How to Avoid Running Out of Gas on a Motorcycle

(and what to do, if you do)

 

 

 

Running Out of Gas:

It's surprisingly easy to run out of gas when out riding your motorcycle. Trust me, it's happened to me more times than I'm willing to admit. But as frustrating as those times were (late at night - in the middle of freakin' nowhere - on my way home from a long weekend ride, etc. etc, etc.) all those instances were avoidable… for the most part.

And so here I offer you, from my frustration and experience, a few good tips on how to AVOID running out of gas… and what you can do, when you do run out of gas.

 

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Don’t trust your gauges.

Whether your motorcycle has a sophisticated on-board computer estimating how many remaining miles before you'll need to refuel, or you have a simple warning "Low Fuel" light that illuminates when you're into the "reserve".

And maybe you've got an old-school motorbike that has neither - like my 1978 BMW R80 - no warning lights or fancy electronics… when I run out of gas from the main tank, I reach down to the petcock and turn the lever to "reserve", which allows me another gallon or so of fuel.

none of these systems are 100% accurate

I'll often use my trip meter to help with the estimate of when I'll hit the reserve by calculating my average MPG from my last fill-up. This can be helpful, but depending on the type of riding I'm doing that day, even a trip meter can't be 100% accurate.

If there's anything to be learned from all this technology, it's that trip computers and gauges offer a rough (not precise) guideline of how many miles we can get from each tank.

So, regardless of which fuel warning system your bike has, one thing is consistent, none of these systems are 100% accurate. And there's always a possibility you may run out of fuel.

 

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When in doubt, refuel.

Riding locally around your town, it's easy to stop and refuel whenever it's convenient. In the cities, gas stations are virtually on every corner. But if you're riding further out, away from towns and cities, fuel stops are not as predictable. And even if you're aware a gas station that's on your planned route - what if they are closed (because it's Sunday, or it's a Holiday, or whatever reason) when you arrive?

Even if you're confident that you still have half a tank of fuel remaining, but think you might not encounter another gas station soon, take the extra five minutes to top off your bike.

When in doubt, refuel.

 

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Use a GPS.

Having a GPS unit on your motorcycle can be a big help for many reasons - many new navigation systems can locate the nearest gas station, and some even have advanced fuel planning capabilities that can sort stations by price and/or distance. Before you ride with your GPS, take the time necessary to get familiar with all its features and use them to your advantage.

But don't rely on it 100%

Like any electronic component, there's always the possibility that it may fail - the battery could lose power or its connection (better if it's hard-wired), etc. Many GPS units are now specifically designed for use on a motorcycle, and have better internal connections to handle the additional vibrations from a motorcycle (especially important when riding off-road).

 

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Pack a siphon, or even better, stow your own extra fuel.

If you know you'll be riding in locations where gas stations are few and far between, as a last-resort, consider adding a siphon hose to your tool kit. At a very minimum, you'll need a tube (hose) long enough to reach from another fuel source (another vehicle's tank) to your tank.

This is assuming you're in a location where you can flag down a car whose driver is willing to give (or sell) you enough fuel to get you to another source where you can fill up. And if you're riding off-road or in highly remote areas, keep in mind that a passing jeep, or motorcycle may be hesitant to offer you any of their fuel, simply because they may need every precious drop to get themselves to their next destination.

as a last-resort...

Another good idea for the long rides is to carry extra fuel in a separate container. There are some good after-market fuel canisters that are small and will can that extra bit of fuel for when you need it.

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Retrofit an extra capacity tank.

If riding a motorcycle on more long-distance adventures is in your future, but you don't have a touring bike, you may want to consider retro-fitting your current motorcycle with a larger fuel tank.

get a larger tank

There are aftermarket tanks available that can hold considerably more fuel than stock tanks. So before you trade in your ride just because of the tank size, look into getting a larger tank.

 

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What to do if you run out of gas...

If you run out of gas, you'll have to act fast. Your immediate goal is to get to a safe place - if on the highway, get to the shoulder or median—whichever is closest. Use your turn signal as well as your arm to signal that you're changing lanes. The traffic around may not be able to anticipate your urgent need to switch lanes. If you don't take initiative when your bike shows signs of fuel starvation, you'll be caught stranded in the middle of the road—a very dangerous situation to find yourself in.

get to a safe place

Once you've successfully coasted to a stop on either side of the road, activate your hazard lights, step away from your bike, and stay as far away from traffic as possible while you use your cell phone for roadside service or signal for help.

If you decide to abandon your bike and walk to a gas station, ask for a fuel container you can fill up and take back to your motorcycle. If the station doesn't sell fuel cans, buy a bottle of water and drain it. You won't want to let a drop of water into your fuel supply, so rinse the empty bottle with fuel before filling it up; that way, you can ensure nothing but gas gets back into your tank.

 

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Final thoughts...

These are some tips that have helped me in the past, and hopefully they'll be helpful to you if and when you do run out of gas on your motorcycle.

plan ahead

Best advice I can offer, plan ahead, and do everything you can to avoid running out of fuel - but if it happens, know that there are steps you can do to get you home.

 

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What did you do the last time you ran out of gas on your motorcycle?

Please leave a comment...

 

Ride on!

—Michael Murray
Owner | Rider | Enthiusiast

michael@motorcycletraveldvds.com

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