Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: SVonhof on August 28, 2017, 12:26:08 PM
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That is what I needed.
I got 227.5 miles on the tank.
I was on an overnight trip with my wife where we went over the Sierra's. On the way home, I didn't get gas when we left Mammoth Lakes, and instead continued on, figuring I would get gas at June Lake. I figured I would get it in the small town of June Lakes, which is smaller than I remembered and there was no gas station in town. There was one at the turn onto the June Lake Loop. Not quite half-way through, we stopped and asked at a general store if there was any gas on the loop. Nope, just at the beginning, which I had already passed, but the closest station going north was only about 13 miles away. The bike said I had a range of 27 (using B.D.F.'s in-line low fuel warning eliminator), so I figured I would be fine.
Well, I got to about 227.2 or 227.3 and the bike started to sputter. Pulled in the clutch another .2 miles later and coasted to about 227.5. I could see the gas station, which was across 395 and just up the hill that starts the road to Tioga Pass (through Yosemite).
I pushed the bike across the intersection and started going up the hill, but needed to take a breather. Figured maybe it would have a little bit of gas to get me further up the hill since it was now on an incline. Lucky for me, it started right up and I was able to ride it up to the street that leads to the gas station and push it the rest of the way.
My lovely wife meanwhile was hoofing it carrying the two helmets as I left her behind when it started up (her suggestion).
So, now I know:
1) don't trust the range reading as it was empty and said it had 9 miles of range left
2) don't pass by gas stations when you getting low and don't know for certain there is gas soon
3) B.D.F's bypass works! The bike never did give me a warning other than the red light when the engine died
All in all, it could not have worked out much better. My wife was very understanding, the gas station was really close and it wasn't broiling hot or raining.
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You can't trust range function as it changes constantly depending on throttle conditions. You're lucky your wife didn't kill you. I know I'd never hear the end of it.
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My lovely wife meanwhile was hoofing it carrying the two helmets as I left her behind when it started up (her suggestion).
We have a word for those: KEEPERS aka KEEP HER HAPPY
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When we were home (really hot once we started dropping back into the Cali Central Valley), and had cooled off in the pool, she said we should make this an annual trip. She loved taking the path we did and would not want to do it the opposite direction (she likes going East over Sonora Pass and West over Tioga).
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1) don't trust the range reading as it was empty and said it had 9 miles of range left
That is precisely why Kawasaki disables the range indicator when it hits "reserve" (the take-over-the-screen alert, which I reach in and clear). For me, I almost always hit reserve at around 190 miles (+/- 5). When it hits, I know I have 1.1 gal left, which is around 47 miles, but in my mind, I make it 37 miles for safety. I set my B trip meter to 0 and use that as a count-up meter so I know how far I have been since "reserve". Has worked like a champ for 6.5 years so far. (Those who wish to replicate this method will need to know their typical per gallon fuel consumption based on their own bike and riding conditions).
IMHO, what would be better is if Kawasaki kept the alert, allowed the user to clear it with a simple press of the handlebar button, and it changed the reading to a "miles since reserve hit" automatically (and even keep the range indicator). But it is what it is and we can't make it do any of that.
2) don't pass by gas stations when you getting low and don't know for certain there is gas soon
If you are on reserve and don't expect to pass another gas station in 35 miles, you better take what you find :)
3) B.D.F's bypass works! The bike never did give me a warning other than the red light when the engine died
Which is both good and bad, depending on what you want and what you expect. With no alert, there is no more concept of "reserve" and no warning AT ALL The alert appears to be a very good/accurate measurement of 1.1 gal remaining... at least it is on my Concours. And there is no way you can miss the alert. Without the alert, you have to pay more attention to how much gas you have and there is no point at which you know exactly how much gas is remaining... you have only a highly variable range indicator.
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Well, first off, it is great that you and your wife took that little mishap with good humor. As you said, it was not horrible weather conditions, and not that far to get to the next station. Running out of fuel is never desirable but it can range from an mild annoyance, which is what your situation sounds like, to a catastrophe (blowing a long- distance IBA run due to running out of fuel).
