thexaulted
Member
Lucky if I get a mile! At 85 miles I am sweating real bad!
Low mileage on reserve
- Thread starter Dawgboy
- Start date
RMBrownlee
Custom 2008 K9
Wow...so is it common for reserve on the K9 to be that low across the board? 90 miles on the odo and 'sweating it' if a fuel station isn't in site? I'm just curious if this is a small portion of the riders or if this is indeed 'normal'?
I've carried spare fuel and field tested as LDO states and the K9 reserve is indeed 0.4 gallons. Result was 22 miles on the freeway; that of course would go down in stop & go traffic. Coming home from CA this past Saturday I hit 182 miles before switching to reserve (all freeway). More than once I've had 200 miles tanks. I usually don't push it that far though and when riding with the Harley guys we're fueling up every 120 miles anyway.
Speed has a lot to do with it, if I'm crusing in the 85-100 mph range I'll get about 160 miles before I hit reserve. If in Oregon where the overall speed limit is lower, cruising at 70-75 will net me about 175-180 miles before reserve.
Engine work influences this of course. My engine is stock, with factory super G carb, cam, etc. I've only changed out the air filter to a K&N bullet, swapped the chain primary with the Baker open belt primary and replaced the exhaust with a Yaffe straight pipe w/o baffles.
I've carried spare fuel and field tested as LDO states and the K9 reserve is indeed 0.4 gallons. Result was 22 miles on the freeway; that of course would go down in stop & go traffic. Coming home from CA this past Saturday I hit 182 miles before switching to reserve (all freeway). More than once I've had 200 miles tanks. I usually don't push it that far though and when riding with the Harley guys we're fueling up every 120 miles anyway.
Speed has a lot to do with it, if I'm crusing in the 85-100 mph range I'll get about 160 miles before I hit reserve. If in Oregon where the overall speed limit is lower, cruising at 70-75 will net me about 175-180 miles before reserve.
Engine work influences this of course. My engine is stock, with factory super G carb, cam, etc. I've only changed out the air filter to a K&N bullet, swapped the chain primary with the Baker open belt primary and replaced the exhaust with a Yaffe straight pipe w/o baffles.
I get my best mileage above 100mph, right around 55mpg, and I sweat if the bike shows 120 miles.
With a big load I went from Cresent City to Eureka, into town twice and back to the KOA, and hit reserve heading into town the next morning. BUT, weight of the bike and all the gear plus my fat ass and we were pushing 1180lbs. I carry 1 qt of fuel on trips also.
180 miles on a tank for me prolly will not ever happen.
One of these days, we need to hit a scale, fuel up, and ride. My 06 mastiff and Rays 05 chopper get very close to the same mileage, yet I hit reserve much sooner.
I think in the mastiff there may be a baffle in the rear of the tank, and the fact that the petcock is mid tank prolly does not help.
RMBrownlee, bet your mileage went down in the rain we had today eh?
With a big load I went from Cresent City to Eureka, into town twice and back to the KOA, and hit reserve heading into town the next morning. BUT, weight of the bike and all the gear plus my fat ass and we were pushing 1180lbs. I carry 1 qt of fuel on trips also.
180 miles on a tank for me prolly will not ever happen.
One of these days, we need to hit a scale, fuel up, and ride. My 06 mastiff and Rays 05 chopper get very close to the same mileage, yet I hit reserve much sooner.
I think in the mastiff there may be a baffle in the rear of the tank, and the fact that the petcock is mid tank prolly does not help.
RMBrownlee, bet your mileage went down in the rain we had today eh?
RMBrownlee
Custom 2008 K9
Your best mileage is over 100mph? Our bikes are way different! I think mine peaks (for mpg anyway) around 70 mph. At 100mph I never get 180 out of a tank...closer to 145-150 I think.
Ah, I got home from CA on Saturday...cleaned and detailed the bike yesterday though so it looks great again...air filter is sitting on the floor next to me drying on top of the air duct where the furnace blows warm air in. Only got around to cleaning the K&N from the bike and the filter from my F350 today. I can't say with any accuracy if riding down on Monday in the rain had an effect on mileage. I was going faster since it was all on I-5 (versus hwy 1) but I do recall surpassing 160 miles at least twice before hitting reserve.
That's a good idea for the ride. I have a Pelouze scale in the garage and just weighed the sissy bar bag with all my skydiving equipment = 35 lbs, 4 oz. I already unpacked the other bag which had all my clothes, camping equipment, laptop, dress shoes, wine, etc but I'm guessing it was a tad more judging from memory when loading it on the bike. So probably 80 lbs of equipment? I'm 180 lbs and wearing full leathers, 3/4 helmet, boots and rain gear probably in the neighborhood of 200 lbs.
What's the dry weight of a 2008 K9? I've seen 3 different numbers?
Check out my deluxe accommodations from Friday night!
Ah, I got home from CA on Saturday...cleaned and detailed the bike yesterday though so it looks great again...air filter is sitting on the floor next to me drying on top of the air duct where the furnace blows warm air in. Only got around to cleaning the K&N from the bike and the filter from my F350 today. I can't say with any accuracy if riding down on Monday in the rain had an effect on mileage. I was going faster since it was all on I-5 (versus hwy 1) but I do recall surpassing 160 miles at least twice before hitting reserve.
