Better yet: pull up to the pump just as the engine starts knocking because your memory is shit and the fuel light's broken. Terrifying.
I had this happen and remembered I had a reserve setting on the petcock. Just enough to make it to the next gas station.
One time I forgot to switch the petcock from reserve and ran out while riding with buddies. I was lucky and tried to coast, clutch in, from the parkway exit downhill to a gas station. I rolled to a stop on the shoulder just short of it and pushed the bike in. I started religiously checking the petcock and carrying a length of hose after that.
Honestly, I just eventually figured out how to tell when fuel was getting low by ear. Not great for cross-country, but good enough if all you need is a couple miles to find a station.
I did still end up getting a spare fuel canister, but I've fortunately never run into a situation where I had to use it despite some close calls.
So far I haven't run out or needed the siphon but years after that event I rode with some folks and I had an R100GSPD with the ridiculously large 9.2 gallon tank. One guy had this yellow Ducati with a 3 gallon tank and he ran out in the middle of nowhere PA and siphoned from my tank to get to a gas station.
Hah! I suppose that's another potential solution. Just ride around with your own personal ~~mobile fuel attendant~~ bike buddy!
It happened more than once with that group and one of the guys started referring to my GS as "KC" after the Lockheed flying tanker.
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