250+ miles to a tank.....can of worms opened

[dazza]

OK people, in my quest to see how far I can go on one tank of fuel I think I may have stumbled on either a discrepency on what actual capacity the tank is or what I suspect is us being ripped off at the pumps. When I had reached 230 miles I stopped and checked my tank. There still looked a fair bit of fuel in the bottom so I carried on. I stopped and checked again at 250 and although not dry things looked a little bleak. I made my way to the nearest and cheapest petrol station when with in 100 yards of the forecourt the engine cut out showing 253.3 miles. As my intention was to see how far it would go I came prepared with some spare fuel. At a guess I must have put about  1 litre of fuel in before topping the tank with 21.49 l  of fuel. So either our tanks are bigger than we think or fuel pumps are callibrated wrong in order to rip us off.  I know I must take in to consideration fuel pipes and carbs but can not see this being as much as 1 and a half litres. Would be interested to hear your views maybe someone can enlighten me. 

[VNA - BMW Wank]

We for a guy at work who takes pride in driving his 350Z very slowly and achieving over 30mpg.

So firstly, just ride the darn thing for gods sake 

Tank capacity?  I'm guessing, but there's that steel tube that goes into the tank a wee bit from the filler cap.  Tank should probably have an air gap at the top, perhaps to take care of fuel and vapour expansion in warm weather/direct sunlight.

So I'm thinking you kept working at it and filled a good bit of the air gap.

But really I dunno, and nor should any of us care.  250 plus miles, bloody norra.  Got 200 once on holiday, and I was worried I was gonna run out and get stuck.

[The Male Whale]

214 miles and 22.01 litres went in - didn't run out either.
 
Whale

[fazer69]

160 knocking about, maybe 200 on a good long run. At morrisons yesterday, my light came on i rode for 5 miles more, took my time filling the tank & put in 17.5 lts, gen 1- 55 reg.

[locksmith]

F*****g Gen1 riders   

[dazza]

C'mon Locksmith, enlighten us. What range are you getting ? 

[sadlonelygit]

At a guess ..................... before topping the tank with 21.49 l  of fuel.

do you see your problem here........you don't know how much you topped up with to get to the petrol station. tbh if it was only 100 yds i would have pushed it and got a precis-ish reading.
i used to wonder how my fellow bm riders always got  30+ miles to a tankful to me, after a year of ownership i discovered another 3 litres if you topped up sat on the bike.
and 253 miles.................YOU POOFTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dazza]

I agree sadlonelygit but believe me there was no way I was pushing it. As for being a poofter    GUILTY AS CHARGED

[FZ_Rich]

fill take to bottom of that tube thingy. ride 100 miles. fill tank to bottom of that tube thingy. use litres/gallons used to work out l/mpg. Useful this cos you can see what 100 miles of steady riding is to 100 miles of brisk riding.  Accelerating hard is what uses fuel and at 250 miles to a tank I suspect your not thrashing it away from the lights  etc

[Dave48]

At least were talking "Real World" consumption figures unlike the fiction that car manufacturers quote in their ads-from the ridiculous european consumption tests!

[fireblake]

just another thought. Trading standard measure the pumps and test for pump accuracy. I think this is a legal requirement and you can contact your county council if you think the pumps are inaccurate. More than likely the bike tanks aren't 100% and have an inbuilt expansion area for hot days as mentioned earlier.

Mickey

[dazza]

Haven't heard from locksmith about his gen 2 range    Still, must be difficult juggling computer & forecourt time

[VNA - BMW Wank]

At least were talking "Real World" consumption figures unlike the fiction that car manufacturers quote in their ads-from the ridiculous european consumption tests!

I can't make head or tail of the offcial figures published in car ads etc.   All I know is that everybody says there is no point in trying to understand them as they are pure bollocks.

The other thing I know is that my boring VW Bora does about 32mpg.  But I'll stick with it due to the cost of changing.  Oh, and now the tax disk costs me more than the insurance.  Shocking.

