help me understand the 'reserve' fuel.

[halouis]

i've been having a blast riding my new bike. and have put about 130 miles on her already. So I knew i was low on fuel today and felt the engine sputtering a bit. I pulled over and opened the tank cap to peek inside and could still see gas in there, but yep, low.

so i flicked into 'reserve' and she was back to breathing fire like her old self. I got to a gas station and filled up. put the switch back to fuel 'on' and cruised home.

my question is, can i flick to reserve while the bike is running? or am i supposed to pull over and turn the engine off? does it matter what position its in while i re-fuel?

My F250 has 2 tanks and i can flick between them while driving no problem. not sure if the same with a bike.

-HAL

[jonnythan]

i've been having a blast riding my new bike. and have put about 130 miles on her already. So I knew i was low on fuel today and felt the engine sputtering a bit. I pulled over and opened the tank cap to peek inside and could still see gas in there, but yep, low.

so i flicked into 'reserve' and she was back to breathing fire like her old self. I got to a gas station and filled up. put the switch back to fuel 'on' and cruised home.

my question is, can i flick to reserve while the bike is running? or am i supposed to pull over and turn the engine off? does it matter what position its in while i re-fuel?

My F250 has 2 tanks and i can flick between them while driving no problem. not sure if the same with a bike.

-HAL

Just flick to reserve while the bike is running. I switch to mine when the fuel light comes on and stop at the next place I see.

It's not a problem. It just starts pulling the fuel from a tube at the bottom of the tank instead of a tube an inch or two off the bottom of the tank.

[tchaftantouri]

One point to consider.
Next time you are riding along on a straight section, practice feeling where the petcock is and what you would need to do to switch on the fly.
You don't want to be caught in a tricky situation where you can't stop safely, and be trying to look down to see where it is.
It took me a few practice runs on my Hawk to figure where to reach without looking.

[halouis]

Thanks guys. that's exactly the info i needed to hear. I will definitely practice this next time i go out.

-Hal

[flynrider]

does it matter what position its in while i re-fuel?

My F250 has 2 tanks and i can flick between them while driving no problem. not sure if the same with a bike.

-HAL

Doesn't matter where it is when you refuel. Your bike only has a single tank (unlike the F250). There's one pipe on the petcock that sticks up into the tank 2 inches (as an example). That's hooked to the "on" position of your petcock. Theres another pipe that only sticks up into the tank 1 inch. That goes to the "reserve" position on the petcock. When the fuel level in your tank drops below the top of the "on" pipe, the engine doesn't get fuel and sputters. You then switch to the "reserve" setting which draws fuel from an inch lower. If you use up that inch of fuel, then you're officially out of gas.

[blues2cruise]

Don't forget to turn the petcock back to on when you fill up.

[Bubba]

my question is, can i flick to reserve while the bike is running? or am i supposed to pull over and turn the engine off? does it matter what position its in while i re-fuel?

A reserve fuel switch? Picture two tubes side by side, one shorter than the other, sticking up into the tank, both feeding the one gas line.
When the fuel level drops to the top of the long tube, the bike spudders and sound like its running out. IN ESSENCE IT IS. When you flip the lever, the fuel will be allowed to enter the shorter of the tubes. This gives you that "extra gallon" of gas to find a station.
To answer your question, YES you can 'flick to reserve' while riding the bike, but remember, you will have no way of knowing that you are about to run out of fuel. So don't do it until you feel you need gas.

[halouis]

thanks bubba. yep i'm understanding the concept now. makes perfect sense.