Quick reaction is the name of the game...Same thing happened to me going up a hill one time, basically 2 pops and it quit.  I barely had my hand by the petcock by the time the engine quit, in gear mind you.  Then I had to maneuver to the side of the road, one handed, with the rear wheel locked.    Great way to start the day!

I hardly ever have to switch to reserve, but when I have, it's usually with more warning.  Going uphill gives you like no reaction time.  

The Raptor petcock is manual, so you have to turn it on and off.  It is more compact than the stock unit, so if you have a clearance issue removing the tank, it should be resolved with the Raptor.  I didn't watch the videos, but it's a fairly simple and straightforward swap...2 bolts.  You probably couldn't do it wrong, but if you did, post pics.  

OK, I went ahead and ordered the Raptor.  We'll see if I can somehow screw it up!  If I do, I'll make sure to take some photos for all of you.  

You'll have to really work hard at screwing that up.

Thers a hundred ways. I took about a 2" piece of dowel rod & put a dab of silicone on it to make it slide in. Silicone & vacuum arent recommended, but I dont think this is ever gonna suck out,,

As for keeping up with mileage, I just remember the last three digits when I fill up. I have not ridden as much lately, so I sometimes forget. I generally check my gas and oil before I leave on a ride. I rode last Wednesday (Five days ago) and filled up at 115 miles. I see it as 1:15 on the clock. Sometimes if it's within a few miles of 25, 50 75 or 100 I just round up to those. Works for me. With the Raptor you get a little further on a tank and a little less on reserve. Of course, here in the South we have a station literally every 15 miles at the most. I know this is not the case for some of you guys. Plus there is always the lawnmower gas on the carport of 50% of us down here. I would ask first and offer to pay for a splash and run, of course.  

DavidOfMA wrote on 05/15/13 at 06:26:39:


On some bikes you can wiggle the tank a bit and make it clear - on others you can't.  It is not a year issue - it is more an issue of manufacturing variances....some bikes just have more room to clear the frame than others.  On my 2007 the rear of the vacuum petcock hit the frame rail.....it could not be wiggled off and the petcock had to be removed if you wanted the tank off.  There have been previous posts from owners that have had several bikes.....and they commented that on some the tank could be taken off with the petcock still on....and some they could not.

With the petcock I got I had to raise the tank a little to get the fuel hose to clear the choke after I had it installed.