One time I forgot to switch the petcock from reserve and ran out while riding with buddies. I was lucky and tried to coast, clutch in, from the parkway exit downhill to a gas station. I rolled to a stop on the shoulder just short of it and pushed the bike in. I started religiously checking the petcock and carrying a length of hose after that.
Honestly, I just eventually figured out how to tell when fuel was getting low by ear. Not great for cross-country, but good enough if all you need is a couple miles to find a station.
I did still end up getting a spare fuel canister, but I’ve fortunately never run into a situation where I had to use it despite some close calls.
So far I haven’t run out or needed the siphon but years after that event I rode with some folks and I had an R100GSPD with the ridiculously large 9.2 gallon tank. One guy had this yellow Ducati with a 3 gallon tank and he ran out in the middle of nowhere PA and siphoned from my tank to get to a gas station.
One time I forgot to switch the petcock from reserve and ran out while riding with buddies. I was lucky and tried to coast, clutch in, from the parkway exit downhill to a gas station. I rolled to a stop on the shoulder just short of it and pushed the bike in. I started religiously checking the petcock and carrying a length of hose after that.
Honestly, I just eventually figured out how to tell when fuel was getting low by ear. Not great for cross-country, but good enough if all you need is a couple miles to find a station.
I did still end up getting a spare fuel canister, but I’ve fortunately never run into a situation where I had to use it despite some close calls.
So far I haven’t run out or needed the siphon but years after that event I rode with some folks and I had an R100GSPD with the ridiculously large 9.2 gallon tank. One guy had this yellow Ducati with a 3 gallon tank and he ran out in the middle of nowhere PA and siphoned from my tank to get to a gas station.
Hah! I suppose that’s another potential solution. Just ride around with your own personal
mobile fuel attendantbike buddy!It happened more than once with that group and one of the guys started referring to my GS as “KC” after the Lockheed flying tanker.