Fuel Tank Capacity

[Guest]

Can anyone tell the capacity of this tank by looking at it? I got 130 miles from F to E at about 42 MPG and refilled 3.2 gallons. There was definitely fuel left in the tank and I rotated the valve to RES to avoid a stall, so I hadn't yet run out of main tank gas, but I don't think there was enough fuel left to add up to 5.8 Gallons capacity. So, what gives? The manuals tell me the '83 GS850L should have 5.8 gallons capacity. I take the gauge reading as a rough estimate but in this case it would be very very rough if E means just under half full. But the tank didn't look half full.

Visually, is there an obvious detail on a tank with 5.8 gallons?

I'll drain the tank into a known amount reservoir eventually but in the meantime I thought someone could identify the tank capacity based on sight.

(forgive the milk crate. I must grocery shop with this vehicle. 1 week of food has to fit on it)

Edit to add
https://motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gs850gl 81.htm

Shoot, there are so many letter differences with these GS bikes that I was looking at the gs850G specs. Even the chart has 5.8 gallons as the capacity but the review itself clarifies... The L model, which is what I own, has a 4 gallon tank. 3.4 gallons in main, 0.6 gallons in reserve. That would correspond to what I saw in the tank. So, about 170 miles total between gas stops. Good to know.

 

[fastbysuzuki]

Think you have answered your own question. You have an L so not the amount that the G holds.

 

[Guest]

I dug through all my manuals and made a photo montage of the different listed capacities. Definitely confusing with all these letters. That Cycle World review from '82 isn't completely accurate either. There isn't an even 4.0 gallon tank capacity in any of the literature. 4.5 gallons, yes, but not a 4.0 gallon. So, what I'm guessing is this GS850L has a 3.9 gallon main tank with a .6 reserve or if I go by the owner's manual that suggests there is 4 liters in the reserve then it's 3.5 gallons main with 1 gallon in reserve.

I'll revisit this when I have some graduated containers I can fill.

 

[Brendan W]

Get the service manual here page 19-42
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

The L models have 17 liter tanks with a 4 l reserve. The others have a 22 l tank.

 

[Steve]

We have an assortment of G and GL tanks in our stable (see signature). The 850G and 1000G tanks are identical and are rated at 5.8 gallons. I have not actually drained them and refilled at a pump to measure, but have no reason to doubt that.

My wife's 82 850GL has a tank that is virtually identical to your '83. The rated capacity is 4.5 gallons (not 4.0). Miles on the tank will depend on how you ride, especially how fast you ride. Best fuel mileage will be below 70 MPH, with a sweet spot of 60-65 MPH. We usually hit REServe about 140 (or more) miles into the ride. By the time we finally stop for fuel, we will put in about 3.5-3.9 gallons.

Average fuel consumption hovers in the low- to mid-40s, but we have had multiple tanks well over 50 MPG when the conditions were just right. And, ... this is experience from living with the bike since the spring of 2005. :encouragement:

.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the confirmation. 4.5 Gallons total. 3.3 as main with 1.2 gallons as reserve is what I'm looking at for the '83 GS850L. That would get me approx. 200 miles total. There are a few places in north america that will be cutting it close (Winnemucca to Adel, for example) but in general that should be enough fuel for my purposes. The bike is dreamy to ride at 65...4800rpm. Dreamy. light as a feather. I wouldn't change a thing. The windshield is a new feature for me but I imagine it doesn't help with gas mileage. It creates a negative air space that actually draws me forward. But the wind impact at 60mph and the feeling of being left behind as I accelerated as the wind pushed me backwards is something I don't miss. Would I take off the windshield for slightly better mileage? Probably not. I really like it. It blocks bugs, rocks, wind. makes the whole riding experience less of a struggle. In Oregon, I once caught a bat inside my jacket at night. That thing would've bounced off the windshield and saved me some panic. A cruise control unit on the throttle might be nice on my wrist. and maybe a floorboard. This bike lives up to the good reputation it has. It fits me well.

 

[Steve]

You tend to live life a little closer to the edge than I usually do. 3.2 gallons at 45 MPG will get you 144 miles. The 1.2 gallons in REServe might theoretically get you another 54 miles, but I would not go much farther than the next available station after switching to REServe.

If you want to try it, go ahead, but be sure to carry a 1- or 2-gallon tank it your milk crate, ... just in case. :-\\\

Not sure where "Adel" is, but there are LOTS of gas stations within 200 miles of Winnemucca.

