The day I bought '94 softail [back in '94] the dealer points to the two gas caps and tells me to put the gas in here. He then points to the reserve **** [no gas gauge on this bike] and says something about flipping the lever when the bike starts to sputter. I'm not really listening as I just want to get on this bad boy and ride.

I take off outa San Francisco, and ride all over the place. Up to Marin to visit a friend, then over to Benicia to visit another. I'm on my way home, and the bike starts to sputter, I flip over the reserve, look at the odometer and see that I've gone about 160 miles. I think 160 on one tank, pretty cool, I must have another 160 to go [seeing that i have two tanks]. Another 20-30 miles go by and just go through the toll gates on the Bay Bridge when I notice this guy walking off the bridge. About a quarter mile behind him I see his car with the flashers on. I think to myself, what a dope, what kind of knucklehead drives onto the bay bridge [about a 4-5 mile long bridge] in a vehicle that most likely about to run out of gas? Feeling so superior I motor on by and probably another mile goes by and my bike starts to buck, sputter and shut-off.

WTF? I coast to a corner, just inches outa traffic and start my own walk of shame [karma is a bitch]. I get to a call box and a truck is there with a gas can by the time I get back to the bike.

I learned something that day, my bike doesn't have two separate tanks and has a range of about 160-170 and I got about another 25 of so miles on reserve.

Although I learned this lesson 20 years ago, I've also gained the nickname of sputter from a group of riding buddies because I always seem to push the limit on how far I can go.

-sputter

 

I fill up at around 120 miles on the clock whether I need it or not. I also run a carb so I can get another 25 or so on reserve.

 

I have never run out of gas on the bike, but I have also splashed gas everywhere by pulling the nozzle out a bit to see the level of gas going in. I have learned that's a really bad idea. :-) Sorry your ride sucked... to a point... as you said, in the end it was all good because it was on the bike not in the cage...

 

I have had each of those problems, but luckily not on the same day.

 

I haven't ran out yet but have came damn close and with my tank lift on I can't go as far as used to. I like the look with the tank lift but think I may drop to 1/2" lower one just for the extra miles back.

I have spilled gas everywhere doing the same thing and it does **** you off when you do it.

 

 

I had an F-ME moment on Sunday... 4.35 gals went in my 4.5 tank... I never checked the guage, never saw the light in the sun..

 

Never run out of gas yet. I've taken the time to learn how many miles per gallon that I get and I check my trip meter to know when to fill up. I do look at my gas gauge but I trust my trip meter more.

 

A friend of mine had an old Moto Guzzi. He cut the tubes down on the petcock. He used to brag about he could go 230 miles before going to reserve, bike had a 6.3 gallon tank. Of course he could only go about 10 miles or less when he finally had to switch to reserve.

 

I always use my trip odometer as well - my excuse was a wide open road and awesome weather causing an... excess of speed... dropping my range from 170'ish to 154. By the time I noticed my consumption rate I was a LONG way from a pump; still made it though.