No fuel gauge on Suzuki VL250

[Ehgreiz]

Hey folks,

I have put a deposit down on a VL 250 for when the next shipment comes in to Coleman's suzuki and something occured to me... I noticed today that there is no guel gauge on the vl250, i was wondering if that has caused any problems for any of you?

Because i know im forgetful and im concerned that when i get this bike i will forget to top it up and run out of fuel somewhere in the middle of nowhere... or if i was cruising long distance and WILL at some point need a topup but having no idea what level the fuel is at without pulling over and opening the tank..

any opinions from those of you with this bike on this?

[TimeOut]

Just set your trip each time you fill, once you work out the km/l you'll know how far you can go. More accurate than a guage

[Timber020]

I havent got one but usual procedure if it has no reserve is to carry a small can of fuel with you. zero the odo and see how many kms you do before running dry. Then every time you fill, zero the odo and try not to run out. (you might run out once, but its not something your likely to repeat)

[Insanity_rules]

Trick is to use the trip meter and run the bike till it runs out of gas. Then flip the gas to reserve and hit the petrol station. That way you'll know exactly when your tank goes dry by mileage. This trick has never failed me.

[Ehgreiz]

right that helps a lot actually, although i will have to figure out how to set trip meter(if it even has one) and how to flip into reserve gas (also not sure if it has one - 2 questions i didnt even KNOW to ask haha)

im assuming these 2 features are pretty standard features on all bikes?

[Ixion]

Most bikes don't have fuel gauges. None of mine have one. Most have a reserve tap. Just run until it goes onto reserve , then switch over and head for the nearest servo. You can do it on the move.

[Ehgreiz]

Most bikes don't have fuel gauges. None of mine have one. Most have a reserve tap. Just run until it goes onto reserve , then switch over and head for the nearest servo. You can do it on the move.

colour me surprised, i would have assumed most bikes HAD fuel gauges.. blah shows how much i know heh.

will have a chat with my dealer next week just to clarify that for myself more than anything.

thanks a lot for the prompt replies folks, much appreciated..
ive found these forums to be full of heplful people :)

[McJim]

The only bikes I've seen with fuel guages are so bleedin' innaccurate that you wouldn't wish the fookahs on yer bike in the first place.

Generally bikes will either have a fuel warning light or they will have a reserve switch. Mine has a fuel warning light. My last bike had a reserve switch.

Bikes with fuel guages are there to make it easier to sell bikes to car drivers. They are genarally fitted to make up for some really important bikie stuff being missing....like handling or power or summat.

[1 Free Man]

25k's to the ltr. 10 ltrs reserve to reserve. 250kms/tank. 3 ltrs in reserve.
50kms on the safe side. 75k's if you want to live on the wild side or push ya ride to the next gas station.
The bike will cough and splutter a little when it runs out of gas. Not hard to tell when you have used the 10 ltrs up.
Good luck with your VL. great ride.

[1 Free Man]

right that helps a lot actually, although i will have to figure out how to set trip meter(if it even has one) and how to flip into reserve gas (also not sure if it has one - 2 questions i didnt even KNOW to ask haha)

im assuming these 2 features are pretty standard features on all bikes?

Trip meter is set with the rubber button below the speedo.
1st set shows k's travelled total
2nd set push button once shows trip k's travelled. push and hold button on trip k's and it zero's out.
Reserve valve.
Read your manual page 2-12 all there as clear as mud.

[Irontusk]

I'm getting a VL250 too, the tripmeter and odometer are digital I think, on that little screen. I'd say the inaccuracy comes from a bike leaning over through corners constantly, get the same effect going up and down hills in a car. I havn't looked but I'd be pretty shocked if they didn't have a reserve tap.

EDIT: 1 Free Man beat me to it, and in more detail too..

[Ehgreiz]

beauty thanks mate, yeah i havent go the bike yet, wont have it until the 21st but im releaved to know the deal there.

Thanks a lot :D

[FJRider]

Before a ride, just flip the fuel cap and shake the bike side to side...not too hard, and LOOK. BEST fuel guage EVER...
For test rides to check fuel consumption, carry extra fuel...
Keep a log of distance traveled and fuel (in litres not dollars worth) and work out Kms/litre... (city riding AND open road riding...they both are different)

[sefer]

The only bikes I've seen with fuel guages are so bleedin' innaccurate that you wouldn't wish the fookahs on yer bike in the first place.


Mine has a gauge, and it shows empty when there's still around six litres in the tank. While I have to admit if I used it at all I'd never run out of gas, I'd also be filling up every 100kms or so.

