Fuel gauges

[Gubb]

Why is it that so few bikes have them? Surely it's a fairly simple piece of technology.

I know you just reset your odo each time you fill up, but it's a handy piece of technology. Surely the reason that they are few and far between isn't because of weight reduction, they can't be that heavy.

[James Deuce]

Most bikes made in the last 5 years have fuel gauges mate.

They all vary between slightly inaccurate and lying like Tom Cruise about his sexuality.

[slofox]

Why is it that so few bikes have them? Surely it's a fairly simple piece of technology.

I know you just reset your odo each time you fill up, but it's a handy piece of technology. Surely the reason that they are few and far between isn't because of weight reduction, they can't be that heavy.

Mine has a "warning light" which blinks when 4 litres are left and goes solid at 1.5 litres........every time I look at it, it's bloody on again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jrandom]

The digital 'strip' fuel gauge on my GSX1400 works really well. First vehicle I've owned with a meaningfully linear gauge. Who'd-a thunk it, eh?

Even with the prevalant drastically-non-linear gauges on most bikes, you do eventually get used to interpreting their positions accurately.

Mileage on the trip meter modulo the way you've been riding is still the best way of estimating remaining tank range, though.

[naphazoline]

blade has a light,but i go by mileage.

what i wanna know,is why more bikes don't have gear position indicators?

[ckai]

Bloody oath. In saying that I suppose if I rode my bike a lot more I would get used to which gear vs revs. Slowly working it out. Still would be handy. Especially when I go to the wife's non-v-twin ninja. I just about always stall at round-abouts cause I'm in 2nd or 3rd with no touque.

Don't really trust the gauge on mine and only really use it with red death star shows. Check the odo and if it's around 400 I'll look at filling it up.

[jonbuoy]

blade has a light,but i go by mileage.

what i wanna know,is why more bikes don't have gear position indicators?

I don't understand the point of gear position indicators - engine spinning too fast change up, engine spinning too slow change down. :confused:

[Rosie]

I don't understand the point of gear position indicators - engine spinning too fast change up, engine spinning too slow change down. :confused:

Indeed. I don't even have a tacho, and I can generally keep myself in the correct gear.

I'm about to fit a clear tank to my bike, add a few vivid lines to the side - instant redneck fuel gauge :beer:

[naphazoline]

I don't understand the point of gear position indicators - engine spinning too fast change up, engine spinning too slow change down. :confused:

ya can't tell me you redline everywhere unless you got a real gutless bike.

[jonbuoy]

ya can't tell me you redline everywhere unless you got a real gutless bike.
Err no - didn't say that, just never felt the need for a gear indicator. About the only time I've got confused is switching between a five and six speed bike or riding an unfamiliar bike.

[naphazoline]

Err no - didn't say that, just never felt the need for a gear indicator. About the only time I've got confused is switching between a five and six speed bike or riding an unfamiliar bike.

that's my point.if you swap bikes regularly,it can be a bit confusing

[slofox]

what i wanna know,is why more bikes don't have gear position indicators?

I use the "Braille" method....when I can't kick it up any further, I know I am in 6th........and when I can't kick it down any further I know I am in 1st...In between?.......when the engine sounds like its gonna blow, change up. When it sounds like the bearings are square, change down.........works for me.......

[Elysium]

Seems to me the larger bikes lack gear selection indicators while most 250s do.

[naphazoline]

I use the "Braille" method....when I can't kick it up any further, I know I am in 6th........and when I can't kick it down any further I know I am in 1st...In between?.......when the engine sounds like its gonna blow, change up. When it sounds like the bearings are square, change down.........works for me.......


yeah...that's where i'm at.i'm sick of looking for a seventh gear.
but after riding around today,i found that i can easily do 180+ in second,so i don't think i'll be able to utilise this method. :laugh:

[AllanB]

A gear indicator would be nice - on today's close ratio boxes there is often not much between 5th & 6th.

My Hornet has a low fuel light - it is meant to come on when there is 4 l left - but likes to come on early (7 left).

I have read in magazines that some models of bikes have a litre or 2 that due to the shape of the tank and the pick-up point for the fuel line, cannot be used.

[Forest]

I don't understand the point of gear position indicators - engine spinning too fast change up, engine spinning too slow change down. :confused:

I use the gear indicator to check which gear I'm in before I start overtaking.

It helps to be in the right gear to maximise the torque.

[FJRider]

I have a fuel gauge which is pretty accurate, but still don't trust them. I have a red light fuel low warning which believe more...
I only have five gears (often do look for sixth...) but revs and speed tell me what gear I'm in, if I can be bothered to look...

[naphazoline]

A gear indicator would be nice - on today's close ration boxes there is often not much between 5th & 6th..

+1 allan. that's a really good point.
another thing i forgot to mention,is that with the standard pipe,it's too damn quiet at the various given speed limits.it doesn't get noisier till about 6000rpm,by which time i'm flying.i'll be doing something about getting an aftermarket pipe in about three months =)

[slofox]

I use the gear indicator to check which gear I'm in before I start overtaking.

It helps to be in the right gear to maximise the torque.

I don't need to look to know this - it is all about the feel and sound of the engine.......I know instinctively whether I need to drop a cog or not......

[slofox]

A gear indicator would be nice - on today's close ration boxes there is often not much between 5th & 6th.

About 500rpm on the SV from 5th to 6th....and yes, I also look for "seventh" gear from time to time....unless I check the speedo.......when I usually go "Faaaarrkkkk! I thought I was in 5th!!"

