And The Dumbass of the Year Award Goes To...

[k14]

ME :eek:

Well, here's the story.

Driving back from New Plymouth to Christchurch, went to Wellington yesterday and caught the ferry this morning, I filled up in Wellington last night.

After my crossing I headed off, noting that it was 130kms to Kaikoura from Blenheim, I thought I had enough petrol to make Kaikoura so I didn't fill up in Blenheim. I hadn't noted my odo reading in Wellington, and estimated it (out by about 20kms I think.) When I still had about 55kms to go to Kaikoura, the bike starts dying, OH CRAP :eek: , i thought (last time I managed to run out petrol I managed 27kms off the reserve). I started praying for a petrol station before Kaikoura, but to no avail. 34kms later I felt the loss of power, shit. I pulled over to a rest area, locked my bike to a power pole and started walking, waiting for some nice person to take me to Kaikoura. After about walking 2kms in my leathers and boots, a guy (who rides and said he's been in the same situation before) picks me up and takes me into Kaikoura to get petrol (around 15kms). Hitch another ride back to my bike and all is well again.

Learnt a fairly good lesson today, that will never be happening to me again.

[madandy]

I did that once myself on a ride from Auckland to Wellington...ended up pushing the bike for a couple of kms back to a gas staion I'd just passed only to realise I had not used the reserve :Oops:
Glad to hear you're home safely after all.

[Marknz]

Hey k14,

I'll tell you what I did today and you might feel a little better.

Picked up my new GSXR1000 from WMC at lunchtime today and parked it up at work in the City and locked it up. In my haste to get out for a strop this afternoon I go down, warm the bike up, get all my gear on, jump on and back it out of it's space

CRUNCH!!

I've forgotten to take off the new disklock and now have a badly cracked front guard :argh:

Could be worse I guess, I could have buckled the disk, but the front anchors seem to be okay. Bit of a piss off though 'cause I'm guessing a new front guard ain't cheap.

[k14]

Ohh damn, that sucks. A new guard won't be the cheapest thing to replace.

[laRIKin]

I did a similar thing when I picked up my first Guzzi from Wellington.
But I just about got to Amberly.
I was told that I should get to CHCH on a tank full, when I was fulling up the
tank in Wellington by my mate (also has a Guzzi).
Well by to time I went up and down the Hutt motorway to his place I didn't.
I thought he meant that I would not have to full up again untill I got home.
Not, that I would have to full up again in Wellington to get home after just go
to his place. :argh:

[Big Dog]

Other peoples advice never fails... when the desired effect is :killingme

[Hitcher]

Hey k14,

I'll tell you what I did today and you might feel a little better.

Picked up my new GSXR1000 from WMC at lunchtime today and parked it up at work in the City and locked it up. In my haste to get out for a strop this afternoon I go down, warm the bike up, get all my gear on, jump on and back it out of it's space

CRUNCH!!

I've forgotten to take off the new disklock and now have a badly cracked front guard :argh:

Could be worse I guess, I could have buckled the disk, but the front anchors seem to be okay. Bit of a piss off though 'cause I'm guessing a new front guard ain't cheap.

I have also done something similar but without breaking or bending anything. I now put the disc lock on the REAR disc!!

[FROSTY]

a little trick for those with the older type bikes if you find yourself in this situation. try laying the bike on its side on the fuel tap side.the 1/2 a litre trapped on the other side will slosh over and you'll be able to get another 5 or 10 km down the road.
I guess we've all done dumb things in our time.Worst I've done is riding away from a freinds house I stopped with front wheel on the road and back wheel on the footpath. hmm pity it was a deep drain--pity my legs wer a bit too short --pity my new bike fell on its side before my foot touched the ground

[Posh Tourer :P]

Works with most bikes doesnt it xj? if the fuel tap is down in a low point, get the fuel over there.....I suppose only really effective on a single tap bike though unless you have a balancing pipe between your taps....

[laRIKin]

a little trick for those with the older type bikes if you find yourself in this situation. try laying the bike on its side on the fuel tap side.the 1/2 a litre trapped on the other side will slosh over and you'll be able to get another 5 or 10 km down the road.

Thats a real good trick xjxjxj, but unfortunately my older type bikes have two fuel taps.
On the left and right side so when she out, she all over rover. :shit:
But it does work on the KTM :2thumbsup and out in the bush, there is not
many people to flag down. And pushing a bike up hill and through mud and
shingle is not much fun at all. :thud:

[Posh Tourer :P]

There ought to be a little bit left in the bottom of both sides, cant you get it out of one tap if necessary? I suppose if there is no tube connecting the two taps, it wont work, but one cylinder better than none?.....