Don't worry about your windshield reducing your fuel economy. Aerodynamically speaking, a human body on a motorcycle is about as efficient as a brick. The windshield you have seems to be somewhat identical to the one on my wife's bike (National Cycle Plexifairing III). Depending on your height, you might be able to lean the shield back just a bit so it's not quite so upright to deflect the air more than simply pushing it out of the way.

A Vista Cruise universal throttle lock works quite well. We have them on all of our bikes. Don't bother with the $10-15 ones that clamp onto the throttle tube and have a finger that clips around the cable. Get the $30 unit that clamps onto the bars and has a band that wraps around the grip.

Floorboards are great for some, but that "some" should be translated as "very few". I have them on my bike, but you can be just as comfortable with a set of highway pegs that allow you to stretch out a bit. Floorboards let you move your feet around a bit, but you can't really stretch your legs. They are also VERY awkward when you are trying to back up, especially if you do not have LONG legs. I do have long legs, but I also have sore shins at times.

.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Steve speaks truth

Steve speaks truth

On MY GS850GL from 1983 I am usually getting onto the reserve around 135-140 miles -
That eats up about 3.3 gallons - with approx 1 gallon (not proven) reserve that comes up to the 4.5 gallons -

My AVERAGE fuel economy is typically 40ish MPG +/- a little bit -
I have seen as low as 35 mpg at 75 mph and as high as 47 MPG at the sweet spot speeds Steve talks about --

200 miles ..? Nope. The math might work but reality bites .

USABLE fuel is the key -- there may be a few tenths of a gallon in the tank yet -- but getting it to the petcock, and into the carbs, and up to the cylinders ...

Yeah... :indecisiveness:

PS: the throttle lock Steve shows is THE ONE to get -- I tried them all - that one works

 

[grcamna2]

I have even stopped and leaned my little 450 Way over to the left onto the footpeg for those last(I have also carried a 1gal fuel can when I drove across the USA)few ounces of fuel on reserve,it was just enough to get me to the next fuel station.I prefer riding around 65mph which saves fuel.I think the tank on my 82' GS450TXZ is supposed to hold 3.2gals? I replaced my petcock recently and flushed the tank,then fully dried it out for days,the most I could squeeze into the tank from bone dry was 3gals,according to the pump readout I was using at the time..

 

[Guest]

I'll look into crash bar foot pegs that will allow me to stretch my legs I think the crash bar is 1''. And a vista cruise throttle lock...looks like for a 7/8'' bar. and I gotta find a helmet lock that is not blocked by my saddle bags. I'm sick of putting my helmet in my shopping cart.


Adel is in Oregon...north on 140 toward Lakeview, Or. Nearly 200 miles of nothing from Winnemucca. That's spare fuel territory.

 

[Big T]

Not sure where "Adel" is, but there are LOTS of gas stations within 200 miles of Winnemucca. [/C

.

Not if you're going north, NW or NE
193 miles to Crane, OR. That's cutting it close.
Small Town gas stations out here tend to go out of business on a regular basis. It's a different world in the high desert than in the Midwest

 

[Wingsconsin]

You have a luggage rack --

Add a top case from SHAD -- https://www.shadusa.com/pages/top-cases

I have the 37L on mine and it easily fits a helmet and some other odds & ends

It is lockable- removeable - water resistant (a lot) -

Easily attaches to your current rack - and they are not TOO expensive

PS: On my recent 2500 mile trip I carried one of these in my saddlebag
It says it holds 1 gallon - it's actually 9/10ths --
I used it twice when I got out of range or it was easier to KNOW I had enough fuel in the tank to get where I wanted to go

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WHBVDI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Steve]

On my recent 2500 mile trip I carried one of these in my saddlebag
It says it holds 1 gallon - it's actually 9/10ths --
I used it twice when I got out of range or it was easier to KNOW I had enough fuel in the tank to get where I wanted to go

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WHBVDI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Rather interesting shape on that can. Any advantage to it? Like maybe fits against the rear edge of a saddlebag that is angled? :-k

.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Rather interesting shape on that can. Any advantage to it? Like maybe fits against the rear edge of a saddlebag that is angled? :-k


.

I believe it was designed for a Harley Saddlebag -

I fits in my 23L Shad side cases quite well - flat on the bottom .

It also fits into my Goldwing saddlebag but I never carry it in there as the Wing has a 225-250 mile range