[hayd3n]

I have read in magazines that some models of bikes have a litre or 2 that due to the shape of the tank and the pick-up point for the fuel line, cannot be used.

so when you run outa gas lean the bike over a little and walaa youve got gas

[AllanB]

so when you run outa gas lean the bike over a little and walaa youve got gas

Ah - not necessarily - the days of the pick-up always being on the side of the tank are gone - I know on my (previous bike) Suzuki this was in the centre.

Hopefully most makers have the brains to put them low, and logically on the left as most bikes only have a side stand now.

[jonbuoy]

I use the gear indicator to check which gear I'm in before I start overtaking.

It helps to be in the right gear to maximise the torque.

If I have to look I look at the tacho - surely more usefull than a gear indicator for being in the right zone? I just don't see the need for something else to take your eyes off the road.

[Gubb]

Fair enough, I just never thought of a "Fuel Warning" light as a type of gauge. It was just something that struck me after all the test riding. So many different things to get used to.

[FJRider]

so when you run outa gas lean the bike over a little and walaa youve got gas

No, usually on those bikes, the fuel tap is at the forward part of the tank. To get gas... you button off...fuel surges foward...you got gas...

[discotex]

No, usually on those bikes, the fuel tap is at the forward part of the tank. To get gas... you button off...fuel surges foward...you got gas...

Or if all else fails pull a stoppie :done:

[Moki]

Most bikes made in the last 5 years have fuel gauges mate.

They all vary between slightly inaccurate and lying like Tom Cruise about his sexuality.

Couldn't have said it better:second:

[breakaway]

Hopefully most makers have the brains to put them low, and logically on the left as most bikes only have a side stand now.

There is a reason for not having right at the bottom - if it was at the bottom, random shit at the bottom of the tank would get into the fuel lines.

[portokiwi]

my fuel gauge has never worked says full and its half empty or it sits on empty and its full. I just reset my trip meter every time I fill up. The gauge looks real pruuuuty though:2thumbsup

[zeocen]

I like the ZZR1200's analogue fuel gauge, it's very accurate. But my old Blackbird's was awful, it would be about 100% to 80% for about 200km then drop stupidly fast from there on. Now I'm back to having no fuel gauge and the fuel light comes on at the exact same time, every time. Much better.

Plus it has a clock.

I'd take a clock over a fuel gauge aaaaaanyday.

[xwhatsit]

Pack of idiots. What's a fuel tap for then? And gear position indicators -- what are your ears for? Thighs and arse cheeks. Hands. Hell, you don't even need a tacho unless you're riding an inline four (and everybody should know what redline sounds like anyway, just like you should know what 55kph should sound like, and 109kph). Can't you people count?

[portokiwi]

Going to buy a clock for my bike from the $2 shop. Had one on nealy every bike I have had. they just stick on and if they get pulled off who cares. I have allways liked them, Great to know if you have time for a quick latte stop on the way to work or if you are running late :2guns:

[madbikeboy]

Sigh. I like my bike. It doesn't have a clock. Or warning ding dongs (keep it clean). Or a mobile telephone. Or air conditioning. Although, it would be nice to have air conditioning. And windows to let the breeze in. And a roof. And more comy seats, shaped like chairs instead of saddles. Big lazy armchairs. And a radio. So I could listen to talkback and wonder how society survives with such a poor gene pool. And more wheels, so I wouldn't have to put my feet down.

If your auntie had balls, she'd be your uncle.

I'm on the side of the right and the good here - I like my bike without the bells and whistles. I check the gas and watch the mileage. I know what gear I'm in due to urgency of the frenetic thrashing betwixt my legs, and I know if I have to go down more gears because if I don't, the yoke doesn't magicially lift as I rotate the rotary propulsion modulated on the right grip.

[Swoop]

I like my fuel gauge.
It tells me that half a tank is sufficient to get to the northern parts of Whangarei at a decent pace...
Also, the clock.:hug:
Gear indicator???
I'd rather have a 7th gear please!


Sigh. I like my bike. It doesn't have a clock. Or warning ding dongs (keep it clean). Or a mobile telephone. Or air conditioning. Although, it would be nice to have air conditioning. And windows to let the breeze in. And a roof. And more comy seats, shaped like chairs instead of saddles. Big lazy armchairs. And a radio. So I could listen to talkback and wonder how society survives with such a poor gene pool.
So, I guess you will not be getting a leadwing then???:rofl:

[madbikeboy]

So, I guess you will not be getting a leadwing then???:rofl:

Friends don't let Friends, ride Goldwings...

[Swoop]

Friends don't let Friends, ride Goldwings...

Just



Say



NO!

[Eddieb]

Sigh. I like my bike. It doesn't have a clock. Or warning ding dongs (keep it clean). Or a mobile telephone. Or air conditioning. Although, it would be nice to have air conditioning. And windows to let the breeze in. And a roof. And more comy seats, shaped like chairs instead of saddles. Big lazy armchairs. And a radio. So I could listen to talkback and wonder how society survives with such a poor gene pool. And more wheels, so I wouldn't have to put my feet down.
/snip


Was at the local BMW dealer the other day, getting a new clutch switch for the G/S cause it got broke last time the bike was in there.
Some guy pulls in on the latest BMW R1200 starship enterprise thing, stops the bike, hits a switch on the bars and gets lifted up and back by his servo/hydraulically driven centrestand.

Couldn't believe it! I was embarassed to be riding the same brand of motosickle.