Riding on reserve, good or bad choice?

[MotorbikerTom]

As the title suggests, just wondering whether riding on reserve is a totally bad decision or not.

Purely asking because I've gathered over the week i have owned my hornet that i can do roughly 100 miles then look for a petrol station, and it would be nice to know i could do about 120 miles then look to fill up, especially as that extra 20 miles will last me a few days more of commuting.

So, or
____________________
CBT: 19/02/11 - Mod 1: 27/03/11 - Mod 2: 01/04/11
'97 GS500E > '03 Hornet 600 > '16 Street Triple 675 > '99 VFR800Fi

[pinkyfloyd]

I wouldnt but then I dont have a reserve. I have a little light that tells me I need to feed it.
____________________
illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Nothing wrong with using reserve if you know what your MPG is and know what the reserve tank size is so you are sure on the range available. Only downside is hoovering up the crap that collects in the bottom of the tank - make a habit of it and I'd be tempted to occasionally disconnect the fuel pipe from the carb and let the last litre or so drain out, then give the filter a clean (if the petcock has one). I'd also stick an additional in-line fuel filter in the pipe to save clogging the carbs up.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[MotorbikerTom]

Yeah that sounds like quite a bit of a downside I may give it a trial and see if it's worth it
____________________
CBT: 19/02/11 - Mod 1: 27/03/11 - Mod 2: 01/04/11
'97 GS500E > '03 Hornet 600 > '16 Street Triple 675 > '99 VFR800Fi

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would, and do. Avoiding reserve means a drastically shorter range. Which on my current very long commute would mean filling up twice each day.

While it might suck in a bit of rubbish, it is likely to do that whether you use it for 100 yards to get to the nearest petrol station or 30 miles. And if you avoid it totally you will build up water in the bottom of the tank. The engine might cope with a tiny amount in one tank full of fuel, but hitting it with the water that has built up from a few dozen tanks since you last used reserve would seem far more likely to cause an issue.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Mikey3]

I just got my hornet yesterday, and I too have realised the thirst it has for fuel


Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[MotorbikerTom]

Yeah it seems, although the mess in the bottom of the tank can be a problem, that it will be more beneficial.

Congrats on getting your hornet Mike, hope you enjoy it as much as i am mine
____________________
CBT: 19/02/11 - Mod 1: 27/03/11 - Mod 2: 01/04/11
'97 GS500E > '03 Hornet 600 > '16 Street Triple 675 > '99 VFR800Fi

[Mikey3]

Maybe once its flushed out and used regularly (which I do see happening) it wont be so full of shit and thus not so much a problem .

Indeed!, mines bright yellow too, '99 one, 11,800 miles... MINT.

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[chris-red]

I've run out of fuel on every bike I have ever owned. Except the KTM. I always treat Reserve as part of the main fuel tank. I've never had problems running my bike dry
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[KLR600]

I use reserve on my bike all the time even though it has a fuel gauge. If you're worried about range then just fill a jerry can with fuel and strap it to the back of your bike and run it to empty. Note the mileage it took to get to empty from reserve and then you'll know just how far you can push it.
____________________
Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
<My Bikepics Page> <My Yootoobes> <My Websites> <My Photos>
<Take Cool Photos!>

[MotorbikerTom]

Yeah that's a good shout. I have a trip meter so i can just go by that
____________________
CBT: 19/02/11 - Mod 1: 27/03/11 - Mod 2: 01/04/11
'97 GS500E > '03 Hornet 600 > '16 Street Triple 675 > '99 VFR800Fi

[st3v3]

What's a reserve?

I usually say 'if it's there it's there for a reason', despite this I do not use my reserve and it has just occured to me that one or two minor running problems may be down to this. Maybe.
____________________
Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[janner_10]

Must just be me that fills up when i hit 1/4 tank then!!
____________________
Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[Muscle Bike Rider]

I leave my divvy on reserve all the time, I know I'm empty at 170 so fill up by 160, if its there I use it. Defo want a gauge on next bike though.
____________________
Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[T0MMY]

[Ariel Badger]

I have a fuel tank fetish, I like it to the brim and fill if it is half full
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Jersum]

[Cheeseybeaner]

[Cheeseybeaner]

[pits]

Last year my 18year old BMW fuel pump died, which meant I had to drain the fuel tank to replace them pump, I am happy to report that over 18 years my tank had no debris in it, no sludge, just an inch of fuel in the bottom of the tank, below the pick up feed for the fuel pump, there was any debris or crap that didn't get stuck in the fuel filter, or fuel lines, then it would have certainly got stuck trying to make it's way through a carbs jet or an injector, and if it did manage to get through then it isn't exactly going to destroy an engine is it?

Think about it logically, what is big and hard enough to get through an opening this big on an injector and destroy your engine and wont block it?

https://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/423671933/car_injector_cleaner_KTA19_G3G4_3077715_SO40236.jpg
https://fuelinjectorproblems.net/wp-content/uploads/fuel_injection_problems_3.jpg

Similar with a carb
https://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/images/products/large_757_amal-carb-carburetor-main-jets-photo-1.jpg

See what I am saying? Anything that small isn't going to destroy your engine, and it would have to be small to run along the fuel line, through the fuel filter, through the carbs or injector, then get inside your engine and smash the pistons and valve together and destroy an engine, they put a reserve and a fuel filter in for a reason, if you can't use it, they are there for a reason, if they weren't safe to use the tanks would be made with an area to catch all the rubbish in

Also bear in mind how refined fuel is, and how sensitive it is to the atmosphere, companies spends billions refining fuel in dirt free environments, the fuel is then transferred into a dirt free truck ( an inline filter would be used, I would imagine) these trucks are sealed and driven to a petrol station where their hose is connected to a sealed inlet and into a sealed filtered tank, and filtered coming out of the pumps, then filtered buy your fuel filter.
https://tennesseeinjectorservice.com/uploads/2/9/4/2/2942724/8141331.jpg
____________________
Stinkwheel: You have no right to free speech
00:32:08 Blau Zedong: yes, i am a massive CB400 fan and collector
00:33:00 Blau Zedong: the CB400 is my favourite road bike

[Hevra]

[Kickstart]