Why are cruiser tanks so small?

[Grub]

Just thinking about how many times Nasty has to gas up compared to me makes me wonder ... why?

Here is a genre of bikes designed to get out on the highways and cruise long distances yet their basic design makes that impossible. Forget taking one down the West Coast without jerry cans (see Steam if you need some).

The only plausible explanation I can think of ....

... Cruisers are so uncomfortable to ride that the manufacturers make sure you don't spend too long in the saddle to find that out!

[KoroJ]

I guess because a 20 - 30 litre tank just wouldn't quite look right and with no fairing, it would be hard to disguise where ideally most of the fuel is kept, low on the bike.

Also, they're designed for hiway cruising where there are always lots of gas stations, not what we use them for, thrashing through out much loved back roads.

I loved riding my Intruder and completed the RNGC on it without much problem, (although I was carrying a 5litre insurance pack) It normally only got uncomfortable on the butt two-up, but unfortunately it didn't suit the riding I was doing with the wee tank and lack of baggage capacity, so I had to change.

[Mr. Peanut]

Cruisers are fun :sunny:

Would say it's for aesthetic reasons more than anything.

[Big Dave]

... Cruisers are so uncomfortable to ride that the manufacturers make sure you don't spend too long in the saddle to find that out!

EASILY the most comfortable bikes available for taller people: (in no particuar order - they are all sublime)
XB12X
Caponord
Softail Custom
Fat Boy
M109R
C90T

4 out of the first 6 most comfortable bikes I can think of are cruisers.

The tank sizes are concessions to style.

[crashe]

What bike is she riding?
What size tank does the bike have?



I ride a cruiser - VIRAGO :love: and I get around approx 200kms plus reserve out of my bike.

Sometimes I get 220kms other times 200km depending on whether I'm riding in the city or out in the country.

My bike has a 9.5 litre tank and is a 250cc VIRAGO :love:

Oh and she is really comfy to sit on..... rode her in Dec last year from Auckland to Lower Hutt and she was real comfy.
I suffer with chronic lower back problems and my back didn't suffer at all.

[magicfairy]

Agree, don't know why they do it, but small tank sucks. My 800 only has 12 litre tank, town riding I go onto reserve at about 130k. Open road about 170k but I don't go further than 200k even on reserve. It is the one thing I would change.

[Jantar]

EASILY the most comfortable bikes available for taller people: (in no particuar order - they are all sublime)
XB12X
Caponord
Softail Custom
Fat Boy
M109R
C90T

4 out of the first 6 most comfortable bikes I can think of are cruisers.

The tank sizes are concessions to style.

Comfort is a matter of perspective. I am quite tall (over 180 cm) and I find that the cruiser style is comfortable for short distances at low speed. Any more than an hour or so and I notice that all my weight is concentrated on my bum, and I can't use my legs for support. The wind blast takes its toll as well and I can feel that my arms are actually taking quite a strain.

For me, the most comfortable modern bikes for long distances are bikes like the Suzuki VStrom (that's partially why I have one), Triumph Tiger, BMW 1200GS etc.

[Ixion]

ALL motorcycles have absurdly small tanks for their fuel consumption. They either need to get consumption of a 650 back to 80+ mpg or fit 40l + tanks. Either way, range needs to be at least 500km.

Half a century ago a I could get the Velo from Auckland to Wellington without a fuel stop. So where's the progress.

[Motu]

Yep,100mpg out of a Triumph twin was pretty common,used to get 95mpg out of my Norton 99 SS.

[Crisis management]

Cruiser styling obviously dictates the tank size but it seems a bit ludicrous, when we have the likes of the Buell with fuel in the frame, that this type of storage cannot be found on a cruiser.
Surely there is space to disguise a remote fuel tank somewhere, dummy oil tank maybe?
Personally I would want 300 to 350 Kms range from a fuel tank and I can't see why that isn't achievable.


