2017 Gas Tank on a 2013?

[Nortoon_imp]

I was looking forward to a nice long ride today because this was going to be the only rain free day of the week. But when I looked out the window at 7AM is was wet and cold (53F).

But by lunch time is was dry and 69F. So I left with no particular destination in mind. Ended up going the very long way to the Narrows Lock Station between the Rideau Lakes. Then spent the next hour exploring the North Shore Road, something I was sure was gravel the last time I looked. But the pavement looked old, well used, and twisted like a boa. That one is going in my map collection.

By 3 o’clock I was in Perth for my usual ice coffee and maple dipped donut. After the rest stop I decided to head home about 65 kilometers away. But in the southeast there was an ominous black cloud obviously raining on everyone in its path. So I took a northeast route to avoid it.

Twenty minutes later I saw my fuel gauge indicator flashing. No problem I thought, I have more than enough reserve to get home. But just like Joe Btfsplk that black cloud kept following me, forcing me to make several time consuming and fuel wasting changes.



So I decided to try the right dash button to get an idea of how much fuel I had. Lots of 4 digit numbers popped up, but I persisted and finally 40 was displayed. Hmmm, is that 4.0 liters or 40 kilometers? Hard to tell with glare on the screen. A minute or so later it dropped to 39. Okay now I am a little panicky. I am more than 39 kilometers from home?

It seemed that every route I chose was damp from passing rain. 25 kilometers displayed.

Turned towards Richmond and the display showed ___. No panic I say to myself, I believe at 20 kilometers it goes blank. I pass the gas station there and head home.

Five minutes away from the gas station near home, the roads are soaking wet. I groan because I spent hours a few days ago washing the slop off the bike including every single spoke from the previous hour long rain storm I got soaked in.

Carefully make the U-turn up Borrisokane Road. Near the S-curve I notice it looks like it is covered with soap suds, so I slow right down. Passing through on the tire paths cut by cars, I realize its piles of hail! Sure glad I didn’t pass through here 5 minutes earlier.

Finally make to the gas station. I am wet from the knees down and Miss Piggy definitely needs another bath. I pump 13.828 liters of gas. What? If the dash went blank at 20 kilometers a while ago and I get 21 kilometers per liter; that means I had less than a liter in the tank before I started topping up. This tank does not hold 16.8 liters. Maybe Honda Canada was right when the said 14.6 liters. “What a revolting development this is.”

So my drop dead fuel range is really 306 kilometers, not 353 as I previously thought. Good thing I made a habit of refueling near the 250 kilometer range.