increase fuel capacity?
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10
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increase fuel capacity?
Ok I know the title doesn't make much sense... I took the first "road trip" with this bike. 1000 miles from Midwest to New England. Despite having a fantastic time and enjoying every minute of scenery, one thing stuck out: stopping for gas every 160 miles.
I came from a BMW LT with a whopping 6.6 gallon tank & reserve and a 250+ mile range. I had hoped for 200mi range with this bike (avg 40mpg for 5 gal), but the light came on way sooner than that (around 160mi, seemingly a common problem among you guys). I feared for my life when visions of pushing it along the expressway danced through my head. That was when I was forced to "stretch" it to 185miles due to lack of exit ramps!!
I thought someone found an external fuel tank made for top cases/tour paks and shared it with the rest of the BMW forum. It supposedly taps into the fuel line and drains once the OEM tank is empty. I cannot find it online, nor have I heard anything else about it since then. How do you guys extend the range? I.E., say I were trying to ride to Alaska, which I wanted to do with the Beemer and now with the HD, 180 miles might not make it to the next gas station where 250 would have! What do you do? External tanks in the tour pak? Gas cans in the tour pak (dangerous, and a waste of valuable space)? 5 gallon gas can strapped to the cooler rack on a trailer? I don't like the idea of stopping every 180mi when my back and butt are still capable of another 180.
Or do I just deal with it and make friends at the gas stations?
I came from a BMW LT with a whopping 6.6 gallon tank & reserve and a 250+ mile range. I had hoped for 200mi range with this bike (avg 40mpg for 5 gal), but the light came on way sooner than that (around 160mi, seemingly a common problem among you guys). I feared for my life when visions of pushing it along the expressway danced through my head. That was when I was forced to "stretch" it to 185miles due to lack of exit ramps!!
I thought someone found an external fuel tank made for top cases/tour paks and shared it with the rest of the BMW forum. It supposedly taps into the fuel line and drains once the OEM tank is empty. I cannot find it online, nor have I heard anything else about it since then. How do you guys extend the range? I.E., say I were trying to ride to Alaska, which I wanted to do with the Beemer and now with the HD, 180 miles might not make it to the next gas station where 250 would have! What do you do? External tanks in the tour pak? Gas cans in the tour pak (dangerous, and a waste of valuable space)? 5 gallon gas can strapped to the cooler rack on a trailer? I don't like the idea of stopping every 180mi when my back and butt are still capable of another 180.
Or do I just deal with it and make friends at the gas stations?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, Ga
RE: increase fuel capacity?
Good question. Maybe a little 2 gallon gas can can fit into a saddle bag. Not sure about the smell of gas odorizing the inside of the bag.. Maybe put it in a big ole grass bag or something. Buy a little trailor to haul stuff across Alaska.
Beats me.
My side car has a gas can I can put in its trunk, but I've never had to use it.
Hack
Beats me.
My side car has a gas can I can put in its trunk, but I've never had to use it.
Hack
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 99
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From:
RE: increase fuel capacity?
Try going to a camping supply store and get a lantern fuel bottle I think they make quart size , two of those would get you out of a tight. they fit in a saddle bag and seal up well.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Newport TN
RE: increase fuel capacity?
From what I hear the new08 models have a 6.6 gal tanks on them. Guess you should buy a new one. Or check out the Iron Butt web pages and find out what the long Riders are useing to carry extra fuel.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
RE: increase fuel capacity?
do not put gas in sealed containers. gas will expand and contract in the heat/cold. putting gas in unapproved containers is a horrible and dangerous idea. this concludes my psa
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
RE: increase fuel capacity?
you have about 3 options,
1. trade it in for another Beemer [:'(]
2. trade it for an '08, 6 gal tank
3. deal with it
1. trade it in for another Beemer [:'(]
2. trade it for an '08, 6 gal tank
3. deal with it
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Fort Worth, Texas
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