Fuel tank capacity (in the real world)

[Desmo Dronic]

Hi folks,
I filled up yesterday with 10 miles remaining and the fuel display down to the last segment and flashing red. The best I could squeeze into the tank was 17.5 litres with the fuel up to the rim of the filler recess as specified in the manual.
Assuming that the 10 miles range accounted for about 1x litre, this gives a total tank capacity of 18.5l vs. Ducati's claimed 20l.

How does this compare with other 950 owner's experiences ? Has anyone had to "brim" a tank from bone dry ?

DD

[Paul_Smith]

Unless you have a significant dent in your tank, you can trust that Ducati's claim of a 20L tank means that the tank holds an absolute minimum of 20L. If could only get 17.5 liters in, then there was at least two and a half liters (25+miles) still in there. Its a weights and measures thing so they have to be conservative. Same with the distance remaining. If it says you have 10 miles left, that means you need have enough fuel to be able to do ten miles uphill, first gear, full throttle into a gale! The fact that you could probably do a lot more if you were reasonable careful is besides the point - they can't know how you are going to ride the next ten miles so they have to be conservative.

[Desmo Dronic]

Nine days on from my original post and I've only had one reply.
I still don't know how much fuel you folks have managed to squeeze into a MTS 950 tank.

Is there anyone who has managed more than my 17.5 litres ?
Let's hear your experiences.

DD

[fipenna]

I've never measured +/- scientifically the capacity of the tank, but I've rode about 7 miles after the computer said I had zero range, red light blinking, etc.

Wouldn't do it again though.

I've created the habit of not passing 180 miles since the last refill, regardless of what the fuel gauge and range are telling me. With Ducati's crappy fuel gauge that goes bad from one day to the other, better safe than sorry....

[Carlos13]

Whenever I fill up, regardless if I brim it after the click, or stop at the click, the range immediately afterwards is 223 miles. Doesn’t matter how or where I’ve been riding. Always 223 miles. I don’t think the range calculation/fuel measuring technology is all that advanced!

[motorman]

I once drove 20 miles PAST zero, in desperation and filled the bike with 4.8 gal US.  total mileage on that tank was 246 miles. 

[Desmo Dronic]

For the benefit of forum readers on the European side of the pond, 4.8 US gallons equates to 18.17 litres.
Perhaps I can ask an additional question: "Has anyone travelled further than motorman's 20 miles, (32.2km), PAST zero ?"

Is there a couple of extra litres left in the tank once zero range is reached that Ducati aren't admitting to ?

DD

[motorman]

The fuel gauge is not Japanese exact.  Tank holds 20 liters (about 5 gal US). I average ABOUT 50 mpg.  I do not ride by the fuel gauge.  Instead I look at my average mpg for that tank, and then divide it into the miles on that particular tank to calc how much fuel I have remaining.

Example:  46.8 mpg. 144 mi on the tank. Therefore, I've used about 3 gal., meaning I have about 2 gal left or 90 mi till empty.  to be conservative I probably have about 75 mi left, just in case I didn't fill it the full 5 gal. 

[20220727]

Originally Posted by motorman

The fuel gauge is not Japanese exact.  Tank holds 20 liters (about 5 gal US). I average ABOUT 50 mpg.  I do not ride by the fuel gauge.  Instead I look at my average mpg for that tank, and then divide it into the miles on that particular tank to calc how much fuel I have remaining.

Example:  46.8 mpg. 144 mi on the tank. Therefore, I've used about 3 gal., meaning I have about 2 gal left or 90 mi till empty.  to be conservative I probably have about 75 mi left, just in case I didn't fill it the full 5 gal.

Too much maths for my pea sized brain 

[opmike]

Originally Posted by BabyD

Too much maths for my pea sized brain 

I'm sitting hear reading this in the comfort of my home and I'm having to really think about what he's doing. I can only imagine at speed 

For me, I just have an idea of how many miles I can get on a tank with an aggressive riding style and I then know that if I'm nearing that mileage I'm about outta gas. Easy peasy.