Maybe the easiest tech question ever....

[BlackKat]

being the second owner of my 99 750, I didn't get any of the manuals etc...

At what point will my low fuel idiot light come on? I'm a paranoid new rider with exactly 3 months experience thus far 

Cheers!

[Schwanger]

Don't trust the low fuel light.  For some people it comes with 1 gallon left others it comes on and the bike runs out of fuel seconds later.  Just go by how many miles you've traveled since your last fill.  I typically go about 120 miles then fill.

[greenmonster]

Usually after used 13-13,5 Litres.
The trip meter is your friend....

[Howie]

Think of your ow fuel light as what it is, an idiot light. 

[BlackKat]

so, the low fuel light pretty much should be interpreted as "if this light is on, its already too late"

Thanks boys!

Kev

[Duck-Stew]

Kev, 

Remember this:  You're dealing with Italian electronics.    We should all be in awe that they even work in the first place. 


(Typically comes on w/approx 1 gallon left, but YMMV...see above.) 

[hiero]

same as everyone, but just to let you know, my fuel light has been really great over the life of the bike thus far, but I've pushed my bike to 209.6 miles on one tank before without babying it, so ymmv most definitely.
I usually run for ~140-150 before filling up again.

[4DoorSi]

IF it ever comes on at all!  It seems to be pretty common for us with older monsters that the fuel sensor doesn't work at all.  I know mine didn't.  The previous owner had disconnected it.

[KPhinney]

As a lucky idiot I had to find out just the OP's question for my bike.  m750, 2000, carbs - same set up as the OP.  I was traveling 600km in the outback and brought a 1.25L fuel canister in my pack.  My light came on and I made it 29km before coming to a gas station.  Didn't need the emergency fuel, but didn't hesitate to fill her up.

Oh, and if my tach is any indication of my actual RPM at any given time I'd be surprised, so I don't trust the light either. 


In thinking about it, the tach may be measuring how much fuel is left in the tank using some Italian electronics convention.

[bigiain]

Usually after used 13-13,5 Litres.
The trip meter is your friend....

+1

Personally (since the last time my low fuel light worked was sometime round 2001), I always to the mental arithmetic to work out my maximum range every time I fill up, and fill accordingly. On an assumption of 16.5L of usable fuel, I get over 300km quite reliably (until my needle jets start ovaling out again, by the time it drops down under 280km/tank, it's pretty obviously running rich - it's cough and stumble at a constant 80kmh...)

big

[MongoReturns]

+1

Personally (since the last time my low fuel light worked was sometime round 2001), I always to the mental arithmetic to work out my maximum range every time I fill up, and fill accordingly. On an assumption of 16.5L of usable fuel, I get over 300km quite reliably (until my needle jets start ovaling out again, by the time it drops down under 280km/tank, it's pretty obviously running rich - it's cough and stumble at a constant 80kmh...)

big

I've been wondering about that cough/stumble for a couple years now - guess I'm due for new needle jets (20k miles).   

[NorDog]

When it comes to checking gasoline levels in a bikes tank, I don't think you can improve on the method employed by Steve McQueen in "The Great Escape".

Remove gas cap.
Look inside.
Slosh the gas around by rocking the bike from side to side.
Replace cap.
Go jump barbed wire fence.

[scduc]

I had an 00' 750 and I normally got 40 miles after the light went on. Never ran it dry though. My 08' however only got 12 and she died on the freeway. I knew I needed gas, but 12 miles. Now I know when I get to 120, I start thinking about which station I'm going to hit.

[somegirl]

When it comes to checking gasoline levels in a bikes tank, I don't think you can improve on the method employed by Steve McQueen in "The Great Escape".

Remove gas cap.
Look inside.
Slosh the gas around by rocking the bike from side to side.
Replace cap.
Go jump barbed wire fence.

[Düb Lüv]

remove it! you'll increase MPGs and faster lap times. that's coming from a person who's never tracked before, but it's on the internet, so it's true.