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Today during a nice but cold ride my low fuel warning light came on at 140 miles. Normally the light comes on around 160 miles? I'm wondering why the 20 miles difference? Could the cooler temperature play into lower gas millage?

I have had it come on anywhere between 125 and 175 miles. It depends upon how full it was, how you are riding, etc.

Catapult wrote:Today during a nice but cold ride my low fuel warning light came on at 140 miles. Normally the light comes on around 160 miles? I'm wondering why the 20 miles difference? Could the cooler temperature play into lower gas millage?

Were you driving a little more spirited? riding 2up? positive the tank was filled?
I think that a cooler temp should technically help the gas mileage, just my theory though.

My gas light varies from 115 miles if I'm hammering down on the highway loaded, up to 165 for nice 55 mph rides.

I guess I can be thankful then! When I ride 'hard', reserve comes in the 150 range. 'Easy' can stretch me into the 170's.

Catapult....cold wether will allow slightly more fuel in the gas tank, the end result being more rather than less mileage.

Some of the responses to the thread are right on....was it a beautiful day and you twisted the throttle a bit more?

If none of the above applies, I would check with the wife or the significant other to see if they have been siphoning gas out of your bike....

Catapult wrote:Today during a nice but cold ride my low fuel warning light came on at 140 miles. Normally the light comes on around 160 miles? I'm wondering why the 20 miles difference? Could the cooler temperature play into lower gas millage?

I do indeed get less mileage in cold weather. I believe it's because the cold air is more dense, hence more fuel is injected to compensate....

But the upside is your engine will make more power...

Oilhead wrote:

Catapult wrote:Today during a nice but cold ride my low fuel warning light came on at 140 miles. Normally the light comes on around 160 miles? I'm wondering why the 20 miles difference? Could the cooler temperature play into lower gas millage?

I believe it's because the cold air is more dense, hence more fuel is injected to compensate....

But the upside is your engine will make more power...

I'm not positive, but I thought cold air is less dense, therefore making your engine make more power for less gas.

Either way we agree that cold makes more power.

Cold air is denser. Thus the fuel injector injects more fuel to keep the proper mixture. That is why the bike is more powerful but uses more fuel in the winter.

In kilometers, my bike's light come on at 230 km, and I run out of gas at 300 km.

Yes .. the above knowledge comes from bitter experience.

Cheers

Cat

My experience of mpg is a bit like the oil level thing, unpredictable. Best I ever got was on a blast to the coast when I was being very heavy handed. Bike seemed to like it...seem to get about 50 average (imp gallon)

On a recent 4 corners ride around Oregon, after a long day in the saddle and working the bike hard through the canyons and mountains, I actually hit 198 miles before the fuel light came on. Most of the time it is around 160. I have noticed that with just commuting (50 miles round trip on hwy) that I get worse mileage than when I am out for a spin having fun. I get even better mileage 2 up. Normally I fill the bike on the center stand and fill into the filler neck some. On the trip I was really anal about it, as some of the legs were rather long, I made sure to get every last drop in there.