What does reserve do?

[short1uk]

I was driving alone the other day and was a little low on fuel. Now if i switch across to reserve does the needle rise to show the fuel is there?

Never even been on to reserve as I always fill up but just wondered!

C

[firefox]

the reserve will have a pipe comming from the tank ( lower section ) where the normal fuel flow pipe cant suck up, i think

[MarJay]

no.

{Longer answer}

The reserve is simply an outlet of the tank which is lower than the main. This means the reserve is still the same tank but it lets you access more of the dregs of fuel from your tank.

Its basically a reminder to fill up ASAP. If you have a gauge then why do you need a reserve tap?

I prefer a light myself...
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[NSR Mick]

This pic is from an old bmw but the principle is the same for all manual taps.

When on is selected fule passes into the taller pipe, once fuel drops below this level and the bike stutters you flick the tap onto reserve which switches the flow to the shorter pipe.

https://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/petcock/petcock8.JPG
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Barry_M2]

[NSR Mick]

[Overkill]

wish i had a fuel gauge on m zx9 =/

[Barry_M2]

[NSR Mick]

Needle? who has needles? LOL

I see your point now.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[tony532]

there is no fuel tap on my thundercat (or at least i cannot see one)

there is a nice big orange light on the dash when you hit reserve.

never had a fuel gauge before on the rs125 and the gsxr400rrsp

nightmare all that twisting a fuel tap when you are mid overtake

never again
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bikes owned :-

aprilia rs125 - suzuki gsxr400rrsp 1990 - yamaha yzf600r thundercat - honda hornet 6

[lilredmachine]

It stops items from going for too low a price in an auction
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[Itchy]

keep it full , fill up often, petrol is only gonna go up in price
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[ZZR Girl]

What I've often wondered is whether the level shown on the fuel guage includes the fuel in reserve? I've assumed that when you start going into the red, you are soon going to be running on reserve? Is this right?
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Keep it shiny!

[Kickstart]

[dodsi]

The best way to measure fuel usage is by trip meter, if its a new bike simply fill it too the brim then reset the trip meter and ride it untill you hit reserve/light comes on etc.

Then look at milage (for instance on my bike I get 140ish miles to reserve) and then fill up as you approach this number in future and reset your trip meter again.

[short1uk]

[deputy]

Bike fuel gauges tend to crap because you are measuring a tiny amount of fuel (in comparison to cars and even they aren't brilliant) and it is getting sloshed around all the time.

My GSX600F has an enormous fuel gauge on it (nothing useful like temperature or oil pressure) which is close to useless, I now know that I can do about 130 miles until the reserve, then I go and fill up.

This is another source of annoyment as the tank capacity is 20 litres, the bike does approx 10 miles/litre, hence the tank range is approx 200 miles, so why have the reserve at 130 miles!!! 150-160 would be much better and still give you enough in reserve to get you to a garage. Sorry rant over.

[Dark]

[NSR Mick]

My tap is stuck on an unknown setting so it's all irrelevent to me.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Dark]

[JonB]

The Bandit 600 fuel guage is actually very accurate and on top of having a reserve tap, the fuel guage flashes when you are about to run out of "ON" position fuel, so you can change the tap before you run out.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Kickstart]

[Sephiroth]

I never use reserve

I only get 70 miles to the tank (without reserve) and I always change before that.

I think my carbs are very badly set up...

[Dark]