Fuel and alternatives for that extra range

[WuZards-Eugene]

I could always suggest that you buy a proper bike that has a shaft drive and 350kms in the tank but that would be taking the piss. FYI quick connect couplers for your fuel lines are available from www.c2c.co.nz you will be after the CPC catalogue they are available in plastic or S/Steel email Lindsay he will help you out. Regards GSers

What are you on about The ZX Express isn't shaft drive. You insult me.

[Taz]

What are you on about The ZX Express isn't shaft drive. You insult me.

Way to go. I remember when they were new and 2 guys in out club bought matching ZX10's. One guy put his down on the first gravel ride and scratched up the side. Only scratches nothing major. His wife was on the back and don't think she was too pleased tho.

[eldog]

I have done a bit of research and found that the fuel range to a lot of our bikes can be lacking yet we still want to ride the ole' faithful there and back most of the time.
What I mean by this is having a range of only 200kms or so for some bikes....
Attachment 212372Imagine this then...


A lot of stories, yarns, hard luck occasions has prompted me to look for a good alternative mainly because I may be in the market for a new bike but cannot afford the $650 AUD for a newer bigger tank...

What happens if I sell the bike, buy another? I am back to square one looking for a bigger tank as we do.
I know for some fuel range isnt an issue, but I like to ride and not have to plan my trips around fuel stops and worry about whether they are open etc etc.
I know this might have been debated in the past and we have discussed merits of wine bladders etc and this certainly wouldn't be safe. I have been on rides with mates and seen jerry cans strapped, fallen off, snapped racks because of weight or vibration etc etc.....OR, melted because of exhausts coming into contact over bumpy terrain...Aye Mark..
Well, I have found a few alternatives....
There is a New Zeland based company, I have yet to receive prices but he may be getting them from Australia anyway? When I hear back I will let you know.
I have founbd a couple over the ditch and they seem to reasonably priced too, way cheaper than a big Safari tank!

Here are the links, take a look and discuss the pros and cons....

http://www.liquidcontainment.com.au

Attachment 212373Prices are very reaonable too, they are also legal to carry fuel of course....


http://www.bladdertanks.co.nz Yet to hear back from this crowd, I would imagine they will be similar to the above but I bet dearer that Aussie?

http://www.turtlepac.com/products/co...uel-tanks.html This crowd is more for the larger options etc, like aircraft and 990A...haha

Attachment 212371

The guys over the ditch seem to have a few ideas, and I know some of you might think that we don't need these things here in New Zealand, but it does give you food for thought and wouldn'r it be nice to just keep riding and not have to plan the route for a day around a fuel stop? Ninety Mile Beach, Pouto Point, deep into forestry etc?
Thanks guys...

any further developments?

[Transalper]

Rotopax are another good option now available here on the edge of Christchurch from Motomox.
www.motomox.co.nz/shop/show_products.php?cat=8&sub_cat=38

[eldog]

Rotopax are another good option now available here on the edge of Christchurch from Motomox.
www.motomox.co.nz/shop/show_products.php?cat=8&sub_cat=38

OK I will check it out thanks.
not a lot of strength in subframe - mostly plastic
just want to get to next fuel stop as I don't really know the range as I haven't travelled all that far on it really in remote areas, fine going from town to town. Thinking 5 litres maybe 10 if I get cunning.

its the remote country areas I want to travel, most of them will be at night so fuel stops are my main concern apart from fatigue.

I will be extending my range gradually as I feel comfortable with distance etc. But will be planning to cover as much area as possible limited to time and $.

[R650R]

I wonder how long those bladders will last if you use them lots.
Really in the overall scheme of things a proper bigger tank is not that expensive. To me the $500 for the 20L Acerbis was money well spent.
The times when I did carry a container I found it a right annoyance to be fluffing about at the roadside topping up the tank and then repacking afterwards etc...
For me the risks and handling time of extra bladders and containers far outweigh any initial cost saving...

[eldog]

I wonder how long those bladders will last if you use them lots.
Really in the overall scheme of things a proper bigger tank is not that expensive. To me the $500 for the 20L Acerbis was money well spent.
The times when I did carry a container I found it a right annoyance to be fluffing about at the roadside topping up the tank and then repacking afterwards etc...
For me the risks and handling time of extra bladders and containers far outweigh any initial cost saving...

