[rich8363]

OK I know, it's not ment to have a fuel Gauge, but I need one.
It scares me to have to guess what king of MPG I'm getting and do math at 85 MPH... Sometimes it's 26 sometimes it's 42 - it all depends on how hard i'm riding her. Anyway, I cant find a small gauge anywhere. I was thinking of a battery meter they sell on J & P , the fuel gauge must work on the same princicple of the battery meter, so can a brother get some feedback?????

 

[blazinwarrior78]

reset the trip odometer every time you fill up, and get a good calculation of what you can get on a tank. for example, i usually run 110-130 miles on a tank before I decide to stop and fill up, I'm not going to push my bike to a gas station, or bum a ride to get a can. Once you've determined your average miles per tank, just follow that. When the fuel light comes on, I check the trip and see how much farther I should go with out running out. A whole lot easier than trying to figure out how and where to wire up a fuel gauge.

P.S. Fuel gauges read resistance in Ohms, battery gauges can either read volts or amps. My 2003 Z1000 had an actual fuel level display, instead of the light, so I was used to having the level and not just going off a light. I had to come up with a way myself to judge how far to ride with the Light on, so I wouldn't run out, and using the trip meter is what I do.

Today, the light came on at 97 miles, but I was getting on the interstate, so I stopped and filled up, took 3.26 Gallons. Thats about 30 miles to the gallon, about my average considering I like turning the grip fast and hard. My speeding ticket Last night of 48 in a 30 is proof. :ftop:

 

[Xarpolis]

My old '01 Yamaha XV1600 had a smaller fuel guage that showed your level. There might be a way to steal that setup to work with the Meanie. I'm not entirely sure, but It's gotta be possible.

Meanie holds 4.49 gallons (17 liters) and the Midnight Star held 5.28 gallons (20 liters)

That's really not so different... I'm sure if you swapped it out it would never show the tank as being completely full, but it should show you fairly accurately how far you are from empty.

 

[rich8363]

thanks guys

thanks guys - both are good ideas. I have a friend that has a 2006 1600 vulcan
classic with a fuel gauge - maybe i'll take a look at the way his is connected. it seems be 98% the same as a meanie.

 

[Xarpolis]

When you figure it out, please share the results with us. I know that at least a few of us would enjoy a fuel guage more than just a light.

Info about the '06 Vulcan (Classic or Nomad). Tank holds 5.3 gallons (20.06 liters)

So it would be about the same as the yamaha's as far as never showing a full tank (if that's how it works)

 

[zootech]

On mine, the light comes on when there's 1-1/2 gallons left in the tank. Even if I was only getting 30mpg, that's 45 miles of riding before becoming stranded. With all that in mind, I ride 'til the light comes on and find a station when it's convenient. No need to do any math, no need to stare at the tripometer. I just leave my clock going in the display and use the tripometer for actual trips.

 

[Dave_Pa]

FYI: My Wife's bike is a VN750 and thy also have gauges on them.

 

[MEAN15]

My light starts to flicker at 119 miles and that is mostly in town riding. This past trip to Daytona, averaging about 80-85 mph, got my light to start flickering at 138 mph. I was actully surprised I was able to get more miles at that rate of speed.

 

[rich8363]

hey mean15
I'm glad you rode to Daytona.
I had a great time. It's my third year.
I have a sticker on my helmet that says
"silly yuppy, trailers are for boats"
Ride on !!!! :righton:

 

[troop]

100 mile tripmeter

Yup, reset the tripmeter at every stop. I follow the 100 mile rule also.. Troop

 

[MEAN15]

RICH6383

Put 873 miles on total in four days and enjoyed every minute of it. The highlight, besides riding mine, was the Boss Hoss demo ride...WHOA! Had a passenger so had to ride the trike, but still worth it. Also rode a Victory. Didn't much care for it. Seemed the rake was a little steep which made the steering fell heavy.

 

[nitro-1]

There was a topic regarding fuel gauges not so long ago.
And I agree with what Zootech is saying....no math needed. The light works just great!

 

[zootech]

got my light to start flickering at 138 mph.

Well, I should hope so considering the governor kicks in at 130mph.

 

[Streaker]

I think he meant 138 Miles Zoo.
I also don't really feel the need for a gauge as Zoo said when the light comes on stop at the next available spot and fillerup. I do have to agree that it would be nice though. A Mod is a mod and this wouldn't be a bad one :alcy:

 

[zootech]

I think he meant 138 Miles Zoo.

Yeah...I gathered. Sarcasm is often lost in the black & white landscape of the message board.

 

[Streaker]

Sarcasm is often lost in the black & white landscape of the message board.

YUP This is very true

 

[motodrummer]

has anyone ever put more than 3.7 gallons in the meanie?? I have run out of gas twice, 1st time the tripometer showed 144mi, and she was completely empty. I had to push her the last few feet into the gas station and all I could fit in the tank was 3.7 gallons.

The 2nd time really sucked, I was far from home and the wife was behind me on her bike and I ran out at 110mi. In a shady looking neighborhood at night. She had to run to the nearest station which was about 5 miles away and buy a small 2gl plastic container and put it in her saddlebag. (luckily she has them)

I have never put more than 3.7gl in her so the 4.5gl that Kawi claims is BS.

Now when I hit 100mi I am looking for the next gas station.

 

[Xarpolis]

Have you tried standing the bike up when filling it, or do you keep it leaned over? If you actually sit on it and stand it up, you should be able to squeeze the rest in.

Leaned over, gas doesn't go anywhere near the front right of the tank, 'cause that area is higher than the filling area.

 

[Streaker]

If you straighten it up and fill it the rest of the way be prepared for your parking spot to have a puddle of fuel under it if your not burning it up by riding. It will leak out the overflow hose.

 

[DESTROy]

If you straighten it up and fill it the rest of the way be prepared for your parking spot to have a puddle of fuel under it if your not burning it up by riding. It will leak out the overflow hose.

Or worse I really full tank could fill up the EVAP cannister. I know lots of people that fill their bikes while sitting on them and lots of people who have smelled a lot like gas after filling their bike while sitting on them.

DESTRO