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4 gallon fuel cell

7K views 47 replies 27 participants last post by  NMdcporter 
#1 ·


So, (if the photo worked) you can see I have this 4 gallon extra fuel cell that very easily bolts on. It has 4 bolts and a quick connect for the fuel line and has 3 padded backrests to choose from. I can reach back and turn the valve and put 4 more gallons back in the tank as I am going down the highway. I bought this bike off a guy that did the iron butt rides and he had it custom made. He came on harder times and I bought it with 24k miles on it.

I don't see any other bikes with anything like this. Has anyone else used one of these and do you like it?

I do some longer rides sometimes (8-15 hours) on my own to visit family and I am thinking I am going to try it out next time. The only thing that has stopped me so far is that I put a pack on the seat behind me and will have to strap it to the back of the fuel cell or on top of the paniers. I take my rock climbing gear with rope, rack, and all so I fill up the hard bags with all that quickly.
 
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#2 ·
never understood these contraptions for anything other than true wilderness excursions. the strom has a 200+ mile range. at sane speeds, you're looking at roughly three hours. one would you'd wanna get up and stretch a few muscles.

besides, it just plain hideous looking...not to mention it has what appear to be sharp edges which i would not want near me in a crash
 
#5 ·
(T)he strom has a 200+ mile range.
Even at sane speeds, a loaded-down DL1000 may not consistently provide 200 miles between fill-ups. Geography and elevation will conspire against you.

Having done multi-hundred day rides on my Vee, and despite my periodic stops to stretch and rest, I would have loved the convenience provided by the auxiliary fuel tank pictured above.
 
#4 ·
Out west services can be far apart but armed with that knowledge and knowing the range on the wee one should be able to stay out of trouble.

I have replaced factory fuel tanks though with aftermarket. The California model of the DR 650 came with a 3.1 US gal tank.
 
#6 ·
Great idea on some bikes, with smaller fuel tanks and lower mpg, but my Vee always got low 40's, or sometimes if cruising in 6th, would get high 40's for plenty of range in the western US, and I travel back roads between Oregon and Montana every summer. I'd sell it to one of those guys here that insists that 6 gallons of fuel is just never enough, and they want, no need much, much more, on a counta cause, they are such adventure bound Clutch Cargo types, that well, you just cain't never have too much gas, unless you're on fire.
Of course, now that I ride a little 650, there's just no emptying that tank, it goes forever, on almost no gas.
 
#8 ·
If somebody knows of an A to B stretch of road in the lower 48 (without convoluted loops, of course) that is gasless for more than 200 miles I'd like to know about it.

I used to think that the "Extraterrestrial Highway" past Area 51 was the longest gasless stretch, but somebody tells me there is now a gas station in Rachel, NV. Even without that I don't think it's 200 miles between Caliente and Tonopah.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to ride for more than three hours at a time without a stop for coffee, a piss, or just to stretch. But, hey, whatever floats yer boat....
 
#36 ·
200 miles?

If somebody knows of an A to B stretch of road in the lower 48 (without convoluted loops, of course) that is gasless for more than 200 miles I'd like to know about it.
I don't think it's 200 miles between Caliente and Tonopah. QUOTE]

Its 192 miles per Google, now if the gas station is not working, you are SOL.

I've driven that stretch in the Jeep, several times.
 
#9 ·
I'd use it

When I do long distance, 500+ mile days, I don't even get off the bike at the gas station. I'd rather not stop. My routine has become two fill ups, then get off the bike-for a minute. So if I could do two legs without having to fill up that would be tight.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I think I would rather fill it with beer.

That being said, there are places in remote Montana where I have to take an extra 2 liters of fuel in order to safely get out and camp and play for a couple of days, and still make it out without the fear of running out of gas. Still, I would rather use it for beer.
 
#12 ·
Sometimes gas station or not you are f**ked

Once I coasted into a gas station and was told the pumps weren't operating (Roy's Cafe on Route 66 in Amboy Ca). I called AAA and went inside for breakfast leaving my bike parked at the pumps. The truck bringing me fuel came from 29 palms about 50 miles away.

I have also seen gas stations out of gas with no other options for 50 miles. (Dyer, NV). I didn't need any that time.

And there was the power failure in Death Valley = no gas.

You might carry some tubing and in a jam people can help you.
 
#13 ·
extra fuel cell ?

I've ridden my Vee touching all 10 provinces and 42 states with a stock tank and haven't run out of gas yet.
So if you're not going to Alaska, Labrador City or James Bay I don't know why you would need to cope with so much extra weight.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I've ridden my Vee touching all 10 provinces and 42 states with a stock tank and haven't run out of gas yet.
So if you're not going to Alaska, Labrador City or James Bay I don't know why you would need to cope with so much extra weight.
Apparently you guys have not been to the recent apocalyptic wasteland that is NJ post hurricane Sandy. It is like Mad Max down there, "WHO RUN BARTER TOWN?"

