I was carrying a half litre of fuel in my backpack just in case.
What?? Is that safe to do?
erburtt and long, both of you are experiencing FZ6 Fuel Range-atosis:
The symptoms of this condition are feelings of anxiety about making it to your destination. This is often accompanied by confusion and frustration about not utilizing nearly enough of the 5.1 gallon capacity as advertised.
To fix this:
1) Learn how to top off.
2) Calculate your max F-Trip range, and don't fill up until you get close to it.
Topping off... the thing you're NEVER supposed to do according to the gas stations, must be done in order to get any decent range. If you insert the nozzle all the way and stop pumping, you're missing out on a lot of range. So don't be shy, raise the nozzle and pump slowly all the way until your halfway up the filler neck if you feel so inclined. It's always a good idea to test the pump's low-flow ability before you get all the way to the top. If it's very off/full blast, you might want to quit while you're ahead rather than risk splashing gas the top of the tank. Also - the best method for filling is on the center stand.
The F-Trip comes on when you have 0.95 gallons of fuel remaining. You calculate your max F-Trip range by multiplying your average fuel economy by 0.95. To figure out your average economy, simply divide miles ridden (A-Trip), but the number of gallons you put in the take. Do this over several fills, so you get a decent average.
Let's say you're getting 45mpg... your max reserve range would be 42.75 miles. Now - it is certainly not recommended to test this limit out. To be on the safe side - only use half of your max reserve range.
I get about 47 mpg and have gone as far as 38 I think. There was still a cup of fuel in the bottom of the tank.
Fuel Range-atosis affects 4 out of 5 motorcyclists at some point. With a little knowledge, you too can combat this wicked disease.
