Usable fuel tank size

[Ihbiker]

I will be taking the delivery of my new 20’ RS in couple weeks. My 1st time to own a BMW bike... how big is the fuel tank? I am seeing 4.7 gal of usable tank and 1 gal reserve tank online. So does this mean the total size is 5.7 gal? Or total is 4.7 gal?

Had a few Sport Tourers, and this one seems to have the smallest tank. My previous FJR has 6 gal, and the current Goldwing (yo be traded in) has 5.8 gal.


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[Grumpy Goat]

I believe that the reserve is included in the 4.7. See the other post from Darrell only today. That will answer your question.

Depending on how you ride you should get 200 - 220 miles out of a tank.

The RS is actually not a touring bike, and BMW has it in their Sport bike lineup.

   

We just like to tour with it because it does that so well, and if you stop every 2 hours for a break (good journey management protocol) then the tank size is not an issue. As long as the bladder is less than the tank you are good to go.

[Ray]

I am seeing 4.7 gal of usable tank and 1 gal reserve tank online. So does this mean the total size is 5.7 gal? Or total is 4.7 gal?

Had a few Sport Tourers, and this one seems to have the smallest tank. My previous FJR has 6 gal, and the current Goldwing (yo be traded in) has 5.8 gal.

The FJR and Goldwing aren't going to get the mileage of the RS, so the range is not all that different.

I know - hard to find the meaning of "reserve." It's no longer a true reserve where one has to flip a switch to change tanks.

The best I can determine - total tank is 18 liters (about 4.75 gallons) and the electronic mark for the 3 liter (0.8 gal) reserve is at 15 liters (about 4.0 gallons).


The great thing about this forum - someone will correct this if I'm wrong.

[Rotorwrench]

Once the low fuel light comes on, Figure about 50 miles of fuel left. Not that I have ever pushed it that far.

[Grumpy Goat]

The FJR and Goldwing aren't going to get the mileage of the RS, so the range is not all that different.

That is true, I am sure. The BMW boxer is a pretty fuel efficient engine and maybe one of the most among engines of similar displacement and power output.

[runnerhiker]

I had a 2008 FJR, the RS gets about 10 mpg better. At most, the FJR might go 20 miles further per tank of gas with its 1.5 gallon advantage.

[Ihbiker]

I believe that the reserve is included in the 4.7. See the other post from Darrell only today. That will answer your question.

Depending on how you ride you should get 200 - 220 miles out of a tank.

The RS is actually not a touring bike, and BMW has it in their Sport bike lineup.



We just like to tour with it because it does that so well, and if you stop every 2 hours for a break (good journey management protocol) then the tank size is not an issue. As long as the bladder is less than the tank you are good to go.

Ha ha.. so true. The bladder is always less than the tank.


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[Ihbiker]

I am seeing 4.7 gal of usable tank and 1 gal reserve tank online. So does this mean the total size is 5.7 gal? Or total is 4.7 gal?

Had a few Sport Tourers, and this one seems to have the smallest tank. My previous FJR has 6 gal, and the current Goldwing (yo be traded in) has 5.8 gal.

The FJR and Goldwing aren't going to get the mileage of the RS, so the range is not all that different.

I know - hard to find the meaning of "reserve." It's no longer a true reserve where one has to flip a switch to change tanks.

The best I can determine - total tank is 18 liters (about 4.75 gallons) and the electronic mark for the 3 liter (0.8 gal) reserve is at 15 liters (about 4.0 gallons).


The great thing about this forum - someone will correct this if I'm wrong.

The FJR range was fairly short if I recall, full tank may make to 240 miles. The Goldwing is better.

As long as I can get close to 200 miles I am good. Especially I live in Japan now, there is not really a wide place without gas stations.


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[Ihbiker]

I had a 2008 FJR, the RS gets about 10 mpg better. At most, the FJR might go 20 miles further per tank of gas with its 1.5 gallon advantage.

Good to know... My 2015 FJR was doing 240 to 255 miles, and my friend’s 2012 RT was going for 310 miles. I guess this new 2020 RS will be similar to the FJR.


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[Grumpy Goat]

As long as I can get close to 200 miles I am good. Especially I live in Japan now, there is not really a wide place without gas stations.

You should have no trouble getting that range in Japan. I have seen some YouTube videos of motorcycling in Japan and it looks so beautiful there. When I go I visit Yokohama which is where our office is. I will definitely give you a should when I am there next, although that may be in 2-3 years time.

