I'm an idiot! (but a reasonably lucky one)

[ali-b]

I leave for work this morning, carry out my usual checks on the bike, which includes my trip meter to determine how far I've been since last fill up...it reads 341 miles, which is impossible, so I figure I've done about 150 since fill up and as I haven't hit reserve yet, I'll fill up either on the M1 or in London depending on when I hit reserve...

So I'm riding down the M1 and I get the familiar 'gurgle gurgle' and lean down to switch to reserve.......only its already ON reserve, so not only did I forget to reset the trip on last fill up, but I forgot to switch back from reserve as well!!

I remember the last sign I saw reading 'Services 5m' and I think 'bugger'...but I coast as far as I can on the hard shoulder, slowing down gradually and (this is the lucky bit), I pass a sign for 'Services 1m'...I'm still coasting, and I can see the road flatten out before going slightly downhill again. Stopping within visual range of the 1/2 mile sign I start pushing towards the hill...hop on to coast to the exit, which I get about halfway up before having to stop and push the rest of the way, then coast round the corner to the fuel stop...where I fill up, have a drink and a rest...and swear NEVER to do that again...(checked my reserve switch about 50 times just in case too)...

So yes, I am an idiot...lesson learnt (first time I've done that since 1998!!!)

Alex.

[Dom_]

When you saw you screwed up with the trip meter, why didn't you take a look inside the tank to see how much was in there??

[ali-b]

As I said before 'I AM AN IDIOT!!!'

What I did goes against everything I know about bikes, and I have no idea why...maybe it was an off morning...

Alex.

[stinkwheel]

Been there, done that.

Here's a tip for you, there is usually a wee bit of petrol left in the tank 'over the top' of where it sits over the frame.

If you lean the bike WAY over to the left (almost laying it flat) this last wee bit of fuel sloshes over towards the tap and fills the float bowl. On a 125, this can be good for maybe 1/2 mile or so then it conks out again. You can repeat this process three or four times.

I got 3 miles out of my old russian 2-stroke 125 doing this on one occasion.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Luke_Retrofly]

Hi
I ran out of petrol (reserve too) as i rolled into the petrol station, so had to push the bike a couple of meters

Luke
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Flounced - Long overdue
Fuck you bitch I'm in the top 10 list I can do the what the fuck I want!

[colin1]

i had this with a car but luckily ran out about 10 yards from a petrol station. I had to push it to turn right tho ! easier pushing a bike
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colin1 is officially faster than god