Fuel or Mileage Left on Reserve?

Magician16 · 09-08-2021, 01:18 PM

I have a Magician, and I've run it down to reserve a couple of times. The last time was Monday, and we were in the middle of nowhere. Does anyone know about how much gas is left on reserve? I get right at 67 mpg, and I had 140 KM or about 89 miles on when I changed over. I had a Kawasaki 1000 at one time, and I was lucky to get 15 miles on reserve.

lilgman · 09-08-2021, 02:03 PM

This is comparing apples to oranges in so many ways, so probably doesn't help, but my South African BigBoy TSR 250 (basically a Hawk with the Brozz balanced engine) will do 200km pretty easily unless I'm riding slow single track. It has a 12 liter tank (about 3 gallons.)

Megadan · 09-08-2021, 02:44 PM

The standard generic reserve level for most bikes is around 1 gallon, and usually at minimum half a gallon. Basically it's supposed to be enough to get you to the closest fuel station in any populated area.

J4Fun · 09-08-2021, 04:44 PM

Your going to have to do the one time test knowing your fuel tanks capacity and knowing your going to be close to a gas station. Top the bike off knowing fuel capacity then drive it until you need to switch to reserve and get to the nearest gas station. Fill up and do the math! Used to be they stated reserve fuel in the manuals too! I'm either old or had bikes with better manuals ��

JFOlivier · 09-08-2021, 06:33 PM

With the Lifan expect there is no mention of a reserve although the fuel valve has 3 positions, Off 90 degrees to down and 180 degrees so I guess the only way to find out is to remove the fuel hose and drain the tank then see if there is any difference between the 2 open positions. Would straight down be normal and 180 degrees be reserve.

Magician16 · 09-08-2021, 07:02 PM

Well, the two times I've had to use the reserve, I had run 89 miles and 93 miles. Last time I was 12 miles from the closest gas station, so I know it'll make 12 miles at 40 to 55 mph. I decided to install a burrito tube and put a liter of gas in it.

ChillRider · 09-20-2021, 05:54 AM

The Zongshen Sierra has an 8-liter tank and a 1-liter reserve, same as the Yamaha TW200 it's derived from. That's significantly less than even half a gallon. In practice that means that once you hit reserve, you have maybe 20-25 kms to go -if you ride really conservatively.

Magician16 · 09-20-2021, 07:24 AM

My buddy who rides a KLX 250 sometimes when we're exploring around gets around 100 mpg. When I'm running out, he's still got half a tank. It would be nice to have a tank larger than 1.75 gal.

China Rider 27 · 09-20-2021, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magician16

My buddy who rides a KLX 250 sometimes when we're exploring around gets around 100 mpg. When I'm running out, he's still got half a tank. It would be nice to have a tank larger than 1.75 gal.

One solution is to get a 1 gal plastic heavy duty trail type gas can and mount it to that luggage rack on the back.

09-08-2021, 01:18 PM	#1
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 468	Fuel or Mileage Left on Reserve? I have a Magician, and I've run it down to reserve a couple of times. The last time was Monday, and we were in the middle of nowhere. Does anyone know about how much gas is left on reserve? I get right at 67 mpg, and I had 140 KM or about 89 miles on when I changed over. I had a Kawasaki 1000 at one time, and I was lucky to get 15 miles on reserve.
	0

09-08-2021, 02:44 PM	#3
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,011	The standard generic reserve level for most bikes is around 1 gallon, and usually at minimum half a gallon. Basically it's supposed to be enough to get you to the closest fuel station in any populated area. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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09-20-2021, 07:24 AM	#8
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 468	My buddy who rides a KLX 250 sometimes when we're exploring around gets around 100 mpg. When I'm running out, he's still got half a tank. It would be nice to have a tank larger than 1.75 gal. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
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09-08-2021, 02:03 PM	#2
lilgman Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Lesotho Posts: 105	This is comparing apples to oranges in so many ways, so probably doesn't help, but my South African BigBoy TSR 250 (basically a Hawk with the Brozz balanced engine) will do 200km pretty easily unless I'm riding slow single track. It has a 12 liter tank (about 3 gallons.)
	0

09-08-2021, 04:44 PM	#4
J4Fun Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 283	Your going to have to do the one time test knowing your fuel tanks capacity and knowing your going to be close to a gas station. Top the bike off knowing fuel capacity then drive it until you need to switch to reserve and get to the nearest gas station. Fill up and do the math! Used to be they stated reserve fuel in the manuals too! I'm either old or had bikes with better manuals ��
	0

09-08-2021, 06:33 PM	#5
JFOlivier Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Northern Neck of Virginia. Posts: 164	With the Lifan expect there is no mention of a reserve although the fuel valve has 3 positions, Off 90 degrees to down and 180 degrees so I guess the only way to find out is to remove the fuel hose and drain the tank then see if there is any difference between the 2 open positions. Would straight down be normal and 180 degrees be reserve.
	0

09-08-2021, 07:02 PM	#6
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 468	Well, the two times I've had to use the reserve, I had run 89 miles and 93 miles. Last time I was 12 miles from the closest gas station, so I know it'll make 12 miles at 40 to 55 mph. I decided to install a burrito tube and put a liter of gas in it.
	0

09-20-2021, 05:54 AM	#7
ChillRider Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: A small country with a funny name Posts: 164	The Zongshen Sierra has an 8-liter tank and a 1-liter reserve, same as the Yamaha TW200 it's derived from. That's significantly less than even half a gallon. In practice that means that once you hit reserve, you have maybe 20-25 kms to go -if you ride really conservatively.
	0