Low Fuel Engine Light

TommyLee

I have just over 6,100 miles now on my 2007 Nightster. I bought the bike in April of 2007. For the first few months, I ran it stock and the gas light would come on at around 80-miles just like clockwork. I would fill the tank, and it would take about 2.2 gallons. I could average around 100 miles per tank of fuel.

After a few months, I changed the pipes to Vance & Hines, the intake to the Scream'in Eagle, and had the computer chip performance upgrade done at the dealer. Since then, my fuel light comes on at around 85 miles, and I can get a maximum of 110 miles to a tank.

The mileage isn't much of a difference, but before the upgrades, the bike topped out at between 110-115Mph. Now the bike can bury the odometer needle past the 120Mph mark.

Bottom line, if someone is getting 100 miles before the fuel light, you must be running the 4 gallon tank, because on the XL1200N 3.3 Gallon peanut style tanks, I haven't really seen anyone get past the 90 mile mark without the fuel light coming on. My rule of thumb is that I just reset the odometer at every fuel stop, and when I'm hitting 90-miles, I fill up again.

Hope this helps.

orgredneck

I have just over 2,100 miles now on my 2008 XL883L. I bought the bike in June of 2008. For the first few months, I ran it stock and the gas light would come on at around 110-miles just like clockwork. I would fill the tank, and it would take about 2.2 gallons.Never put in more than 2.5 gallons.It has 3.3 gallon tank.

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TommyLee

Thanks for the post orgredneck. I would assume since you do indeed have the 3.3 gallon tank, that running the 883 verses the 1200 must give you the extra fuel mileage before the low fuel light that those of us running the 1200 don't see. Definitely good to know.

tsp45acp

Filled mine for the 2cnd time this wekend. Low fuel light came on at 127 miles. Filled it up within 10 miles and took a whoppinf 2.8 gals. I have the 4.5 gal tank. I may try stretching it to the 150/175 mark to see how it does. Tracy

wildspirit97

If you want to find out how far you can go with out having to push the bike, buy a little fuel can and take it with you. Then go ride till you run out of gas. I have a little fuel cylinder made for carrying coleman fuel when your backpacking. It holds about 1/3 of a gallon, that should be enough to get you to a gas station in an emergency. I take it with me when I'm out on long rides in the mountain country of Montana. Sometimes you just never know where the next gas station will be out there.

jterby

I get about the same on my 2008 nightster. I will only admit here, I have been riding fast most of the time. I mostly just ride to work and a little bit to go to lunch or something. My light comes on around 80 or 90 miles on the Od. I usually fill up around then and generally only put in about 2 1/2 gallons for the 3.3 tank.

Drew

My bike is going in for its 1,000 mile service this weekend (even though I have over 1,300 miles on it). I will ask about the fuel light issue, but like many of you, I just reset my tripmeter after every fill up. I feel comfortable going about 160 miles before refilling... I usually put in about 3.8 gallons at that point. I have pushed it to 180, but the bike was lurching at slower speeds, but still had 1/2 gallon in the tank.

regards,
Drew

PS: I just re-read my initial post, and the light comes on at 130 miles, not 140-150 as I stated in my original post.

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scottaudio

My '06 XL1200C has a carb, and I push it to 160 mi on the OD before filling up when hitting the hiway. In town, I fill up at 130, and have never had to turn on the reserve. My roadster tank holds 4.6 gal, and it takes 3.2 to fill up at these points.

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