[Janet]

This could be an urban myth ... or not. I heard once that if you fill up as quickly as you can a fuel pump tends to over-register the amount dispensed, and if you fill up slowly you have a chance of getting a bit more actual fuel out for the same measured (and charged for) amount. The chances are that if your tank is very nearly empty you'll use the pump at a higher flow rate than if you're only putting a small amount in. But, like I say, I don't know whether that's true or just a myth.

[pitternator]

I know at least once I filled up my speed triple with 17.5 litres  yet its only 18 litres tank...gord knows how 0.5 litres gets efficiently sucked  by fuel pump...so maybe true capacity is a bit more??
I also fell out with a local garage ( run by eastern ethnic origin gentlemen) cos I could not believe how much fuel was needed for a top up !, and my mpg had fell off remarkably  ...suspicion is the pumps aint accurate...but nobody will come out and check them there and then.

[Dave48]

If you fill in the early morning or late evening when temperature reduced you will get more fuel in your tank than in the midday heat.
The best way to test mpg/ kmpL is as mentioned: Fill to base of tube. Zero trip Ride fixed distance. Refill tank to same point. Read elapsed mileage from trip & do calculation. Actual consumption depends on so many variables, most of which are under riders direct control.
Used to drive a Merc Sprinter with all the bells & whistles including real time fuel consumption [size=78%]display Hard driving/fully laden returned <29mpg(diesel)[/size]
Economy mode/Empty>38mpg@ steady 60mph.

[locksmith]

Haven't heard from locksmith about his gen 2 range    Still, must be difficult juggling computer & forecourt time

Feck you all 
I get uuuurrrr oh alright a LOT less miles per tank than you lot, BUT, I dont smell of wee.

[Dave48]

Glad your doing your bit for the economy,Locksmith!   And I dont smell of wee (i change my underpants frequently!)

[1967fazer]

250 miles to a tankful!!! F*ck me, I managed to get 130 out of mine today, fuel light to fuel light, and I was happy! Mind you it was very brisk riding indeed!   But i believe has already mentioned the obvious, just ride it, enjoy it, fill it...repeat....
Or buy a diesel Bullet, if your that bothered about fuel economy and figures!
 
 
 
 

[dazza]

I'm interested in ALL the facts and figures of the bike, including performance and the limits of tyre grip. I have to find out how fast it will go, how far over I can lean it before my tyres give me a warning that there about to let go and of course when you feel like taking it easy what sort of milage you can achieve.Surely this is what the fazer is all about as an all rounder and getting to know your limits in all departments is getting to know your bike. Mind you, the thought that Ive got 9 points on my licence does help make me slow down sometimes.

[AyJay]

After eight years of ownership, I've only just started monitoring the fuel consumption on my Fazer and I've been quite surprised at how good it is. There's been the odd track day when it's done a tank in 80 miles, but also the odd long distance jaunt on the continent when I've seen over 200 miles on a tank, but even on my commute it's been getting over 46 to the gallon, and that's whanging it around, revving the nuts off it as well as 30 miles of motorway. Is there no end to the surprises this amazing bike keeps giving us?


I really need to buy another and keep it under a sheet for when mine finally gives up the ghost.

[Fuzzygoth]

At a guess I would say that bikes are built on the basis that you aren't
going to brim the tank. The manuals for my bike (i think) have said you
shouldn't fill the tank past a certian level (which everyone I know ignores)
so I'd guess that extra bit that is supposed to be left unfiled along with
the pipes and tubes might account for the extra? Or maybe the reserve
level is set higher than listed for people who ride thier tanks into the reserve
(which I done only last week).

Fuzzy

[Fuzzygoth]

Haven't heard from locksmith about his gen 2 range    Still, must be difficult juggling computer & forecourt time

I was chatting to a gen 2 rider the other day at the biker parking where I work
and he said he generally get 90 to 120 miles till the  fuel light. But I have no idea
what sort of speed/style his riding is.

Fuzzy

[dazza]

Just a little update to irritate certain people   Just beat my old record of 253.3 miles. New record......256.2 and still didn't run out completely. Started to cough and splutter so filled up with 22.4litres. Why do I do this you may ask.....I say, Why not...!

[tomlinscote]

Ooo I thought the tank capacity was 21 litres, how did you get 22.4 in it??