FJRiders.com

2012, original owner, less than 60K on the clock. The thing has been a Swiss watch.

I took Friday off to scrub in some new RS-IIIs and headed down to Marietta. I parked at the hotel about 42 miles into reserve. My thought was to gas up in the morning when it was a little cooler.

Saturday morning it's in neutral on the sidestand and it cranks but won't fire. I try a couple of times then shut off the key, wait - still no good. With the low fuel I figure what the hell, I throw a leg over, rock a little side to side and try again with the bike straight upright. This time it fires up. I'm off to the gas station and have no further issues.

I can buy the explanation that the lean angle on the sidestand uncovered the fuel pump/intake (though I thought I remembered that being on the port side) but I can't understand why this has never happened to me before. I often wait until morning to gas up in order to beat the heat.

Has anyone else out there ever seen this behavior?

Yes, can happen if fuel level was really low, nearly empty.

Fuel pump is on the right side of the tank. Kickstand lean angle makes sense. Don't remember for sure, but an fjr goes into reserve with 1 or 1.5 gallons left?

I should have added that it took 6.195 gallons (on the centerstand) when I filled it up.

The lean angle makes sense. It just seems odd to me that this is the first time it's happened in 12 years of driving FJRs. Thanks for the input.

Lol, I was on a BBG in west Texas. The fuel stops tend to be farther between out that way and 85 mph doesn't help fuel economy any. I had just cleared the last exit for Sweetwater with 180 miles into that tank and 50 miles to go to reach Pecos when it went into reserve. I made it the 220 miles sweating it a little and it took 6.2 gallons to fill up. I figured I had another 15 miles or so and I'd have been walking.

Fuel pump intake is on starboard side...

Fuel reserve trips on after 5 gallons have been burned. In 3 FJRs (1 Gen 1 and two Gen 3), I can confirm that with absolute certainty. I've hit the gas station with 0.x miles on reserve and it will take EXACTLY 5 gallons to fill on the side stand.

Now what has varied is how much fuel each tank will pull before it runs out. My Gen 1 would pull the full 6.6 gallons on the side stand, as confirmed by the 3 times I've run out (each one a funny story, but for another thread).

On my first Gen 3 bike, I never ran out of gas. But my current bike has run out once and it will take about 6.35 gallons on the side stand.

6.2 on the center stand seems a bit low.

Iffen you hit reserve, count on 40-60 miles if you ride conservatively during that time.

I can't help you if your are doing triple digits on the Loneliest Highway.