I packed up extra fuel crossing the desert in Sudan..

There I did need more fuel.. I had a 10L jerry can which was in a specially made cradle where some would put a top box. It was empty 99% of the time through Africa. I knew there was fuel half way to fill up. For me it wasn't feasible carrying an oil tanker on my bike for a tiny part of the trip..





I learnt the lesson with badly mounted 'extra' fuel doing the Ruta 40 in Argentina. I just filled up coke bottles and a 4 litre plastic container..

After a few spills the coke bottles were shagged and the 4L water container was bloating and leaking in the extreme heat.

I got to the only fuel station and it had no fuel.. I was stranded. VERY luckily the guy listened to my sob story and took my remaining fuel to get his syphon pump working and dredged his tank for me to fill my tank.... Lesson learned.

It's not about "sticking to the main routes".. It's about planning your journey better. Make sure you know where you can buy fuel. Even if it's a shack with plastic bottles or diverting your route to fuel stations. It's all information you pick up on route from other travellers or the locals. That's why I carry a paper map and a marker pen..

There are VERY few places in the world where you need 600 miles of fuel. Where there are people and roads, there is usually fuel...

Those needing 600 mile fuel ranges are the extreme. Good on you.. There's only so much desert I like riding. I find it quite boring.

You pack and prepare for what you are going to do... If you're specifically intending on doing long trips out into the desert then that big tank makes sense. If you're not then it's just a waste of money and a lot of weight to drag about.

Like everything... Personal preference.

Ted

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.