Alloy fuel tank on GSA...

[WindyChuffer]

Any idea why BMW have gone back to metal fuel tanks for the GSA? Seems like a backward step to me as a plastic tank will take the knocks and not dent when you drop it.

One more thing to watch out for when off roading....or may be they anticipate less of these going off road now.

Wonder how long before Touratech releases a plastic GSA tank for a huge amount of money for the after market.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

With an enlarged capacity

 

[jtb]

Any idea why BMW have gone back to metal fuel tanks for the GSA?

Apparently because it is lighter. You don't want to damage it though, £1050 for a new one...

 

[Clifton]

My understanding is for size and weight, plastic is much thicker than aluminum. Not sure how much the aluminum one weighs but I was told the plastic Adventure tank weighs 28 pounds. They needed the area, where the front of the old tank was, for hot air to exit from behind the radiators and out the side. By utilizing aluminum they reduced the size a lot yet only lost 3/4 gallon capacity.

 

[NZRalphy]

Also.... The plastic tank distorts quite easily with heat - perhaps the concentrated heat from the radiators is a little too much?

 

[autogs]

Also.... The plastic tank distorts quite easily with heat - perhaps the concentrated heat from the radiators is a little too much?

sorry thats bollocks ,cars have had plastic rocker covers and inlet manifolds for years.

 

[Neil W]

different type of plastic for manifolds, not flexible enough for a tank as it would flex and fracture

 

[follow me]

Ethanol.? I know my tanks have changed shape after after filling up with 10% ethanol in Europe last year...

 

[jtb]

Ethanol.? I know my tanks have changed shape after after filling up with 10% ethanol in Europe last year...

Yep, that was a known problem with the Multistrada as well...

 

[snelly]

Now I.am getting a bit worried. I hope the aluminium tanks are not because of E10 fuel. I have an old 1100 with the plastic tank,and although I have only been abroad on it once, it was only to the bikers Loft and I did,nt need to fill up over there. I wonder if BMW will still honour their recall after all these years.

 

[NZRalphy]

sorry thats bollocks ,cars have had plastic rocker covers and inlet manifolds for years.

I counter your bollocks with my own.... Umm .... What ever...... Different plastics mate. My tank on the GSA had huge distortion (melting) from cylinder heat.

Ralphy

 

[WindyChuffer]

I counter your bollocks with my own.... Umm .... What ever...... Different plastics mate. My tank on the GSA had huge distortion (melting) from cylinder heat.

Ralphy

Wow. Thats the only instance I have heard of. Tell us more. Hot country? Temperatures? Lots of idling?

 

[buncobooth]

Does the new tank have the charcoal canister/Nippy Norman's Oil Bottle place ? I would hate to lose that !

 

[snaponphil]

Is the alloy tank going to chill riders knees.?
Fuel is cold & are riders knees or thighs in contact.?

 

[Engineer]

I think they should have used wood for the petrol tanks, Balsa wood would have been nice and light and added buoyancy when fording deep rivers.

 

[batman1]

Is the alloy tank going to chill riders knees.?
Fuel is cold & are riders knees or thighs in contact.?

I presume that the GSA is a similar construction to the GS, in which case it is just plastic trim that touches your knees, not the tank which is hidden underneath the various covers, the actual tank on the GS is just plain black semi-flexible plastic.

 

[jtb]

I presume that the GSA is a similar construction to the GS, in which case it is just plastic trim that touches your knees, not the tank which is hidden underneath the various covers, the actual tank on the GS is just plain black semi-flexible plastic.

No - that's the whole point that's under discussion here. It is the actual sidewall of the alloy tank that touches your knees.

 

[Crackshot]

It's for weight saving. Apparently 4 kg's worth!

 

[MikeO]

Is the alloy tank going to chill riders knees.?
Fuel is cold & are riders knees or thighs in contact.?

Hasn't seemed to be a problem on every other GS...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hasn't seemed to be a problem on every other GS...

Chilled knees, that's a new one...............I agree with Mike