| Author | Message | ||
     Telewoodski |
I really enjoy my XB, and get a grin every time I ride it. But, 140 miles a tank puts me in a bit of a lurch on some rides. Has anyone come up with a way to store more fuel on the bike. I was thinking how a few more gallons would help with the longer rides, and how a person might do it. How bout: 1)Installing the Buell Saddlebags with one side dedicated to fuel. It would have a fuel line running to the tank up front, which should work because the rear tank would be higher than the main tank. 2) An easier solution would be a tank bag with a fuel compartment. Any other ideas? | ||
| Gowindward |
I agree with you that a large fuel tank / longer range would be nice. I find that on my long trips I'm stopping every 100 to 120 miles to get fuel to avoid being caught 30 plus miles to the next fuel stop when going on reserve. Look at these  http://msrcorp.com/stoves/bottles.asp As a way to carry extra emergency reserve fuel. I think you may have a problem gravity feeding fuel to the main tank because it's vented. The vent would cause your higher elevation fuel tank (such as a tank bag fuel cell) to drain out the vent and maybe out the filler cap too. | ||
| Scitz |
You could always get the air box cover with vents and use the area in the frame where the snorkel is for an extra fuel source. Maybe make some room in the air box cover for a gallon. I have an XB9R and think that if I remove the small compartment in the tail section and add a small source of fuel. | ||
| Metalstorm |
Those MSR bottles are super super tough. I had a couple attached to my scooter (the stand up, 2 stroke kind) & I hit a nasty bump one day and one of the bottles got jarred free and rolled right into the path of a Ford F350. The truck nailed it with both the front and rear passenger side tires. The bottle was pretty crushed. It was almost a pancake in the middle but it didn't leak! Not a drop. I was even able to unscrew the cap and pour the gas that was in it back in to my little gas can at home. | ||
| Fullpower |
i have a LIter size msr bottle for spare fuel. i also carry a 12 oz bottle of HEET. the combined quantity of 45 ounces should take my XB12 about 18 or 20 miles using optimum fuel conservation technique. I have run 156 miles on a tank, and i think it only took a hair under 3 gallons. the 883 sportster i was riding with used 3.25 gallons. he was very close to pushing his bike. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Not a bad idea for my upcoming trip in Aug. | ||
| Vonsliek |
i just got some vintage mini saddle bags to hang under the pillion for my 500+mile trip his coming week .. they are REAL small .. a little bigger than the buell *nylon saddlebags* .. & they can double up on my ironhead chop .. i plan on putting a small fuel cell/canteen in one & misc. in the other, incase, as there are a few long stretches w/out gas .. that and my cell phone in case of poor planning.  i'll just hand fill the frame .. one COULD drain the frame, air it for a bit, then cut & welding a new section under the airbox for additional fuel. i cannot see a satisfactory & well engineered remote fuel feed .. on cars they have electric fuel pumps .. on a bike i think too risky for homebuilt .. better to stop, refill & stretch legs before blasting off again!  | ||
| Martin |
I wondered how long it would be before my drop-tank idea surfaced again. This had fuel in a collapsible fuel-bag in the pannier with a dry-break connector plumed-in to the existing fuel system. Naturally I never built it, just wittered-on... | ||
| Bake |
Some dirtbike people use spare tank that mounts to where the number plate usually resides. I was concerned about mileage too, but my girlfriends Sportster runs out about the same time my Buell does. The plus side is the Buells seat isn't that comfy for too many miles/kilometers anyways. | ||
| Cruisin |
There was a guy I rode with on a BRAG ride (Charlie, I believe) that fab'd up the perfect solution. He had two one gallon tanks modified to fit as saddlebags on his XB9S. He even had custom nylon covers made for them. He also added a small fuel pump with a switch and had the lines routed into his main tank. When his light came on he'd reach back, loosen a cap, flip the switch to start pumping...a few minutes later he'd flip the switch off and tighten the cap. He could do one or the other or both tanks. It was pretty cool, and worked really well. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
I get an EASY 150 on my 12r before I hit the reserve, Ive taken it to 195 with the reserve (yeah I shoulda got gas at 160) without running out but I did put 3.55 gallons in it, I was JUST ABOUT DRY!! | ||
| Aka_dark_lord |
My opinion is I would rather stretch my legs that have a bunch of bags and gadgets draped over my bike so I could get extra mileage between fillups. Anyone consider an extra gear. I know they make a 6th gear setup for Buells though I don't know for which bike. It will get you 400 less rpms which would up you mpg. But the cost is high ($2,700), but I would pay this before or stretch my legs before I added makeshift bags with flammable volatile liquid. I agree with Bake "take a stretch". | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
I went 500 miles in a day (my personal best) with wife in tow on back. seemed we didn't last nearly as long as the gas did!  | ||
| Telewoodski |
I agree, I don't want to rig up some add on. The reason I asked was there are some streches of road that are going to require a refuel before I hit another gas station. Or, more likely, the pump is going to be closed. I did the short loop yesterday (see profile) and was all over getting off the bike and stretching the legs. I think I'll add on the XB tour bags from Buell, and put in one or two of the MSR style bottles as a backup. If I could find a trusted welder around here I'd like to remove the snorkel tube for sure. Anyone done it? |
