road trip planning

[McJeep]

okayyyy then, time to go pick up the new to me IS next week - second valk, had one ten years ago and comin home

- how many miles/kms per tank are people getting (please indicate miles or kms as i'm in canuckia)

- any valk specific tools i should carry in addition to my standard wrenchs/driver/plyers etc kit that i've been using for 40 years?

- going across the flatlands from Winnipeg to Vancouver island and want to make sure i don't leave myself short of gas anywhere

anything else of note is appreciated

Thanks folkses! 

[Oss]

I get gas no later than 2 bars on fuel gage
Stop 150 to 170 miles

No interest I n going onto reserve

Some say 200 but at what speed

Going west into wind
Not optimal mileage
Especially over 80mph

[Willow]

An Interstate should go over 200 miles (320 km) before hitting reserve.  Once you need to switch to reserve you should have at least 40 miles (54 km) before empty.  Run it to reserve regularly as that helps avoid too much junk gathering on the bottom of the tank and makes certain that reserve works, not being clogged.

[McJeep]

Muchos gracias folks - totally forgot it would have a guage LOL - last one i owned was a while ago - gon' be fun   Winnipeg MB - Victoria BC 3 days

[DIGGER]

I have an interstate tank I installed on my Standard model.  No gas gauge.  At speeds 75 or so down the hyway I try to get gas before 170 miles.  I set trip meter to zero each time i gas.   Dont know how far I could go before reserve.  Havent used reserve in a loooong time.   My gas mileage on a long down the hyway trip is around 33 mpg.   Running over 80 gas mileage drops to about 27 mpg

[McJeep]

 

[LadyDraco]

Good luck , safe travels .
Don't forget to check the air pressure in the tires!

[Jess from VA]

I routinely got 220 to reserve on both my Interstates.  That was not freeways and sustained high speeds, but cruising around, including some high revs and speeds here and there.

That LED bar is not the most accurate thing; it often will lose a bar, then get it back, and useless on the kickstand.  And it starts blinking at you when low, which is irritating (an 'idiot light').   

What I do is fill right to the top (sitting leveled up at the pump, never on the kickstand), and reset one tripmeter to zero and I rely on that more than the fuel gauge (though I do look at it) (200-220 to reserve).  Then, if you do hit reserve, reset the second tripmeter to zero, and you have 1.1gal left... counting down 30-35 miles of gas conserving riding to get gas.

But I treat it like the 200-220 part is all the gas I have and haven't hit reserve in many years.  I'm not saying Carl doesn't have a good point about sediment in the tank, but I try to do most of my riding out in the country where there are very few gas stations.

I don't enjoy pushing the fat bastard (and I've never owned a cell phone and don't even know how to work one).

[cookiedough]

play it safe and get gas at 200 mile range for an interstate, not push much over that.  should be able to get 230 miles total and feel safe doing that on reserve, but not want to push 800lb. bike.  Just figure  35 mpg at 6 gallons (even though more than that) is 210 mile range. 

[McJeep]

200 miles = 320 kilometres which takes longer than my ole ass can take in one shot so good to go - thanks folks!

[henry 008]

200 miles = 320 kilometres which takes longer than my ole ass can take in one shot so good to go - thanks folks!

Exactly! That's why I start looking at 150 miles. I've been in the seat for 2-1/2 to 3 hours by then and it's time to stretch and bathroom break.

[Jess from VA]

Depending on where you're riding, it can be worth your time plotting out gas stations before you leave.

I've used this Blue Ridge Parkway site several times (and printed it out for the trip).

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/gas-availability/

[Willow]

Depending on where you're riding, it can be worth your time plotting out gas stations before you leave.

I've used this Blue Ridge Parkway site several times (and printed it out for the trip).

Some of us as motorcyclists need to outgrow unreasonable fear.  The reserve of a Valkyrie should get the rider at least 35 miles.  I've ridden all over this country and only encountered a few situations in which there was no filling station within that range.

[HayHauler]

Depending on where you're riding, it can be worth your time plotting out gas stations before you leave.

I've used this Blue Ridge Parkway site several times (and printed it out for the trip).

