The R18 is a bling bling bike—perfect for a short ride to the bar or an AA/ NA meeting. Out in the desert or the mountains, the limited fuel range becomes an issue. Though it technically needs gas every 100 miles, in reality, you’ll find yourself stopping every 50–60 miles due to how far apart gas stations are. After three years and 19,000 miles, my happiest day with the R18 was the day I sold it.
I get over 22 kms/l so 220 to 250 km and here in my bubble gas stations are not an issue anywhere. Not in the mainly empty states, not even in the only European réal desert. The one where the spaghetti westerns were shot. So no, cannot se range being an issue here. Still a cruíser though not a grand tourer.
Lóved it. Two up btw. My charmimg company loved it too.Which I wrote and do; still anoying that the warning overwrites that part of the display.
My "bling bling" TC has taken me, comfortably, on several long-distance rides (in excess of 2k miles) plus regular 60-150 mile local rides, here on the east coast. I average close to 50mpg and, filling up at around the 1/4-tank mark, typically ride 200-250 miles between fill-ups; conservatively that 'should' leave me about 60-70 miles on a 1/4-tank. Gas here in the U.S. has never been an issue with a little planning and foresight (though at times I have cut it close when I was not paying adequate attention to the gas situation). Regarding gas availability, on my 1150GS at ~40mpg, gas has never been a problem, either crossing the Great Plains, the western mountains, the Utah and Nevada desert, or through Death Valley, all on secondary roads. I carried a 1-gallon Rotopax of gas (be prepared, right?) and even bought a GSA tank to extend my range; never used the gas in the Rotopax and never installed the tank, it's still sitting on a shelf in the garage... don't need them here. Now, if crossing the Gobi, they would be handy but that ain't here.
