Fuel guage reserve

[gatesy]

Hi all.
These threads on fuel consumption got me wondering so I finally read the handbook, after nearly 4 years and some 45K kms.
Turned to page 28 and ...I understand the flashing bit when you move onto reserve, but I fail to understand what is meant by the following first paras.
Is it me?
My gauge starts to count up slowly then seems to revert to double zero still flashing and so on. I reckon on some 4litres remaining so start looking for a fuel stop within 30kms.
Am I missing out on some vital bit of info to enhance the experience?

[Cornersruns]

The fuel gauge is a bit crap on the runner, but it is fairly consistent.

There is supposed to be 4.5l left when the gauge starts flashing and counting up, I've had it count up to just over 5l.  I've had the trip computer claim to have used 22.4l (the tank capacity is 21.5 claimed) and I've put in 20.4l to fill up.

When the display starts flashing it can reset itself as it seems to just take the fuel gauge sender and work out if it is in "reserve" heavy braking, putting the bike on the side stand can all affect this.  I've counted up about 0.2l in the past and the display has gone back to normal display for a time before going back into reserve display.  Poor programing of the display IMHO by Honda, once it goes into reserve mode it should lock in that mode until filled.

I expect I could go at least 40 miles on reserve but tend to start looking for petrol when the reserve display starts.

Hope that answers your questions.

[Spenze]

I've managed to hit 6.5l on reserve. Still only took 20l to fill up.

[gatesy]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply both, but I still don't know just what the display is telling me other than I am now on reserve and going by the handbook I have 4.5l left.
The flashing numbers seem to me to bear no relation to how and how far I am riding, and therefore how far I have left, so they don't convey any info whatsoever. I could be being dense of course, but!
Maybe BMWs countdown has spoilt me for the usefulness of fuel gauges.

[Cornersruns]

Originally Posted by gatesy

Many thanks for taking the time to reply both, but I still don't know just what the display is telling me other than I am now on reserve and going by the handbook I have 4.5l left.
The flashing numbers seem to me to bear no relation to how and how far I am riding, and therefore how far I have left, so they don't convey any info whatsoever. I could be being dense of course, but!
Maybe BMWs countdown has spoilt me for the usefulness of fuel gauges.

I really don't know what other information you want?

Yes the display is not the best way of giving information.  But it is reliable and consistent.  The important bit is getting to know your bike and how far you can ride on reserve display and that depends on how you ride, ie the fuel consumption you get.

I have never run out of fuel, and that's running it down to about 1l left in the tank ( if the quoted tank capacity is correct )

You say you don't know what the display is telling you.  It's as you say it's counting up to 4.5l when the tank will be empty.  So it is telling you how much fuel you have left (in a funny way) but it didn't take me long to get used to it.  It's consistently about 10% pessimistic.

The crossrunner is a parts bin bike, it's been made cheaply ( hence it was about £1000 cheaper than the VFR800 when launched, I would have preferred the instrument panel from the VFR800 on the runner).

No bike is perfect, they all have little foibles, you just have to learn to live with them.

[gatesy]

Ah. You say it is counting UP to 4.5l from 0.0. That makes sense but it was not obvious to me at least from the handbook. Thanks for putting the light on in this old head.
I'm off on a 9 day trip to Monaco tomorrow so will have plenty of chances to put it to the test.

[TroggysRevenge]

It's annoying that the bike knows the average consumption and how much fuel is left but can't give a distance to empty. I wonder if there's a way to reprogram it...