Gas Getting Low?

[Jer]

I'm creeping up on 200 miles for this tank. My first full tank so I'm not sure what I'll get.

I'm doing about 50mph almost home from work, been riding about 35 minutes, when I get a blip of hesitation from the engine. A moment of friction. Then back to normal. I really couldnt tell you what it sounded like since I had about 70mph winds coming at me due to speed. It was VERY gusty. L:uckily it was head on and not a crosswind.

It happened twice. Within about 30 sec of each other.

Then the rest of the ride was normal. (another 3 minutes or so at 35mph)

My first thought is its due to running out of gas. But wtf do I know?

When I got home I opened the gas tank and its dry in the middle but as I wiggle the bike I can see gas to either side.

????

[Moedad]

Methinks you're about ready to need to switch to Reserve. When mine gets to that point, it starts to put out the odd cough or fractional sputter a few minutes or less before it runs out.

[patrick_777]

Time for a run to the pumps. Probably a good idea to check right now whether or not you're on Reserve. If it's hesitating, you're on reserve and you aren't a block away from a gas source, be wary of running completely dry.

If you're not switched over to reserve yet, you should have no problems making it.

[Jer]

Not on reserve yet.

Glad to know I was on the right track.

Thanks!!!

[Easy Rider]

I'm creeping up on 200 miles for this tank.
And using the general average mileage of 65 mpg, you are creeping up on switching to reserve OR running out completely if it is already on reserve. Just to be safe, I fill up at about 150 miles.

The normal riding position for the fuel lever is ON; that is with the lever handle pointed FORWARD.

[Sarris]

I usually hit reserve at about 180 miles. When it sputters, you just have to reach down and flip it to reserve while rolling, if you are coordinated or confident enough to do so. That's when I usually look for a gas station.

Also, like ER says, pay attention to the petcock lever position, as it feels backassward to the position it's in.

:ride:

[Jer]

200 miles on a tank (pre-reserve) is about average yes?

[Sarris]

They owners manual states fuel capacity at 3.7 gallons total with a .8 gallon reserve for a pre-reserve capacity of 2.9 gallons. You could get 203 +/- miles on the run position with another 56 +/- miles on reserve out of the 3.7 gallons at 70 miles per gallon. Since all production motorcycles vary some, your mileage per tank will be different. I also am fairly sure that there is no way to get the maximum mfgr's. stated capacity into the tank while it's on the bike.

For instance, my bike usually hits reserve at around 180 miles and takes only 2.5 gallons to fill for 72 mpg. That leaves me (theoretically) 1.2 gallons reserve or 84 +/- addtional miles. That variation from mfgr's. spec is probably due to the length of the plastic reserve pickup tube being a bit longer than "normal". I have only pushed it to 50 miles on reserve out of fear of running out.

If you really need to know, put a quart of gas in a clean plastic oil bottle in your saddlebag, then drive and note the obtained mileage when hit reserve, then run it until empty and note the obtained mileage received from the reserve. Then you'll know exactly what your bike is doing. Then you can use the quart of gas in the bottle to get you to the gas station.

:)

[Jer]

cool. No need to experiment. Just curious.

:)

Thanks!

[primal]

Seems like I've read people reporting 80+ MPG when running at an average of 35 MPH. If you've been keeping the speed down like that on the first tank it wouldn't surprise me if you get quite a bit more MPG than you would with the throttle-happiness that experience and comfort with the bike brings.

[BusyWeb]

Hi, everyone.
I'm really curious about MPG and throttling/gearing methods.

Last week, got 100 MPG, believe it or not.
I even couldn't believe it.
It was half freeway (60-65 mph) and half highway (35-50 mph) riding.
Gas was premium octane.
Oil with synthetic.

I want to hear about similar mpg from others, very seriously.
Or, my bike is something wrong??? (need adjustment??)

Is my riding practice bad?? (for my precious bike)
My riding practices are:
(1) No sudden throttling, but keeping smooth up and down when the speed needs to be changed. (sometimes I do rev-up fast at low gears, he he he)
(2) Tried not to use physical braking (both front/back) as much as possible, rater try to use engine braking, for example release throttle and step down gears one by one according to the current bike speed. >> don't know if it's good practice for this small bike. (but need to push front or back brake lightly so behind cars can see the red light)
(3) I change gears very frequently (it's fun, ha ha ha). The 3rd gear is before the 25-30 mph. If it goes up 35-40 mph, it's 4th gear already. If I think that bike can keep 35-40 more than 3 seconds, gear up to 5th gear and keep 5th gear as long as the bike doesn't like it. <<<< these are totally far less speed/gear that GZ manual recommended. But I feel the bike power which can keep these gears at low speed. Am I doing bad???

Anyway, I like my gz's MPG, no less than 70. (less than 1 month riding and measurement) :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

[jonathan180iq]

200 miles per tank seems to be the norm, yes.

Busyweb,
If you really got 100mpgs, I wouldn't change anything.

[Easy Rider]

Last week, got 100 MPG, believe it or not.
I even couldn't believe it.


1) Don't believe it. You had a "measurement error", like not gettting the tank filled properly. Unless, of course, you accidentally got an imported bike and it really is a GZ 125! :biggrin:
2) Using premium gas is a TOTAL waste of money......but it's not a lot of money so if it make you feel good, then go right ahead.

The rest of your story sounds about right......if you want to ride like an old Granny! :crackup

[Sarris]

1) Don't believe it. You had a "measurement error", like not gettting the tank filled properly. Unless, of course, you accidentally got an imported bike and it really is a GZ 125! :biggrin:
2) Using premium gas is a TOTAL waste of money......but it's not a lot of money so if it make you feel good, then go right ahead.

:plus1: to ER's comments, as I've NEVER heard of that type of gas mileage with a GZ. Realistic max mileage figures may approach 80 mpg, but not even close to 100.

Also, read this thread to view all the comments regarding use of premium fuel, it's really not neeeded.

http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=435

:)

[jonathan180iq]

Not ture.

There are reputable members on this site who have seen an actual 95mpg. Under the perfect circumstances, +/- 5mpg from that number wouldn't be impossible.

[Easy Rider]

Not ture.

There are reputable members on this site who have seen an actual 95mpg. Under the perfect circumstances, +/- 5mpg from that number wouldn't be impossible.

And maybe not TRUE either!

Guess I wasn't specific enough with my first try at it.
It is unlikely that he is really getting 100 mpg; not impossible, mind you but unlikely enough that it is near-to-impossible.

And, yes, I know one or two people have claimed mileage that high but I think the only one still around it Bob's better half, which IIRC only made it into the low 80's.

So, which "reputable members" claim to consistently get 95 mpg? And that's US gallons, not metric ones.

[jonathan180iq]

I didn't say consistently. Just that they have seen it.

But, Davidc83 is the man and Badbob vouches for him.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=957&p=6718&hilit=+95+mpg#p6718 (http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=957&p=6718&hilit=+95+mpg#p6718)

[Easy Rider]

But, Davidc83 is the man and Badbob vouches for him.


OK, that's ONE.......do I hear TWO....... :biggrin:
Guess we'll know after the next fill-up.

I just can't see riding a bike in the manner required to achieve that.
It just seems WRONG somehow.

[BusyWeb]

Hello, everybody.
I swear that my measurement wasn't wrong.
I thought that new windshield may helped some, but it was too much differences between before and after.
I'm waiting for the next gas fill, may be coming weekend.
Since last fill-up, I got about 130 miles on meter.
If I got similar Gallon and MPG, I'll post it with PICTURE proof.
If not, just consider that I had mis-measurement.
However, I'm waiting for next few days.
Um, I'm going to take picture of meter right now.
O.K., I got picture of 09/11/2008 meter.
I'll take pictures of Gas Pump and Meter at next fill-up.
Is it fair?
Hope, I get good MPG.
Thanks.

[alanmcorcoran]

For instance, my bike usually hits reserve at around 180 miles and takes only 2.5 gallons to fill for 72 mpg.

This has been my experience as well. Of course, I have all of four fill-ups of experience!

On my latest trip, I managed to squeeze an extra .3 of a gallon or so into the top of the tank without spilling over by getting a little friendly with the anti-vapor hose. I still think I have a lot to learn about getting the gas tank full, but not TOO full. I'm doing better though, no spills on two in a row now... Because of the vagaries of filling the tank, I don't understand how anybody can really be sure of mileage on a single tank. I think some riders are charting it over a lengthy period, which should be pretty accurate.

On another, unrelated note, my gas mileage for the second to last tank wasn't too great (ran out at 150), because it included the MSF course. Lots of sitting around doing nothing. This tank included a 72 mile run too Corona Motorsports and I ran out at 180.

I think it kind of sucks that I can go about 550 miles between gas stations in my Suburban (thing uses a gallon just to get up the driveway) and only 180 on Suzy Sipper. I'll get over it.

[primal]

Since I bought my bike I'm averaging just over 67 MPG. The past 3 fill ups I've gotten 72+ MPG. I've found that following the suggested shifting speeds in the manual makes for the best fuel efficiency. Once you get accustomed to it you can even keep up with traffic pretty well. And its nice not having a wound up engine between your legs *most* of the time!

[patrick_777]

I think it kind of sucks that I can go about 550 miles between gas stations in my Suburban (thing uses a gallon just to get up the driveway) and only 180 on Suzy Sipper. I'll get over it.

