This has bugged me for some time now. Honda says I have a 5.8 gallon tank inc. 0.9 gal res. I'll go on reserve, the engine starts to miss, sputter, between 176-186 miles and I fillup within 2-3 miles later. I'm only able to put 4.2-4.3 gallons in the tank. Do I really have 1.5 gallons left? I'm too chicken to find out the hard way. Every other Honda I've owned has been dead on with the fuel tank specs.

 

i am surprised that the lot of you actually drive with it in the 'on' position. i just always leave mine on 'reserve' all the time and just fill up when the gauge is getting low. i dont think ill ever care to try and run it out of gas.

however, im getting horrible mileage right now since im jetted slightly too rich with the pilots and i think my needle needs to come down a peg. im only getting 110 miles or so for 3.5 ish gallons.

 

Call me "Old School". I'm just used to knwing exactly how much gas I have left when I'm low. Then I can make an informed decision as to whether I stop at the next available gas or can I brand shop.

 

I have never ran mine to need reserve, but I just make it a habit to fill up at about 160 miles on the tripometer which I reset every fill up. Im getting about 37-40 mpg which is pretty much all highway everyday.

 

Same here in general - however I could get around 190 / 200 miles to reserve.

Once on reserve - I have done 40 miles looking for a fuel station.

I find that having the reserve is nice for those days when you get out and lose all track of time and distance cos your enjoying the road.
I would rather cut out on reserve and have the extra in the tank - than cut out and have nothing left but a sodding big push to the gas station.

 

Clearly you've never had to push your bike for a mile or two, or leave it somewhere exposed. Your gauge must be a helluva lot more accurate than mine Ask me how I know this................

Bassman, the tank is supposed to take 22Litres, and mine did until I coated it which reduced it by about 500Ml. The reserve will give you around 60 Kilos or 35 miles.
I generally fill it up as soon as it hits reserve to avoid any sludge in the tank getting sucked into the carbs.
This I also found out the hard way...............

Hope this helps.

 

Mine hits the reserve at 4.2 -4.3 US gallons. 160 - 200 miles depending on what kinda roads I've been on.

 

I guess my question is how far can I expect to go on reserve? If the tank holds 22L then @42mpg I should be able to go another 62 miles on reserve before I start pushing. Have I done the math correctly?

 

Math is fine, but sometimes on a windy road the fuel will slop around, and give you a false reading on how much you have left, so I wouldn't push it much beyond 40 miles to be safe - hell that's leaving you too little for my liking. I have evil memories of how heavy a pig these bikes are to push....................
The only other way to be sure, is to empty the tank completely and refill it from a jerrycan or something...................

 

I get about the same, 180 to 200 miles before elective refuel. I have also gotten 40 miles on reserve. I normally get 48 miles per gal. and have gotten 51 mpg on a recent 640 mile trip. I figure that when I hit reserve I have 1 gal left.