Poor gas tank design

[vito1943]

Yesterday I was really patient when filling up after a ride with my 2021 RT. I didn't let the pump work automatically, but kept it to a modest flow. It clicked off as it should when the tank was supposedly full. But I patiently kept filling, with the gas pump nozzle just barely into the tank opening, using a very slow flow of gas. I was able to put in 1.2 gallons more. It seems to be a poor design when a gas tank will seem to be full with almost 20% of its capacity still available. On a long trip this could easily mean the difference in having a make an extra stop or not. I found similar situations with other motorcycles that I have owned, but maybe not to the degree that it is with the Spyder. I like to ride to a particular restaurant about 100 miles from home through some relatively interesting areas, and a really full tank would let me make the entire round trip easily without any worries. But if I stopped when the gas hose clicks off, doing 200 miles would likely get me down to the dregs in the tank. Just an annoyance.

 

[Woodaddict]

now you know fully how it works. if you want a full tank, you know what to do. this is first motorcycle that has the "auto hole" flange to put a nozzle into. but that's built into design cause fill opening is not exactly on top of tank, to allow expansion. that's why those vents are in there, need them to vent and to show you when level is getting to top

 

[BajaRon]

You are exactly right. Most people never even get close to filling their tank. I always top mine off exactly as you have illustrated. However, some pumps do not have a 'Slow' setting. They are more like a light switch than a throttle. They are either wide open or nothing. Those can be difficult, if not impossible to get a full tank.

 

[vito1943]

You are exactly right. Most people never even get close to filling their tank. I always top mine off exactly as you have illustrated. However, some pumps do not have a 'Slow' setting. They are more like a light switch than a throttle. They are either wide open or nothing. Those can be difficult, if not impossible to get a full tank.

There are local gas stations I won’t use for just that reason.

 

[ARtraveler]

Yesterday I was really patient when filling up after a ride with my 2021 RT. I didn't let the pump work automatically, but kept it to a modest flow. It clicked off as it should when the tank was supposedly full. But I patiently kept filling, with the gas pump nozzle just barely into the tank opening, using a very slow flow of gas. I was able to put in 1.2 gallons more. It seems to be a poor design when a gas tank will seem to be full with almost 20% of its capacity still available. On a long trip this could easily mean the difference in having a make an extra stop or not. I found similar situations with other motorcycles that I have owned, but maybe not to the degree that it is with the Spyder. I like to ride to a particular restaurant about 100 miles from home through some relatively interesting areas, and a really full tank would let me make the entire round trip easily without any worries. But if I stopped when the gas hose clicks off, doing 200 miles would likely get me down to the dregs in the tank. Just an annoyance.

:agree:x 2 You have found the answer to the "extra gallon" dilemma. I have been saying this since 2010 and it has been true on all seven spyders I have owned. :bowdown:

 

[2dogs]

I believe I saw these on eBay for $5 a while back but I can't find them now. Cut a piece of medium thick tin about 3 inches square. Drill a 1 inch hole in the middle of it and then cut a matching slot out to one side. To make it stiffer if needed make a one quarter inch 90 degree bend on the opposite side. Now when using a gas pump nozzle slide the tin onto the nozzle above its collar and you can easily override the auto shutoff if you wish, and get that extra gallon dribbled into our tank without spilling any.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Yesterday I was really patient when filling up after a ride with my 2021 RT. I didn't let the pump work automatically, but kept it to a modest flow. It clicked off as it should when the tank was supposedly full. But I patiently kept filling, with the gas pump nozzle just barely into the tank opening, using a very slow flow of gas. I was able to put in 1.2 gallons more. It seems to be a poor design when a gas tank will seem to be full with almost 20% of its capacity still available. On a long trip this could easily mean the difference in having a make an extra stop or not. I found similar situations with other motorcycles that I have owned, but maybe not to the degree that it is with the Spyder. I like to ride to a particular restaurant about 100 miles from home through some relatively interesting areas, and a really full tank would let me make the entire round trip easily without any worries. But if I stopped when the gas hose clicks off, doing 200 miles would likely get me down to the dregs in the tank. Just an annoyance.

:agree: after the Auto-shutoff, I always get 1.2 to.3 gal. in. .... makes a big difference in what your total mileage PER TANKFULL will be .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[2dogs]

I totally agree with VITO & BK. I'm fairly certain given the auto shut off feature on gas pump nozzles around the USA, not all being exactly the same, is partly responsible for skewing the wide variations of MPGs being reported. Some of the newer pump nozzles make it quite difficult to obtain a totally full tank, while some of the older pumps are much easier to use and complete the process. Spilling the gas is a big concern of mine and I surmise that is why EPA regs may have influenced BRPs gas tank design. If you are like myself and several others who just simply have to have that totally full gas tank feeling, be very careful with topping off, and DO NOT spill your fuel. JMHO

 

[bigbadbrucie]

The station I always try to use up here in Canada has the 2 variations of pumps. The one is either on full speed or off. Using that one I cannot get a full tank...always down by a bar (I use the original gauge, not the analog). The other pump type is the older style that you can feather the fuel input and with it I am able to fill it to the rim.

 

[Jesster72]

I thought my Victory tank was hard to get full, but the Spyder wins out on this topic - hands down. There are a few stations locally that will fill slow enough to top the tank off. I go there when local. On the road, if it is a pump that won't allow slow fill, I try to at least get enough in to make 150 miles without spilling fuel. 150 miles is about my limit before I have to stop.

 

[SLICE]

I've wondered if a better vented gas tank would help.

I remember having the relocated the evap canister on my Ford F350 so I could pump more than 30 gallons (it was a 48 gallon tank)

 

[DT5534]

Fuel pump nozzles are designed for cars/trucks that have a longer filling pipe to the tank. You have the same situation when filling a gas can. I agree with the posted information above about some stations to avoid since they don't have a slower fill option. Still Love the Spyder anyway. hyea:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I've wondered if a better vented gas tank would help.

I remember having the relocated the evap canister on my Ford F350 so I could pump more than 30 gallons (it was a 48 gallon tank)

well IMHO the "venting " has nothing to do with the problem, on the Spyders there is an AIR pocket above the nozzel opening .... this is for gas expansion pressure .... some of us have perfected " filling the tank " ..... good luck ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

I just usually step on my floorboard and give the old girl a shake to burp her as she is eating.