I/S almost ran out of gas before switching to reserve

[cookiedough]

put in 5.7 gallons of gas in 6.9 gallon tank last night made it home after work just barely.   Have done it 2 other times years ago  actually running out of gas and engine shut off running down the hwy, but this time instead of the bike loosing a tad bit of power and limping along unable to get up and go and then all of a sudden quit,  my I/S going up a slight hill slowed down with that one flashing light the last 5 miles or so blinking down to 40 mph from 55 mph could not go any faster.  Once at the crest of the hill, going back down the gentle hill it speed back up to 60 mph right before pulling into my town to get some much needed gas.  

Prior times, it would just sort of limp along fine at 55 mph but not slow down to 40 mph is all it would go.  Is that because the gas line must be upfront of gas tank and what little gas I had not in reserve yet was in back going up the hill cutting major speed off my bike all of a sudden?

Also, by going that low down in gas, does it hurt the bike in any way as far as fuel delivery?   I know on modern vehicles, mfgs. state do not let the low fuel light go on all the time since is hard on the fuel pump and other stuff but I do that often as well.

Only thing that worried me is was at 11:30 at night and a car came  up to me in the dark in a BIG HURRY tailgating me going 40 mph in a 55 mph hwy.  You just never know the idiots on the road who could be drunk so I got way over to the right side of my lane doing 40 mph so he could pass me which luckily he did.  I didn't want my bike to sputter and die not switching to reserve on the go while someone would be tailgating me.

Next question:  It is not a problem of any kind to switch once this happens the fuel switch below the left side of tank from 'on' to 'reserve' while running down the hwy.???  Will the bike act up of any kind even for a split second or is it an instant kick on to reserve tank hardly noticeable on a normal stock OEM fuel system?  I would've felt better if was daylight to do it, but wanted to make it home not trying to find/fiddle with that switch with gloves on and all while a car was tailgating me as well.

last question:  are most I/S's with that flashing fuel black bar light once it starts to blink have only about guessing 8-10 miles tops before sputtering and dieing having to flip to the OEM reserve switch?  Both times has been about 5-7 miles of flashing that one bar level before running out of gas having to switch to reserve and about 9-11 miles prior the I/S begins to loose power.  At least you get a 5-10 mile warning zone that you will need to flip to reserve.  Is most stock OEM I/S's like this I presume in mileage vs. running out of gas? 

Thank god we have around a 1 gallon reserve able to go another 30-35 miles or so to get to the nearest gas station in that big 6.9 gallon tank.  Yet another thing I love about my I/S since my former 1984 honda magna driving 75 miles per day always had to get gas almost daily since had around a 3.2 gallon tank is all getting around 40 mpg.   200+ miles per tank is great vs. say 120-150 miles tops before filling up since I routinely run all my vehicles to where the fuel light always comes on vs. filling up 1/2 tank at a time.

[Bighead]

Instant kick from out to reserve and no it won't hurt anything that is what it is there for to tell you when you are down to a certain amount of gas. Just reach under and turn it to reserve.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I have run mine down to reserve (Tourer) plenty of times. When it starts to stutter (starving for fuel) I just reach down and turn the petcock to reserve and she picks right up within seconds.  

Bighead beat me to it 

[Jess from VA]

On the IS, there is a bit of a disconnect between the flashing LED, and actually hitting reserve.  I have had the LED flashing at me for a long time before hitting reserve, and other times one shortly followed the other.  Also, when at reserve, depending on speed and rpm, the stumbling has come on so gradually, it is easy to miss, for awhile.

With 7 gal tanks, I tend to fill up at a quarter tank or so (type A), but have taken to letting it hit reserve more often just by way of checking that all is well. 

[Dave Weaver]

I have noticed final bar flashing, reached down to flip to reserve and realize it is already on reserve....

[Gryphon Rider]

No harm done if you run out of gas, whether by not switching to reserve in time, or completely running out.  The faster your bike is going, the easier it is to tell that you need to switch to reserve.  At highway speeds it takes about three seconds to be back to full power.  If you're only idling, it takes a little longer.  When I'm close to home, e.g. using my bike to get to work, I ALWAYS run it to reserve before getting gas, and I've never had the bike completely stall before being able to flip it to reserve to be back to smooth running.

For those of you who conscientiously fill the tank before needing reserve and don't know what it feels like to run out of gas, I suggest you get out on the highway and turn off the fuel and see what happens.  When twisting the throttle more doesn't keep you from slowing down, simply reach down and turn on the fuel; you'll be accelerating within three seconds.

[Willow]

You have six carbs.  Fuel starvation should occur with some graduation but should run the carbs dry within a very short distance of the beginning of the indications.  Flip to reserve and note the miles on the odometer or trip meter as you do.  You should have 35 - 43 miles before it runs out.