[Irontusk]

I don't get mine until Monday (my first bike) and this thread has made me think.. do the gas station pumps shut off automatically when fulling bikes or do they not get the right blowback for it?

[xwhatsit]

I don't get mine until Monday (my first bike) and this thread has made me think.. do the gas station pumps shut off automatically when fulling bikes or do they not get the right blowback for it?
Nah, there's no space to waste on a motorcycle fuel tank -- the tank is right under the cap, so there's no room to put the hose right in.

Usually you'll fill right up until the fuel level is ~5cm below the open cap. Luckily motorcycle fuel tanks are small, so it's not like you have to stand there for ages holding the trigger.

Don't fill too high, as when you go round a corner at speed or hit the picks the fuel will splosh out all over your nice paintwork.

[Motig]

Just look in the filler hole as you put the fuel in. When its getting near full you'll see the petrol. Pump should also shut off from memory, but it wont when your trying to fill to the top as you'll have the nossle just about out of the tank as you squeeze the last drop in. Dont fill to the brim tho unless your going on a ride tho, if you fill to the top and are just going round the corner so to speak the petrol might expand and leak out the overflow. (Does that make sense ?).:beer:

[TimeOut]

I don't get mine until Monday (my first bike) and this thread has made me think.. do the gas station pumps shut off automatically when fulling bikes or do they not get the right blowback for it?


No they don't shut off automatically, go slowly!

[FJRider]

And EVERY gas station pumps are different... welcome to the wonderful world of MOTORCYCLING...:wari: :wari: :wari:

[Irontusk]

Ah ok, as I expected then, good to know though, as you said I don't want to get it all over the nice new tank!

[McJim]

Mine has a gauge, and it shows empty when there's still around six litres in the tank. While I have to admit if I used it at all I'd never run out of gas, I'd also be filling up every 100kms or so.

My missus bike has a fuel guage. Shows full for the first 5 litres used, 7/8ths for the next 5, 3/4 for the next 5 then SUDDENLY EMPTY!

Hence why I made my comment. I get 287km out of my tank. I know this coz I ran out of fuel on a public holiday (the 3 petrol stations I was planning to use that day were all closed!)

[Ehgreiz]

haha ouch Mcjim,

yeah i have a scooter and i find its a dodgy dodgy meter too, takes ages to drop from OVER full and when it does drop it tends to be about half empty lol

[FJRider]

Hence why I made my comment. I get 287km out of my tank. I know this coz I ran out of fuel on a public holiday (the 3 petrol stations I was planning to use that day were all closed!)

I have got 285 km's... found out in a similar way...:mad:

[RobRod]

:banana:Just fill up & ride , you'll get a feel for such things as fuel range the more you ride as consumption is a varible ratio pendind on riding type, style, road types , weather and so on. The only things to remember are reset trip odo every fill and ensure the petcock is turned back to main ( or "ON") tank after being on reserve as you fill up. Enjoy the new beast.:banana:

[blossomsowner]

I don't get mine until Monday (my first bike) and this thread has made me think.. do the gas station pumps shut off automatically when fulling bikes or do they not get the right blowback for it?

try looking in the tank as you fill it and slow down as you near the top. paying attention works every time, after all you don't want petrol splashed over your shiny paint.................

[sefer]

My missus bike has a fuel guage. Shows full for the first 5 litres used, 7/8ths for the next 5, 3/4 for the next 5 then SUDDENLY EMPTY!


Well if I had to choose between the two I think I'd choose my completely useless fuel gage over your completely useless fuel gage :)

Actually I take it back somewhat on all fuel gages being useless, I got to have a quick ride on a Hayabusa today and the fuel gage on that seems pretty much spot on.

[Zuki Bandit]

I just give the bike a wobble and listen to the petrol sloshing around. If Im doubting how much gas is left I open it and have a lookey inside, no dramas.

[Badjelly]

The only bikes I've seen with fuel gauges are so bleedin' innaccurate that you wouldn't wish the fookahs on yer bike in the first place.

The fuel gauge on the Scorpio is fine. I leave the fuel tap on reserve all the time and rely on the fuel gauge + odometer :).


Bikes with fuel guages are there to make it easier to sell bikes to car drivers. They are genarally fitted to make up for some really important bikie stuff being missing....like handling or power or summat.

Oooohh, that's so harsh! It's handling and power in the case of the Scorpio, but mostly power :(.

Seriously, though, isn't all this switching to reserve business a load of outdated bollocks?