[Joel-in-dallas]

Guys --

I have a 2011 G5 with 4500 miles on it. Last night riding home I ran out of gas. The light never even so much as blinked. I am hoping its just the light bulb that has burned out. Have any of you guys had that happen? Did you have the floater/system/whatever its called break instead. Im curious.

[no bs]

yes. on low fuel sender unit #3. so far so good.

[Craig McClure]

Being an old guy, I never got used to a fuel gauge, so always LOOK IN MY TANK before a ride (what a concept) If it looks half gone, I top it off. I like to keep it full, because gas is unlikely to get cheaper in the future. I also add STABIL MARINE FORMULA to the 10% Ethanol gas available here. Never any problems, & I recommend these measures to others.

[Joel-in-dallas]

I will be looking into the tank every time for now. But I am going to get the light/system fixed. In the past I would put gas in when the light would come on and go off with gas moving around. Its a minor problem, but running out of gas last night wasnt fun. It could have been far worse.

[no bs]

just keep track of your miles ridden for now. the sender is easy to replace with less than 1 gallon in the tank. leave it on the sidestand, place rags directly under the sender, catch any fuel in a shallow pan whilst removing unit. my second unit had come apart. curious as to what yours did when you get it out.

[TomJohnston]

I always watch my odometer to approach any multiple of "200"...i.e. 5,200; 5,400; 5,600, etc. That's time to top off. If I'm not getting at least 65 mpg, I have bigger problems than running out of gas.

[mattsz]

Many guys here write the miles on the handebar clamp with a sharpie.  I found a grease pencil ("china marker") which I had hoped to use since it's easier to "erase", but the clamp is too smooth and shiny; the pencil won't write on it at all...

[Ducati Scotty]

Stop washing the bike so much Matt.  Shiny goes away

[mattsz]

I can be accused of many things, but I promise you, washing my bike too often will never be one of them!

[suitcasejefferson]

First of all, I read another post on here that someones fuel warning light quit working because ethanol melted the float. That would seem to be the most likely cause. I have seen firsthand the damage ethanol can do. I wish RE had put a trip odometer on the bike instead of the low fuel light. I grew up using the odometer, and on all the bikes I've had with fuel gauges, they always closely matched the odometer.

Second, since you actually ran out of gas, does your fuel pump still work ok? The manual seems to make a big deal about that, or maybe it's me making the big deal out of it, because I never heard of running out of gas destroying a fuel pump. I have been refilling my tank every 100 miles, to prevent the the fuel pump from destroying itself. Considering how fragile most modern technology is, I really don't doubt it could happen.

[Joel-in-dallas]

Fuel pump seems fine. Bike seems fine other than the gage.

[Ducati Scotty]

Drain the tank, pull it out and have a look.

Scott

[Mr.Mazza]

Now try to imagine how us Iron Barrel fools go!
No low fuel light, you know you need to top up, well everyone has their stories
My first 'Shit, wheres tha petcock gone?' Traveling at 55 mph ON MY WAY to the servo haha

But yes ethanol no good for crap plastics, as others said, easy enough fix.

[Arizoni]

Yes.
The fuel indicator light quit working about 6 months after I got my brand new 2011 G5.

Later when I removed the sending unit I found the float or whatever was originally in there had turned into a translucent blob of solid material.
I removed the blob, replaced the unit, got a Sharpie pen and have never looked back.
Every 150 miles or so I refuel but even if I miss that distance by 30 miles the bike is still nowhere near running out of fuel.

[hillntx]

My fuel light and pilot lights have stopped working at various times typically due to a loose connection. Check the light before pulling your tank apart.