Fuel light addition

I guess I'll start this with my disclaimer of "it's my wife's bike", although I do ride it occasionally because of the amazing mileage . Anyway, does anyone know if you can add a fuel light to a Virago 250 that doesn't have one currently. It looks like there is a spot for the light on the dash, but have to admit that I don't really know where the gauge fits into the tank (other than it's on the bottom somewhere) . I'm thinking that it might save me a few trips to bring her gas to get home to have a light. Brett

 

Is the reserve not working?

As for adding a light, you'd need to find if a larger Virago has it, and get the parts from that model. Your best bet would be to get the tank, sender, wires and light, at once. Maybe from a junkyard.

If you tank doesn't have a sealed off mounting boss for the send, you'd have to cut one in. And nothing makes a welder dive for cover faster than someone carrying a gas tank into a weld shop! :shock:

If you mod your tank, you might be able to get get a factory sending unit and get it mounted, the wiring would be pretty simple.

Or take away the credit cards until she figures out how to work the reserve. (Gender loyalty be damed, it's pretty basic stuff!)

 

Thanks for the tips. I will get online and see if I can find the parts diagrams for a few different Viragos to see if it will be a simple fit. I guess I can always use my Maxim as a reference for how it ties into the tank so I can see if it will be a simple addition.

On your comments.....I agree that it is pretty basic stuff, I just also know that she doesn't pay much attention to the trip meter in the car or track mileage (which I'm anal about). If if's not a pretty simple plug and play operation (and reasonably cheap too), I think she'll just have to figure it out.

 

another thing you could try is to reset the tripometer to zero when you fuel up. First you may have to see how far a tank of gas will get you through your regular driving routine before you need to use reserve. Use that distance as a guide as to when to fill up before you go to reserve.

 

I use the fuel gage, and trip meter for mine, I squeeze out about 120-140 per tank, only down side of using the trip meter is I have had mine changed/messed with by kids and once for got to clear it

 

I just open the Gas Cap and take a little peek down in there. Maybe slosh the fuel around to see where the level is. Very un-scientific but effective.

When in doubt; insert Gas spout.
I'd rather get change for a Five than run-out of gas. Although, the Reserve on the Max got me 28-miles, between InterState gas stations, when the one I pulled-into was closed for the day.

 

I reset the trip meter when I fill up. I know I can go about 150 during normal conditions before having to switch to my reserve, so I start looking for a station then. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less, but hey, that's what the reserve is for. I only had to switch over to it twice all year with that method.

 

Does anybody play "Russian Roulette."

Beautiful day. Cruising along the Interstate; "Makin' time."
All the rabbits you're chasing, seem to be dueling for the lead, in their exotic's.
You just want to follow along and play.
Time to Pit.
There's a fuel stop, bathroom and snacks a few miles ahead.
You downshift and hit your afterburners closing-in on the pack.
The turn-off is just ahead.
They don't stop!
Neither do I ...

I cut it so close, one time, that I rolled-up to the pump -- stalled-out -- having goosed-it good, when she first burped, for some momentum.

 

I'm very familiar with that scenario RickO! with cars too!