[Ihbiker]

As long as I can get close to 200 miles I am good. Especially I live in Japan now, there is not really a wide place without gas stations.

You should have no trouble getting that range in Japan. I have seen some YouTube videos of motorcycling in Japan and it looks so beautiful there. When I go I visit Yokohama which is where our office is. I will definitely give you a should when I am there next, although that may be in 2-3 years time.

Sure... it would be fun to chat about motorcycling. Hopefully I would still be Herr where you visit. My work just extended my terms for another 3 years as no one can enter Japan now.

I went for a ride this morning on my Goldwing... it was great and beautiful. Cannot wait for the RS to be handed over next week.






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[Grumpy Goat]

Very nice.

[Lee]

I went for a ride this morning on my Goldwing... it was great and beautiful. Cannot wait for the RS to be handed over next week.

Thanks for the pictures.
Do you know what the bike is next to yours?
Looks like modern brakes and hand controls but the style is old.

Since your Wing is the Bagger style, were you temped with the K1600 Bagger?

[Ihbiker]

I went for a ride this morning on my Goldwing... it was great and beautiful. Cannot wait for the RS to be handed over next week.

Thanks for the pictures.
Do you know what the bike is next to yours?
Looks like modern brakes and hand controls but the style is old.

Since your Wing is the Bagger style, were you temped with the K1600 Bagger?

It is a limited edition Suzuki SW1 from 1992. My friend is the 2nd owner of the bike, but according to him only the exhausts are aftermarket. It has the air cooled twin and sounded great.

Before getting the Wing, I considered the K1600B. But it costs almost $10K more than the Wing in Japan. After all, I was glad I did not spend the money as those mega bikes are no use here. RS would be as big as I would here, and maybe go up to a RT after retiring with more long distance trips.


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[Grumpy Goat]

It is a limited edition Suzuki SW1 from 1992. My friend is the 2nd owner of the bike, but according to him only the exhausts are aftermarket. It has the air cooled twin and sounded great.

Thanks to your model info I was able to find these brochure pages. Apparently it was designed only for the Japanese market. Interesting bike, that's for sure ... designed to be like a Vespa (scooter) whereas these days they are designing scooters to be more like motorcycles.

Before getting the Wing, I considered the K1600B. But it costs almost $10K more than the Wing in Japan. After all, I was glad I did not spend the money as those mega bikes are no use here. RS would be as big as I would here, and maybe go up to a RT after retiring with more long distance trips.

I think that you made a wise choice. Even the GW is probably too big for those roads in the city, and I am not sure that the K1600B is worth the $10K premium.

[Olgry1]

The Glod wings center of gravity is probably lower than the 1600 and probably much more maneuverable as a result. At the same time $10K is a big difference for similar bikes.

[Ihbiker]

It is a limited edition Suzuki SW1 from 1992. My friend is the 2nd owner of the bike, but according to him only the exhausts are aftermarket. It has the air cooled twin and sounded great.

Thanks to your model info I was able to find these brochure pages. Apparently it was designed only for the Japanese market. Interesting bike, that's for sure ... designed to be like a Vespa (scooter) whereas these days they are designing scooters to be more like motorcycles.

Before getting the Wing, I considered the K1600B. But it costs almost $10K more than the Wing in Japan. After all, I was glad I did not spend the money as those mega bikes are no use here. RS would be as big as I would here, and maybe go up to a RT after retiring with more long distance trips.

I think that you made a wise choice. Even the GW is probably too big for those roads in the city, and I am not sure that the K1600B is worth the $10K premium.

Exactly, the GW is too big for the city roads here. Even in some mountain passes, I often had hard time to make the turns.

Here my attached route maps. Those hair pins were fun.


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[Ihbiker]

The Glod wings center of gravity is probably lower than the 1600 and probably much more maneuverable as a result. At the same time $10K is a big difference for similar bikes.

The GW is very easy to maneuver. The only complaint I have is the weak reverse gear. Not sure how the K1600B reverse like... but $10K, I can buy a F900 R with some changes in the packet.


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[AlanM]

Hi
If you keep somewhere near the Japan limits then 200+ per tank is easy.
The motorway limits are only 80kph there.
Last year in France keeping to their rural single lane 80/90kph limits I got 230 miles to a tank.
AlanM

[mojoguzzi]

Some data on my recent bikes:

Code:

2014 FJR 1300ES                                 2018 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S                                2020 BMW R1250RS

Averages:

• FJR: 41.29mpg
  
• KTM: 40.54mpg
  
• BMW: 43.99mpg