Need to know at what point the low fuel idiot light comes on

[chief]

I never pay much attention to the light - its just a reminder. I go by mileage and the gage. Had one close call due to no stations open a couple of years ago... put in over 4 gal in the 5 gal tank... don't remember exactly.

[tfloyd]

I can tell you from experience that I rode for a shade over 25 miles this past weekend with the light on.  I wasn't testing my luck or anything; just happened to be on a road way up in the mountains with no stations.  I'd read previously that 30 miles or so was all you could get when the light came on...thank goodness that was good information!

Todd

[chief]

The 99 has a 4.2 gal tank.  The light comes on well before you have an empty tank.

You probably know to get a true picture of mileage you need to keep a log and figure it over a period of time and several tanks. There is a big difference between 60 and 80 miles... you should use your odometer and figure exactly how many miles and exactly how many gallons... then do that over a period of time.

Your MPG will vary a lot based upon your riding style, loading of the bike, geography, highway type, tuning of the bike, mods on your bike, tire condition and other things.  You can do several things to up the mpg... make sure your bike is appropriately tuned and appropriately maintained. If all that stuff is ok, an EFI box may help.  Also, try different brands of fuel... yeah it can make a difference. Make sure you use the recommended octane... unfortunately that's premium for us... which can actually negatively impact mpg, as does ethanol.

[lakota]

i have a 1999 1500 drifter... the light comes on.. i get gas and it takes between 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 gallons... i use the trip and it reads between 60 and 80 miles...  this makes my mph around 25?? i dont get it.. my 98 harley springer gets around 45...
just got this bike.. help !!!

[chief]

The tank is spec'd at 19L ... that is the max it will hold. It would be interesting to do a fill test with the tank off the bike.

I always use miles as the measure for when to fill up again... a throwback to the old days. The tripometer helps tremendously. You have to do a real world test... I don't ever want to let my FI bike go completely dry, so there is a big of padding in my calcs.

The light and gage are helpful, but I won't depend upon them.

[aclone]

It varys by bike and if your riding two up or not.  My 2002 single rider at about 1 gal ( owners manual say's  at  1.1 gals ) with two up about .8
Mark

[Troll]

I have a 2001, which has the 5 gallon tank, as opposed to the '99, which has , I think, 4.2. My light comes on at about 140 miles, or 3.5 gallons, the gauge reads empty at 160 miles, or 4 gallons, and runs dry at just under 200 miles ( I had to test it, carried a gallon  can with me) I question the quoted capacity of the tank, since the only way I can actually get a whole 5 gallons in it is to fill up to half way in the neck, completely ignoring the separator baffle in the tank. If I fill up to that, as the dealer told me, I can only get 4.7gallons in. 

[chief]

Seems to vary, but 3.5  is about where my 2002 comes on.

[Vinnie]

Guys its been a long time but I am in need of some information.....Does anyone know for sure at what gas level does the LOW fuel idiot light come on, on a 99 1500?  Ted seems to think its at 3.5 gal.  That would leave a bout .7 in the tank or about 30 miles worth of gas..

Let me know.

Vinnie