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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 24 Jul 2016
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All your long-range fuel solutions
Going on a big trip? Gonna need a bigger tank or extra fuel storage – at least once in a while. Then again, some modern efi bikes like a CB500X (17.5L tank) are so economical you can manage 250miles/400km.

I've written a post listing most of the obvious solutions; bigger tanks handmade or off the shelf, enlarged tanks, auxiliary tanks, fuel bladders, coke bottles, jerry cans, riding slower or on a smaller bike.
Got any more? Add them here.



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  #2  
Old 24 Jul 2016
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Planned trips can make use of hidden or buried fuel containers
(Someone goes ahead, works out the route and leaves fuel for the bikes , taking exact gps coordinates helps, 7 of us spent 3 hours looking for the container in patagonia
Ps in your next edition could youadd a section on food and drink, eg the water in Ecuador is not drinkable anywhere..
Thanks
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  #3  
Old 24 Jul 2016
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We cached it in 2003 for Desert Riders and I have some more waiting for me in Western Sahara near a lone tree if it hasn't evaporated yet.
I've learned that if you don't DIY it's very important to have a landmark or two + '10 steps north of the tree' (for example) as back up.
In 2003 we were expecting GPS anomalies as Iraq 2 was about to kick off. As it happened GPS was spot on. Time before, looking for tyres from a previous trip - hours of digging but we got them.
Thanks for Ecuador tip. Must be bottled sold there, no?

Last edited by Chris Scott; 24 Jul 2016 at 21:38.
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  #4  
Old 24 Jul 2016
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Yes bottled and a recognized brand, like made by Coca Cola bottlers.
Big bottles (20 l) in hotel entrances are no good, they are often filled from tap and placed on cooler machine. Biggest problen is , food is washed in tap water, so if it isn't peeled by you, fried or....
" crema de bismuto" bismuth works ok
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  #5  
Old 24 Jul 2016
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It does not have to be a modern bike, My Enfield 500cc avl engined bike is good for 240 miles on a 13 litre tank. If I think I need to carry extra fuel usually carry two 2.5 litre plastic oil cans. Only fill them for the tricky bits, Easy to carry empty.
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  #6  
Old 25 Jul 2016
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Hi,

In all our trips we never really bothered with changing the fuel tank. Except this time with one bike (TTR 250).

We found most time we don't need extra fuel. On the occasions we required it we took:
For South America, ( 2 BMW 650gs single) we used disposable flat packed one gallon fuel packs. Not sure they exist anymore. It was in 2007/ 2008. We used them once.

For our ride to Mongolia, in 2014, on two Xr 125, we had a fuel bladder of 8litres. We only used it few times in Mongolia, Uzbekistan and maybe Kazakhstan. We had 12 litre fuel tank. Enough to do about -80 / 200 miles.

This time round, we are travelling across Russia and Central Asia on a TTR 250 with an Acerbis fuel tank (22litres).
I ride an XT250 with only the basic fuel tank, just under 10 litres. I have a range of 300 kms at least. I did not want the extra weight of carrying lots of fuel I really do not usually need!

The Acerbis fuel tank already has caused problems, coming loose on gravel and dirt roads.
I carry a fuel bladder of 5 litres. I may use it at some point, but so far 45 days across Russia north, we never needed it. Maybe in Kyrgyz or Tajikistan. We will see!
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  #7  
Old 25 Jul 2016
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Lugging a chair about hurts the range. I had a ten litre tank made to fit on the pillion seat position. Others have gone one better and taken the tank under the sidecar floor with a pump. Some of the Austalian set ups are good for 500 miles.

https://sites.google.com/site/threew...d-improvements

Gearing can add range. If you sacrifice off road lows for cruising high via the sprockets you gain a few miles.

Modern FI is the key though IMHO (sorry if this now turns into "but I can fix leaking carbs with chewing gum and don't understand electronics because they always just worked" ). My NC750 with a closed throttle in 6th, bimmbling along letting the idle function set the pace, shows 45 mph and 100 mpg. At normal touring pace I'm getting 85 mpg, so 250 miles range on the standard tank.

When you think 50 mpg from the Bonneville or K100 used to impress and you would calculate based on 35 when the conditions were bad, Honda San has earned his salary.

Andy
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  #8  
Old 25 Jul 2016
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Quote:
When things get desperate – we’ve all been there – coast in neutral down long descents while remembering that without engine braking your brakes may overheat on a very long descent.
Yes to that tip on a gently sloping descent. On a steeper descent where the engine braking won't slow you too much, you are better off keeping the bike in gear with a closed throttle as the engine management cuts the fuel supply off completely, whereas if you are in neutral some fuel has to be used to keep the engine turning over.

I was in France with friends making for a ferry slot when I found the fuel station I was relying on was closed. The choice of slowing down wasn't on as I would have missed the ferry. One of my mates is a wopping 6'5" tall and an IAM observer, so I had him ride at a very steady, constant, 65 mph whilst I slipstreamed his rear wheel getting over 100 mpg.

Another technique used by those after record breaking economy figures is to gently accelerate to about 50 mph, then pull the clutch and glide, then when down to 35 mph gently accelerate again, and so on. I used this technique in Mauritania.
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  #9  
Old 1 Aug 2016
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Not a big fan of strapping extra jugs on a bike. I prefer having them properly secured. Quite practical but not cheap, I kinda like what Rotopax offers. Extra rugged plastic jerrycan, with 1 or 2 gallon capacity, that can be stacked. They can be mounted in many locations on a bike. My AT has 23 litre main tank. Add 8 liter in a Rotopax, that's 31 liters total. 600km of backroads, or 400km of 3rd gear pistas.

One advantage I see, of running jerrycans/jugs over a big main tank is not about the weight location. But if the, say, 40 liter fuel tank is full, and your bike tips over, that makes the process of lifting it "a bit" more difficult. While you can still unhook your jerrycans and luggages before lifting the bike... Had to do that a few times. Was riding alone ;-)





More on the Rotopax.











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  #10  
Old 2 Aug 2016
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Definitely fuel bladders. There is a bit of choice with those now. A mate of mine straps a jerry can to his belt for the road section in Baja. Then empties it in the tank when we get to the trail. It works but it's a pain. He's getting a bladder now. Just empty it as soon as you can and stash it.
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  #11  
Old 30 Sep 2016
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For me, I carry a camp stove which uses the same fuel as my bike.

I carry one (or two) fuel bottles. Doubles as an emergency reserve if needed.



They don't hold a lot, but if you have two and have a fuel efficient bike, could get you an extra 25-30 miles or 40-50 km.

Jamie
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  #12  
Old 30 Sep 2016
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Random free plastic bottles has worked well for me when required. 2 or 3ltr water bottles etc. tied on with string then ditched when no longer required. Not a long term solution obviously but adequate when needed and easily repeated.
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  #13  
Old 7 Nov 2016
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I used the Rotopax system for both fuel and water. With the 4.7 gallon tank and the xtra 1 gallon of fuel in the Rotopax I got 260 miles before I ran dry. It came in really handy quite a few times.

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  #14  
Old 15 Dec 2018
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Giant loop fuel bladders, I have 2 1 gallon bladders.

https://www.amazon.com/Giant-Loop-Ga...l+safe+bladder
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  #15  
Old 22 Sep 2019
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Hi used 5 ltr jerrycan at the passenger footrest at the non exhaust side of my Transalp 600.

Regards John
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