This past week I rode the Glee down there from Boston. In CT I thought, "maybe I should bring some extra gas?", so I stop & bought a 1 gallon can that would fit in my pannier.
I get to NJ & people start realizing that no power = no gas since we are so dumb to not have a manual pump on gas pumps anymore.

So I have a Glee with 2 gallons of gas in the tank, & 1 gallon of gas in the gas can from CT. I help clear my father's house off downed oak tree limbs from his roof & power lines. Then I ride about 10 miles north to help out a friend with more downed branches. The power starts coming on in certain towns & the gas pumps are opening, but the lines are stretching almost a mile down the road & fist fights are breaking out!

Luckily my father had some old outboard motor gas that I poured into a 2 gallon gas can, so now I have 5 gallons, plenty of gas to get me back into Massholia where the pumps are working fine. I was worried the stale gas was going to make the bike ride crappy, but after I mixed all the fuel together in the tank, I actually got 54.2 miles a gallon! Yay old gas.

It was an eye-opener to see how people were so under-prepared & they had weeks to prepare but did nothing. I must admit, I was not as well prepared as I should have been in MA. Something to think about next time a disaster is forecasted for your area. Stock up on dino juice, candles, beer (obviously), and Mad Max movies to use as instructional guides.
who run barter town - YouTube
 

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#17 ·
If somebody knows of an A to B stretch of road in the lower 48 (without convoluted loops, of course) that is gasless for more than 200 miles I'd like to know about it.

Come to oz for a ride you can ride for hours and hundreds of k's and not see fuel servo, even in a work ute with long range fuel tanks you have to plan your fuel stops.
As I'm writing this I'm thinking I wouldn't be riding on thee roads anyway so all please forget my input...lol.

The aux fuel tank on that bike doesn't do it for me BUT if I were riding out in the sticks,im sure it would come in handy.
 
#21 ·
I am starting to look at it like this.. I don't think I would buy one if I didn't have it but since I do I am going to give it a shot here sometime. It goes on and off so easily... There have been times where I have come close to running out of gas mainly because I haven't been paying attention. I think it's sure to get a lot of comments at gas stations and stops. I am planning on doing a ride from home here in AR, down to new Orleans, along the gulf, and down to Key West. Then head right back home after staying a day in Key West. I Plan on riding to AK 2014 and want to get in a practice week of repeated 500 mile days. Maybe I'll try it out then too but when I go to AK I'll be with friends so I'll have to make stops when they do anyhow so I am not sure it'll do me much good.
 
#22 ·
Personally I'd like to be packing more gas than I can in a tank. I don't normally plan my routes with an eye out for gas stations, I know in the US your tripping over gas stations but I've been sucking fumes on more than one occasion.

A bit of black paint and it wouldn't look so bad.
 
#23 ·
I use to carry a spare gallon and never used it. I was always traveling with friends and they don't do really long stints. The dumb Stevio has a samaller tank and worser mpg so he likes to stop at 150. PITA!
Left to my own devices I'd go another hundred miles before gas. I'm thinking of a Colpin for the extra gas.
I could enlarge the gas tank but that might cost more than the gas can and mount.
 
#24 ·
I agree there is probably a gas station less than every 200miles but they do close and not all are 24h.

I remember driving through Montana late at night and realizing would need gas before the next "big" city/town. we came across a gas station but it was closed, luckily they had a pump that took a credit card, had this happen to me on more than one occasion. Worse case scenario you rest until the station opens in the morning.

That being said i have NEVER run out of gas in my life so i dont think i would really worry about it.
 
#25 ·
If you spend much time riding or driving out West off and sometimes on the Interstate or in the Baja, you learn to stop and fill up at every gas station you see for all of the reasons that have been listed. I have put in many a mile there and never run out of gas. Plus you usually meet some interesting people, especially when you are riding your bike.
 
#30 ·
So it really doesn't matter IF you need extra fuel or not,sometimes you just WANT extra fuel for peace of mind!!.
We are heading to DeadHorse next June and one strech is about 240 miles or so I think so we will each carry 2 extra gallons ( a DL1000 & GS500 ).
On the GS we will have regular 2 gallon can and on the DL I will carry a 2 gallon RotoPax off of my sidecar rig.

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#31 ·
Damn nice rig LoneStrom.
And I'm always on the lookout for a practical 1 gal (or less) fuel cell.
I have been saved by this setup on my scoot!
A one liter MSR fuel canister.



Not nearly enough for a 996cc Vee but plenty for a 250cc thumper.



-Ej-
 
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