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Brainchild · 03-18-2008, 09:01 PM

Hello all. I Am new to this forum, and I am glad I found it. I just bought a new Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD, which I will pick up tomorrow. I am reeeeeally looking forward to riding it. I expect I will learn from you all, and I hope, in time, I will be able to contribute and share something of my own. I do have one question. It does not have a fuel gauge, and since I don't like guessing at things like how little gas I have left, I was hoping there is one available. Anybody know anything about that?
Thanks.

Brain

The_AirHawk · 03-18-2008, 09:47 PM

How long have you been riding?

Most carb'd bikes come equipped with a three-position petschlong: Off, On, and Reserve.

When riding, you keep it in the On position, until you feel the bike run-out of gas; usually it will be a sputter or stumble, the "feel" of it varies from bike to bike. When this happens, you hold-on the throttle and reach down with your left hand and rotate the petschlong to the Reserve position. Then start looking for a gas-station.

Your bike should also have a resettable trip-odometer. After a few-tankfuls, you should have a good-estimate of how many miles you can go between fillups, where you reset the odo back to zero.

If you're as new to Motorcycling as you are to this bike, please consider an MSF Beginning Rider Course.

It might save your Life, and will certainly answer many other questions you may have about Motorcycling on a face-to-face basis with your Instructor.

sachiwilson · 03-19-2008, 07:38 AM

Also, get proper riding gear!!! Full helmet, armored leather boots gloves and clothing, and so on. Don't be a statistic!

pushrod · 03-19-2008, 08:14 AM

Funny, I seem to remember my Uncle cussin' his "Vulcan LTD", but I'm pretty sure it was a car...

sarnali2 · 03-19-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pushrod

Funny, I seem to remember my Uncle cussin' his "Vulcan LTD", but I'm pretty sure it was a car...

Ummm...that wasn't "Vulcan" LTD he was sayin'.....

seruzawa · 03-19-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarnali2

Ummm...that wasn't "Vulcan" LTD he was sayin'.....

I used to yell "Vulcan Cutlass"! Does that help?

acecycleins · 03-19-2008, 12:33 PM

You have a "trip" meter on the bike. Get used to it. You shoud be able to go around 140 miles or so on a tank.
Your going to have to get used to the fact that when the bike runs out of fuel you'll have to switch the petkock from "on" to "res". Your reserve will get you about 20-30 miles before you run completely out of gas.
BTW- we have all left the petc0ck on reserve after fill up and run out of gas before- get used to it. It will happen. You just have to remind yourself to switch it back to ON before you actually fuel it up. If you get into that habit it will help.
You don't need no stinkin' fuel gauge. Gauges are for wimps. All you need is a full array of idiot lights to let you know what going on with your bike. You'll be fine- trust us.

seruzawa · 03-19-2008, 01:40 PM

Bike fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate. Three of my bikes have fuel gauges. All are horribly inaccurate... most saying empty when the tank is 1/2 full. Just use the tripodometer.

newagetwotone · 03-19-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acecycleins

You have a "trip" meter on the bike. Get used to it. You shoud be able to go around 140 miles or so on a tank.
Your going to have to get used to the fact that when the bike runs out of fuel you'll have to switch the petkock from "on" to "res". Your reserve will get you about 20-30 miles before you run completely out of gas.
BTW- we have all left the petc0ck on reserve after fill up and run out of gas before- get used to it. It will happen. You just have to remind yourself to switch it back to ON before you actually fuel it up. If you get into that habit it will help.
You don't need no stinkin' fuel gauge. Gauges are for wimps. All you need is a full array of idiot lights to let you know what going on with your bike. You'll be fine- trust us.

I dont know if i'd want to trust anyone on this board...

The_AirHawk · 03-19-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newagetwotone

I dont know if i'd want to trust anyone on this board...

And well you should NOT, young Padawan.

Trusting leads to Friendship; and Friendship leads to letting someone you've known for years yet met only-20-minutes-ago-at-a-Rally ride your Motorcycle; and letting someone you've known for years yet met only-20-minutes-ago-at-a-Rally ride your Motorcycle leads to Reciprocation; and Reciprocation leads to riding the Motorcycle of someone you've known for years yet met only-20-minutes-ago-at-a-Rally; and riding the Motorcycle of someone you've known for years yet met only-20(now 35!)-minutes-ago-at-a-Rally leads to liking the feel of a different bike; and liking the feel of a different bike leads to BUYING a different bike; and BUYING a different bike leads to Joy; and we all know where THAT leads.

Once start You down that Dark Path, forever will it Dominate your Destiny.........

03-18-2008, 09:01 PM	#1
Brainchild Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	I'm the new guy,and,yes,I have a question Hello all. I Am new to this forum, and I am glad I found it. I just bought a new Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD, which I will pick up tomorrow. I am reeeeeally looking forward to riding it. I expect I will learn from you all, and I hope, in time, I will be able to contribute and share something of my own. I do have one question. It does not have a fuel gauge, and since I don't like guessing at things like how little gas I have left, I was hoping there is one available. Anybody know anything about that? Thanks. Brain Last edited by sachiwilson : 03-19-2008 at 07:39 AM. Reason: Geeze, pay attention to your spacing.

03-18-2008, 09:47 PM	#2
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	How long have you been riding? Most carb'd bikes come equipped with a three-position petschlong: Off, On, and Reserve. When riding, you keep it in the On position, until you feel the bike run-out of gas; usually it will be a sputter or stumble, the "feel" of it varies from bike to bike. When this happens, you hold-on the throttle and reach down with your left hand and rotate the petschlong to the Reserve position. Then start looking for a gas-station. Your bike should also have a resettable trip-odometer. After a few-tankfuls, you should have a good-estimate of how many miles you can go between fillups, where you reset the odo back to zero. If you're as new to Motorcycling as you are to this bike, please consider an MSF Beginning Rider Course. It might save your Life, and will certainly answer many other questions you may have about Motorcycling on a face-to-face basis with your Instructor. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

03-19-2008, 07:38 AM	#3
sachiwilson Women Riders Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,609	Also, get proper riding gear!!! Full helmet, armored leather boots gloves and clothing, and so on. Don't be a statistic! __________________ Frappé LaRue Safety Queen Are you a Rounder? Sarnali: "what could be more useless than arguing with a deaf female lawyer????"

03-19-2008, 08:14 AM	#4
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,478	Funny, I seem to remember my Uncle cussin' his "Vulcan LTD", but I'm pretty sure it was a car... __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

03-19-2008, 12:33 PM	#7
acecycleins Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 4,125	You have a "trip" meter on the bike. Get used to it. You shoud be able to go around 140 miles or so on a tank. Your going to have to get used to the fact that when the bike runs out of fuel you'll have to switch the petkock from "on" to "res". Your reserve will get you about 20-30 miles before you run completely out of gas. BTW- we have all left the petc0ck on reserve after fill up and run out of gas before- get used to it. It will happen. You just have to remind yourself to switch it back to ON before you actually fuel it up. If you get into that habit it will help. You don't need no stinkin' fuel gauge. Gauges are for wimps. All you need is a full array of idiot lights to let you know what going on with your bike. You'll be fine- trust us. __________________ "Slack" - a state of being in which everything flows smoothly.....a frame of mind so at ease that the universe naturally cooperates.

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03-19-2008, 01:40 PM	#8
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	Bike fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate. Three of my bikes have fuel gauges. All are horribly inaccurate... most saying empty when the tank is 1/2 full. Just use the tripodometer. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.