Fuel reserve

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Salty · #1 Post by **Salty** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:13 pm

Well I discovered yesterday that my recently acquired Falco (well June) will run for 20 miles after fuel warning light comes on before stopping. I am sure that the subsequent cardiovascular exercise pushing it half way across Llandudno did me the world of good, but thank God it was flat!
Does this reserve sound about right?

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:47 pm

Sounds like a lesson well learnt.

I'm outta breath just thinking about it.

Falcorob · #3 Post by **Falcorob** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:59 pm

No idea. If the fuel light flashes on mine it gets filled asap. Don't think I've ever been more than 5 or 10 miles with it on.

Thought the reserve was 4 litres on these though which would equate to about 35 miles if your average consumption is 40mpg.

Salty · #4 Post by **Salty** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:19 pm

Yes I am sure I managed about 30 miles in France without running dry whilst desperately searching for a petrol station (they are bloody hard to find in some parts), but that was mostly in top gear.
Yesterday I had been stuck behind a farm wagon towing a trailer on a very narrow road for some miles and was only in 1st most of the time. Must have really hit the mpg.
Also I expected to get damn near 19 litres into the tank, but just about managed 17.6.
Love the bike - hate not having a fuel gauge.

Aladinsaneuk · #5 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:22 pm

Fuel light starts flashing - start looking... If it comes on solid - REALLY look

flatlander · #6 Post by **flatlander** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:46 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:Fuel light starts flashing - start looking... If it comes on solid - REALLY look

Yup that works for me especially if you are out with Blinkey

I got just over 20 last time I tried on purpose honest I would definitely add some cleaner to the next few tank fulls though

Willopotomas · #7 Post by **Willopotomas** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:23 pm

One of the first trips out on the Falco I experienced "reserve light roulette". Went to see Hisnibbs with Andy but came home after a few hours as was shooting the following day. Just joined the A14 when the light came on. The old sphincter starts to twitch when after going past two closed petrol stops (it was around midnight - 1am IIRC) the bike starts to cough a little under power. Thankfully I found salvation in the form of BP and stuck some go-go juice in. Worked it out the following day that it was more or less bang on 20 miles from when the light came on, to when the coughing started.

Lesson learnt. Thank fook I didn't have to push!

dyzio · #8 Post by **dyzio** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:39 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:Fuel light starts flashing - start looking... If it comes on solid - REALLY look

You have 2 stages on yours??

Most I did on my reserve was 20 miles or so, but the light is always solid

(bike is a 2004)

HisNibbs · #9 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:55 pm

It may take 5 miles or so from the first flash until the light stays on. I don't supose I've ever done much more than 20 miles or so from when i've first noticed it being on but have done so many times. I didn't realise I was cutting it so fine. 18 liter tank into which I normaly get about 14 litres leaves 4 liters of reserve which I'd have thought would have given more like 30 - 40 miles not hammering it.

I suppose there could be quite a variation in quite where the fuel gauge sensor is mounted?

D-Rider · #10 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:37 am

Just as the fuel consumption varies greatly before the light comes on depending on how you are riding it, the same is true after the light comes on .... and pootling along slowly is not the way to fuel-economy-nirvana on a Falco.
Sometimes you can get more than 20 miles after the light but I'd never bank on it. I have had to push mine to a fuel station on more than one occasion.

blinkey501 · #11 Post by **blinkey501** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:45 am

I tend to find with short runs and playing i can go through 20 quid in about 110 miles. But when i came back from flatlanders and even though i was averageing 90-95 the fuel consumption was 150-160 miles. But it was nearly all motorway and i was quite happy with this. Because my 600 fazer is low geared and high reving it uses more fuel at higher speeds than the falco. The best 600 i had that was brilliant on fuel was a CBF600, on a steady run into derbyshire i had 60MPG

, but it was tuned differently to the fazer with only 76 bhp with the fazer having 99 bhp

b_chiller · #12 Post by **b_chiller** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:22 am

I found out that I can get to work and back 3 times and then run out of petrol 200 yards away from the petrol station.

That equates to 17.5 miles of stop start traffic miles.

I have also noticed that once upon a time I would get the fuel warning light and it would stay on were as now it does as HisNibbs says and flashes before coming on permanantly.

Salty - Hello fellow Wiganer!!

Aladinsaneuk · #13 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:35 pm

damn - the northerners are breeding....

worst i have had - from full tank to solid fuel light was 83 miles - but that was some serious behaving like a twat on some private roads....

i averaged 50 to the gallon on the shropshire jaunt :)

blinkey501 · #14 Post by **blinkey501** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:21 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:damn - the northerners are breeding....

worst i have had - from full tank to solid fuel light was 83 miles - but that was some serious behaving like a twat on some private roads....

i averaged 50 to the gallon on the shropshire jaunt :)

We cant help that we is from ooop norf pete

Aladinsaneuk · #15 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:29 am

advantage of living in the swamps - i can take rthe piss out of everyone... northerners, southerners, the welsh, other third world dwellers etc....