Modern Vespa

So, after following the recent thread about filling tanks and fuel lights, I managed to do my own "research".... My GTS fuel gauge has been a bit funky...seems like it skips the last bar.... light on at two bars, then zero bars. I typically will run 10 miles or so after the light with both my LX and GTS. My commute is 5 miles and never too far from a gas station on the route. I've had a couple of runs with my GTS where it's been at zero bars for quite a while, but always assumed I was still fine.

Yesterday, light comes on, shows zero bars. Ride my 10 mile RT commute, don't bother to fill up as I'm going to ride with Mrs. f to the farmer's market today and want to fill that tank on the same stop. This morning, we're running late, so decide to fill after the market. The light is still on, but now I'm showing one bar.

My office is a couple of blocks away, and we'd parked there. We take off to go get gas and go home, but we go two blocks and the GTS just coughs and dies. Restarts briefly, and that's the end. All considering, it's really hard to think I'm out of gas. So, decide to push it back to the office, leave my wife there, ride the LX home and pick up a gas can to fill....if that doesn't work, back for the trailer.

So, lady luck was with me....filled the tank, hit the starter, and she starts up, runs fine. Happy, but my low-gas confidence has taken a beating. I really didn't have that many miles past the light.....was expecting to need less than 2 gallons at fill-up (usually I wind up with 1.8 or so).

Going to play it safe(r) from now on.

I put 2.339 gallons in last time I commuted to work. I believe it's a 2.4 gallon tank.... Or whatever 9 litres converts to.

Erm, that's close enough.

BTW, you nearly got a phone call for troubleshooting options.....

Learning the hard way are ya? I figured to play it safe the first time I saw it referred to as "the guess gauge." I have a 1.8 that routinely gets a dribble more than a gallon at two bars. I went 8 miles on one bar, but dont ever make a habit if running on the low end as a rule. Yes I own a gallon gas can. Havent bothered to figure my mileage per tank, too much hassle. Actually, I would like to buy and carry a telescoping dip gauge.

BTW, the GTS is a lot easier to push than I imagined.

Luckily there weren't any hills.

Well, it would have helped me remember where I put my phone. Life was much simpler in this way, when they were attached to a wall.

Despite this, and the recent trials that suggested ~30 miles with ZERO bars is quite possible, I got a couple of 1L fuel bottles. One of which has set up residence in the pet carrier until I fashion some means to attach it to the rack...

It would seem that it would be better to go by the miles driven than a wonky indicator. And you don't want to run out of gas as this is what cools the fuel pump and could lead to an early death. But I'm glad it worked out for you. It's not a good feeling getting stranded.

I just keep track of the mileage and fill up around 120 miles.

GT200: Analog, like the universe.

I much prefer an analog fuel gauge. Then you can see the subtle small movements. In what must be over one thousand fill-ups, I have never run out. And I run each tank to the bottom.

On the Cannonball this year, Vanessa's fuel gauge was broken, showing empty all the time. Luckily, the light still worked.

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Despite this, and the recent trials that suggested ~30 miles with ZERO bars is quite possible, I got a couple of 1L fuel bottles. One of which has set up residence in the pet carrier until I fashion some means to attach it to the rack...[/quote]
Whenever I go any distance I carry a 1-l fuel bottle, just in case. Being basically paranoid, whenever the gauge gets down to <1/4, I get gas.

My guage is a big fat lier. It has about 70 miles since last fill up and the needle is pinned to "E" most of the time. The most it ever shows is 7/8 tank and after about 10 miles it's at 1/4 tank. So far I have let the light come on twice and the fill up indicated that I had a little over .6 gal left. On my worst day that is over 30 miles.

Funny but my LT 150 had a gas gauge that worked. Piaggio line knows how to do it ,so i don't know why the Vespa line can't.The LX still lets me go 40 or so miles when the yellow light is on solid. Found out the hard way where E is on the Vino. Of course none of the people i knew around where i ran out of gas had any gas (everybody uses it for their lawnmowers but were out ). Finally had a friend get me sum from our complex and bring it down with my Vespa. We always have some.. My AMA towing has gas service as part of my perks. You have to pay for the gas but the call is free. Always have some money in both of my pet carriers in case i go out without my wallet (which i've been known to do ).