That's a good idea for the ride. I have a Pelouze scale in the garage and just weighed the sissy bar bag with all my skydiving equipment = 35 lbs, 4 oz. I already unpacked the other bag which had all my clothes, camping equipment, laptop, dress shoes, wine, etc but I'm guessing it was a tad more judging from memory when loading it on the bike. So probably 80 lbs of equipment? I'm 180 lbs and wearing full leathers, 3/4 helmet, boots and rain gear probably in the neighborhood of 200 lbs.
What's the dry weight of a 2008 K9? I've seen 3 different numbers?
Check out my deluxe accommodations from Friday night!
Wish I could have made that run with you. Nice campsiteCheck out my deluxe accommodations from Friday night!
Something else to think about is the micron rating of the filter. There is a reason you don't see filters on them from the factory. Gravity is all that feeds thes carb. I'd put a 100 micron on it to get the big debris if anything.
I'm on my third big dog and the first two had a different style petcock than my 06. The 03 and 05 had reserve and on next to eachother. The 06 has off in the middle so there is a longer sweep. I fill up around 100 miles and have never run farther than 5 miles on reserve. When I have hit reserve I usually have almost a gallon left in the tank. I know my 03 chopper went about 2-3 miles with no filter!
I'm on my third big dog and the first two had a different style petcock than my 06. The 03 and 05 had reserve and on next to eachother. The 06 has off in the middle so there is a longer sweep. I fill up around 100 miles and have never run farther than 5 miles on reserve. When I have hit reserve I usually have almost a gallon left in the tank. I know my 03 chopper went about 2-3 miles with no filter!
Satterfield
Member
What kind of MPG are we talking about
I have just bought my new 08 BD K-9 a couple of weeks ago and I was hoping someone had a good estimate on what the range (safe) the K-9 might have. I don't think the machine should be without a gas light, gauge or something. I think they could have worked the electronics up front a little better. Anyway, I am just trying to find out something about the actual range.
Thanks, "T"
I have just bought my new 08 BD K-9 a couple of weeks ago and I was hoping someone had a good estimate on what the range (safe) the K-9 might have. I don't think the machine should be without a gas light, gauge or something. I think they could have worked the electronics up front a little better. Anyway, I am just trying to find out something about the actual range.
Thanks, "T"
Attachments
Devone
Member
I did an accidential field test on my 07 Mastiff. I went on reserve just before pulling into the parking lot at work, when I got off in the afternoon I forgot about being on reserve and made it 23 of the 25 miles home before the bike said " no more, I'm thristy" and put me on the side of the road. Since then I've made it 15 to 20 miles a couple of times without running out:up:
" and put me on the side of the road. Since then I've made it 15 to 20 miles a couple of times without running out:up:
BadBrad
2005 Pitbull
For all you that only get a mile or 2 after hitting reserve, how much gas does your tank hold when you go to fill it up? You already know what the capacity of the tank is. When you fill up, is it taking a full 4.2 (or whatever yours may be) gallons? If not, then you know something else is keeping the remaining fuel from getting to the carb. 
mittens
Well-Known Member
BUmping this thread. I know its old.
My bike has ran out, I flipped to reserve. it made it no issue a good ways.. then the last 2-3 times it does not make it a mile..... I have changed nothing. I did how ever remove the vent tube.. as it rattled horribly.... I am not sure if this was in between it going a good ways and then nothig now or if it was not related.
But my though is, how much tube is left on the reserve? can we trim it down super short to get the last bit out of the tank? I dont remember what the Petcock looked like when I had it pulled.
My bike has ran out, I flipped to reserve. it made it no issue a good ways.. then the last 2-3 times it does not make it a mile..... I have changed nothing. I did how ever remove the vent tube.. as it rattled horribly.... I am not sure if this was in between it going a good ways and then nothig now or if it was not related.
But my though is, how much tube is left on the reserve? can we trim it down super short to get the last bit out of the tank? I dont remember what the Petcock looked like when I had it pulled.
Fat_Bastard
Active Member
Next time, try this for an extra 900 yards...
When you have "nothing left" and switch to RESERVE; tilt the bike way over left to almost on the ground and SHAKE IT baby; that gets all the remaining fuel to the "left side tank" and at the petcock.
Saved me many a LONG PUSH!
When you have "nothing left" and switch to RESERVE; tilt the bike way over left to almost on the ground and SHAKE IT baby; that gets all the remaining fuel to the "left side tank" and at the petcock.
Saved me many a LONG PUSH!
what?
Active Member
i always just leave on reserve. just fill up more often. i did have one time when i knew i was pushing it close to home and i roll up behind a few bikes at a light. they take off and my nice shiny ride just coughs, belches some smoke out of the carb and i'm sitting there like a dick.
i push it to the side of the road and i hear a small splashing at the bottom. i leaned it as far left as i could without laying it down to see if i could get as much fuel on top of the petcock as i could. whallah. was able to get to the gas station about 2 miles away and top it off. cool thing was one of the guys circled back to see if i was all right.
i push it to the side of the road and i hear a small splashing at the bottom. i leaned it as far left as i could without laying it down to see if i could get as much fuel on top of the petcock as i could. whallah. was able to get to the gas station about 2 miles away and top it off. cool thing was one of the guys circled back to see if i was all right.