(I hope all them apostrophe thingies are in the right place, the BDOTGNZA are getting anal lately...)

[SlashWylde]

Aggree that with cruisers, tank sizing is often dictated by aesthetic considerations.

Having said that, range is dictated by the tank size and the efficiency of the bike.

My 2005 Vulcan 800 has a 15 litre tank, and can do over 220km on the open road before hitting the reserve (5L left to go) which implies at least 330km from 15L.

[Big Dave]

I am quite tall (over 180 cm)

You need to visit a mall, mate. 205cm is 'quite tall' these days.

Last months KR - did 750km in a day on the C90T. Rated it 'probably the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden'.
The screen - like every screen I've used - caused some buffeting. Otherwise like sitting in a lounge chair all day.

Nor do I notice 'wind blast' at licence keeping speeds - the resistance of the wind and it rushing over as much exposed skin as the conditions and speed will allow is part of the very essence of why I ride. The long lost wind in your hair. Why I have now come to favour naked bikes - you can get that same buzz a lot slower on the road.

[Hitcher]

The ST1300 was good for 500+km per tank. At two litres less capacity, the FJR can't quite match that -- fumes at 480km.

[Toaster]

Mine is very comfortable to ride and has a good sized tank. Go M109R!

[sunhuntin]

What bike is she riding?
What size tank does the bike have?



I ride a cruiser - VIRAGO :love: and I get around approx 200kms plus reserve out of my bike.

Sometimes I get 220kms other times 200km depending on whether I'm riding in the city or out in the country.

My bike has a 9.5 litre tank and is a 250cc VIRAGO :love:

Oh and she is really comfy to sit on..... rode her in Dec last year from Auckland to Lower Hutt and she was real comfy.
I suffer with chronic lower back problems and my back didn't suffer at all.


crashe... i road from wangas to national park and back a few weeks ago. i think its about 120k one way [so, 120 there, and 120 back] i filled the day before. [cant remember how much she took] rode up, met a friend and we headed to ohakune for lunch. he gassed up. i looked at mine and said screw it. was still 90% full. we head back... i flick to reserve when she refuses to power out of a corner. im guessing a 20k reserve [havent run it dry yet, so not sure] we continue riding. i pull off when we are still quite a distance from town, figuring at worst, we could rig up a way to siphon from his tank.

we hit upukngaro [?] which is still about 5 k from town, with the nearest gas station another few k once we hit town. [i was hoping thered be a servo there, but there wasnt]

i dunno what happened, but somehow i managed about 240k on one tank of gas... and she only took about 8 liters when we did get to the servo.

[crashe]

crashe... i road from wangas to national park and back a few weeks ago. i think its about 120k one way [so, 120 there, and 120 back] i filled the day before. [cant remember how much she took] rode up, met a friend and we headed to ohakune for lunch. he gassed up. i looked at mine and said screw it. was still 90% full. we head back... i flick to reserve when she refuses to power out of a corner. im guessing a 20k reserve [havent run it dry yet, so not sure] we continue riding. i pull off when we are still quite a distance from town, figuring at worst, we could rig up a way to siphon from his tank.

we hit upukngaro [?] which is still about 5 k from town, with the nearest gas station another few k once we hit town. [i was hoping thered be a servo there, but there wasnt]

i dunno what happened, but somehow i managed about 240k on one tank of gas... and she only took about 8 liters when we did get to the servo.

Thats damn good going.....

I been thinking about getting my bike checked out as it does need a few things doing to it.

Im getting the fork oil done first.... well after doing 101,000kms figured it was time it got done... oops.
Then look at the valve clearance and the tappets..... but have to save up for that to be done. And while they (the mechanic's) are in there they can reconnect my choke, since it has been disconnected for years.

So it maybe running a tad rich because of the choke being disconnected.

[Big Dave]

The ST1300 was good for 500+km per tank. At two litres less capacity, the FJR can't quite match that -- fumes at 480km.

