What has happened to the fuel gauge

[StumpyFingers]

yeah i know it does all that, but it would be nice if after going to the trouble of asking you what your tank range was so it could put up the "find fuel" button on the screen after X miles, it would look along your existing route for stations in range before taking you off route to find the nearest.
when youre on an autoroute it wastes a lot of time coming off, maybe paying a toll, going up a busy secondary road to find fuel 3.2mi away, and then rejoining the autoroute, when along the route you were on there was fuel at 5mi.
i know its just a dum machine and cant think for itself (like a lot of people!) but thats only a simple software addition, and a very useful one i think. if im on a long trip thats preplanned into the zumo i usually plan in my fuel stops for max range with minimum disruption, about 130 miles is long enough to get off, give the buttocks a stretch, have a drink and mars bar and fill the bike.

The main issues are the fact that the bike seems to have such a vast difference in range, some can get 155, 185 miles before the light some only 135 miles. It would be nice for either the bike to have a more consistent range or a better warning system.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

... it would be nice if after going to the trouble of asking you what your tank range was so it could put up the "find fuel" button on the screen after X miles, it would look along your existing route for stations in range before taking you off route to find the nearest...

I agree. Accessing the "Near... current route" option is a pain and near-useless on toll roads. OTOH the ordinary "find fuel" button brings up a list of fuel stops with arrows pointing towards them (and distance), so you can see which ones are ahead.

I understand Stumpy's point, but most riders have more consistent tank ranges. On my bike the light seldom comes on much less than 200 miles, more on a long run. And there's nothing stopping me from refilling before then. So if "130 miles is long enough to get off, give the buttocks a stretch, have a drink and mars bar" then I refill at 130 miles.

I believe the problem with fuel guages is that the shape of a bike's tank is quite irregular. I had one on an old Kawasaki GT550 and on a BMW R1150RS. Both would show "full" for ages, then drop steadily, and finally drop like a stone near the bottom.

I suppose manufacturers would fit one if there were sufficient demand (though they aren't always responsive).

[davsato]

i meant ive had enough after 130 miles or so, especially if its time after time. the bike goes on forever, i get over 250miles per tank on an autoroute at 70/80 mph (i try to keep the guage reading over 10mi/l), but my backside cant take that, maybe once but then the distance between stops gets less and less. 120/130 is a reasonable amount before i stop and recharge, and if your stopped at a petrol station i may as well fill up otherwise its every other stop.
i dont want to risk it becoming a torture when im supposed to be enjoying the trip, the ride to and from somewhere nice is part of of the trip for me.

quick stop, pee, stretch, swig of water and a sugar rush and we're away again

[tramp]

hi Davasto.


i know its just a dum machine and cant think for itself (like a lot of people!) but thats only a simple software addition, and a very useful one i think. if im on a long trip thats preplanned into the zumo i usually plan in my fuel stops for max range with minimum disruption, about 130 miles is long enough to get off, give the buttocks a stretch, have a drink and mars bar and fill the bike.


my garmin nuvi550 does the same Garmin are to blame as they cant even make the machine have a different colour for road types, me old Navman had re for main routes and blue express and another colour for c roads etc.

one day we`ll get their only to find "everyones flying".

I have most magor supermarket poi`s for europe/uk so just ask for them and "vola".

But those zomo`s would be nice as you say "low fuel next station in 3 mls"

[StumpyFingers]

Now having a satnav that you could program with your tank range, so that on a long journey it could use the POI's to calculate that a fuel stop was in order and inform you of the next stop.

[Austin]

On the Vara I ALWAYS zero the trip and always fill the tank right up. Its the only way to know where you are without a fuel guage.

On the Vara worst distance before light came on has been 170miles (2-up, luggage and motorway). Best is 250miles - solo, A roads and motorway, very tired and only doing 60ish (cornwall to gloucester). Normally its 200 to 220.

My fuelling strategy:
when commuting, coz, I know where all the stations are is to eke out every last drop. On my TA I frequently put 19+ litres into a 19 litre tank.

When travelling/touring is - on motorways use the signage for service areas and fill up at about 150 to 170 miles. Which is enough. On other roads to fill up at the next fuel stop after 150 miles on the trip This has only failed once - in France where I ended up doing 45miles after the countdown started (it counts down from 33 miles to go). I seem to remember 240 on the trip. I also used Garmin sat Nav to get to nearest - got taken to 3 closed fuel stations before I found one that wasn't listed anyway. I was convinced I was going to run out but it still only took 22 litres, so I reckon there was still another 3-4 in there so good for another 30+ miles still. But I would never rely on this.

[davsato]

i suppose the answer would be a monthly online update of POIs like they do for the speed cameras if you subscribe to it.
but the speedcams are just there on the police website, to check every POI would be a big ask! and how much would that cost? its bad enough £80 for the yearly updates. i asked garmin about that and they said its nothing to do with them, all they do is supply the hardware and mapsource, the actual maps are from a third party source that can charge what they like

[Snaphappy]

Just bought some office supplies and got a free sat nav
(free with first order over €50)
now it should not be able to match a £500 navi system but

Full European coverage with Route tracker
Motorway exit countdown and lane adviser
POI
MP3 player
Video player
EBook
Photo viewer

But one of the best features is the Petrol station icon on screen

[davsato]

blimey, its worth buying 50euros of pens or something!