The CB1100 has a relatively small fuel tank for a bike of its size. On a really good day, with really good conditions, one might be able to make 300 kilometres before refuelling, but I prefer to start looking for fuel at around 220-230 kilometres. When touring, this can mean that finding fuel becomes its own adventure. Pterodactyl and I have spent considerable time poring over maps to work out our daily fuel stops.
In 2017, on the way to the MotoGP, we had lunch with noroomtomove and his wife. We were planning our afternoon and worrying slightly whether we'd make it to our preferred fuel stop. noroomtomove told us to stop worrying and explained:
Noroomtomove's First Law of Motion and Fuel Consumption for Honda's CB1100:
KR = KT/10 x 4
Where—
KR = Kilometres remaining; and
KT = Kilometres travelled
Because the CB1100's tank carries 14.6 litres of fuel and the reserve light flashes when approximately 3.6 litres remain in the tank, the formula should really be KT/11 x 3.6, but that's way too complicated to do in my head. Ten is a great divisor: even I can divide by 10 without a calculator. noroomtomove reckons a multiplier of 4 is close enough, but he is notoriously parsimonius in petrol use. My colleague, Pterodactyl, being naturally cautious, decided a multiplier of 3 would give us a sensible margin of error.
