Inconvenient reserve

[roar]

I've only gone to reserve twice, I've also only put 300 miles on her, but both times have been while turning through a big four lane intersection. Ahhhhh how the people honk and try and see how close they can get to me when they pass. I'm still easing in a rebuilt top end, so all my driving is in town and 40mph or less, but still a little harrowing for a new rider. So this got me to wondering where everyone else has to switch tanks. Any good stories?

Roar

[orygun]

In the 5 years I've had my XS I've only gone on reserve a couple of times, fortunately on a straight stretches of road because I had to fumble around and look down to see which way to turn the petcock for reserve. Mine goes on reserve at about 120, runs out at about 145. I reset my trip odometer every fill up and when it hits a 100 miles stop at the next station I come across. never liked the idea of running out of gas at inopportune times.

[Burns]

Unless I'm out on the road I go on reserve pretty much every time the bike needs gas. One jug will start missing and I know it's time to move the lever - that ain't brain surgery. It takes me maybe 3 seconds and I get it done before the mill stops making HP. Don't wait until you are a road hazard, switch when you first see the signs (the miss). Keep an eye on your tripometer - you should know when it is getting close to reserve time and be prepared for it. Treat going on reserve as just a part of riding.
Which it is.

[xcbullet]

Reserve is needed must the time after stopping as the gas goes forward,& the carbs get low just about the time you go to take off again.So I'll turn mine on when I get to 120 miles & I just do the left side as its easy to get when riding.

[WA1DH]

I hear you on the reserve - you always run out at the worst times. But if you fill the tank to the exact same level and reset your tripmeter you can get a pretty good idea were you will hit reserve and where you completely run out. I think mine is about 120-125 mi to reserve. I've never run it completely dry to see how much reserve capacity I have, although I've thought about trying it (while carrying some gas with me, of course).

[roar]

Yes still new to this and still figuring out the finer points. I think you hit the nail on the head xcbullet because both of those intersections I had stopped before she started to die on take off. Quick find neutral and throw the switches! Oh well, guess I need to figure out how far a tank takes me.

Thanks for the replies,
Roar

[motormike]

I've had to talk to " Farmer Brown " a couple times. I knew I could do 150 miles with reserve to the track. But 10 miles from the track.. "DETOUR" ... and of course the new route takes me 21 miles out of my way. As a result I'm dealing with a farm dog who has MAJOR attitude.
Twice before I pulled over to help a fellow rider. Both times it was a young guy.. one on a new bike with 212 miles (EX 500) and the other was on a older unit. " It just quit running.. like it had no gas..! ".. I check for spark and then the tank.. low, but there is gas. " Have you switched to reserve?" I ask. Neither kid knew anything about " Reserve ?". One had a kick start.. and was off in moments. The other ran his battery down to the point it just clicked. I told him to let it set for at least 30 minutes.. then attemp to start it.. perhaps the batt would come back enough for one more start. A buddy use to sell=service bikes... he said he could not believe how many times a bike was hauled in .. " Won't Run.." for that same reason. Usually within 2 days after he sold it. Mike, MN

[Burns]

I bought a Vmax on Ebay and flew to Houston to pick it up. Totally unfamiliar with the bike I headed West on I10 to San Antonio with the guage showing about 2/3. Two facts about a Vmax: they get less than 30 miles to a gallon and the "reserve" is an electric switch with very non-intuitive idiot lights ("on" means the MAIN tank is on).

Houston traffic on I10 is not a good place to push a 700 lb motorcycle to the side of the road from the middle lane.

Lesson : familiarize yourself with your mount BEFORE you put it in traffic

[trickster]

My reserve doesn't work so at 100 mi(it is a special tank) I just get gas.... set the trip o meter.

but you will get to the point that it is second nature and not a problem.

[grepper]

I remember is Motorcycle Safety class we were all sitting on our bikes listening to the instructor. He said "Your in the middle of four lanes of heavy traffic, your bike starts to stumble, switch it to reserve" And everyone had to look down to find the petcock switch and he said "You all have been just run over by a semi! Know where your reserve switch is before you start off on a new bike and be able to switch it without looking"

Like most of us, I reset my trip meter when I fill up. When I'm riding and I'm close to 100 miles, I start looking for a gas sation.

[mycle1000]

after about 100 miles it is usually time for a cigarette and a trip to the mens room anyway.

[twinfan]

Mine's a standard and I usually get to 150 before needing to swich, I haven't had any trouble lately with reserve, but I have been on a kick where I forget to turn the gas on at all! Goes probably 1/4 mile on the fuel in the bowls!

[kansashillbilly]

How big is thr gastank on a stock xs around 4 gallons ?

[10ecjed]

3 gallons. I think Mikes sells one that is 4 gallons.

[Chuckwagon]

I usually let my bikes run to reserve... after years of riding I get the sense of when it runs lean even before it misses. But despite experience, I still do this once in a while:
run it to reserve, reach for the petcock. F***! Get that burning feeling on my ears like I'm back in elementary school and forgot my homework...again. It already is on reserve! I forgot to switch it back to "on" at the last fill up.

The last time that happened was on a limited access toll road... but the road gods were kind. I ran out of gas directly across the highway from a rest area. Those are situated about every 100 miles or so on that road. So I dodge traffic, hop the median, beg for a gas can, fill up, run the guantlet 2 more times and fire it up. It takes several miles for the sweat to evaporate and the nerves to calm.

Moral of the story... make it a ritual to reset your trip meter AND turn the petcock to "on"... and turn the gas off when you park it at the end of your trip.