Fuel Tank Capacity of '09 EN500C

5038 Views 7 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Phreon, Jan 25, 2015

old

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2015

Today I siphoned out all the fuel until the tank was dry (I don't
know if the fuel on the discharge side of the tank ran to the "filler" side of the tank as the fuel level went down). Had the bike "perfectly level" during siphoning and filling. Added fuel with a "known quantity" container. 3 gallons filled the tank to within 1/8" of the front of the bottom of the filler neck. I knew the tank would not hold 4 gallons, but expected it to be well over 3 gallons. Anyone else done this? Comments Please.

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strublet

· #2 · Jan 21, 2015

I have not checked it that way but I have ran it to reserves then filled the tank. The most I got in was 2.67 gallons. If there is a 0.8 gallon reserve as listed the tank holds 3.4 gallons. I do not think the expansion space at the top would hold 0.6 gallons but I could be wrong. The idea has occurred to drill holes in the neck to allow more fuel into the tank.......

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Poncho Villa

· #3 · Jan 21, 2015

old said:
Today I siphoned out all the fuel until the tank was dry (I don't I knew the tank would not hold 4 gallons, but expected it to be well over 3 gallons. Anyone else done this? Comments Please.

old guy,, the proper way to mt your tank is to ride it. till it quits. dont fear. just ride it in the city where ther r plenty stations. you should know yor bike well enuff when yor about to run out. Run it out.then coast into the nearest station. what you havent coasted a block or two in yor life?

the bike, is the cap on the rite side or the middle? the bike doesnt have to be perfect verticle straight up. it can be on its sidestand or put 2x4 under it.
now when you fill it up, dont be a girl and just do that below the bowl thing. fill it up. wiggle the bike and burp the tank. yes it will blow bubbles and take another half gallon of air sitting top of the tank.

if you dont care about how much it can hold, well then dont do this. butt if you do and you ride far into the boonies, its good to know just how much and how far you can push your luck.. er bike. poncho

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ktek01

· #4 · Jan 22, 2015

Listed capacity is 3.3 gallons, sounds about right by my experience. I usually hit the reserve somewhere just past 120 miles.

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Stevekozak

· #5 · Jan 24, 2015 (Edited)

ktek01 said:
Listed capacity is 3.3 gallons, sounds about right by my experience. I usually hit the reserve somewhere just past 120 miles.

No, the listed capacity of a 2009 Vulcan 500 LTD is 15 liters or 4 US gallons. I can go well over 150 miles before hitting reserve on mine. Earlier bikes had a smaller tank.

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Red Rider

· #6 · Jan 24, 2015

I usually fill up around 120 miles just to be safe. I have had to switch over to reserve twice. I was in traffic and I didn't have much warning before the bike started to stall.

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Pete7874

· #7 · Jan 25, 2015

old said:
I knew the tank would not hold 4 gallons, but expected it to be well over 3 gallons. Anyone else done this? Comments Please.

The one time I completely ran out of gas, I was able to put in 3.5 gallons. That's it.

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Phreon

· #8 · Jan 25, 2015 (Edited)

There's a surprising amount of capacity as you're reaching the filler neck. Keep going until it actually starts to come up the neck just a little. If you're trying to get that last bit extra in there, close the cap and shake it, but it won't make much difference since the cap is on the side, but dead at the top when the bike is on the stand. I've put way more than 2 gallons in mine.

You probably didn't empty it completely when you siphoned it, since some of the gas is on both sides of the frame. You have to shake the bike around to get it.

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