I fill mine to the very VERY top. ;-) I use my hand to hold the spring cut off so I can get the level to the top.

 

^^^^That's what I do. I try to get as much as I can in there...

 

I've never done this, but I have a friend that carries around a few sheets of notebook paper in his backpack. He rolls one up into a funnel to keep from splashing fuel on his tank and trickle pours that last little bit to get it to the top. Then he can throw away the paper instead of having to carry around a funnel that always smells like fuel. I've never wanted to go that far with it. I usually hold the bike level and trickle pour with the nozzle in about an inch until it cuts out. Only a few ounces left at that point really and I never go anywhere that often that doesn't have a gas station so it's not that big a deal. If I do go out on a ride I'm a bit more "****" for lack of a better word (no offense to any of you guys that always get almost to overflow).

Edit: Oh I forgot to mention, where your fender got busted...get a bicycle inner tube, cut out rings and use that as a washer for your bolts in any areas like that you are concerned with. It helps reduce the vibration and give the part a little cushion in case anyone tightens the bolts like that again and if you have the shop work on your bike, it will happen.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I've been doing the same as ya'll. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something that I didn't know about such that I could harm the bike or leak gas or something.