I ran out of gas today.
I don't think I ever ran out of gas in my life (in anything), though maybe once in my teens, but I don't recall. Like many, I've come way too close over the years, and pulled in on fumes.
So I make about quarterly runs to buy 30 gallons of corn free gas for all my equipment, and my bikes. Most rides, I go west, out to where I can get it and top up before heading home, but some rides are shorter and local, and I will add a couple gallons from my storage from time to time.
I've bitched about the interstate gas led bars before. They are more guidelines, than accurate science. Especially when you get low. For years, you start out with 2-3 bars, but soon are showing 4-5 bars. And I've had the bike switching between 2 bars, one bar and flashing that reserve is coming, then back to one bar.
So, my chores completed, at 2P I decided to just take a short ride, 1- 1 1/2hrs at local speeds. Leaving the neighborhood, I see two bars and decide to ride back to the house and top up. But then it shows 3 bars constant, and that should easily cover me, so I ride past the house and take off. 20 minutes later it's 2 bars again, but I should be good. 20 minutes later, the dang thing is flashing at me. I start shaking the bike and slowing to get one bar back, but no joy. I turn around and head home, and lay off the throttle. I'm only maybe 9 miles from home, so even the reserve should be OK.
Wrong, a few minutes later she starts to stumble. I'm on a divided 4 lane with no gas stations anywhere. I don't want to stop here, so I take a chance there will be homes down this little side road, and there are, as the bike quits, and I run up to a long feeder drive to high end homes, and run out
coasting to a stop. At least I had a good place to park. I get off and start walking quick time up the hill hoping someone will answer the door. I am dressed nicer than usual for riding.
The third car that passes me stops, then backs up and the guy asks if that's my bike down there.
Yes sir, I'm an idiot and have run out of gas. Stay right here, I might have some. I stand in the shade, it's hot. He's gone just long enough I wonder if he's coming back, but he does. He slows and points at my bike, so I start to run down the road to my bike. He pulls next to me and says you don't have to run, get in. He's about my age. He says he has a Harley, and that his wife bought it for him (he doesn't look like a Hog driver, more like a retired professional). I introduce myself and shake his hand and pour all the praise I can on him.
He hands me a 2 gallon can and says take it all, I leave him about a quarter. The bike's drained dry so it takes some cranking, and he goes
Uh Oh. I tell him it will fire up, there's just a lot of gas line to fill back up first, and it does. I hand him a $20 (and would give him the whole $80 I have), and he won't take it. I praise him some more for being a good Samaritan. I ride home.
I always reset trip meter #1 at fill ups, and usually go 220mi to reserve (unless I'm hauling down the freeway, or headwind). I rely in the trip meter more than the gas gauge when it gets low. But because I have added a gallon or two twice for local short riding, the trip gauge is useless today.
As unreliable as the led bars are, I've never gone from 2 bars to flashing in 20 minutes before. And from flashing to empty in like 4-5 minutes.
I was thinking maybe alternator, but everything else is fine (in the display), and my voltmeter is all green.
Something is rotten in Denmark. And I'm going to keep my eye on the dang thing.
But, I am happy to report there are still some good Samaritans out there.... if you get lucky.
So I win the
Dufus of the Day Award.
