Extra Fuel?

[Twisties]

The options, as I see it, are:

1. Jaxon's fuel tank mod,
2. Rotopax(s)
3. Fuel bladder(s)

Pros, cons, costs? Mounting? Sources?

 

[Checkswrecks]

The two big questions are how often you will need it and how much will you need?


Unless you are doing continuous riding in desolate places, most of us can get by with occasionally just strapping on a 2 gallon jug from the local hardware store.

 

[markjenn]

For just casual range extending and emergency fuel, fuel bottles work Okay. They're light, pack either externally or internally, and seal well.

- Mark

 

[~TABASCO~]

For sure, if your looking for one stop and go it would be the big factory tank.. But that is most expensive. If you don't need extra fuel that often and just want to mess around with extra fuel once and a while rotopax are pretty good... Like the last poster said, just depends on what your doing, where your going, and how often you think you might need extra fuel... If you have any questions about the larger tank feel free to call or write and Ill be happy to talk to you about it...

 

[Twisties]

We got stopped for fuel in Oregon Monday. In several small towns stations closed at 5 pm and didn't open until 8 am, and they don't have self-serve. So when they are closed, they are closed. Cost us a day on our travels and that day ran about $100. We were thinking of taking some side routes on another stretch, but didn't because of unknown fuel (turns out there was some, but we weren't sure). Now we are thinking about a run into the area we call "The West Desert" which is basically the region around Dugway Proving Ground to US-50/Great Basin NP (Fish Springs, Topaz Mtn), and fuel would be nominally tight and limiting of options. Then there is the Yukon/AK trip coming. Nothing planned, except maybe The Dempster, where extra fuel is plainly needed for YT/AK, but once again the issue of unplanned jaunts down side roads, high winds, etc comes up.

Ultimately, I would say less than 2% of my total miles on this bike that I would actually want the extra containers filled, yet already three instances where it would have made a difference. Bladders don't take up much space when not in use... but I don't know about durability, mounting, etc. I was thinking maybe they could be draped over the front of the bike an into the crash bar area, but would need to consider the radiator venting, tie down and control, and any impact to vision.

Rotopax are nice, but once you leave home, you are stuck with them whether they are full or not. Mounting can be solved pretty easily as I can put them on the rear of the Jesse cases. Their website leaves much unexplained about pairing them up, but I can call them.

The tank mod sounds interesting but maybe too pricey... I'll have to pm Jaxon and see.

 

[Twisties]

There are no aftermarket plastic tanks out there yet are there? Anyone think maybe some are coming?

 

[autoteach]

Weld up an aluminum?

 

[markjenn]

There are no aftermarket plastic tanks out there yet are there? Anyone think maybe some are coming?

In general, the aftermarket hasn't attempted larger replacement plastic tanks for any of the big fuel-injected adventure tourers. The engineering for a bike with an integral fuel pump is non-trivial.

- Mark

 

[newventurer]

I have the Touratech plastic jugs mounted on the back of the OEM bags.

 

[sail2xxs]

I'm in the bang for the buck, don't get to use extra fuel capacity often camp, and use two 1 gallon fuel cans when fuel availability could be an issue. I haven't been fortunate enough to need them on any trips with the Tenere yet, but they have come in handy in the past on other bikes I've owned.

I've been looking at fuel bladders for a different application, and have been researching the following:

http://www.atlinc.com/rangeextender.html They will make custom sizes smaller than the 25 gallon+ tanks on the site.

http://www.huskyportable.com/fuel-bladder-tanks_id115.html Haven't checked with them about pricing on their tanks yet.

http://www.fuelsafe.com/index.htm They make an additional fuel cell for the Can Am Spyder... might work.

http://www.interstateproducts.com/pillow_tanks.htm They make custom sizes, but we'd probably need to do a group buy!

Chris

 

[Twisties]

In general, the aftermarket hasn't attempted larger replacement plastic tanks for any of the big fuel-injected adventure tourers. The engineering for a bike with an integral fuel pump is non-trivial.

- Mark

My friend has something on his KTM 950.... It's big, black, plastic and definitely not stock.... I think it was made from mold they use for super tankers... did I say it is BIG!

 

[OX-34]

There is always the option of an aux.

This one has quick release fuel lines, so it doesn't have to be a permanent fixture. Its a 5 gallon JAZ tank.

Today the bits arrived and I have a fabricator ready to roll out a more luggage-friendly aluminium tank. I'll post up pics in a week or 2.

 

[Maxified]

Today the bits arrived and I have a fabricator ready to roll out a more luggage-friendly aluminium tank. I'll post up pics in a week or 2.

Looking forward to seeing the pics!

 

[tomatocity]

Good question Twisties. I have had this question a few times but I am a planner which sometimes conflicts with being an adventurer. Never thought of closed gas stations while traveling in Oregon. Guessing many smaller cities of other states could have the same situation. Good call.

What I did not see listed was the gas and gas station situation while in CAN/AK. 1. Is we can travel late into the night and it will not be dark but that does not mean the gas stations will be open. 2. No guarantee the gas stations will have gasoline. 3. No guarantee the gas station will be in business. So carrying spare gasoline can be a good idea if you are planning on traveling long hours. 4. Early June 2009 when headed to Haines from Kenai I decided to carry a spare 2.5 gallon of gas can (many of the gas stations were closed on the way up) and somewhere before Tok I realized the gas can was gone. Glad I did not need it.

Wish there was an easy answer but there have been many good suggestions. Would be nice if we had a member that had a plastic molding company

 

[markjenn]

My friend has something on his KTM 950.... It's big, black, plastic and definitely not stock.... I think it was made from mold they use for super tankers... did I say it is BIG!

950's are carb'ed.

- Mark

 

[sail2xxs]

Nick Sanders seemed to do fine with a couple regular gas cans strapped to his bike.... I don't remember seeing them in the pictures of the later stages of his trip though.

Chris

 

[bloodline]

I heard Nick Sanders was gay.

 

[mcbrien]

If yamaha would just sell the aux. fuel cell it had on the concept bike ::010::

 

[sail2xxs]

I heard Nick Sanders was gay.

I don't care, and don't want to know or speculate about what he does anywhere else - it takes one seriously tough, determined, and focused person to do the rides he's done. I have total respect for his achievements.

Chris

 

[Twisties]

For just casual range extending and emergency fuel, fuel bottles work Okay. They're light, pack either externally or internally, and seal well.

- Mark

I have a few of these. I don't like them because:

They go in with the general luggage and I think they emit fumes which I don't want in my food and clothes and electronics.
They take up general luggage space.
You need 13 of them (the 20 oz capacity bottles from REI) for 2 gallons (what I think I am targeting for extra volume) and they are likely scattered all through your luggage and gear so getting at them is a job... and not a nice thing if it is raining.

I think the advantages are:

They go in the general luggage space and so don't add more junk outside
They are dispersable through the luggage for better storage.