[dangerous]

K14, Hang on mate you filled up in Wellington (picton no dif as you dident ride across the ditch) and after 130km you ran out ?? you should have got to Kaik's no worries?

Are you back in ChCh now cos theres a wee ride happening if your keen on Sat

[k14]

It was 130 from blenheim (which is around 20 or so kms from picton) and i filled up last night before going from the city to plimmerton and back to the ferry terminal this morning.

That must have been about an extra 60kms or so, which stuffed me up, i forgot to check the trip meter, but won't forget again.

Yes, very keen for that ride on saturday, was just about to post about going with people (i don't know any other bikers in chch), lol, normally just be a loner.

[Zed]

...I started praying for a petrol station...
Isn't that just one of the worst feelings - riding fairly unknown rural territory, knowing that you are on reserve but not knowing where/when the next s/stn is? I hate that! Been in that situation twice within the last 6 months & all you can do is constantly think of the worst case scenarios as you speedily run out of your last drop of juice. Thankfully I made it to the petrol just in time- like discovering an oasis in the desert I tell ya! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_3_6.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001)


Zed

[Zed]

...ended up pushing the bike for a couple of kms back to a gas staion I'd just passed only to realise I had not used the reserve...
I think you've just taken the award off k14! :yes:

[k14]

I don't think i said that I did this in january coming home from work one day. Flicked onto reserve going to work after i had passed the last petrol station and i ran out in the middle of no where. Thus i had to push my bike about 4kms to the petrol station, in about 23 degrees and full leathers, was really fun.

[jimbo600]

Hey k14,

I'll tell you what I did today and you might feel a little better.

Picked up my new GSXR1000 from WMC at lunchtime today and parked it up at work in the City and locked it up. In my haste to get out for a strop this afternoon I go down, warm the bike up, get all my gear on, jump on and back it out of it's space

CRUNCH!!

I've forgotten to take off the new disklock and now have a badly cracked front guard :argh:

Could be worse I guess, I could have buckled the disk, but the front anchors seem to be okay. Bit of a piss off though 'cause I'm guessing a new front guard ain't cheap.

You got the gixxer thou! I thought that you were going for the SV. Yahfuckin'hoo mate.

And are you going to get shit at you work bar on Fri night for trying to pull away with the disk lock on.

You can get a trick carbon front guard from just fairings in hamilton. Pretty cheap I believe.

[Zed]

I don't think i said that I did this in january coming home from work one day. Flicked onto reserve going to work after i had passed the last petrol station and i ran out in the middle of no where. Thus i had to push my bike about 4kms to the petrol station, in about 23 degrees and full leathers, was really fun.
So, how do YOU gauge your petrol use k14?

[dangerous]

Yes, very keen for that ride on saturday

Check ya PM

And I've ran the Guzzi out twice..... 19l tank that is actually 14.3l (bloody hand made shite) and the VTR once (bloody didgital dash... flashing red light realy means your gona run out of fuel) :whistle:

[RiderInBlack]

I have also done something similar but without breaking or bending anything!
Also done the same thing on the CBR in Whangarei. Broke part of the right front brake bracket. Didn't find out about the broken bracket until I arrived home:doh: (40km later with a 200KPM "blast" on a home straight), and it had been rubbing on my rim:shit: ! Could have got a "Darwin Award" if it had jammed the front wheel on that home straight:thud:. Don't use the fork lock now :whistle: Bugger it, if they are that kean to steal it, I'm not going to be able to stop them. But fucked if I'm going to do that one again.

[k14]

So, how do YOU gauge your petrol use k14?

I normally reset my trip meter every time i fillup. I hit reserve around 180-200 kms and then re-fuel. Didn't quite work this time though, but all is well :yeah:

[scumdog]

Can you non-Harley types open your fuel cap while riding and check your fuel level while riding along? and before the safety police have a go, I DO slow down and do this on a straight bit of road, the actual looking takes a split second (no good at night but!) :)

[MrMelon]

I did a pretty similar thing on the way back from auckland a few weeks ago.
Had done 150km by the time I'd hit Tokoroa and decided to take SH 32 to Turangi 110km away. My tank only takes about 10L of gas, and I hit my reserve about 40km out of Turangi.. just as I got past the welcome to Turangi sign it started spluttering again, and I managed to coast into the gas station before it ran out :D

That was pretty satisfying :D 260km off $12 gas.

[Slim]

I've run out of fuel at least once on each of my bikes (3) but after having to push the GB250 up the Te Atatu off-ramp in the middle of the night I learnt my lesson real good.


