I often wondered about doing that - thank you for posting
I need to translate to Litres
7.624 US Gallons = 28.86 litres
I think it is supposed to start flashing at 5 litres left. So the displayed 'mileage-to-go' on the fuel gauge is an estimate of how far you will get based on recent consumption. This is sometimes 50 miles. More often it is slightly less - sometimes in the 40s. It depends where I am - if I am on the moors with lots of climbing, fuel consumption is quite high.
The remaining mileage display modifies itself as you ride. I've played that game of russian roulette with the remaining fuel. Set the trip metre to zero when you first get the flashing light and remember the number it said - because when you reach that number, the engine will splutter and die. Except it doesn't. By using higher gears on the flat, not accelerating hard, slowing earlier etc, your distance covered can go up and the estimated mileage can go up at the same time ! I did 4 or 5 miles without losing any range. It stayed at 25 miles.
I have got to the point when I think I have just about run out by the time I reached the fuel station, but the tank would only take about 27 litres.
So in fact I had plenty spare.
I always thought that the pump would not be able to pull through the full 29 litres - that there would be a couple of litres sloshing around at the bottom when it started sucking air. 28.86 liters to refill suggests that is not the case - the tank is quoted at 29 litres.
Hang on, I haven't answered your question. Can it be set ? It can only go on the info it has when the fuel drops below the sensor. Once that light starts blinking all it knows is that it thinks there was 5 litres. It knows how far you have traveled and it knows your consumption. That first value of 5 litres is a guess. THe only way you would be able to tell is to be passing a petrol station at the moment it starts flashing. You have the 7.624 gallons/28.86 litres figure. So you can work out what the remaining fuel is by using the amount of fuel it takes to fill the tank.
You can estimate it, by doing the same when you do reach the fuel - but modify your calculation by taking into account the miles that you have covered.
Not all tanks are the same. I've had two ST1300s from brand new. The first one showed all 8 segments lit for about 40-45 miles. My current one shows 7 by the time I have left the forecourt. But when it starts showing two of easily got 90 miles left. My first one had a very short range between 3 bars and flashing.
I should add. The only time I ever ran out of fuel was when my first 1300 was quite new. I knew that the fuel was low. What I didn't know was what it meant when it started flashing. A little while later, I was stopping anyway briefly, and put the bike on the side stand not noticing that the fuel level was had been in contact with the sensor - so it would have started from 50 again. I parked up at my destination and went for lunch. Came back - it would not start. No fuel - even though the countdown was still showing in the 20s.
The figures in my anecdote aren't accurate. I don't know what they showed. I put the pieces together from later experiences. Once that light starts flashing you take note of your mileage - becasue whatever the display says after that - it can reset itself as fuel sloshes around and cannot be relied upon.
Getting a taxi in full biking gear and returning with a green 5 litre petrol can is not exactly the coolest look in the world.
