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Posted by mittico68
- August 04, 2019, 02:31:42 AMQuote from: Tfrank59 on August 03, 2019, 12:35:44 PMStumbles isn't the word for what mine would do mine would actually cut out suddenly and as fate would have it quite often I'd be sitting at a red light and just when it changes green it needs to go on to reserve and so you know the story
Oh well, it also happened to me... But IMHO it's even worse when you're facing a curve! 
Posted by Tfrank59
- August 03, 2019, 12:35:44 PMStumbles isn't the word for what mine would do mine would actually cut out suddenly and as fate would have it quite often I'd be sitting at a red light and just when it changes green it needs to go on to reserve and so you know the story 
Posted by kw-retrorider
- August 03, 2019, 08:50:07 AMI run it until it stumbles....and it stumbles so you can't miss it, when it's ready for reserve. Mileage on my 2005 is always in the high 40's; 50mpg if it's a full tank at highway speed. Also use the trip odometer and start waiting for the stumble about 140 miles. Stock engine and intake with partial bafflectomy on stock exhaust.
Posted by OR Seedman
- August 02, 2019, 15:53:12 PMwhen I had my 800, I averaged 48-50 mpg. I always had the tires at recommended pressure....did the sprocket change to 18/38, jetted carb, K&N air filter and Roadburner exhaust. about 30% city driving and 70% open road. I would switch to reserve at 155-160 miles consistently....with windshield and bags....and my 250lbs...
my 1500, on the other hand, reads about 40-42 mpg....BUT... my electronic speedo is off about 8% ?? (shows I am going faster than actual...gps checked) so its really about 36-38 mpg. I can live with that 
Posted by mittico68
- August 01, 2019, 12:36:08 PMMy 1999 Drifter 800 gets 130 - 135 Kms before hitting the reserve.
She's got a custom exhaust and a open air filter.
Posted by Rlearmont
- August 01, 2019, 11:46:07 AMI recently purchased a 2000 800.
The previous owner told me to stop for gas at 100 miles.
If it makes a difference, mine has a windshield and saddle bags but engine and exhaust are stock. No carb or air filter mods.
Posted by Lucky
- August 01, 2019, 10:56:03 AMi commute everyday on my 800, and in stop and go, i get 37-41 depending on how throttle happy i am that week -- i use fuelie app - resetting the trip meter generally means i get about 110 miles before i hit reserve -- sometimes 105, sometimes 117 -- so I usually look for fuel at around 100 - on the road, i get closer to 50, and, again, if my butt can take it, i'll look for fuel at 135, give or take, KNOWING i can go more than 20 (likely closer to 40) miles after that before i hit "push me"
ymmv
Posted by Troll
- August 01, 2019, 07:37:37 AMSorry, I have to laugh. Fuel gauge on a motorcycle? Never had one, didn't need one for 50 years. My W-650 doesn't have one...when I reset the trip meter after every fill up, I know I can run around 140 miles before I go on reserve (that trip meter thing is a fairly new addition)...The Drifter, of course, has one, but it's a "new" thing to me...since it doesn't have a fuel valve/reserve, I do pay a little attention to it. My 1980 FLT was the first motorcycle I ever had/saw with a fuel gauge...a novelty at the time...You kids...next thing you'll want is a gear position indicator
Posted by rob f
- July 31, 2019, 19:59:42 PM Up here in Canada I am getting 170 kms on main before switching over. Converts to 106 miles.
Fuel consumption for me equates to 50mpg( Imperial) and US gal is about 4/5ths of ours. so ya, about 35-40 mpg's US
2001 800 drifter with original pipes, K&N air filter, rejetted carb and half- Gramped air box.
Posted by Tfrank59
- July 31, 2019, 14:59:48 PMHey welcome to the forum. Nobody's an idiot here, or perhaps we all are . Okay, I'll speak for myself on that, as well as on gas gaging and consumption. I used (sold my Drifter 
) the odo, as probably most do, for tracking mileage and when to fill up. First few tankfuls with a new bike I'll use the petcock (when it hits reserve) to know what the bike's range is, depending on what type of riding I'm doing (highway, city, mix), to see what kind of mileage the bike gets. For my Drifter I generally got around 100 miles for a tankful, plus or minus 10, before it hit reserve. That meant I was getting around 35 mpg. if it took 2.8 gals to fill after 100 miles (and most times I'd try to head off going on reserve if I could). Hope that helps.
Posted by kmheidecpo
- July 31, 2019, 13:48:08 PMNew to the forum
Purchased recently a 2006 Drifter with 5,400 miles.
No gas gauge - Are other riders just using mileage to determine when to fill up?
Sincerely,
Village idiot