Second, something is off with the math and / or readings: if the range indicator read 27 miles left, and you rode 13 miles, and the range indicator said the remaining range was 9 miles before you actually covered the 13..... something is amiss. Unless you were riding in stop- and - go conditions, when you have to take extra precautions and not trust any one, single reading from the remaining range as it will bounce around quite a lot. That said, in any kind of steady- state riding, I would have, have, and will again do exactly what you did: use the 'whole' tank of fuel. But again, you either have to be riding in a steady- state condition ( no acceleration, deceleration, no appreciable uphill/ downhill travel, and not excessive (read: South Dakota) gusting wind.
I will often get w/in 15 miles of indicated range before re-fueling and if in a congested area with a lot of open fuel stations, will occasionally go below 10 miles but it is risky, and I always keep a very close eye on the range as it bounces around and use the lowest reading. I have seen the range indicator bounce more than 20 MPG in stop- and- go riding and again, always use the lowest reading.
Finally, if anyone really wants to use the entire fuel tank and take the risk, I always suggest carrying at least a half- gallon on the bike, and a couple of gallons is even better. Not a true aux., plumbed- in fuel tank, but just some ready fuel to pour in the tank. IMO this is not desirable but works, and would be a second- to last ditch effort for me (last ditch is pushing the bike, walking, begging kind passersby for a dribble of fuel or similar ;) ;D ).
I often wish I could control the actual range function but unfortunately, that is outside my abilities. The low fuel warning eliminator eliminates the warning of course, and allows the range remaining function to continue to work but it is not quite how I would choose to use it given the choice. I would de- bounce it and use the lower reading unless and until a LOT of longer range readings were seen, and then adjust the range remaining accordingly.
As an aside, I just got done testing the low fuel warning in my Envoy over the weekend.... by mistake. A series of very short trips close to home, all with the low fuel warning popping up (it does not appear when the ign. is turned on, only after a couple of miles of driving under that condition) several different times. The last risky trip was time sensitive; a gentleman had made a slot available for us (an architect) and I took the chance I would make it to his office.... and we did. Really, I did not care about running out of fuel after we had our appointment but I was trying to to annoy the man; in the end, we made both his office and a fuel station with no walking / pushing / AAA needed but I was kinda' waiting for this to happen.
Brian
That is what I needed.
I got 227.5 miles on the tank.
I was on an overnight trip with my wife where we went over the Sierra's. On the way home, I didn't get gas when we left Mammoth Lakes, and instead continued on, figuring I would get gas at June Lake. I figured I would get it in the small town of June Lakes, which is smaller than I remembered and there was no gas station in town. There was one at the turn onto the June Lake Loop. Not quite half-way through, we stopped and asked at a general store if there was any gas on the loop. Nope, just at the beginning, which I had already passed, but the closest station going north was only about 13 miles away. The bike said I had a range of 27 (using B.D.F.'s in-line low fuel warning eliminator), so I figured I would be fine.
Well, I got to about 227.2 or 227.3 and the bike started to sputter. Pulled in the clutch another .2 miles later and coasted to about 227.5. I could see the gas station, which was across 395 and just up the hill that starts the road to Tioga Pass (through Yosemite).
I pushed the bike across the intersection and started going up the hill, but needed to take a breather. Figured maybe it would have a little bit of gas to get me further up the hill since it was now on an incline. Lucky for me, it started right up and I was able to ride it up to the street that leads to the gas station and push it the rest of the way.
My lovely wife meanwhile was hoofing it carrying the two helmets as I left her behind when it started up (her suggestion).
So, now I know:
1) don't trust the range reading as it was empty and said it had 9 miles of range left
2) don't pass by gas stations when you getting low and don't know for certain there is gas soon
3) B.D.F's bypass works! The bike never did give me a warning other than the red light when the engine died
All in all, it could not have worked out much better. My wife was very understanding, the gas station was really close and it wasn't broiling hot or raining.
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As an aside, I just got done testing the low fuel warning in my Envoy over the weekend.... by mistake.
My G37 will pop up a low fuel warning (that doesn't take over anything of importance) and stays on the dash screen until fillup along with a single "ding" (per car start) to announce it happened. It then shows an "estimated miles left" on that little display, which is nice. So I get the warning, a known amount of fuel point (a virtual "reserve"), and an estimate of miles. But I noticed that as it counts down, when it gets to about 10 miles remaining or so (can't remember the actual number), it just changes the miles to a "---" so Infiniti, too, decided it is eventually too risky to show a variable number; but at least they do it for a while.
