The only low fuel warning that my '04 Roadster has is the tripmeter.

 

Your bike has a carburetor which means you have a petcock. That's a device where you can turn the gas OFF or ON or RESERVE. Normal operation is ON, when engine starts stuttering, coughing, turn the petcock to RESERVE and head for a gas station.

As Malpaso says, best approach is to learn the needs of the bike as to gas, set the tripmeter at every fill-up, then use it to tell you when to get gas before you have to put the petcock on RESERVE.

 

Your bike has a carburetor which means you have a petcock. That's a device where you can turn the gas OFF or ON or RESERVE. Normal operation is ON, when engine starts stuttering, coughing, turn the petcock to RESERVE and head for a gas station.

As Malpaso says, best approach is to learn the needs of the bike as to gas, set the tripmeter at every fill-up, then use it to tell you when to get gas before you have to put the petcock on RESERVE.

Ditto. No stock Sportster has had a low fuel indicator.

 

yep, just ride it for a while, and you'll start to 'feel' when you need it. Basically, just fill it up often, can't hurt.


Im sure, though, that SOMEONE will come out with some aftermarket doodad.

Jason

 

He is right, though... the manual does show the light.

 

He is right, though... the manual does show the light.

Well I'll be damned. Not only is it in the picture in the manual, it is actually on the speedo dial. I'd never seen it before, and I've never seen it come on, and I've run the tank down to reserve a couple of times. Very strange.

 

someone in here posted one time that their dealer contacted the factory and was told that it was part of the same electronics used for the dynas which is why technically the gauge is there... it just wasn't made functional for the sportster. {shrugs} "I dunno"

JJ

 

someone in here posted one time that their dealer contacted the factory and was told that it was part of the same electronics used for the dynas which is why technically the gauge is there... it just wasn't made functional for the sportster. {shrugs} "I dunno"

That's what I've read about it, too (which is all I know about it, since I own an '03). It shares the guage with the Dynas, which have the low-fuel indicator "system", but the Sporty doesn't have the sensor. So you're both right, in a way. The indicator light is there, but its non-functioning.

 

As Sam and others said, it's a shared part. Low-fuel lights, at present, are only functional on EFI setups. Look close at other bikes, like RK's or EG's, and you'll see indicators on the gauges for stuff that's not there, like cruise light where there is no cruise, pursuit light but not a police bike, etc.

HD is gearing up for EFI on sportsters as I don't think any will come with carbs in 06 or 07.

 

Thanks for clearing that up guys. I was sure I had seen it mentioned in the manual... I have been driving by the trip odometer ever since the first tank of fuel when it ran out on me, so I won't have that problem again