300 km is enouth for 99% of the trips. For the last 1% you dont need an expensive big tank. You can just grab some old plastic bottles or oil cans wich you will get for free everywere, fill them up and despose them if you dont need them anymore.

I'm happy with the 250 mile range on my CCM. Unless you're really off the beaten track that should be good enough and a couple of cheap cans will put another 100 miles on that if you really need it.

I've toured with mega tanks in the past that gave me a close to 800 mile range (40+ litres and riding slowly) and 1. full up they're so top heavy it makes riding anything other than tarmac difficult, and 2. you forget to buy more fuel, assuming there's loads in there. There's no point in having a big tank if you run it dry.

On the other hand a fuel range of 150 miles or less is a PIA. You're dependant on fuel stations turning up regularly - and being open. Riding at night, riding on Sundays, during "siesta" time, during a strike etc, are all difficult. In the past I've resorted to siphoning petrol from parked cars (and leaving money for it!) at night, camping outside garages waiting till they opened the next day and (in the dim and distant past) buying it in glass jars from a grocery store.

My 125 Suzuki has a fuel range of about 90 miles which, on a long trip, is almost unusable. You're forever trying to plan where you'll get your next fuel from. Miss a services on the motorway and you're dependant on the Lord to get you to the next one. I've had it cut out on the garage forecourt before now when I've run it down to zero.

No need to consider this issue a major problem. My Transalp has a 19.6-litre (4.3 imperial gallons) tank, which provides a maximum range of around 325 km.

I also carry a 7-litre fuel bladder, which lives in the bottom of my rack bag. It takes-up hardly any room whatsoever, and acts as a potential ‘reserve’ for another 120 km. Therefore, if needs be, I could travel up to 440-450 km (275 miles) without needing to see a petrol pump.

I’ve now covered 85,000 km (53,000 mi) on the Trannie, from New Zealand to Eastern Europe; and guess what? .. I’ve never needed to utilise the fuel bladder .. ever.

It's just a nice insurance policy to have in my kit.

7-Litre Fuel Cell/Bladder





Designed for the military



As I say, simply folds-up when empty, enabling it to be stored away in any small confined area on the bike.
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Right Way Round ...

Keith1954, where did you source your 7 litre blatter? Got a link? tnx

You can never have enough fuel capacity if it's easy to aquire. Up-front in your tank is the best place for it too.

However, spending £500-£1000 on a tank (like some cost) is just a bit crazy unless you're doing some kind of endurance Desert rally. And weighing your bike down with 30 litres of fuel at a time for the sake of it doesn't make much sense either.

If you can get a cheap large range tank then it's a 'No brainer'.. Just get it.

I travelled all over South America on an XT600E and used the 23L Acerbis tank. It gave me about 250 miles and that was more than enough 99% of the time.

I rode to Capetown on a DRZ400 with a 15L tank which gave me 200 miles range and that was fine 99% of the time too.

The times you will be short on fuel, you will know in advance and you can just fill up some bottles or a fuel container that you will be able to buy pretty much anywhere in the world. Strap it down and empty it into your tank as soon as you can.

One time on the RTA 40 in Argentina I ran dry because the fuel stop was empty. I got lucky with someone selling me some but I'd of just had to put my tent up and wait for the delivery for a day. No massive pain.

In Malawi there were fuel strikes too.. I had to hold up in a campsite for a few extra days. I could have had a 100 litre tank and it wouldn't have made a difference.

It all depends on where you want to go. If you want to ride for days out in the wilds with no fuel stations then buy the biggest tank you can. If you're going to stick to roads and highways (like 99.9999% of folk do) then 250 miles is enough.

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