The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: StartingEarly on December 08, 2016, 03:46:03 PM
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I want to start taking my 1996 cbr600f3 on longer trips, but the tank is 5 gallons with a little over 4 usable. I will need a lot more fuel storage to be able to go on longer trips and be comfortable. When I was out west in the Escape I was worried about gas a few times and I have about a 300 mile range, the bike is about 200 and I would want to go adventuring off the beaten path which further taxes my tank. Rotopax seems like a viable option, but they are about $110 a side for a three gallon tank with mounting hardware.
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Walmart Gas Can (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Moeller-5-Gallon-CARB-Jerry-Can-with-CRC-Military-Style/20753316?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=20753316&placement_id=irs-106-t1&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=f514f9f7-2301-4f36-9ab1-96f16813fa77&customer_id_enc&config_id=106&parent_item_id=24225514&parent_anchor_item_id=24225514&guid=1b58a82f-8a67-46a6-aa52-7126678cae7d&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n)
I used something like this, with a $1 ratchet strap. Wasn't probably as perfect as a mounted rotopax, but it got me through what I needed. (I was selling the bike at the end of the trip, so wasn't going to put any more money onto it than I had to)
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I'm not sure that's a solution I would be comfortable with, thanks though.
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You should be able to get some metal Jerry cans (no idea what the currently politically correct term for them is) and mount them - 5 gallons on each side, 10 gallons total, and make sure you get something to pour with, because they're designed to pour into a Jeep, not a motorcycle.
The "fuel box on the passenger seat" is a thing I've seen reasonably often on BMWs, though based on the rest of the bike, I don't think they're cheap. They also serve as a location to put stickers you've purchased from various places. I assume there are random homeless guys camping along various adventure trails selling souvenir stickers or something...
Really, though, there's no great solution. Walmart gas can is actually one of the better options out there, especially if you value "cheap" and good enough for infrequent use.
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I like my stuff to be good enough for permanent use and having the ability to transfer it over to a passenger vehicle without it smelling gives a strong plus to the Rotopax still, but damn the expense!!!
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WalMart gas can. Functional over pretty, especially for a 20-year old bike you're going off-roading with. :)
But if that's your thing, that's fine. It sounds like you know what you want.
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Well, I was thinking functionality too. I think those cheap gas cans have a tendency to leak and they have much thinner plastic which could maybe even rupture going over a tall pass whereas the Rotopax just get vented daily. It would either be mounted up high and make it more top heavy or be mounted low and throw it off to the left (right side is generally exhaust). Most tanks are under 5 gallons, so with a 5 gallon can you'd be only putting some of it in then it would be sloshing everywhere. I'm looking at 3 gallons per side right now.
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This was my solution:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/pgpatrick/IMAGE_021.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/pgpatrick/media/IMAGE_021.jpg.html)
and
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/pgpatrick/IMAGE_024.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/pgpatrick/media/IMAGE_024.jpg.html)
and
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/pgpatrick/IMAGE_028.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/pgpatrick/media/IMAGE_028.jpg.html)
Basically a strip of aluminum bent around the jerry can with a piece going underneath. One side is open with a clamping fixture. That's all bolted to a nearby frame bolt.
Those are 5 liter cans but no reason why it couldn't scale up. The bike had a 7 liter tank, but did 30km/l, so I had a range of over 500km!
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Well, I was thinking functionality too. I think those cheap gas cans have a tendency to leak and they have much thinner plastic
The ones we're talking about are a really thick plastic.
I'd honestly think a rock would puncture a metal can much easier than the thick red plastic ones, if you dropped it.
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Well, I was thinking functionality too. I think those cheap gas cans have a tendency to leak and they have much thinner plastic which could maybe even rupture going over a tall pass whereas the Rotopax just get vented daily. It would either be mounted up high and make it more top heavy or be mounted low and throw it off to the left (right side is generally exhaust). Most tanks are under 5 gallons, so with a 5 gallon can you'd be only putting some of it in then it would be sloshing everywhere. I'm looking at 3 gallons per side right now.
Sounds like you've talked yourself into Rotopax. Nothing wrong with that; they're a great product. Good luck. Keep 'er shiny side up.
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Current bike is a cbr600 which I will NEVER sell, it was my first motorcycle. I'm not sure what exactly I want for the second bike or if I actually will end up with one. I want something that could be mounted to that and then cross over to other bikes and then maybe fit into a car interior and be odor free for long treks.
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The cbr is the F3 so I think that fuel could be mounted on the sides with the rear fairings taken off, I don't want to mount it high since they have a high seat and high center of gravity as it is. I looked into Gerry cans, but it seems like prices for decent quality ones have skyrocketed lately.
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I tried looking up a collapsible mini bike, all I see are bicycles. What specific ones are you talking about? That sounds like an interesting thing to haul in the back of an Insight I have been eyeing up. I recently discovered a love for the mountain regions and something I could take with me that wouldn't cause the car to get 40mpg would be awesome.
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Well I was just joking as I don't think collapsible motorcycles exist
You tease!
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http://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radmini-electric-folding-fat-bike?variant=17586850561
I think something like that would be more suited to trails ;) Costs a bit more. The full sized version would probably fit in the insight with the tires taken off, front at least for sure. When I car camped it could then be chained to a rim or cv shaft.
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http://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radmini-electric-folding-fat-bike?variant=17586850561
I think something like that would be more suited to trails ;) Costs a bit more. The full sized version would probably fit in the insight with the tires taken off, front at least for sure. When I car camped it could then be chained to a rim or cv shaft.
And no need for a gas can.
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The gas can is for when I tour on the motorcycle. The range isn't high enough without one.