I tend to not push low-gas too much, so in the 9 years I have been driving it, I have seen that sequence only twice (which is why I am not terribly familiar with it). I also have never run out of fuel in any vehicle, ever, my whole life. Hopefully that record will remain :)
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This was a first for me, and likely the last in any vehicle I ever own. I never let it get that low.
And Brain, about the calculations being off? I had to get off the loop road and cross over and merge onto 395 which took some gas (no longer a steady state) and then we were going uphill for a little while as well. Combine the two and it makes sense to me.
My wife asked why I didn't go south when we got to 395 to get to the southern start of the loop, and I am glad I didn't. Looking at the map, that would have been 6.1 miles and I would have been pushing the bike a while (the way I went, it was 4.7 miles).
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The bike said I had a range of 27 (using B.D.F.'s in-line low fuel warning eliminator), so I figured I would be fine.
Well, I got to about 227.2 or 227.3 and the bike started to sputter.
My lovely wife meanwhile was hoofing it carrying the two helmets as I left her behind when it started up (her suggestion).
3) B.D.F's bypass works!
All in all, it could not have worked out much better.
Made me chuckle that one post contains these (seemingly) contradictory statements :o ???
:)
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Made me chuckle that one post contains these (seemingly) contradictory statements :o ???
:)
That's the way I roll! I always look for the bright side!
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I have ran mine to 222 miles. Put 5.3 gals in it on fill up. I was close to walking. Don't recall what it said miles left were.
I won't do that again. It was a simple over sight on my part. Plenty of stations along the I-20 Eastbound route I was on.
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You pushed the bike 4.7 miles? ??
Yeah, as I said, the readings do bounce around unless the bike is moving at a steady pace, so it is really not possible go gauge these things with one reading. But running out with the indicator showing 9 miles remaining is furthest off that I have heard of on a C-14. Given your initial situation, showing 27 but having to go 13, I also would have made the ride, assuming the reading was not bouncing and the bike was riding steady- state.
Brian
This was a first for me, and likely the last in any vehicle I ever own. I never let it get that low.
And Brain, about the calculations being off? I had to get off the loop road and cross over and merge onto 395 which took some gas (no longer a steady state) and then we were going uphill for a little while as well. Combine the two and it makes sense to me.
My wife asked why I didn't go south when we got to 395 to get to the southern start of the loop, and I am glad I didn't. Looking at the map, that would have been 6.1 miles and I would have been pushing the bike a while (the way I went, it was 4.7 miles).
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You probably had a half- gallon or so left, depending on how you fill the tank on your bike. My own C-14 will hold a hair over 6 gallons but I fill it over the splash plate and into the neck a bit (really full). The tank holds 5.8 gallons per Kawasaki.
Sounds like you could use the option people keep asking me for- a warning that is easy to clear and maintains the range function. That is do- able but would get complicated, require an MPU, circuit board and a bit of code to make it happen. I doubt it could be sold at a price that would make it worthwhile, never mind recovering any part of the development costs. In other words, it could be done but would be priced too high for anyone to actually purchase them.
Brian
I have ran mine to 222 miles. Put 5.3 gals in it on fill up. I was close to walking. Don't recall what it said miles left were.
I won't do that again. It was a simple over sight on my part. Plenty of stations along the I-20 Eastbound route I was on.
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I have ran mine to 222 miles. Put 5.3 gals in it on fill up. I was close to walking. Don't recall what it said miles left were.
I won't do that again. It was a simple over sight on my part. Plenty of stations along the I-20 Eastbound route I was on.
If you only put 5.3 gal in it, you should not be near empty/walking. I have put 5.8 and even 5.9 gal in mine more than once, filling a little above the "plate" (but try to avoid running it so low). Although Kawasaki says the tank holds 5.8 gal, it seems to actually hold 6.0 to 6.1 gallons at sea level (they probably are filling BELOW the plate a bit, giving room for expansion); and I was impressed it worked down to 0.2 gal remaining (just because a tank holds X gal doesn't mean that is its "working" capacity). Of course, when you get quite low, you risk a corner or hard acceleration or braking causing it to suck air, and that is just not good; so I would never recommend going as low as 0.2 gal.
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You pushed the bike 4.7 miles? ??
No, from where I turned onto 395, in the direction I went, it was 4.7 miles. The other way would have been 6.1 miles, so I would have been about a mile and a half from gas.
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Y'all need AAA! It's cheap!
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Y'all need AAA! It's cheap!
I am a AMA member so they'll bring me some gas if I run it out. ;D
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I am a AMA member so they'll bring me some gas if I run it out. ;D
:thumbs:
Aw crap, we do have to have cell service :-\
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We have AAA, but one package below the motorcycle towing package. I was talking about upgrading to that, but have not done it yet.
In our case, we were so close, we could have bought a plastic cup at the gas station, filled it with gas, put that in the tank and ridden to the station with ease.
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Yup mine ran out of gas with estimated range of 14mi on the dash the first week I had it, had to hoof it a mile in leather soles. I've been thinking about mounting a liter fuel bottle in one of the saddlebags but I'll probably have to run out of gas again before I get around to it.
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Yup mine ran out of gas with estimated range of 14mi on the dash the first week I had it, had to hoof it a mile in leather soles. I've been thinking about mounting a liter fuel bottle in one of the saddlebags but I'll probably have to run out of gas again before I get around to it.
http://www.thetooltube.com/ToolTube.html (http://www.thetooltube.com/ToolTube.html)
Get buying!
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We have AAA, but one package below the motorcycle towing package. I was talking about upgrading to that, but have not done it yet.
I think ya just need the 'bring me some gas' package, which is the base package isn't it?
I think I pay $55 a year, and man I literally use it all the time these days. I've been traveling a LOT for work this year, and every hotel call I ask if they offer a AAA discount, and prob 98% say yes, and prob 75% of them it's 10%. Pays for itself very quickly like that. Oh, I also use it to rent cars.
I don't work for AAA ;D I just think that at $55/ yr it's pretty easy for it to pay for itself ... cheap insurance.
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Yup mine ran out of gas with estimated range of 14mi on the dash the first week I had it, had to hoof it a mile in leather soles. I've been thinking about mounting a liter fuel bottle in one of the saddlebags but I'll probably have to run out of gas again before I get around to it.
A liter ... so 34 ounces = about a quart. At 40 mpg that'll get ya 10 miles down the road. Is that enough? OK, OK, better than NOT getting 10 miles down the road. But still, enough?
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Yup mine ran out of gas with estimated range of 14mi on the dash the first week I had it, had to hoof it a mile in leather soles. I've been thinking about mounting a liter fuel bottle in one of the saddlebags but I'll probably have to run out of gas again before I get around to it.
I have a 1 gal Rotopax jug with mount left over from my Super Tenere days. Wouldn't take to much creativity to mount it to the rear luggage rack if I was to do away with the OEM top box mount there now.
I bought the Rotopax for out west riding on the Tenere but turned out the big Yamaha got very good mileage and the KTMs riding with me needed my Rotopax more than I did ;D
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I think ya just need the 'bring me some gas' package, which is the base package isn't it?
I think I pay $55 a year, and man I literally use it all the time these days. I've been traveling a LOT for work this year, and every hotel call I ask if they offer a AAA discount, and prob 98% say yes, and prob 75% of them it's 10%. Pays for itself very quickly like that. Oh, I also use it to rent cars.
I don't work for AAA ;D I just think that at $55/ yr it's pretty easy for it to pay for itself ... cheap insurance.
AMA membership for a year is $49 for a year and comes with way more than them bringing you some gas when you run out.
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Basic AAA will not support motorcycles. Funny thing but if you have AAA and run out of fuel.... in an auto, they will bring fuel. But if you run out of fuel on a motorcycle, they will not bring you fuel. Because you do not have the motorcycle service package.
But even better is the 'slots' they sell: to get motorcycle service, you need to buy the RV service package (of course, what else would it be? :o ). I guess that was easier than calling it Tier 1, Tier 2 and so forth regarding support. But the RV package is a rider on top of the regular package.
Brian
I think ya just need the 'bring me some gas' package, which is the base package isn't it?
I think I pay $55 a year, and man I literally use it all the time these days. I've been traveling a LOT for work this year, and every hotel call I ask if they offer a AAA discount, and prob 98% say yes, and prob 75% of them it's 10%. Pays for itself very quickly like that. Oh, I also use it to rent cars.
I don't work for AAA ;D I just think that at $55/ yr it's pretty easy for it to pay for itself ... cheap insurance.
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It is if you are in a fairly densely populated community with fuel stations all over the place. Montana, on the other hand, is not the best place for an extra quart of fuel. Especially since stopping and pouring the bottle into the tank and then getting back into riding mode will only give the bear a chance to get a good whiff of what he now thinks of as "dinner" (remember, they think sweat is a basting sauce). Making him follow you 10 miles will only make him hungrier and a little cranky. Better to take at least 3 gallons with you if riding through the great, open spaces west of the Mississippi and east of the 'left' coast IMO.
Brian
A liter ... so 34 ounces = about a quart. At 40 mpg that'll get ya 10 miles down the road. Is that enough? OK, OK, better than NOT getting 10 miles down the road. But still, enough?
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A liter ... so 34 ounces = about a quart. At 40 mpg that'll get ya 10 miles down the road. Is that enough? OK, OK, better than NOT getting 10 miles down the road. But still, enough?
Would have worked great for me! ;-)
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He says from the comfort of his 'bear- free' part of America.
:rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Brian
Would have worked great for me! ;-)
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He says from the comfort of his 'bear- free' part of America.
:rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Brian
We have bears! According to a quick Google search:
The only species of bears in California and Nevada are black bears. However, they do range in color from blonde to black, with cinnamon brown being the most common color in both states. There are an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears in California and 200 to 300 In Nevada. Black bears normally avoid humans.
They don't come down to the Central Valley where I live, but I wasn't in the Central Valley last weekend!
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Well, OK but those are Mary Jane Tinklepants versions of bears. Real bears are brown or white with a special call- out to Kodiak bear. All are aggressive far beyond a black beak.
And now for the bear joke:
One day, a family was entering a US National Park and the Ranger had to give them a briefing on relatively high bear activity in the area of late, as well as passing out some bear protection devices: he said the first thing was to identify the species of bear in the area, basically done by examining the bear 'sign': black bear sign is very small pellets, while brown bear sign is much larger pieces. He handed all the people a bell to put around their necks so they would not surprise any bears, as well as bear spray (particularly potent pepper spray) to stop bear attacks. He then went back to the bear sign, saying that brown bear sign often contained bells and smelled like pepper spray.
The moral of the story is black bears are 'almost' bears while brown (two species, western brown bear, sometimes called Grizzly, and Kodiak bear, like western brown bear but larger and more aggressive) are 'real' bears and are the baddest S.O.B.'s in the valley, as the saying goes.
Brian
We have bears! According to a quick Google search:
They don't come down to the Central Valley where I live, but I wasn't in the Central Valley last weekend!
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Well, OK but those are Mary Jane Tinklepants versions of bears.
The moral of the story is black bears are 'almost' bears....
These (http://www.wideopenspaces.com/list-fatal-black-bear-attacks-north-america-last-20-years/) must have all been mis-identified bears. Still, what's up with that one in New Jersey?
It would appear that they're safer south of the northern U.S. border. There were no fatalities in California on the list, probably the bears respecting the California flag. OH, wait that's a Grizzly Bear on the California flag...hmmmm.
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I still say Koala bears are more dangerous, you can catch Chlamydia from them ;)
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I still say Koala bears are more dangerous, you can catch Chlamydia from them ;)
Isn't that illegal over there?
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I've decided I like the extra gallon of gas instead of the wobbly oem top case. I added my rotopax last night.
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r173/rholmes18/47644587-0495-41BA-8F72-2DE82070B8C7_zpsa86zfa1q.jpg) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/rholmes18/media/47644587-0495-41BA-8F72-2DE82070B8C7_zpsa86zfa1q.jpg.html)
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A lot of the run- in's with black bears are the result of our environments overlapping. Or, I guess more correctly, humans invading just about everywhere. Black bears are spread across far more of the US than brown bears, and so mingle with people more as a result. As they 'adapt' to our invasion, they start to think of things such as dumpsters as 'their' sources of food and 'defend' them against the humans who go near them. Same thing around towns, even some very remote ones.
Brown bears do not mingle with people or our environments either very much or not at all. Our clashes with them are almost exclusively in their environment; the wild.
The big difference is that it seems most black bears not de- sensitized to humans would just as soon go the other way, or view humans with more curiosity than anything else. Brown bears may go the other way also but more often than black bears, they will actually stalk and attack humans directly and without provocation.
Also, as I live in the northeast, black bears are <relatively> small compared with browns (not found in this area but those found in their native habitats). Not to imply that a 250 lb. black bear is not a menace to humans, but that it is far less of a menace than a 1,200 lb. brown bear. And Kodiak bear seem especially aggressive toward humans. Probably the result of being the apex predictor and living in an area where the animal can dominate virtually everything in its surroundings; this is not true of a black bear where they coexist with elk and especially, moose.
So given a choice to run out of fuel w/in smelling distance of a bear, I would pick a black bear every-time. Not saying it is desirable ("Oh boy, I thought this was going to be a boring walk but here is a black bear to entertain me and provide interest"), just that it is much less undesirable than a brown IMO. You have to remember, I live in a pretty Mary Jane Tinklepants part of the world: there is not much out there that is really dangerous to humans in my neck of the woods, literally. We can walk around / camp in the woods with very little risk of harm; no poisonous snakes (supposed to be rattlesnakes here but no one has ever seen one....), no big, evil animals (two black bear in RI, and one is wearing dentures and uses a cane I think), not even the dreaded black flies of Maine here. So when out on the highway in the middle of Montana, in the middle of the night, I have wondered just what was wandering around those woods and if I would get to meet it if I got disabled, 'cause I think there is some lethal stuff in those woods..... and a brown bear would be way up on my list of things I would rather not find that way.
Brian
These (http://www.wideopenspaces.com/list-fatal-black-bear-attacks-north-america-last-20-years/) must have all been mis-identified bears. Still, what's up with that one in New Jersey?
It would appear that they're safer south of the northern U.S. border. There were no fatalities in California on the list, probably the bears respecting the California flag. OH, wait that's a Grizzly Bear on the California flag...hmmmm.
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I've decided I like the extra gallon of gas instead of the wobbly oem top case. I added my rotopax last night.
Hey- that's pretty neat. Don't like it being red, though. Would it be "wrong" to use plastic spray paint and paint it black?
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I have only come close once in all my years of riding and I am glad it was on a bike with an instantaneous mpg reading. I think the best approach is to do whatever you can to keep the instantaneous number as high as possible: adjust your speed, adjust the windscreen and your riding position and pull in the clutch if you have to in order to avoid any engine braking. Maximizing MPG if obviously what you are trying to achieve.
PS, my close call came from misreading the distance to the next town with gas.
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Hey- that's pretty neat. Don't like it being red, though. Would it be "wrong" to use plastic spray paint and paint it black?
It is neat but whats to stop anyone pinching the fuel from it?
Ok the tank itself is locked to the bike but is the filler cap lockable?
Hmmm mind you it's got me thinking.
A top box with a custom fitted fuel cell in all or part of the lower half leaving room for some smaller items on top
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A top box with a custom fitted fuel cell in all or part of the lower half leaving room for some smaller items on top
That is an interesting idea. But not if it has to be red...
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https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/giant-loop-fuel-safe-bladder?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4JjE54KJ1gIVSUwNCh023wSaEAQYASABEgItzfD_BwE (https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/giant-loop-fuel-safe-bladder?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4JjE54KJ1gIVSUwNCh023wSaEAQYASABEgItzfD_BwE)
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That is an interesting idea. But not if it has to be red...
I'm thinking a semi "stealth" install possibly with a pump to transfer the fuel.
Of course the whole lot would need to be bolted down properly so as to avoid wobble
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Way back when, when I was going to install an aux. tank, I was going to try and slip it in under the luggage rack and where the tail light and license plate goes. Basically an add-on vessel made to fit the bike and carry the tail light, license plate after doing my best to 'de- uglify' it sufficiently. I think three gallons would sneak in there pretty easily but 5 gal. could be done as well. It would take at least one fuel pump to make it work (transfer the fuel from the aux. tank to the main tank) but I was planning on installing two so I could fill the aux. tank from the main tank without getting off the bike and fooling around with a second tank, plus that eliminates any outside fill caps, vents or anything else. I ran a line into and through the fuel tank that terminates just above the splash plate to serve as a vent for an aux. tank.
I got as far as the rough design, the plumbing in the tank, and the valving but never procured the material or did any of the fabrication.
That flat plastic box tank is a LOT less work and will still save one's bacon out in the sticks though and probably the better idea.
Brian
I'm thinking a semi "stealth" install possibly with a pump to transfer the fuel.
Of course the whole lot would need to be bolted down properly so as to avoid wobble
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I'm not to concerned about fuel theft. I just like having an extra gallon on hand it's easy to use, easy to tote and I think I might have $60 in the whole thing. Bought it so long ago to be honest that might even be a high guess.
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I have a choice of two auxiliary fuel tanks. Comes from doing slightly crazy mileage, like in multi-day rallies. The "scavenger hunt" competitive kind, not the "drunk weekend in the park" type.
Anyway ... installed a bulkhead fitting on the tank, next to the fuel pump. Several feet of rubber hose from there to a mechanical valve usually stored under the seat. Well, not *ordinary* rubber hose, but the braided steel outer shell business. Leftover kit from the LSR bike.
Simple setup. Hose clamps, more rubber hose mounts to the tank. One is a "beer keg" shaped AL 3.5 gallon rig mounted to a repurposed bit of hightech plastic to give it a flat mounting surface. The whole rig goes on the pillion with two pair of decent quality straps, black rubber sheet covering the seat. The rubber stuff for workshop floors. Protects and cushions and all that. Tank also has a vent right at the filler cap, more rubber hose connects to a vented catch can. Another valve on the tank itself means the tank can be pulled without leaks even if full.
Second setup is Lower valve is closed when the tank is off the bike, always on if the tank is installed. Tank valve controls gravity feed into the main tank. I ride 120-150 miles, then reach back and open the valve and the 3.5 gallons trickles down, filling the main tank. Fills rather slowly, takes 10-15 minutes for the full transfer.
Everything was chosen for simple, reliable, low tech operation. Works great.
The other tank is 5.0 gallon plastic square that replaces the top box. I can run solo with top box and 9.5 gallons ... or two-up with 11.0 gallons and luggage strapped to the aux tank. OR solo, both tanks, and 14.5 gallons. Trying to figure out WHY I would need 600 miles nonstop range to reserve.
After 300 or so I usually need a bathroom. Yes, I have drained the 9.5 gallon setup from full.
saxman
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After 300 or so I usually need a bathroom. Yes, I have drained the 9.5 gallon setup from full.
You have a 9.5 gallon bladder? Impressive!!!
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Hollow wooden leg.
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The IBA has a rule in place limiting the max. number of miles between stops (fuel or otherwise) to 350 miles. The way around the bladder limitation is a Texas catheter, and they are used by IBA riders though I do not know how many of them do use them. The IBA also limits total fuel carried to 11.5 gallons but that is sufficient that they found people traveling too far between stops, making it impossible for them to duplicate the route.
Brian
<snip>
After 300 or so I usually need a bathroom. Yes, I have drained the 9.5 gallon setup from full.
saxman
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Yeah, well our gallons are not as big as your gallons. So it is pretty common for Americans to hold upwards of 10 gallons in our bladders.....
:rotflmao:
Brian
You have a 9.5 gallon bladder? Impressive!!!
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Yeah, I know the IBA rules. Hence the 11.0 gallon setup. Some of those IBA rules are
"rules for the sake of having more rules". They take themselves a little too seriously sometimes.
BTDT, got the T-shirt. Not all events are the same rules as IBA...and not every ride is for an event.
Out here in the wild wild west, having extra gas means you can stop when you want to,
instead of every 100-120 miles. With "only" 6 gallons, that is as far as I can go on back roads (and sometimes even ON the slab) before I start to wonder about where the next fuel stop will be.
Bladder: It isn't the distance, it's the time. And sometimes 300 miles is kinds short.
I can go 250+ miles every time. Without the catheter. Yeah, I know a few guys that use them.
Never saw the benefit. I mean, ya gotta stop for fuel, water, food, etc. Learn to go a tankful
without stopping and do it all at once.
saxman
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SVonhof, my apologies if I missed it.
But, how many gallons of gas did you pump into the bike after you ran out?
Ride safe, Ted
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SVonhof, my apologies if I missed it.
But, how many gallons of gas did you pump into the bike after you ran out?
Ride safe, Ted
I forgot to look. :-( I really wish I had grabbed the receipt.
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I just put 5.85 gallons in mine the other day. 37 miles into the reserve. Yeah. I know.
It hold 6.0 gallons for sure. 4.8 to Low Fuel warning.