- Joined
- Dec 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,789
- Reaction score
- 47
- Location
- On a mountain in the Ozarks
- My Bike Models
- 1982 Standard
On my 83 Interstate the gas gauge only reads the top half of the tank. In other words - when the tank is full, the gauge reads full. But when the gauge gets to empty I still have half a tank left. So I pretty much rely on the odometer to estimate when I'll be need'n to gas up. Normally at all highway speeds I'll switch to reserve at just around 170-175 miles. But recently my speedometer just "quit". So I guess I'm gonna have to find a fix for one or the other. But that's not what this is about.
Over the weekend I had to take a trip to the valley. I have driven to this destination many times, so I know that it is 150 miles one way. I gassed up here in town when I left and just paciently took my time and cruised in the right lane like I had all day to get there. In the 55mph zone, I was moving along with traffic @ just about 3400rpm in 5th gear. So I figure that must equate to 55-60-ish? So that's what I cruised all the way there. I had packed a queen size AirBed tied ontop of the trunk, My pllow in one side bag, mama's pillow in the other side bag, a light imitation leather womens jacket-a heavy leather womens jacket (just in case), a pair of womens boots, 2 pairs of womens gloves, pretty sunglasses in the trunk along with the usual misc. tire plugs/fix-a-flat, etc. I had an extra helmet bungeed down to the rear of the seat. There was a nasty cross wind that was sort of at my tail most of the time. (it's been unusually windy this year)
Anyways, got there, spent the night partying, left the next day. Gassed up before leaving town and could only get 2 gallons to go in. I looked down in the hole and saw that the tank was full. Yup!, 2 gallons to go 150 miles @55 mph with luggage. Unbelievable? I was a little taken aback myself!
Drove the same road, same speeds coming back. Gassed up when I got back into town and was able to squeeze 3 gallons into it. The only difference was the ol'lady, her purse, a small backpack containing a change of clothes and cosmetics, and the nasty crosswind sort of head on at times. Ok, I know what you're thinking and not that I'd argue with you, :whistling: :ahem:
but the real point I'm making here is that if you can find the patience to drive 55 it's like getting a free gallon of gas. :clapping: :music:
Over the weekend I had to take a trip to the valley. I have driven to this destination many times, so I know that it is 150 miles one way. I gassed up here in town when I left and just paciently took my time and cruised in the right lane like I had all day to get there. In the 55mph zone, I was moving along with traffic @ just about 3400rpm in 5th gear. So I figure that must equate to 55-60-ish? So that's what I cruised all the way there. I had packed a queen size AirBed tied ontop of the trunk, My pllow in one side bag, mama's pillow in the other side bag, a light imitation leather womens jacket-a heavy leather womens jacket (just in case), a pair of womens boots, 2 pairs of womens gloves, pretty sunglasses in the trunk along with the usual misc. tire plugs/fix-a-flat, etc. I had an extra helmet bungeed down to the rear of the seat. There was a nasty cross wind that was sort of at my tail most of the time. (it's been unusually windy this year)
Anyways, got there, spent the night partying, left the next day. Gassed up before leaving town and could only get 2 gallons to go in. I looked down in the hole and saw that the tank was full. Yup!, 2 gallons to go 150 miles @55 mph with luggage. Unbelievable? I was a little taken aback myself!
Drove the same road, same speeds coming back. Gassed up when I got back into town and was able to squeeze 3 gallons into it. The only difference was the ol'lady, her purse, a small backpack containing a change of clothes and cosmetics, and the nasty crosswind sort of head on at times. Ok, I know what you're thinking and not that I'd argue with you, :whistling: :ahem:
but the real point I'm making here is that if you can find the patience to drive 55 it's like getting a free gallon of gas. :clapping: :music: