How much fuel do you put in?

a year ago by wellbudyweek to c/motorcycles

I bought my first motorcycle a few days ago (will post the promised pics soon!) but I noticed that the nozzle of the fuel station goes quite deep into the tank, so if it shuts off automatically, my tank is only half full.

From cars I know you shouldn't fill up further after it automatically shuts off, but they don't have this issue, so...

The question is, how do I know how much fuel I can put in the tank, without damaging anything (short or long term)?

Edit: thanks for the responses, since the bike is more than 20 years old, I don't haave the manual. But just filling it up as full as possible while the lid can still close comfortably seems to work just fine

kaotic 11 points a year ago

Check the manual, my Indian has a lip just inside the tank the manual says just as it comes over that lip your “full”.

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hydrashok 5 points a year ago

Yep, my old Honda bike was the same. Little ridge at the top of the tank indicating the “full” line. Don’t overfill!

Also, keep in mind that the bike only holds 2-3 gallons normally, so be careful because it can fill up faster than you might expect if you’re comparing to a car refueling. It’s more like refilling a lawn mower.

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SharkWeek 10 points a year ago

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Figlizard 6 points a year ago

Nothin worse than riding home with you balls doused in gas. It's like overfilled Zippo in your pocket. Yikes! Don't do that

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kmartburrito 2 points a year ago

I always fill mine (vtx 1300) while sitting on it because I can level it out and see better inside the tank.

I've never slipped or spilled a drop in the 15 years that I've owned it. I guess I'm just more careful than some others, and don't put my feet on oil slicks thinking it's going to hold my weight.

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SharkWeek 2 points a year ago

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kmartburrito 3 points a year ago

I usually put in somewhere between 3 and 3.5 gallons, but I do feel it's a lot easier than a sportbike to fill since I sit a lot lower and have my feet flat. And really, I don't suppose that I feel it needs to be straight up, I just like doing it that way and am a nerd like that I guess.

I've only owned a few motorbikes in my 25 years of riding. I'm super impressed that you've had 30! Definitely a little bit jealous of that :)

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SharkWeek 2 points a year ago

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Droggelbecher 2 points a year ago

I prefer to sit on mine to fill because it only has a side stand and I want it to be upright so I can get more fuel in. Then I put the nozzle just past the highest point to which you should fill the tank, hold it steady there, press all the way until it shuts off automatically. Works well for me.

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wellbudyweek 2 points a year ago

This is the most clear description I got, thanks for that! This is also what I've been doing by not knowing any better, although I've been doing this while standing next to it while the bike is on the side stand. Mostly because I have yo get off to get to the (pre-)payment terminal anyways.

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SharkWeek 2 points a year ago

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Droggelbecher 2 points a year ago

That can happen as you drive off, too, which is only part of why this was super uncalled for

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SharkWeek 2 points a year ago

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RubberElectrons 4 points a year ago

US, west coast, we have systems on the nozzle which prevent dispensing gas unless the nozzle is well seated, in order to pull gas fumes back into a return built into the hose. Here's an article.

I usually have to forcibly override it by pulling back on the plastic ring around the nozzle's base, otherwise I'd only get 2/3 of my tank. I stop a bit below the inlet of the tank, gasoline from a cool underground tank will slightly expand in summer heat.

Good idea for the environment, little bit of an annoyance but no big deal.

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SEND_BUTTPLUG_PICS 3 points a year ago

I don't live on the west coast but when I've visited I was annoyed by having to fumble with the foreskin every time I tried to fill my bike.

If I lived out there I would definitely give one of these a try.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224910032421

It's a card that you slip over the nozzle that holds the foreskin back for you so you don't have to hold it back with your hand.

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gilokee 2 points a year ago

the foreskin...lol...

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RubberElectrons 2 points a year ago

Nah, just more crap to buy. I keep my moto gloves on and do it manually. Thanks though.

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gilokee 2 points a year ago

I put one 500 yen coin into the machine. Sometimes I get change back. :P (I drive a lil super cub).

but yeah like others are saying, just fill it mostly to the top. No worries.

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lka1988 2 points a year ago

My Honda Metropolitan has a little bar at the bottom of the fuel fill hole. Pretty simple. My older XR500 though is just a big hole at the top...

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arnan 0 points a year ago

@wellbudyweek just lift the nozzle, hold it higher. 😉

Ask someone from the fuelstation to help you the first few times if that makes you nervous. Let them do it the first time, have them watch when you do it the first time. Etc.

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