Consider that the Suburban holds between eight and ten TIMES the amount of gas the GZ holds (32 or 38 gallons depending on ½-ton or ¾-ton truck compared to 3.7 on the GZ). Given your mileage numbers above, you would expect to get around 1800-2000 miles per tank in the Suburban....

[BusyWeb]

For instance, my bike usually hits reserve at around 180 miles and takes only 2.5 gallons to fill for 72 mpg.

into the top of the tank without spilling over

I have to careful to filling gas and worry over filling every time. I have to watch squeeze by squeeze with gas nozzle. Somebody who knows best way to gas-fill, let me know please.
So I do not go over the line......attached picture (seeing is better, ha ha ha, don't know name of parts :whistle: )

[patrick_777]

Looks good to me. That's how I do it.

[alanmcorcoran]

Consider that the Suburban holds between eight and ten TIMES the amount of gas the GZ holds (32 or 38 gallons depending on ½-ton or ¾-ton truck compared to 3.7 on the GZ).

Patrick, I think my Chevy tank holds 44 gals (it's a 1999.) I'm not sure what you mean by the 1800 miles. I was talking distance between gas visits. I can drive from here to nearly Oregon (where they pump it for you at no extra charge!) on one tank in the Suburban. I'd probably have to stop three times or more on the GZ.

This is a serious problem if I intend to use this bike for cruising the West, shooting stray zombies, and generally being a badass after Umbrella Corporation lets the virus loose. I mean, if I can only go 180 miles before I gotta risk getting my brains eaten, well, that's not gonna be any fun. Milla rides a BMW in Extinction... wonder how far that one goes on a tank? Probably has locking luggage for my .45 and shotgun ammo too.

[patrick_777]

Patrick, I think my Chevy tank holds 44 gals (it's a 1999.) I'm not sure what you mean by the 1800 miles. I was talking distance between gas visits. I can drive from here to nearly Oregon (where they pump it for you at no extra charge!) on one tank in the Suburban. I'd probably have to stop three times or more on the GZ.

I was talking about the tank size to miles driven ratio. If your GZ had the same size of tank as the Suburban (or the truck got the same mpg), you'd expect 1800-2000 miles, but since your Suburban holds 44 gallons, you would get around 2800+ miles out of a single tank.

It's unlikely that you'd really want to ride a motorcycle during a zombie infestation anyway. They're way too unstable when you have to barrel through a crowd...

[BigIron]

It doesnt pay to squeeze in every drop you can. I did this once and I had some seepage under the cap afterwards. This is not good for your paint.

[jonathan180iq]

As long as you are consistently filling the tank close to the same place everytime, it doesn't really matter how you fill it. After two or three tanks, you should be getting pretty solid mileage numbers.

For example, if you are one of the people who put less gas in each tank, you're going to get fewer miles per tank. But, as long as you fill the tank to same place each time, that won't matter because the calculations should still work out to show accurate mileage. If you keep carying your fill level, your mileage numbers don't do any good, as they are not accurate.

It takes at least two tanks to get an accurate idea of your gas mileage, as you are always calculating your current miles from the pervious tank.

[Easy Rider]

I'll take pictures of Gas Pump and Meter at next fill-up.
Is it fair?
Hope, I get good MPG.
Thanks.

Let's not get all carried away here, OK? :)

I wasn't questioning anything you said. I am, potentially, questioning something that you DIDN'T say: How do you go about filling the tank?

If you try to do it while holding the bike upright, that is both dangerous and makes for erratic fill levels. You should be doing it with the bike on the side stand and you OFF the bike. Then you can fill it until the gas touches the left rear part of the neck inside the tank. Doing that, you should be able to consistently fill to within a few CC of the same level every time.

DO NOT try to use the automatic shut-off. That too is dangerous.

Sorry about you folks in California and the big cities. Dealing with the "hood" on the nozzle is not much fun.

[Easy Rider]

I mean, if I can only go 180 miles before I gotta risk getting my brains eaten, well, that's not gonna be any fun.

180 miles would be about 3 hours. In my experience, if you do that on the stock seat, you will be WANTING someone to shoot you in the head to releive the pain in your ASS !! :cry:

[Sarris]

:plus1: x 100 to Easy's comment!!

[jonathan180iq]

I'm a zombie fan myself.

I just watched 30 Days of Night. It certainly ranks up there with my other zombie favorites, even though it's not about zombies, per se.

[alanmcorcoran]

Easy, it's the ZOMBIES you shoot in the head. I can see we will need a whole other thread on this topic. Zombies can't ride motorcycles. Least not in the movies. Plus, you can never go three hours without having to shoot a whole bunch of them. So, in addition to your ass, your trigger finger (and your shoulder, if you blast 'em) are probably also going to be sore.) Staying non-zombie in a post zombie world is generally a lot of work all around.