It's one of the items I feel Honda should have included on the VTX in addition to a hydraulic clutch.

 

It's one of the items I feel Honda should have included on the VTX in addition to a hydraulic clutch.

Honda leaves that stuff off on the 1300's so they can keep the price down. The 1800 has a hydraulis clutch, fuel injection, ect. but it costs 1/3 more too. The VTX 1300 is a terrific bargain, for what you get.

 

Never seen a retro fit for a metric yet. I wish they would have a gas gauge as well, but just have to go the old fashioned route!

 

Thanks for the reply's! For the money I paid, I got a hell of a nice bike.

 

Thanks for the reply's! For the money I paid, I got a hell of a nice bike.

You'll think that even more after you've been riding it a few years and find out how reliable and fun it is! ​

 

Don't need a gas gauge...thats what the trip meter is for.

 

On my 1800, fuel mileage can easily vary by +- 10 MPG, depending on how I am riding. I've gone as little as 84 miles (23 MPG) and as far as 147 (42 MPG) between fill ups. If I relied on my trip meter, I'd be doin' a lot of walking...

 

Here, here...I agree. Trip works great if you're getting the same mileage all the time. I've been lucky to not have as much variation as ********* has on mileage, but when I get to where I feel I'm "pushing it" on my reserve and out in the middle of nowhere, I always tend to get a little nervous. Gas gauge would be nice..maybe one of these days the metric manuf. will get on board. I'd be willing to spend a couple extra hundred $$ on a new bike that I liked if it had one.

 

I can suggest a Veypor. You will have a fuel meter there. I , for the first time, had my MPG read today. 43.7mpg wich is a fair number.

 

....when I get to where I feel I'm "pushing it" on my reserve and out in the middle of nowhere, I always tend to get a little nervous.

Put it this way Rich....If your out in the middle of nowhere, and your on reserve....it's time to get gas....like, at the next place you see!!!!! Gas gauge isn't going to do you any good at that point.
I can estimate within a half gallon (easily) what I have left. Most times I can predict within a few miles when I'll get the sputter.
Get to know your bike, thats part of the fun. :smile:

 

A gas gauge is something else to keep up with as far as I am concerned. The 1300 is more trust worthy as far as gas miliage. The 1800 can't as trust worthy as mpg. Bigger motor and a lot of times when you feel that power come to life you just can't hold back, it's normal. They are regular on mpg if you ride the same but most of us can't that's why we ride the 1800. My 1300 is very regular with mpg, no matter how I ride but my 1800 will vary. Types of fuel, riding conditions, and riding style. Thats the nature of the beast. I ride untill I hit reserve on the 1300 which is about 150 miles. I ride untill the light comes on on my 1800 which is around 125 miles.

 

Yea, I've just been filling my tank up every 100 miles (or before any long rides). I'm stationed out in North Dakota right now so I have A LOT of "middle of no where" kind of roads. So far it hasnt happened, but I will be upset if I run out of gas on some po-dunk road.

 

Put it this way Rich....If your out in the middle of nowhere, and your on reserve....it's time to get gas....like, at the next place you see!!!!! Gas gauge isn't going to do you any good at that point.
I can estimate within a half gallon (easily) what I have left. Most times I can predict within a few miles when I'll get the sputter.
Get to know your bike, thats part of the fun. :smile:

Yeh, I know and very good points. I usually don't push it; just happened a couple of times riding in groups and I was always fine by my estimates (never have run out so far--luckily--just cut it kind of close). Just caught up in the ride, ya know? Hard when you're out in rural NC sometimes to know when the next stations coming (especially when it's the first time you've been on the roads). I agree it's part of the fun figuring it out, just don't want to be walking or riding be-atch with one of my buddies to get gas if I don't have to :nope: .

 

With both a trip meter and an idiot light, I've never missed the gas gauge that I used to have on my Harley.

 

Ive never ran out of gas on my 1300-S. I get between 148-150.5 on every tank of gas before I have to switch to reserve. But if I do feel like I'm a little low on gas, before I start the bike I shake it to hear the gas in the tank. If you don't hear anything, you are prob gonna have to switch to reserve soon and get gas. Haha.

 

This thread is from 2006...Couldn't find an older one to dig up??...

 

well you can always get the MSR gas bottle that holds 30 ounces of fuel when your on roads you dont know

 

Here ya go a couple of fittings a little welding and some clear tubing and ya got yourself a fuel sight gauge.

 

LSK fuel guage pro. Universal floatless fuel gauge sending unit. Anyone checked it out? It is a hydrostatic fuel guage.I have been looking at this unit but I don't know enough. You can download the install manual on their websight.

 

Not sure why you brought up an 8 year old thread but if you find a fuel gauge/light that actually works then share it with all.
Good luck in your search. I have a bike with a factory fuel gauge and I know many who have them and we still go by odometer because it's not reliable.

 

Some of us get stranded on the highway a lot, just last week i was in the fast lane when my engine cut out and people wouldn't let me pass to the right. Had to coast and flip the reserve and restart the bike while maneuvering on the freeway and i had an SUV stuck on my tail.... Not fun
Some one really needs to develop a vtx sending unit that senses low fuel.
I wish this gets more attention, Not having a fuel guage is down right miserable

 

The bike has not been manufactured in over 10 years. Sorry but no one is going to develop a gas gauge for it.

 

My advice only. Stop at the gas station, Reset Trip A to Zero, Kickstand down and ignition off and Fill tank. Kickstand up and ride allover hell and highwater until Trip A reads less than 130 and look for gas station...Repeat...or live life dangerously and Hit reserve at 135-150 and find nearest gas station before 170-180 and Repeat... I always ride on Trip A, Always!

Twelve years doing this and have never needed a gas gauge and never completely ran out of gas. I have even filled up at 50 miles knowing the next gas station/town was further than 100 miles... If you're not sure, Buy a Map or look at those big Green Signs that tell you how far the next town is.

Your Bike will also start running sluggish the closer you get to reserve, like pulling a hill or passing a car. Reach down and find the petcock to be prepared. Bike will restart in less than 3 seconds or any doubts you can hit reserve beforehand. I flip the key cover on the bike and find a Gas station. At the gas station. the key cover warns me that my bike is on reserve, so I flip my petcock back to run, Reset trip A to Zero, Kickstand down and ignition off and Fill tank...Repeat!

 

Switching to reserve is easy don't stop the bike for that just flip and keep riding.

 

Easier said than done. There's always that I just filled it up thought in your mind, the what ? why did my bike die, and then calculate the time when your engine shuts off until you actually realize your engine has shut off. This can take seconds off your reaction time from doing the flip. And if your on a busy highway maneuvering it makes it even more difficult.
I've found this link to Universal Float Free Motorcycle Fuel Gauge FuelGaugePro - Bar Graph Display and as soon as they have units in stock I'm going to order one.