Some of us as motorcyclists need to outgrow unreasonable fear.  The reserve of a Valkyrie should get the rider at least 35 miles.  I've ridden all over this country and only encountered a few situations in which there was no filling station within that range.

Carl, you should add that the reserve needs to be tested before trusting it. 

Ride with a 1 gallon gas can in the saddle bag when near empty.  When the main tank fuel runs out, switch to reserve and note the mileage on the odometer.  When the bike shudders and dies, subtract the previous odometer reading from the one you see now.  This will give you an accurate "reserve" mileage you can trust.  Make sure that you are not riding into a huge headwind/crosswind and not riding 85+ MPH for this to be accurate.

Put the 1 gallon of gas into the tank and ride to the station.
Now you know just how far your reserve fuel will take you.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Willow]

Carl, you should add that the reserve needs to be tested before trusting it.  

Ride with a 1 gallon gas can in the saddle bag when near empty.  When the main tank fuel runs out, switch to reserve and note the mileage on the odometer.  When the bike shudders and dies, subtract the previous odometer reading from the one you see now.  This will give you an accurate "reserve" mileage you can trust.  Make sure that you are not riding into a huge headwind/crosswind and not riding 85+ MPH for this to be accurate.

Put the 1 gallon of gas into the tank and ride to the station.
Now you know just how far your reserve fuel will take you.

Thank you, James.  I did that and I approve of the need for that process.      I did my test holding a near constant 75 mph.

[HayHauler]

Carl, you should add that the reserve needs to be tested before trusting it.  

Ride with a 1 gallon gas can in the saddle bag when near empty.  When the main tank fuel runs out, switch to reserve and note the mileage on the odometer.  When the bike shudders and dies, subtract the previous odometer reading from the one you see now.  This will give you an accurate "reserve" mileage you can trust.  Make sure that you are not riding into a huge headwind/crosswind and not riding 85+ MPH for this to be accurate.

Put the 1 gallon of gas into the tank and ride to the station.
Now you know just how far your reserve fuel will take you.

Thank you, James.  I did that and I approve of the need for that process.      I did my test holding a near constant 75 mph.

Jimmy, no James here.  LOL

Hay 
Jimmyt

[McJeep]

Update = trip is in the books and switching to reserve did indeed happen at 295 kilometre marks as expected - cursed prairies and their lack of gas stations off the main highways LOL - fluked into threading the needle between flatland sessions of rain/thunder/hail and had beautiful bit too hot weather,  but ohhhhhh did i cook ma face and arms  (hamburger nose) - She's in BC now and given how beat up I am after the marathon, will likely stay within BC till my days in the saddle are done - one of those "Had I known I'd be around this long, I'd have taken better care of myself" deals 

Rubber side down folks and thanks for the heads up

[scooperhsd]

Depending on where you're riding, it can be worth your time plotting out gas stations before you leave.

I've used this Blue Ridge Parkway site several times (and printed it out for the trip).

Some of us as motorcyclists need to outgrow unreasonable fear.  The reserve of a Valkyrie should get the rider at least 35 miles.  I've ridden all over this country and only encountered a few situations in which there was no filling station within that range.

While I agree with you IN PRINCIPLE, the reality on my Valk isn't there. I only get .3 gallons reserve with my Pingel fuel petcock.

[Jess from VA]

Man, I have the same problem with bright sun.  (skin cancer; head, face, neck, and arms/wrists, but not for almost 20 years)

Helmet, sunblock (spf 100) every exposed thing, long sleeves at all times. 

And upper 80s and 90s I'm not riding.  (I used to do the soaking wet shirt thing)

[Willow]

Some of us as motorcyclists need to outgrow unreasonable fear.  The reserve of a Valkyrie should get the rider at least 35 miles.  I've ridden all over this country and only encountered a few situations in which there was no filling station within that range.

While I agree with you IN PRINCIPLE, the reality on my Valk isn't there. I only get .3 gallons reserve with my Pingel fuel petcock.

What you say is true.  I had failed to consider non-Honda petcocks.  That short reserve is definitely a weakness of the Pingle.

[Draeger]

If I ride at around 100-110km/h on a highway day, keeping it under 3000 rpm, easy 225km before the reserve kicks in.

Other day I did 130km/h for an hour and a half and hit reserve at 167km.