Cager Kindness

[kurth83]

Happened to me twice in the same day.

Was splitting down 280 in the dark, got stuck behind someone who was edging to the right and clueless I was there (no they didn't move over as they saw me coming).

One driver started flashing their brights at the person in front, and the other one (separate incident) actually used the horn.

Saved me the trouble.

Definitely made my ride home that day a little nicer, hats off to them.

 

[Ran Bush]

Very timely post; I ran out of fuel today on 580 WB near 80 on a new-to-me '09 BMW F800GS at 3PM. Nasty traffic. (FWIW the fuel gauge said I had 12 miles left and I was only trying to get home to Richmond!! Effin' BMW electronics!)

My thanks go out to 1) the guy on the red scooter that stopped and offered to give me a ride to a gas station. I thanked him, but passed 2) the lady in a Jeep convertible that crossed two lanes of traffic to stop and offer an assist 3) the guy on a sport bike that stopped until he saw the Jeep Lady talking to me 4) two different Cage drivers that slowed down in their lane and blocked traffic to ask if I was okay 5) the guy in an Uber car that stopped and actually HAD FUEL to give me. And wouldn't accept any payment! 6) the Cal Trans truck guy that showed up just as #5 guy was helping me, and gave me more fuel 7) Rich at Berkeley Perf Moto that reminded me when I called him that Cal Trans would bring fuel for free.

Almost restores my faith in humanity ...

For those of you that noticed my other thread about crashing this bike last month on 280, and then getting side-swiped yesterday by a hit-and-run cager on the Bay Bridge, I think this bike is trying to tell me something .... ya think?

 

[Slow Goat]

It’s saying “Get off me”..

 

[ilikefood]

Very timely post; I ran out of fuel today on 580 WB near 80 on a new-to-me '09 BMW F800GS at 3PM. Nasty traffic. (FWIW the fuel gauge said I had 12 miles left and I was only trying to get home to Richmond!! Effin' BMW electronics!)

Woah you put that much trust in a fuel gauge? On a motorcycle? Down to the last 12 miles? :wtf You’re a WAY braver man than most! I have never seen a motorcycle fuel gauge that can be trusted. They are nice to have on a bike you don’t ride frequently so you can remind yourself if you’re more than half full or less than half ful, but that’s about the level of accuracy fuel gauges have.

 

[Ran Bush]

gauges

Yeah ilikefood, now I'm learning. Most of my bikes (classic BMW Airheads) don't have gauges, they just have trip meters and a reserve setting on the fuel petcock. I've only had this '09 for a short while, and now I know I can't trust it.

Lesson learned.

 

[Ran Bush]

It’s saying “Get off me”..

Just like my first ex-wife ....

 

[Butch]

Motorcycles have fuel gauges? What will they think of next?

 

[StaggerLee]

Very timely post; I ran out of fuel today on 580 WB near 80 on a new-to-me '09 BMW F800GS at 3PM. Nasty traffic. (FWIW the fuel gauge said I had 12 miles left and I was only trying to get home to Richmond!! Effin' BMW electronics!)

Good to hear you got some help. FWIW, I'm not sure that 12mi was your range (though earlier models may be different).

There is no range on my '16. Instead, once I'm on reserve, the display actually starts counting up the miles I've been riding. If yours is like mine, it was telling you that you've been riding 12mi on reserve. Still, you should get more than that on that last bit of fuel!

 

[EastBayDave]

Old style Odometers have always worked. If I get within 20-30 miles of where I know I run out, I'm looking for gas...

 

[ubermick]

Yeah, I've learned that as well. The fuel gauge on the F650/700/800 is the electronic equivalent of Donnie Trump's toupee. Yes, it's there, but it ain't fooling anyone. The SECOND that fuel light comes on, gas up because it's a guesstimate as best. (I always love the fact that mine tells me I'm completely full for about 150 miles, then plummet to a quarter tank within the next 2-3 miles)

 

[fraz]

Old style Odometers have always worked. If I get within 20-30 miles of where I know I run out, I'm looking for gas...

I remember on my dirt bikes or ones with busted ODO... I kept WoodenStick(tm) stashed for a fuel indicator

 

[ilikefood]

Yeah ilikefood, now I'm learning. Most of my bikes (classic BMW Airheads) don't have gauges, they just have trip meters and a reserve setting on the fuel petcock. I've only had this '09 for a short while, and now I know I can't trust it.

Lesson learned.

I find the average MPG readout on my bike way more useful than the fuel gauge. Average MPG combined with trip odometer tells me exactly how many gallons I've burned (and how much I have left). I just wish they'd think to combine the two, and simply show the amount of fuel burned since the last reset, instead of me having to divide distance by MPG!