I got 300 out of the FJR - Deano got 350 (to reserve).

I was thinking of yourself with the reference to the Grand Challenge (weirdos) in the C90T test.

[Hitcher]

I got 300 out of the FJR - Deano got 350 (to reserve).

Fuck me! When I said an FJR could be happily ridden anywhere in one gear, I didn't mean first!

I've been to reserve (the flickering lights equivalent) at 410km.

[johnnyflash]

I agree, tanks are too small for me also, (14l tank btw) my C90T Boulevarde gets between 18-20k/L on a trip, thats 250k - 280k on a cruise, and hell whats a RESERVE?, just a display that aint that explanatary, means I fill up at 200k to be safe. But man its well balanced with that tank where it is, I have seen mention on a USA site of a secondary tank, but where they put it god knows...

[Big Dave]

Fuck me! When I said an FJR could be happily ridden anywhere in one gear, I didn't mean first!

I've been to reserve (the flickering lights equivalent) at 410km.

3rd got me. And I got it immediately after a ZX1400 and rode it just as fast. In controlled circumstances and closed roads of course.
Gross weight something to do with it too.

[The Lone Rider]

I got 200k this week before hitting reserve, last week got to about 185 before hitting reserve. So on average nearly 200k on $15 of 98octane.

[xwhatsit]

How many litres are those big fat Manx tanks? I don't especially mind filling up, as I do it every 250kms, so I can easily regulate my oil changes and chain lubing per petrol stops. But those Manx (kind of like a GB500) tanks look nice and big, if they're 20 litres or so that would give me 500kms at least.

[cowboyz]

i am getting 300k out of the zx9r. reserve kicks in at about 260-270. Although I came back from hamilton the other weekend and I was cruising along and I thought I hadnt filled up in a while so I checked my tripmeter (pain in the arse having no fuel gauge, and I have to set my display to EITHER clock or tripmeter not both at the same time). I had filled with 98 in cambridge and I was on 310k. I had horrible thoughts of forgetting to switch over the reserve when I filled up. I thought about stopping and checking but figured it didn't actually make any difference anyway so carried on. Run out of fuel at 325k and happy to find out I wasnt on reserve. Flicked to reserve tank and run out 350k before finding an open gas station. took 17.8l out of a 18l tank. I am happy enough with that. my 600f was about the same in fuel.

[bmz2]

try the m109r tank ,you can land a plane on it,west ak to hamilton and back low fuel light on at newton rd , good run for a big bike and comfort to.

[scumdog]

Hmm, I get 300kmh+ for a tankful on my 'cruiser' - how far DO you want to go before getting fuel???

[NighthawkNZ]

Hmm, I get 300kmh+ for a tankful on my 'cruiser' - how far DO you want to go before getting fuel???

Thats more than me on my sports/tourer... I get 250 - 270 before reserve kicks in... I just fill up when the gage looks rather low ;)

[Big Dave]

:gob:I haven't even got a fuel tank. 250km before the warning light on the buell. Plenty for me. 200 and I need a leg stretch.

[sunhuntin]

Thats damn good going.....

I been thinking about getting my bike checked out as it does need a few things doing to it.

Im getting the fork oil done first.... well after doing 101,000kms figured it was time it got done... oops.
Then look at the valve clearance and the tappets..... but have to save up for that to be done. And while they (the mechanic's) are in there they can reconnect my choke, since it has been disconnected for years.

So it maybe running a tad rich because of the choke being disconnected.

yeh... it cant have been due to open road speed either... i never got above 70k the whole time [cept for a stretch near ohakune] constant braking and gear changing.

my rear tyre should be here this week [and just in time for warrent and rego!] so gonna get that fitted, choke hooked up and whatever else needs doin. will take the tyre to my regular mechanics... dont think i trust the guy i got the tyre through to do any major mechanical work...