I would normally agree with you for an adventure/dual purpose bike - which I have always thought I would end up with or similar.
but...
Since I am learning all this stuff and I haven't seen a proper bigger tank to suit it - its a road bike primarily.

I thought this would be the best place to ask about such things. As a temporary solution, till I sort out range/fuel stops.
thinking about 5 litres just in case. Most of the bike is plastic with not many places to bolt on a frame.

[BMWST?]

i just dont buy a bike that wont do at least 300 k.Simple

[FJRider]

if you want, I can dig out some pics of what Triple X Moto did for me. Marine grade 11.5L tank, strapped to back seat, fuel line plumbed into main line, with quick release valve.

I've seen a few fuel tanks in Top-box's ... with similar connections on a few Chatto Creek 1000 mile rally's ... It's worked well as stand alone systems on Givi mounting brackets.

[Gremlin]

I've seen a few fuel tanks in Top-box's ... with similar connections on a few Chatto Creek 1000 mile rally's ... It's worked well as stand alone systems on Givi mounting brackets.

Ultimately the gravity fed option didn't really perform consistently for me. Sometimes it worked brilliantly, drawing from auxiliary before main, sometimes it would start drawing once the main was near empty.

Sometimes it needed a kick to draw at all... and other times it didn't work at all. I gave up when I started considering a CAD drawn custom fuel tank.

Now I have 36-38L in the main tank on a better bike giving up at least 600km, and I've had 750km with a little to go. No problem

[FJRider]

Ultimately the gravity fed option didn't really perform consistently for me. Sometimes it worked brilliantly, drawing from auxiliary before main, sometimes it would start drawing once the main was near empty.

Sometimes it needed a kick to draw at all... and other times it didn't work at all. I gave up when I started considering a CAD drawn custom fuel tank.

Now I have 36-38L in the main tank on a better bike giving up at least 600km, and I've had 750km with a little to go. No problem

I have seen some systems that required a back-flow (stop) valve between the main tank and the extra tank/mainline junction ... as the height of the extra tank caused fuel to (over)flow the main tank. Some I've seen just had a (manual) valve easily reached from the riding position to be basiclly another reserve tank.


My FJ is fuel pump equipped ... with a similar setup I tried once ... I had no issues. (500 + km's without putting the feet down) I could have gone slightly farther ... but I NEEDED to pee ... (old aged bladder of my own)

[eldog]

I am not sure about current bike range, will depend on how I ride and what conditions I find.
the roads I have chosen are off he beaten track and I haven't been on most of them before. So I want some reserve.
i guess the range is above 200 k, but I have more work to finish the bike to test it out.
and I don't know about petrol supplies as I generally just fill up the car/truck and drive, can easily get anywhere in the nth is on one tank
its just me trying to ensure I don't have to call anyone at 2 in the morning, unless it's a real breakdown.
i know the main towns will have at least one or two stations open or fuel card operated, but I am not planning to be anywhere near those.

[BMWST?]

I am not sure about current bike range, will depend on how I ride and what conditions I find.
the roads I have chosen are off he beaten track and I haven't been on most of them before. So I want some reserve.
i guess the range is above 200 k, but I have more work to finish the bike to test it out.
and I don't know about petrol supplies as I generally just fill up the car/truck and drive, can easily get anywhere in the nth is on one tank
its just me trying to ensure I don't have to call anyone at 2 in the morning, unless it's a real breakdown.
i know the main towns will have at least one or two stations open or fuel card operated, but I am not planning to be anywhere near those.

wel thats a whole different ball game.My old BMW can go over 500 k on a tank normally i dont need anything near that.But if doing the sort of think you seem to be thinking about i would say you need a reserve of at least 100 k.Fill up when you can,and carry on.You may need to divert to the nearest known fuel if you find your self at the start of your reserve and you dont know where the next fuel is ,esp at night.

[FJRider]

well thats a whole different ball game.

Long distance riders and those that choose "The long way" to anywhere ... have the responsibility to ensure they have the fuel (or access to said fuel) to complete their journey ...

Those that can't or WONT to either ... THEIR problem ...

Those that ring their friends at 2am to bring fuel to THEM ... don't expect that friendship to last .... long ...

[JATZ]

I'm assuming you've seen this thread ??

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-fuel-stations

I'm not sure how up to date it is though. Perhaps if you let on where your going someone will fill you in on whether there's gas available 24 hrs.