There's actually no reserve tank.  There are two levels of intake on the fuel tube.  You should run to or on reserve regularly if you suspect normal commercial gasoline contains some impurities.  Never using the reserve level allows stuff to accumulate on the bottom of the tank.  Using the reserve regularly lets that stuff collected on the bottom pass through while it's tiny.  That's my opinion.  I see no reason to fuel up normally when you haven't reached reserve level.  I think every rider should regularly practice switching to reserve while moving down the road.

I have ridden Interstates  that will go to reserve with two bars showing.  I've owned Interstates that will be about twenty miles into the last flashing bar before the reserve level is encountered.  I don't find Interstate fuel gauges to be consistent or particularly accurate.   

[Chrisj CMA]

Next question:  It is not a problem of any kind to switch once this happens the fuel switch below the left side of tank from 'on' to 'reserve' while running down the hwy.Huh?  Will the bike act up of any kind even for a split second or is it an instant kick on to reserve tank hardly noticeable on a normal stock OEM fuel system?  I would've felt better if was daylight to do it, but wanted to make it home not trying to find/fiddle with that switch with gloves on and all while a car was tailgating me as well.

Not only is it not a problem to switch to reserve while riding, its the usual way  99% of the time a rider does it.  You should practice finding the reserve detent with your usual riding gloves on without looking while sitting on the bike, its nothing to be afraid of.  I don't know where the idea that its something that shouldn't be attempted in the dark, with gloves on while riding comes from.  Its certainly not a valid conception by any means.  Instead of this post, you would have had an "oh, running out of gas" moment, then switch to reserve and all is well, no post needed.

[cookiedough]

You have six carbs.  Fuel starvation should occur with some graduation but should run the carbs dry within a very short distance of the beginning of the indications.  Flip to reserve and note the miles on the odometer or trip meter as you do.  You should have 35 - 43 miles before it runs out.

There's actually no reserve tank.  There are two levels of intake on the fuel tube.  You should run to or on reserve regularly if you suspect normal commercial gasoline contains some impurities.  Never using the reserve level allows stuff to accumulate on the bottom of the tank.  Using the reserve regularly lets that stuff collected on the bottom pass through while it's tiny.  That's my opinion.  I see no reason to fuel up normally when you haven't reached reserve level.  I think every rider should regularly practice switching to reserve while moving down the road.

I have ridden Interstates  that will go to reserve with two bars showing.  I've owned Interstates that will be about twenty miles into the last flashing bar before the reserve level is encountered.  I don't find Interstate fuel gauges to be consistent or particularly accurate.   

Thanks guys, that what I was thinking as well, just do it!  I agree since my gas tank always has some smaller particles floating around in there and every once in awhile letting it run very low near sputtering will allow some of the particle buildup to pass on thru.  Good idea!

Not afraid to throwing it in reserve, just was curious since never done it before while riding both other times I let the bike run out of gas on the hwy. and just pull over to flip switch coasting not running to a stop.  Although, in heavy traffic is not a good idea to run out of gas nor like last night someone following me VERY closely doing 40 mph top speed and with deer starting to move with my luck a deer would jump out of the corn fields nearby when I had my left hand off the handlebars.  Wife just called me and had to slam on the brakes going to work this morning - darn forest rats! 

Next time will flip the switch to reserve while running.

[Bighead]

Anyone who don't regularly hit reserve don't ride enough

[Willow]

... some smaller particles floating around in there and every once in awhile letting it run very low near sputtering will allow some of the particle buildup to pass on thru. 
...
Next time will flip the switch to reserve while running.

If you don't run on reserve now and then there is that portion at the bottom of the tank that doesn't get well stirred.  Any use of the reserve setting will counteract that.  You can run on reserve any time, just don't forget and leave it there.

The exercise suggested earlier is worthwhile.  When riding turn the petcock off and let yourself get accustomed to feeling the engine start to starve and turn it to reserve.  You should have between one and two miles in the carb bowls and you should be able to feel the starvation without losing any significant amount of speed. 

[Varmintmist]

Every time you put fuel in you will stir the tank. Running it to reserve or at least running it in the reserve position will tell you that the valve is working.

I know that I can make it to the first stop sign before I run out of fuel with it in the O-F-F position. I like to remind myself of that a few times a summer. Thats my story and I am good with it.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Mine sputtered 3 blocks from home at 25 mph on the way back from lunch at Hooter's today (Hooter's had nothing to do with running on reserve but adds a note of color, maybe...). Anyway, sputtered, switched to reserve continued on to the gas station. 200 miles on the odometer took 5.6 gallons, ~35 MPG. Need to ride slower I guess