[Shadows]

After getting some bigger jets I now get around 200k before hitting reserve, which coincidentally is right about the time I can't ignore the cramp in my legs, the pain in my arse, or the ringing in my ears any longer.
A larger capacity tank would constitute a health hazard.

[crashe]

yeh... it cant have been due to open road speed either... i never got above 70k the whole time [cept for a stretch near ohakune] constant braking and gear changing.

my rear tyre should be here this week [and just in time for warrent and rego!] so gonna get that fitted, choke hooked up and whatever else needs doin. will take the tyre to my regular mechanics... dont think i trust the guy i got the tyre through to do any major mechanical work...

That will be why..... only doing 70kms the whole time..... lol.

[cowboy]

Im getting 230+ before res on trip & the vtx is very comfortable to ride. Did 4000ks in 7 days in south island last month & wasn't to bad on the body.

[elle-f]

Mine is crap - I get about 86kms after a day of hooning around the backroads and if i take it easy i only get about 100kms per bloody tank. yes, i am taking it in but in winter so i dont care how long it takes. next bike i will be making SURE there is decent mileage before i buy!

[Edbear]

Half a century ago a I could get the Velo from Auckland to Wellington without a fuel stop. So where's the progress.



You got a Velo from Auckland to Wellington...?:gob:

I could achieve over 100mpg from my T500 with hot plugs and riding slow, 33mpg at 100mph! (Could get 36mpg from my '67 XR200 Falcon, too!)

Getting an easy 52mpg on the C50T while not riding for economy :innocent: which equates to around 285km from the 15.5lt. It's very comfy with a "natural" riding position. See my review.

[Ixion]

You got a Velo from Auckland to Wellington...?:gob:

I could achieve over 100mpg from my T500 with hot plugs and riding slow, 33mpg at 100mph! (Could get 36mpg from my '67 XR200 Falcon, too!)

Getting an easy 52mpg on the C50T while not riding for economy :innocent: which equates to around 285km from the 15.5lt. It's very comfy with a "natural" riding position. See my review.

And back to Auckland again, the same day. Though I stopped for fuel half way on the return trip, I was cutting it rather fine on the run into Wellington.

[Wired1]

My '87 883 has an FXR tank on it so I reckon I could get to the moon on a tank, unfortunately it is too wide for my legs so I'm looking for an original sporty tank. I bought one that matches my year but it's the old 2 gallon peanut tank and it would get me to town and back if I stopped for gas so I'm looking for the later 3.3 gallon tank which I'm told should give me about 250k's on an 883. 250km is far enough on any bike to want to stop for a piss and a coffee so why would you want a bigger tank?
And yes they are more styly than than the supertanker look...

[Ixion]

Well, crusiers may be happy to stop every 250km. But touriers reckon at least 500km between stops, if the can do it. and the more the better.

y' dont need to stop for either a piss or a coffee,y'can take both on the move, the only reason to stop is fuel. I hate having to stop for fuel. I want mobile refueling tankers.

[johnnyflash]

My trouble is, i want to stop at places of MY choosing for refuels, (not my blasted tanks choice) my preference is always another 50-100 kms further down the track, ..bummer..

[Shadows]

Well, crusiers may be happy to stop every 250km. But touriers reckon at least 500km between stops, if the can do it. and the more the better.

y' dont need to stop for either a piss or a coffee,y'can take both on the move, the only reason to stop is fuel. I hate having to stop for fuel. I want mobile refueling tankers.

Damn... at 500km you'd have almost run out of island!

[Wired1]

Damn... at 500km you'd have almost run out of island!

Only on the small island, on the mainland we have a bit more room to slow down...

[Ixion]

Auckland to Wellington is over 500 km.

It's a pain, literally, having to stop. After about 300 km I find I get through the pain wall, and get into a groove where you don't really feel the aches and cramps any more, it just blurs into the engine and the road. Until you have to stop. Then you drop out of the zone.

