| Author | Message | ||
     Creature |
Hi BB&D, I brought my new Uly home Labor Day weekend. I'd never test ridden one prior to purchasing but did lurk here since last winter. So, I knew pretty much what to expect. I have to say I've been very pleased. The bike is top shelf. The bags are so so for the money. I found myself laughing inside my helmet watching the front rubber mounted turn indicators vibrating while waiting on a traffic light. It had reminded me of my sister's older basset hound trying slowly to shake off water after having been bathed by my niece and nephew that same Labor Day weekend. One little problem, which I'm certain is easily remedied under warranty, is that it acts like it's out of fuel shortly after having traveled about 105 miles. The bike has only 216 miles on the odometer. The first time, I thought perhaps the dealer hadn't filled the tank. Though, I was curious why the low fuel light hadn't come on and the odometer hadn't switched to count the miles traveled on the last ~0.83 gallons. I was close to home and limped it back to the garage. I added about a half gallon and drove to the local pump to top it off (~2.1 gallons). With the half gallon added and after the first minute to work out the bubbles, it drove perfectly. At about 208, here again comes the subtle onset of a low fuel condition, occasional miss with gently increasing frequency. I was half expecting it and was within a few blocks of home, by design. Again, adding fuel and giving it a half mile or so, rewarded with a perfectly running engine. I'm looking for anyone who's had the same problem or has a theory. I figure it's about time for the first oil change and was thinking about taking it to the local Buell dealer anyhow. I'm hoping the fix doesn't require major surgery. It always makes me nervous having a service tech that I've never done business with before digging into an otherwise pristine bike. I bought it in Tulsa OK and will be taking it to one of the Dallas TX service centers, probably the one in Allen. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and thoughts. | ||
| Brad1445 |
Edit - I misunderstood question I'm on my third Buell XB Bike. All three gave similar early fuel warnings. My guess is its to compensate for not having a gas gauge and they want you to be VERY aware when you should start thinking gas. (Message edited by brad1445 on September 27, 2006) | ||
| Nutsosane |
This is my second XB and I can't say I've heard of this problem before. Someone posted earlier about a fuel pump replacement. When my Uly was new the fuel light went on but refused to begin the mile count. I quickly pulled into a filling station and put @ one gallon in. Problem seemed solved after that, no other issues. I have only seen the fuel light come on once since then. That was @ 140 miles and a solid flogging of 4k rpm-redline for about 11 miles!! Deals Gap has that effect on bikes. NUTS | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Creature, I hope I'm understanding you correctly and if I'm not send out some clarification. Once you fill it up and ride 100+/- miles it starts sputtering, out of gas syndrome, and you never get the low-fuel indication -- is that right? You've got a problem, but I don't know what it is. I can travel between 150 and 175 miles before my low-fuel lights up and I've been 200 before refueling. I don't know, yet, when it actually draws its last drop. Make sure you fully explain this to the servicing dealership,,,,something's wrong with this scenario. This is abnormal by Uly standards. G2 | ||
| Mb182 |
next time it happens, stop take off and reinstall the gas cap and see if it goes away? If so - look for a kinked vent line.. MB | ||
| Chris_in_tn |
If your symptoms are as Bigdaddy explains, I would guess it is your fuel tank ventilation system. When it does it again, stop and just open your fuel cap, replace cap and restart you bike. If it runs fine, there is your problem. I had this happen on a Moto Guzzi I had. The vent was installed backwards. It should be an easy fix. By the way, my Uly will get exactly 208.4 miles before the tank is bone dry. The gas station was about a 2 mile push...HUFF...HUFF | ||
| Jlnance |
The gas station was about a 2 mile push. Those last 2 miles are when you wish for a Blast.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I evidently flog the ever living crap out of my bike. I can't get more than 50 MPG. My light comes on around 150 miles. I usually put 3.6 gallons in the tank. Where are you guys riding that you can get 66 mpg? | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
