1260 Fuel Range Indicator Accuracy

Discussion in 'Multistrada' started by Bumpkin, Apr 19, 2019.

  1. From previous experience with cars that have them I've found that fuel range remaining indicators generally tend to be overly pessimistic. Yesterday on the Multistrada and heading East on the M4 running low I opted to not stop at Chieveley services but carry on to Reading instead. Remaining fuel range was bang on for the distance so I thought there'd be plenty 'beyond zero' to make that distance...

    Well, bike started to get fuel starvation with three miles still showing nescesitating a bit of weaving to slosh the remaining petrol around in the tank. Thankfully there's a Sainsburys just off junction 12, thank you Garmin, which was closest fuel to my route. Made it despite fear of the bike cutting out at the lights, and not being able to restart, at the top of the motorway slip road.

    Lesson learnt; find fuel as soon as the gauge goes Amber. Once it gets to red you're close to stranded by the roadside.
     
    #1 Bumpkin, Apr 19, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2019
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  2. Hmm, I've ridden about 5 miles past 'Zero' before now, but not at motorway speeds.
     
  3. :)
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
  4. I took my 1200dvt 15 miles past empty on my way to wales last year.
     
  5. Had the red bar flashing on the 1260 and showing 0 miles range, filled up and still only got 18ltrs in, about the same on my 1200DVT too!
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  6. 12 miles pass zero flashing red petrol block , bike starts to cut out but if you shut then open the throttle so the bike dips it seems to get going again. Still only managed to get 18 litres in.
     
  7. Mine has showed one bar for the past few weeks, despite filling up twice. When I replace the sender I'll see how accurate my gauge is :)
     
  8. Guess the only way to really find out is to take a fuel container and run it until it's properly dry. In future I'm not going to make rash decisions about range where there's an earlier option.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. A friend would purchase a bike and carry a gallon of gas with him. He rode until bike stopped. Said then he would know tank range mileage. Not a bad idea.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  10. I get 10+ miles on red. However I always carry a filled 2L fuel can with me. So I can accurately zero my bike every few months & deliberately run dry (within 20 steady miles of a fuel station).

    Most I've got is 404miles from my enduro 33litre tank, I regularly get 370+ miles still even with racing profile & exhaust system on bike.
     
  11. When very low on fuel the Multi will cut out under braking or on a downhill section, the fuel pick is at the back of the tank so under acceleration or going up hill it is fine but if the remaining fuel is pushed forward it will cut out.
    You just need to find a fuel stop at the top of a hill :)
     
  12. How does running the tank dry help as every journey / distance and possibly bike will have different average fuel consumption.
    Consumption is affected by the rider road and weather conditions.
    I have ridden across Germany Poland and as far as Kiev in the Ukraine on several occasions and average consumption is always better west to east than east to west.
    Just fill up with around 10-15 miles left to go
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. Hey guys, i'm having a very similar behaviour here, so i guess it's kinda known issue...

    Basically, i do refill the tank as soon as i get the amber gauge, but never managed to put more than £10/11 till now, even at different stations. The pump simply stops to deliver fuel as if it was already full. Indicator still says the tank is almost full, but i guess there's actually room for further £6/7...anyone experienced the same? Cheers
     
  14. Hi guys.i always fill up before i go for a run out, last time at the garage I put £14.50 in the tank. The gauge was reading around 1/4 full prior to the fuel nozzle going in the tank and I get around 150/170 mile to the amber light coming on.1200 s dvt 67 plate.
     
  15. I've just done my first "run it down quite low" run. 160 miles of commute, a lot in London in heavy traffic with a bit of motorway.

    The range remaining when I stopped was only 11 miles to empty and I was down to the last orange bar of the gauge; and yet I only put in 15.6 litres of fuel (really brimmed it too).

    So despite the gauge being so low, and having "only 11" remaining miles, I've apparently got another gallon or so in the bike!?!?! Really not sure I want to test that out!
     
  16. :) I tend to rely on a relatively simple rule of thumb, whatever the warning light indicates. Whatever style of riding I use at any given time, the bike almost metronomically achieves 10 miles per litre!
    At each refill I reset the trip meter (1) to zero and then no matter what the gauge sensor suggests, which is a well known, incredibly unreliable Ducati mechanism, I check this to see how close I get to 170-180 miles, knowing it is pretty close to refill time once again.
    Yes I appreciate that it is relatively easy to forget this ritual, but after a while it does become a habitual process and it works for me, as well as a number of other Ducasti touring brethren on this 'ere website.:upyeah:
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  17. My first 2010 bike ran dry at 7 miles past zero. I havent run my 2012 bike dry, but have reached a few miles past zero a few times.

    This morning my 2018 enduro was showing 20 miles range and I put in 31.4 litres (on side stand, no fiddling about to brim it).I thought the tank was 30 litres capacity, obviously not...

    Tony I do similar but my mpg changes depending on riding style. I know my bike will do 120miles per tank if ridden hard, 140 on a normal day, and 160 on a leisurely one. I plan for a fill up at those intervals if possible.
     
  18. Haven't ridden my new Multi yet but have run out of gas for the first time... riding a Multi demo.
    I relied on the fuel gauge which was still at the half way mark :rolleyes: and without the low fuel warning light.
    Fortunately, it happened near a friend's place but how embarrassing ! I'm still being ribbed.
    Should have used the trusty trip meter: 160kms for the Panigale and 180Kms for the Monster which is about the same as when the low fuel light comes on.
    Caveat Emptor: Know your bike.
     
    #18 DarR, Apr 30, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2019
  19. Unless your riding in the Sahara I have never found it too difficult to find a petrol station when the light comes on.
     
  20. We have had issues in pyrenees, alps, and central france where fuel stations shown on the sat nav no longer exist or are closed for repair. I also managed to run myself and 3 of my group dry in a town that supposedly had a couple of garages, which were all closed :dizzy:
    That's the risk you take when you avoid major towns and stick to small roads.
     
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