Aux-Fuel cells

[2wTraveler]

How many miles can a seasoned rider realistically go without stopping?

I can't see myself making it more than 180 to 200 miles at a time.  

I know many others can go further, but on my recent BBG I was comfortable running a tank out before stopping. Usually between 250-260 miles. On a stock seat  

[rajflyboy]

I know many others can go further, but on my recent BBG I was comfortable running a tank out before stopping. Usually between 250-260 miles. On a stock seat  

Not too shabby.  

[Bounce]

310 Miles.   Not bad even for the mighty Goldwing.   I don't even like going that far is a car myself.  How do you like the 1500??

How safe is an external fuel cell in the event of a crash???  

310 ain't sh.. given it sucked down 11 gallons of fuel in the process and i had to keep the speed waaay down. the 1500 was designed in the day of the 55 mph speed limit. keep it below 65 and it gets ok fuel mileage (for a car). usually, at reasonable cruising speed, it got about 32mpg (read something like 250 miles with aux fuel).

i've had the FJR since 2003 and it can run rings around the Wing while going 240 on OEM fuel capacity at the speed where the wing would be sucking fumes by then. all while the FJR is about 300 pounds lighter. the gl1800 is more up-to-date, can do better MPG but is still a heavy bike.

aux fuel is safe if you pick a sanctioned cell and mount it well. Summit Racing has all sorts of cells that meet sanctioning standards (NHRA, etc).

[Black Ice]

The tank is good for about 2000 miles, so I only need to get to it every other day or so.

FTFY.  

[Tony T]

If Warchild is the tech inspector, he'll often use (no joke) a can of Alpo dog food with the label stripped off. He knows the volume of the can, and just drops in as many as are needed.

Thanks for the advice guitardad & Slonishku,   But I'm still undecided about what to do. My bike has a drinking problem and that is what really started this thread. Seat time isn't an issue for me so it would be great to get around 400 miles between fill-ups.

One one hand I could keep my top case that comes in handy, one the other hand I could go to a set-up like Warchilds and have better range and a easier install. (Square cell.)

Though I'd hate to show-up to a rally and be over the limit, that would suck eggs.  


Decisions, decisions . . .  

[Slonishku]

What rallys other than the IBR have the 11 gallon limit?

[Tony T]

I thought all of them followed the IBR rules.  

Maybe not to the letter, but used the IBR as a guideline.

[Slonishku]

The first two times I rode the Cal24, I did it with a 2 gallon plastic gas can from Auto Zone bungeed to the pillion. That would have failed tech inspection at the IBR, and many other rallys. And rightly so. It was pretty much straight, unadulterated jack-assery on my part.

[Tony T]

Note to self; Make sure aux-fuel is properly set up before offering bike as spare to Slonishku for the IBR.  



 

[guitardad]

I agree about the top case -love it and do not want to lose it.  If you install the aux over the pillon seat, how will you remove the seat when you need to? If the battery is bad or a fuse is blown?  It seems my seat comes off a lot.  I have looked into this option, and not being able to remove my seat bothers me enough that that option is not going to work for me - unless you have a great idea I have not come up with yet.  

Dunno if it's a great idea or not, but the basic plan is to put these mounting brackets on the bike: Linky It's made for an R1150RT, but I took some measurments on a friend's bike and they will fit mine.  BMR Products sold me just the brackets.  I'll fab another bracket that stays on the tank, and mates to those brackets.  With only four bolts to remove, I should be able to get the tank off and get access to the pillion easily enough.  The plan is to work out a way to mount the valve on the bike, then use a set of quick-disconnects to plug the hose from the cell into the valve.  

[rajflyboy]

External Fuel cell = Boom Boom in a Crash Sequence

[Tony T]

How safe is an external fuel cell in the event of a crash???

 

The fuel cells we are talking about are certified for use in the NHRA and other racing events. They are required to be securely mounted to the bike. If you read this thread you will find that everyone that has one fabricated some type on mounting bracket that bolts the the bikes frame. You will also find that people have a shutoff valve located near the aux-cell and a quick-disconnect somewhere usually under the seat.

The point of this thread is to share information on how to do this correctly and safely. If you want to debate the safety aspect or logic behind installing a aux-fuel cell to a motorcycle, please start a different thread on that. I would like keep this one focused on the technical aspect of it.

Thanks for understanding.  

[Davo]

How many miles can a seasoned rider realistically go without stopping?

I can't see myself making it more than 180 to 200 miles at a time.  

I have a 650klm range and go 5+ hrs at a stretch most of the time, so in miles 300m +

[Davo]

External Fuel cell = Boom Boom in a Crash Sequence

Why?

Explain your reasoning with supportive evidence.

[olderigetfasteriam]

Don't hold your breath.

[Slonishku]

 

[Ignacio]

What rallys other than the IBR have the 11 gallon limit?

Just to be clear...it's 11.5 gallons for the IBR.  And the Utah 1088 limits to 11.5 gallons also...as well as SPANK.  Likely others I haven't run as well.

 I heard somewhere, I think, that the IBA allowed some type of temporary fuel displacement in the aux tank, like a empty bottle or something.  

There was an exception in 2005 at http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2005.cfm?DocID=11 with Snapple bottles.

However if somebody thinks rolling into the starting line of the IBR knowingly over the 11.5 gallon limit should get special dispensation...that seems like a pretty big risk to me.  The rider has had well over a year to get their rig in order.  Austin and crew have ability to measure fuel capacity to within 0.01 gallons accurately.  No exceptions in 2007 I know of.

[CLAY]

How many miles can a seasoned rider realistically go without stopping?

I can't see myself making it more than 180 to 200 miles at a time.  

 Once I get the drinking water balance down, I can go the full 270 my tank allows me.  For me it's about the head game, entertainment (sat radio), comfort (redone seat/different foot positions), and monitoring my fluid intake/urine output.  After the first stop I can usually do the full 270 with no problems- usually I find I need to drink a bit more in the last 50 miles to make sure I have to go potty eacily at the fuel stop.  Dehydration on a bike in the summer is far easier than one would think.

[sloth911]

I know nothing about this, just took the picture, pretty big tank extension:

http://picasaweb.google.com/homerGTx/EphrataOct2008#5303172650725370674

[Tony T]

I know nothing about this, just took the picture, pretty big tank extension:

http://picasaweb.google.com/homerGTx/EphrataOct2008#5303172650725370674

That would be John Ryan
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=36308

And;

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,40581.0.html