Not in California, the land of MTBE. I don't flog my uly and I am getting around 43-45 in the streets, slightly better on the highway. Annoying! | ||
| Toxic |
My 04 12R gets about 55 mpg regularly and over 60 when I do longer highway trips. However, my 06 12X gets about 45mpg, and I have yet to get better than 50, even on the highway. I don't know other than aerodynamics of the bikes why there would be this big of a drop. | ||
| Crusty |
Right now I'm averaging 49-50 MPG with my Uly. The first few thousand miles, I was getting 40-45 MPG, but after the bike loosened up a little, my mileage improved. Creature, from your description of how your bike is acting, I'd say that something's not right. | ||
| Blake |
"I don't flog my uly and I am getting around 43-45 in the streets, slightly better on the highway. Annoying!" 45 MPG on the street is "Annoying"?!? How so? Is it annoying that you aren't subject to something closer to 30 MPG? | ||
| Creature |
Hmm, the kinked fuel vent theory sounds interesting. It should be easy to test. This second time I only added about a third of a gallon and hadn't traveled to the local pump to top it off as I had the first time. I'll definitely try riding it around in the neighborhood and see if it sputters again. If so, I'll stop and open the cap momentarily, then ride again to see if it makes a difference. I don't recall any kind of pressure equalization sounds either time when removing the cap. However, I could have easily missed that symptom. So, there's definitely a fuel pump? I could see how the fuel pump would have to work pretty hard against a vacuum forming in the tank. I wonder if some of the premature fuel pump replacements could be related back to improper tank venting. The vacuum in the tank theory could explain why the onset of the sputtering/missing is so gentle and builds gradually over several miles, say about ten or more. I wonder too if there's a possibility that the fuel pickup opening, or whatever it's called, is riding too high in the tank somehow. Thus, starting to suck air when there's still about two gallons left in the tank/frame. | ||
| Creature |
Duh, of course there's a fuel pump. It's fuel injected. Sorry, was having a blond moment. | ||
| Chris_in_tn |
There were some of the Guzzi's (V11 Sports) that the fuel pump would actually suck the sides of the tank in and you could see the tank expand out as you opened the cap. There was a run of bikes with the vent valve installed backwards. | ||
| Retired_cop |
The older tube frame models had a problem with the vent on the tank not opening and pressure forcing fuel into the carb and then into the cylinders. Hydraulic lock and a bottom end full of fuel was no fun at all. Some of our current MSF training bikes, GZ250 Suzuki's are experiencing a vent/cap gas vapor lock problem. Just open the cap and re-close it, problem gone. Sounds as if yours is doing the same. | ||
| Creature |
My parents were visiting for the past several days. So, I was able only to ride the Uly for a few short trips around the neighborhood. I opened the gas cap before each ride. Today, I began again by opening and closing the gas cap prior to my ride. The out of gas symptoms were manifest immediately. Because I had added only a fraction of gallon when last the symptoms appeared, I was able to travel almost 40 miles (in three or four segments) before they appeared again. So, in conclusion, I think the problem lies elsewhere. I'll call one of the North Dallas TX Buell service centers in the morning. I'll let you know what transpires. Thanks. | ||
| Creature |
Just a follow up to bring closure to this thread. I took the Uly to have its first oil change and to have the problem diagnosed. The folks at the Allen TX Buell service center were quite friendly and test rode it with various quantities of fuel removed. They encountered no problems. They told me to bring it back if I encountered the problem again and didn't charge me a dime for their considerable effort. I've since burned a couple of full tanks without encountering any repeat of the behavior. In fact, its running beautifully. It feels like the engine is getting smoother. Perhaps it's my imagination. I'm starting to think that maybe I was babying the engine a bit too much. After the visit with the service techs, I changed my philosophy to more of a "ride it like you stole it" approach, while still honoring the break in rules and intent. I've chalked it up to a combination of my getting used to the bike combined with some early break in anomalies. I'm really enjoying this bike. My KTM has been giving me scornful jealous glances while it sits largely ignored in favor of its new stable mate. |
