Miles To Empty… Or Not!

'19 Speed Twin. Going through the same thing. Assuming there's similarities here in both bikes there's something definitely up with these things.

 

Could be

Your motor is now run IN !
I have always done trip Meter reset ! Done it from new on all my Bikes , when they have done 5 to 10 thousand or so km/miles . The fuel economy has improved markedly from when brand new (tight ring's and pistons) much more freely moving engine = less friction , so better running.
So what mileage are you talking about on these machines ??

 

Do you find the range sometimes increases rather than decreases? It may be calculating the range over a fairly short usage period which will be different from your overall average.

 

If you're using E10 fuel, that will decrease the tank range.

 

Assuming your T120 is similar software to my SpeedIII it is showing your miles to empty based on RECENT fuel consumption, and I've found it to be quite trustworthy. A few times I've found myself a long way from fuel, started pottering and see the range extend, got me out of a jam once or twice. SWMBO's StreetIII is the same and we get very similar range.

 

FWIW- I tend to ride my tank down to near-empty, less than 5 miles on the gauge, often down to like 2 or 3 miles. Despite all the variations in gauge readings and fluctuations in the fuel level while riding, I have yet to run out of gas.

 

My experience matches that of Col_C, my Bonneville Speedmaster seems to adjust it's range to empty based on fuel usage in the past few miles. With spirited riding in low gears, it goes down; stick on cruise control for a 50MPH average speed check road and it goes up.

Note, Speedmaster is same engine as T120, and probably same fuel sensors and electronics.

Early on I did an experiment carrying spare fuel, to see how far I could push the range. I did 10 miles after 'empty' and it was still running. Since then I have on multiple occasions ridden to the point where the miles remaining has hit zero, or one or two miles. The Speedmaster has a small tank, so it's good to know I can get the full 140miles out of it without worrying too much.

 

I've taken it down to showing 10 or less miles left quite a few times now and judging by refill quantity there was still a litre or so left, so I'm quite comfortable trusting the gauge to that extreme now. Never brave/stupid enough to get rid of that last bar yet though (10 bars on the S3)

 

Just looking at the numbers you quote would suggest something has changed. I believe T120 has a 14.5l tank. So if you are getting 63mpg you should be seeing a brimmed range of ~200 miles. But it does take a few miles for that last bar to pop up (certainly it does on my Street Cup) by which time you've burnt off a little fuel and therefore have less range available, although I doubt it would be 10% of your full tank.

Also I believe the range "miles to empty" is the bike using instantaneous mileage rather than average mileage against the amount of fuel remaining in the tank. Certainly the harder I ride the shorter the indicated range, the gentler I ride the longer the indicated range.

Annoying as it is that the "range to empty" on your bike seems to have fallen and possibly even be wrong, it has at least failed pessimistically, so you will be filling up before you need to, which is always better than running out of fuel.

If it were my bike I'd be frustrated and probably ask a question at the next service. But if the bike continues to work properly I'd get on with enjoying the ride and fill up when the bike appears to be getting empty.

 

180 miles to a tank is 56/58 mpg not too shabby.
My 2008 America gets 56 ! But I've got 19.2 Lt tank ! I know this because I ran out ! Just 10 feet from the Bowser .. ! So I can predict quite accurately distance I'll get !

 

Good to know that I can run my T120 to pretty well empty using a realiable indicator, not that I make a habit of it, of course.
My RE Himalayan, and other bikes I've ridden start counting upwards when the fuel light comes on. What is the point of knowing how many miles I've done since the need to refuel? I need something absolute!!!!