I'm now an AA Plus member, of which one of the services is free delivery of $10 fuel to you if you run out. You obviously have to pay for the gas though.

[Lou Girardin]

Reserve taps, gotta love 'em.

[Grumpy]

We were in Gisbourne over Easter and decided to take the wife's new bike for a ride to Tolaga Bay. We hadn't used it 2 up yet since it was brand new so she jumped on the back and off we went.

I looked at the trip meter and knew we had enough to get us to Tolaga Bay so carried on.

The fuel light came on just as we got there but the bloody gas station was closed!! :eek5:
All we could do was ride back and hope the Z1000 had a big reserve. It was 50ks back to Gisbourne.
Longest 50ks I've ever ridden.
Made it, just. :sweatdrop

As for the disc lock thing, I started using a Grip lock about 18 mnths ago. Excellent things. No chance of riding with it on as it's pretty visible. Also no chance of anyone trying to push your bike with it on as well. I was always worried about the brakes being left on for longish periods but have never had any problems and I use it overnight when I go away.

[Ms Piggy]

Well so far I've ridden off several times with my stand still down :o and a couple of times I've forgotten to turn the petrol on and the bike has started spluttering away :o I've now learnt turn to fuel tap as I ride along! :D

[madandy]

Can you non-Harley types open your fuel cap while riding and check your fuel level while riding along? and before the safety police have a go, I DO slow down and do this on a straight bit of road, the actual looking takes a split second (no good at night but!) :)


That would require removing the key from the ignition...

[Big Dog]

That would require removing the key from the ignition...
Unless you own a machine with seperate keys and had the fore sight to leave the key in.

Personally if its a long ride I find taking every stop at a gas station very helpful as My limit before my helmet makes my head hurt is 160kms and I need gas before 220 (depending on speed). 1.5 hours is plenty long enough without a rest. Any more than that and my focus wanders anyway.

This method of tripping means that I have only ever run out of gas intentionally (to gauge range) and on a test ride (guage said plenty and there was plenty sloshing around but with me on it it lifted the drain out of the gas, so I had them harden the rear shock as part of our deal.) It also means you have plenty left if you suddenly realise you missed a turn somewhere. :innocent:

[laRIKin]

There ought to be a little bit left in the bottom of both sides, cant you get it out of one tap if necessary? I suppose if there is no tube connecting the two taps, it wont work, but one cylinder better than none?.....

Fair question.
I had already done the big weavy thing before the bike had stopped.
There may have been a tea spoon or two, but that was about it.
I was going to full up at Cheviot (to be sure), it was a Friday night about 6.
They were closed.(this was about 10 years ago)
We were trying to stay ahead of the rain, other wise I would have stopped
at Kaikoura.
But my good mate had said that you will get home on a tank.
And he had done the trip lots of times, on the same type of bike.
So me and my better half keeped saying to ourselves GLEN would not
put us wrong, WOULD YOU GLEN.

[toads]

Well so far I've ridden off several times with my stand still down :o and a couple of times I've forgotten to turn the petrol on and the bike has started spluttering away :o I've now learnt turn to fuel tap as I ride along! :D


hmmm, I also confess to doing the same, and routinesly forgetting to turn the fuel off again too, it's a car mentality I suffer from I think. :o

[laRIKin]

Other peoples advice never fails... when the desired effect is :killingme

As he was saying thats not what I meant :whistle: , trying not to smile and piss him self laughing. :killingme

He looked very sincere. For a moment or two.

[F5 Dave]

One of the funniest rides I went on I had my old Kat & my friend had borrowed a shonky XJ ex cop bike. We set off for turangi at warp factor (on private roads of course) & come Sanson he had stopped to look at the ignition switch which was devoid of keys having fallen out who knows where. Oh well can use any key to turn the switch. Oops how about the tank though. Well no choice, out with screwdriver & suitable force so he could fill up.

Did again in Rangitiki, it was drinking juice, so I was giving him grief about he YIDSNX acronyms all over the bike which supposedly made it efficient intake blah blah & I knew I could do 320 km on main so didn’t fill up. :Pokey:

He did again at Wiaoru. Sure you don’t want to Dave? Nah mate I’ll be sweet knowing I could do 320 km on main. 265km just going up to the summit on the Desert Road the bike splutters. Seems when stretching the cables they drink a bit more. Oh poop! Drastic calculation of how far reserve would last vs how far to go. Slow down some more to conserve gas. And more. :eek5:

Coming into Turangi is splutters. Wind on a bit of choke to keep it going. And a bit more. Pull in clutch, coast into petrol station, I kid thee not. :banana:

Could have got away with it but it was obvious I had slowed down considerably & was a few min after him.