(The other thing I've never figured out how to do on the move is take a crap)

[oldrider]

Our Tiger has quite a good fuel range and the bike is comfortable to ride on.

loaded, two up and traveling around 70mph we have yet to see the fuel light come on! (I guess it will work when required.)

Mostly seems to be about 200miles travelled, fuel up with around 18ltrs, so that must leave about 6 litres still in the 24 ltr tank! (nice safety margin)

That is good enough for me and long enough between breaks nowadays.

Yep, we are gettin to like the Tiger better every trip! :yes: Cheers John.

[Delphinus]

y' dont need to stop for either a piss or a coffee,y'can take both on the move, the only reason to stop is fuel. I hate having to stop for fuel. I want mobile refueling tankers.

I'm up for that... tanker just cruises along beside you and you grab a hose and top up as you go along.

[phaedrus]

good to see i'm not the only one who's been thinking of these things. Plan B was detachable pannier "fuel pods" pre-filled and stashed somewhere safe for an endurance ride.

[classic zed]

My old cruiser is the most comfortable bike I have ridden and it has a 5 gallon tank :gob: Mind you I still only get about 300km out of it :Oops:

[Shadows]

Only on the small island, on the mainland we have a bit more room to slow down...

True, but that would depend on where you started from :)

[Big Dave]

(The other thing I've never figured out how to do on the move is take a crap)


Stick to talking it.

[loftyk3]

Doesn't seem to matter what the bike is - 2 hours is enough before I need to unwind. A caffeine fix at the same time doesn't seem to hurt either.

[kevie]

What bike is she riding?
What size tank does the bike have?



I ride a cruiser - VIRAGO :love: and I get around approx 200kms plus reserve out of my bike.

Sometimes I get 220kms other times 200km depending on whether I'm riding in the city or out in the country.

My bike has a 9.5 litre tank and is a 250cc VIRAGO :love:

Oh and she is really comfy to sit on..... rode her in Dec last year from Auckland to Lower Hutt and she was real comfy.
I suffer with chronic lower back problems and my back didn't suffer at all.

I get around 150km one up on my XV750 Virago, and around 130km two up

[Grub]

y' dont need to stop for a piss or a coffee,y'can take both on the move.

How, like this ? http://www.adultdiapers.org/mosuplsut.html

[oldrider]

How, like this ? http://www.adultdiapers.org/mosuplsut.html

Hey Grub, as I am fast approaching the age of incontinence etc, I had a nosey around that site and it scared the living shits out of me!

There but for the grace of god go I, as the adage goes!

Nice to see that suppliers of such things are out there for those that need them. (hope I don't ever need them though)

I always thought old age was just about being free to ride your bike, where ever, whenever, however but that stuff looks too bloody scary for me. :shit: John.

[avgas]

Why are exhaust so big in standard bikes where in I.D. of them is so small?

[Virago]

Why are exhaust so big in standard bikes where in I.D. of them is so small?

Que?

I think I understand what you're asking.

There's some fairly complex physics involved, but basically, if the I.D. is made bigger than the O.D., the exhaust can disappear altogether.

In some circumstances, the I.D.can be bigger than the O.D., but this means that the exhaust is inside-out, making it really hard to polish the chrome.....:confused:

[scumdog]

Que?

I think I understand what you're asking.

There's some fairly complex physics involved, but basically, if the I.D. is made bigger than the O.D., the exhaust can disappear altogether.

In some circumstances, the I.D.can be bigger than the O.D., but this means that the exhaust is inside-out, making it really hard to polish the chrome.....:confused:


Don't worry V. he is.... is...is not having a brain.


(When it comes to zorsts)

[Blue Thunder]

Mine is very comfortable to ride and has a good sized tank. Go M109R!

Mine ain't quite as big,but like the M109R is very comfortable to ride all day and gives about a 230km range even 2 up. Maybe a little less throttle and your go juice will last longer!.