V85 TT Tank Usable Volume?

[azccj]

I recently bought a new 2022 V85 TT Travel. According to everything I've read about the bike, and what is stated in the owner's manual, it has a 6 US gallons fuel tank. Now here is the thing, on my bike the low fuel light comes on at about 180-200 miles and I'll continue to ride it another 60-70 miles until the miles to go before empty on the display goes to just dashes, at 20 miles. When I go to fill the tank I can only fill it with 4.7-5.0 gallons of fuel. If the tank truly does hold 6 gallons, I should have at least another 50-60 miles of range before the tank is actually empty. Is my bike an oddball, or is this just normal for the V85 TT? Does the fuel tank, actually have a 6 gallon volume, but only has 5 gallons of usable fuel? Now I could throw a filled 1-2 gallon fuel can in the top box and ride the bike until it runs out of gas to find out just how much usable fuel the bike has. But before I do, I'd like to hear what others have to say about their V85 TT's regarding usable fuel range.

[Huzo]

I fixed the silly fuel light situation by bending the actuating arm on the float inside the tank.
I posted about it on these pages. It’s titled “V85 fuel gauge remedy”
I’ll bump it for you.

[Vagrant]

That fuel light should be shoved up the AZZ of the engineers who designed it.
Huzos fix if you have ambition.
Just use the real gas gauge. It's fair. When the countdown goes to 0 you still have 50 miles left.
I've put in 5.7 and 5.8 so i assume 6-6.1 is correct.

[Wayne Orwig]

I rode mine until it showed zero miles left. I was carrying some fuel. Kept going for likely another 50 miles. I put 6.1 gallons in it. Not that the gas station pump was accurate either.

But most of the time when the gauge is empty and near zero miles remaining, I can't even get 5 gallons in there.

So I don't get too anxious when it is showing zero miles remaining. I know there is about a gallon left.

[Moparnut72]

"But most of the time when the gauge is empty and near zero miles remaining, I can't even get 5 gallons in there."

I worked in the Weights & Measures field for over 16 years. I only found one fuel dispenser grossly out of tolerance in all those years. I wish I had a $20 for every dispenser I had to test due to a "I couldn't have put that much gas in my tank the manual says it only holds 16 gals and it took 17.5 gals." I am sure auto manufacturers are covering their butts. I ran my Audace out of fuel once, it took exactly what the manual said it would hold.
kk

[mondtster]

FWIW, I suspect that the difference between actual tank capacity and indicated tank capacity may be intentional to ensure that the fuel pump has a reasonable lifespan. As far as I know, all the V85s have similar fuel gauge characteristics if they haven't been modified.

[Huzo]

FWIW, I suspect that the difference between actual tank capacity and indicated tank capacity may be intentional to ensure that the fuel pump has a reasonable lifespan. As far as I know, all the V85s have similar fuel gauge characteristics if they haven't been modified.

I think I take your point as intended, but did you mean “content” instead of “capacity” ?
The capacity is the absolute amount that the tank can HOLD, not the amount it currently CONTAINS. In any case, I much prefer the yellow light to come on with 4 useable litres remaining, so I can make an informed decision as to where and when I take on fuel.
Same with the speedometer anomaly, all this crap about doing the mental arithmetic to calculate the actual figure, is just lame….

[Moparnut72]

Both of my Guzz's low fuel light comes on with a gallon left in the tank. y Triumph does the same. My Audace and Triumph have fuel gauges but the V7lll does not. The V7 gets ridden mainly around town so there is always a gas station within sight.
kk

[twowheeladdict]

I have only burned through a tank of fuel a few times since I have owned my Moto Guzzis.  I typically top off when I am at a 1/2 tank so if I can only find 87 Non-Ethanol, or 93 ethanol I end up with approximately 90 octane non-ethanol, or 93 octane 5% ethanol.  Then I am usually home and top back off with 93 Non-ethanol.  On a multiday trip I do the same, but at about 1/2 a tank again I start looking for 93 non-ethanol. 

I have probably seen the low fuel light a 1/2 dozen times in the 10 months since I bought the bike. 

I have my GPS high mounted on the V85TT so I typically use it for my speedometer so I don't have to look down to check speed. 

I am still adapting to the riding position and get soreness between the shoulder blades which I believe is because of the extra width of the bars, and the heat from the CAT, but other than that it has been one of the best bikes I have owned as delivered from the factory.

[mondtster]

I think I take your point as intended, but did you mean “content” instead of “capacity” ?
The capacity is the absolute amount that the tank can HOLD, not the amount it currently CONTAINS. In any case, I much prefer the yellow light to come on with 4 useable litres remaining, so I can make an informed decision as to where and when I take on fuel.
Same with the speedometer anomaly, all this crap about doing the mental arithmetic to calculate the actual figure, is just lame….

I meant what I wrote. There's the absolute capacity that the tank holds but there may also be a "useable capacity" which I would interpret to be what the fuel gauge is indicating. Anyway, I think everyone is on the same page, the total volume of fuel the fuel tank on a V85 holds is greater than what the fuel gauge indicates. I think this was done intentionally to try and keep people from running the tanks nearly dry so the fuel pump had a reasonable lifespan and the fuel stayed cool enough.

Personally I'd also rather have an accurate speedometer and fuel level gauge even if it came at my expense. I think we're in the minority however as all the europe based V85 riders on a different web board I frequent thought I was stupid for complaining about the speedometer variance.

[Huzo]

In addition to fixing the fuel gauge, I also fixed the speedometer inaccuracy by making a new tone wheel



 and this was the result.


The only problem was, the odometer became inaccurate and the gear indicator would not indicate 6 th.

Back to the useable volume.
I usually find that the distance to empty and the kilometres travelled, add up to around 500.

[Huzo]

That fuel light should be shoved up the AZZ of the engineers who designed it.
Huzos fix if you have ambition.
Just use the real gas gauge. It's fair. When the countdown goes to 0 you still have 50 miles left.
I've put in 5.7 and 5.8 so i assume 6-6.1 is correct.

But doesn’t the gas gauge take it’s information from the sender in the tank and therefore the float position ?
Therefore your gas gauge can never be correct if the float is not ?

[egschade]

>SNIP<.

Personally I'd also rather have an accurate speedometer and fuel level gauge even if it came at my expense. I think we're in the minority however as all the europe based V85 riders on a different web board I frequent thought I was stupid for complaining about the speedometer variance.

I rely on my Garmin XT for accurate speed. It indicates speed limit on most roads in addition to actual speed which helps keep my throttle hand in check.

[azccj]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess my bike is normal. Someday when I take the fuel pump out of the tank, I'll maybe adjust the float arm a bit to get a more reliable fuel level reading.

[Huzo]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess my bike is normal. Someday when I take the fuel pump out of the tank, I'll maybe adjust the float arm a bit to get a more reliable fuel level reading.

Naturally when you do, you’ll find that your gauge stays on “full” for longer before it begins to descend after filling up, that’s because you have not altered the calibration, the float is effectively held under the surface initially and only begins to descend as the surface level reaches it, then it counts down as always.
But you will have a gauge that illuminates the yellow light with 80 km duration remaining, which is about 4 litres.