Bone dry

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Azamat, Sep 30, 2008.

  1. Azamat

    Azamat New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Map
    I ran out of gas for the first time. It just sputtered out at a stop sign, restarted but felt kinda hesitant in the curves, then died at the following stoplight and wouldn't restart. Luckily all I had to do was push it to the gas station across the street.

    What surprised me, though, is it only took 5.14 gallons. Aren't 5th gens supposed to have 5.5 gal capacity, or am I missing something? Would putting it on the centerstand make much difference, or did the previous owner stash a brick of marijuana in there?

    I did the math and the mileage is also sucky: 198.7 miles, that's 38.6 mpg. I've gotten as high as 230 or 240ish on a tank before without running out, but that's on the highway. What is your experience with the 5th generation?
     
  2. sidlives

    sidlives New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    21
    Location:
    Moab UT
    Map
    First things first, drain that tank and get that bag of weed! I have not had the guts yet to run my tank that low but I can tell you that my 5th gen gets about 130 miles out of a half tank.
     
  3. Marrib

    Marrib Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    1,007
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Phx, AZ
    Map
    Its that .1 gal of water at the bottom! Maybe some fuel treatment.
     
  4. winaje

    winaje New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2006
    Messages:
    360
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    In my experience you can fit another couple of litres in the tank if you fill it whilst the bike is upright.
     
  5. KC-10 FE

    KC-10 FE New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2003
    Messages:
    2,430
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Communist Peoples Republic of NJ
    It's because of the fuel pick up for the FI. Since it's a possitively pressurized tank, it doesn't gravity feed. They need to maintain a small amount of fuel in the tank for proper fuel pump cooling & lubrication. On my Hawk GT, I can run the tank down until the inside is litterally dry to the touch. The 5th & 6th Gen will not do that.

    KC-10 FE out...
    :plane: :usa2:
     
  6. Azamat

    Azamat New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Map
    I'll try to remember and put it on the centerstand in the future. Not that I'm gonna try running it that close again...:eek:
     
  7. Azamat

    Azamat New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Map
    Well that's just plain false advertising. Honda fails us again!:biggrin:

    Am I right to assume all fuel injected engines require a fuel pump?
     
  8. KC-10 FE

    KC-10 FE New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2003
    Messages:
    2,430
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Communist Peoples Republic of NJ
    You would be correct. That's what the whining sounds is when the key is turned on.

    KC-10 FE out...
    :plane: :usa2:
     
  9. Azamat

    Azamat New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Map
    big little difference

    Today I fit 5.3 gallons with the bike on the centerstand. Level was up to the very top. I only got 185ish miles on this tank, so I sure hope I mismeasured something here, 'cuz that's a notch under 35mpg.

    Do you notice a change in consumption in the winter? I know they change the gas additives seasonally, at least up here in the land of ice and snow.
     
  10. jaimev34

    jaimev34 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    508
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Oceanside, Ca
    Map
    Azamat:

    I don't know why your bike is getting such poor gas mileage. I have a fifth gen and I get around 230+ miles/tank. I don't ride it too hard; I regularly shift at between 5k and 6k and do city and highway riding. I cruise on the highway between 65 and 85mph and consistantly get 45+mpg.

    How fast do you ride and when do you shift?
     
  11. Azamat

    Azamat New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    St. Paul, MN
    Map
    I doubt I really got 35 mpg--I'm thinking the previous time I filled up, the bike was on the sidestand, so that could explain it.

    Another factor is I have a five-mile commute to work. Lately I've been on the freeway about three times in as many weeks. So I probably waste a good amount of gas just warming up the engine and idling in traffic.

    As for riding style, I'm not exceedingly rev happy; I seldom shift above 6k, and sometimes I even find myself burbling along at 3500 RPMs for no good reason at all--other than the exhaust note.
     
Related Topics

Share This Page