive slowly. Big fairing RT on a K75.
  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue

Offline Martin

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2019, 10:08:10 PM »
If I drive like an absolute Nana I got 400 Km's out of my 75. I only did it once to see what I could get out of a tank and that was 20 years ago. I think under normal riding I think it's around 350 Km's.
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline cycle

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2019, 07:03:53 PM »
On my 87 K100lt the fuel light comes on at around 175 miles. On my 90 K75rt the light comes on at 200 miles. Both bikes take 4 gallons, + or - a tenth or two, so that leaves a little over one gallon for reserve. I do seem to ride the 1000 a little more briskly than the 750. It has a noticeable difference in power and acceleration. I kind of like that :riding:
  • so. vermont
  • k75rt k75s k100lt r80rt

Offline SinNH

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2019, 06:37:46 AM »
On  my '93 LT:
Light on at about 145 miles
Run dry at 212
when needle just touches the red blocks, about 1 gallon left.
I keep in  mind that after the light first comes on, I got about 50 miles left
  • NH
  • 93 K1100 LTA greenish

Offline Scott

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2019, 08:29:28 AM »
My light came on at 165 miles last fill, took 4.4 US gallons to fill, so I guess that leaves about a gallon (i think) in reserve. This last tank got about 48 mpg, so that would calculate to about 213 miles until completely empty. chunk.
  • SoCal
  • bmw R100r, bmw k75, hondapotamus G/W, XT 500 enduro

Offline johnny

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2019, 10:27:52 AM »
greetings...

running low on a consistant basis causes unecessary fuel pump whackness...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny
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Offline BlitzenGruv

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2019, 01:44:45 AM »
The first time I rode from Nashville to Barber near Birmingham the light came on after about 150 miles. It took a bit more than 3 gal. to fill up. That was all interstate at about 75-80 mph.
It used to scare me that the fuel light came on when the gauge said I still had a 1/4 tank. I didn't know which to believe. Gives me about 50 miles to find fuel. I guess BMW doesn't want you to strain the fuel pump.
I'm going camping about 150 miles from here this weekend. Mostly back roads, it'll be interesting to see what kind of mileage I get on that trip.
  • Crossville, TN
  • '92 K100rs, 16v, '71 BSA Lightning, '72 Triumph Bonneville, '72 Triumph Trident
You say I'm schizophrenic, but I don't believe we are.

Offline Soggz

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2019, 03:10:15 AM »
Just out of interest... how much does it cost for you yanks to fill the fuel tank?
  • Down in Selwood Forest
  • 1986 K75C, 1982 Honda CX500EC Eurostreetbrat
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2019, 06:40:35 AM »
In the Fascist Republic of New York I usually fill with 4.3-4.5 U.S. gallons.  This summer that costs around $12.80 to $13.00.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"
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Offline billday

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2019, 08:05:55 AM »
greetings...

running low on a consistant basis causes unecessary fuel pump whackness...

j o

Kids, listen to Uncle J O. The fuel pump is both cooled and lubricated by the gasoline it's immersed in.
  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline koapono

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2019, 10:30:40 AM »
I get about 225 miles per tank give or take a few depending on speed/RPMs.
I seldom go more than 150 - 175 before topping-off because as JO said: imminent full pump whack.
here in Virginny fuel is 2.40 USD per gallon (3.8 L)
  • prince george, VA (25 miles south of richmond)
  • 1994 K1100LT

Offline Laitch

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2019, 10:48:14 AM »
Following this modification—if possible—will give a little more distance or a greater margin from pump whack.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
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Offline Soggz

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #17 on: August 01, 2019, 12:31:24 PM »
In the Fascist Republic of New York I usually fill with 4.3-4.5 U.S. gallons.  This summer that costs around $12.80 to $13.00.
Wow! Is that all? It’s almost £25.00, here! No wonder the planets forked!
  • Down in Selwood Forest
  • 1986 K75C, 1982 Honda CX500EC Eurostreetbrat
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Offline Scott

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2019, 12:45:49 PM »
Currently here in Southern Ca, to put 5.5 gallons in, it would be about $22.50 US at today prices for premium.  They don't give it away here either.  And we get that ethanol shit as a bonus.
  • SoCal
  • bmw R100r, bmw k75, hondapotamus G/W, XT 500 enduro

Offline Soggz

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #19 on: August 01, 2019, 12:54:59 PM »
Currently here in Southern Ca, to put 5.5 gallons in, it would be about $22.50 US at today prices for premium.  They don't give it away here either.  And we get that ethanol shit as a bonus.
Thats only about £16.00.
  • Down in Selwood Forest
  • 1986 K75C, 1982 Honda CX500EC Eurostreetbrat
One More Of These,One Less Of Those...

Offline alabrew

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #20 on: August 01, 2019, 01:33:17 PM »
My son (he has a r1100s) and I are experimenting with different fuels. He swears that he gets his best mpg on shell. I really hadn't paid much attention, and I normally go with chevron if I can, but I filled at the shell the last tank and today hit 195 miles with no fuel light. Filled and only put in 4 gal. (at $3.05 for premium). I typically only get about 180 until the light comes on with the chevron and I add 4.2 gal.
  • Birmingham, Alabama
  • 1985 K100, 1991 K100RS
Also:
2005 K1200LT
1979 R65
200,000 miles on BMW motorcycles

Offline BlitzenGruv

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #21 on: August 01, 2019, 08:42:09 PM »
I use mid-grade fuel with no problems. That's about $2.80 here in the South.
Some of the local stations offer pure petrol, but only in regular grade. I'm tempted to see if the K will tolerate that well.
Maybe they could add a warning light for the knock sensor?
  • Crossville, TN
  • '92 K100rs, 16v, '71 BSA Lightning, '72 Triumph Bonneville, '72 Triumph Trident
You say I'm schizophrenic, but I don't believe we are.

Offline alabrew

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #22 on: August 02, 2019, 04:18:08 PM »
No knock sensor, that is why I run premium, especially in the summer.
I ran regular in everything up until I got the '05 KLT and another board convinced me that it wasn't too much more to run premium.
The '02 KLT started much better in the winter with regular.
  • Birmingham, Alabama
  • 1985 K100, 1991 K100RS
Also:
2005 K1200LT
1979 R65
200,000 miles on BMW motorcycles

Offline natalena

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #23 on: August 02, 2019, 08:30:06 PM »
Wow! Is that all? It’s almost £25.00, here! No wonder the planets forked!

Currently, it's about $2.26/gal here in Maryland, so a regular 200mi fill-up is close to $9.00.
When we lived in Italy, it converted around 8-$9.00/gal. and the attendants would stop pumping at 130 euro, as I encouraged them "pieno, pieno!" to top off the truck. The NATO coupons offset the costs, so we didn't care.
Egypt was .28 cents/gal, and nobody cared about how much fuel the 4x4 burned.
  • MST
  • 1987 K75s #0919, '05 Sportster 1200C
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Offline daveson

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Re: How far will a tank take you?
« Reply #24 on: August 02, 2019, 09:36:03 PM »
I try to fill up before the needle goes under the quarter full mark, about 150 miles, which is also when the warning light comes on. I use 91 octane.
  • Victoria, Australia
  • Current;'85 K100RT~100,000km; four other bricks. Past; 1500 Vulcan, V Star 650, KLX 250(dirt bike) TT250(dirt bike)

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