Also broke a calliper with a disc lock. Only put on the rear now. :doh:

[Wonko]

hmmm, I also confess to doing the same, and routinesly forgetting to turn the fuel off again too, it's a car mentality I suffer from I think. :o

Can someone explain the use of the fuel tap. I never switch mine off, and it doesn't seem to have any effect on mileage. Is it just a case of mild paranoia or is there a real risk of leaking a lot of gas?

[pete376403]

If the bike has a vacuum operated tap (diaphragm tap) and it's in good condition, not a lot can be gained by turning it off (anyway, you can't, the three positions are main, reserve and prime)

In the old days, when brit bikes had Amal metered leaks for carburettors, engine vibration plus the brass needle valves would invariably lead to fuel leakage. When parked, this excess fuel usually pooled under the motor, where well meaning people could extinguish their cigarettes. Later Amals had rubber tipped needle valves so the leakage rate wasn't so bad. However this is the origin turning off the fuel at the tank tap. Mikuni and Keihin carbs are designed properly from the outset, so they don't as a rule leak. Thus the jap bikes can get away with diaphragm taps. :D

[merv]

I presume a few bikes are like my VFR too in that it has an electric fuel pump like a car because the outlet from the tank is below the carbs which are up high under the tank. It has a tap on the tank hidden behind the fairing but with only "on" and "off" positions because you need to turn it off only to remove the tank.

Fuel gauges are the way to go just like in your car. Hard to forget when they are in front of your face and you have the warning light as well.

[Ms Piggy]

If the bike has a vacuum operated tap (diaphragm tap) and it's in good condition, not a lot can be gained by turning it off (anyway, you can't, the three positions are main, reserve and prime)

In the old days, when brit bikes had Amal metered leaks for carburettors, engine vibration plus the brass needle valves would invariably lead to fuel leakage. When parked, this excess fuel usually pooled under the motor, where well meaning people could extinguish their cigarettes. Later Amals had rubber tipped needle valves so the leakage rate wasn't so bad. However this is the origin turning off the fuel at the tank tap. Mikuni and Keihin carbs are designed properly from the outset, so they don't as a rule leak. Thus the jap bikes can get away with diaphragm taps. :D

So Pete, does this mean I shouldn't bother turning the fuel tap off & on my my bike? Another thing I was taught to do at my Basic Handling Skills course.

[Big Dog]

So Pete, does this mean I shouldn't bother turning the fuel tap off & on my my bike? Another thing I was taught to do at my Basic Handling Skills course.
I would try it, if it is harder to start or there is fuel present on the floor in the morning go back to turning it off.


Ps what does that have to do with handling skills competency?

[Ms Piggy]

I would try it, if it is harder to start or there is fuel present on the floor in the morning go back to turning it off.


Ps what does that have to do with handling skills competency?

Ok cheers for that.

The guy that did our BHS went through a bit of basic motor bike stuff as well. I think possibly b/c most of us were quite new to bikes. He talked to us about things like the reserve tank, indicators, checking oil, checking tyre pressure regularly and all the other stuff that people who know about bikes know. It was good b/c I knew nothing and now I know tiny bit.

[Big Dog]

okay.
I would have thought being able to turn to reserve on the move would be on the test, as it is real dangerous in some places to pull over and stop to do it. :no:

[Jackrat]

I run out of gas yesterday morning.Went to fill up at Matamata and only had $6.00.I thought I had $10.00 in change And I didn't have my bank card with me.Hit reserve at Bombay,Then crawled toward home.I now know for sure i can get 30 km on reserve.I also know Waiuku is 38km from Bombay,Pity that!!.As I was walkin along the road I could hear change rattling in my pocket.There was that $4.00. :ar15: :thud:

[pete376403]

You've gotta check every pocket at least twice! :laugh:

[Posh Tourer :P]

So Pete, does this mean I shouldn't bother turning the fuel tap off & on my my bike? Another thing I was taught to do at my Basic Handling Skills course.

I personally would continue to turn the tap off on an older bike, partly because you are more likely to have worn/split fuel hoses, or minor leaks here and there, or something that doesnt quite set right, like the carb floats, lettign the carb overfill and spill out. Personal preference though. I know occasionally the beemer carbs dont shut off properly, having the fuel off is useful then..... The flipside is you may wear the tap out, but that is unlikely, unless it hasnt been designed very well. The CB250RS tap is a straight flow tap, with an on, off and reserve, and it has a (relatively) basic carb.