Auxiliary Fuel Tank

[magno]

As part of my X Challenge prep I'll be making an extra fuel tank for it. Similar to the X-tank I think.
Fabrication starts this weekend. I'll have 2 made initially and will be able to make some more if required.
Capacity will be 7-9 litres I would think.
Anyone else out there interested subject to pics and price? Just trying to get a feel for the potential market.

 

[MTBiker]

As part of my X Challenge prep I'll be making an extra fuel tank for it. Similar to the X-tank I think.
Fabrication starts this weekend. I'll have 2 made initially and will be able to make some more if required.
Capacity will be 7-9 litres I would think.
Anyone else out there interested subject to pics and price? Just trying to get a feel for the potential market.

What kind of technology you would use? What mounting points will you use?
How you auxiliary tank will influence rear aluminum subframe? What will be estimated price range?

Currently there is:
1. Huge front mounted touratech/safari with 16l of volume for 500EUR
and
2. Xtank for 485 EUR for 7 liters (I asked for 9,5l version - +50 EUR for )
3. XRange from Canada - project hang with no tanks on market.
4. Jester (if I good remember) aluminum tank - also not in production anymore AFIR

I need to have 15l of additional fuel and for now on only economical answer is touratech. 9,5l Xtank will still require to take 5l in a gas can - and its unreasonably pricey.

Rgds
Lucas

 

[Timolgra]

Total fuel capacity for my bike is 53l!!!
I've long since disconnected the rear tank and have been considering removing it and making a lightweight rear end.
Would this sort of arrangement suit an xChallenge, the whole tail piece is a fuel tank?

 

[MTBiker]

OMG thats huge ... I have no idea if it will suits ... but XChallenga has aluminium subframe and Im affraid that it can fail with such a load placed so far on rear.
What volume has that rear Dakar tank ?

 

[konfucius]

1. Huge front mounted touratech/safari with 16l of volume for 500EUR

Wow, in sweden the Touratech tank is €700.

 

[MTBiker]

Thats strange !! - I always reffered for prices to german Touratech page:

http://www.touratech.com/shops/001/...=4753&osCsid=614c28294e98a0bd4ca86a8be0ac64ee

it looks like in sweden its 7000SEK ~750 EUR ??

As all is within EU only shipping cost (~25 EUR?) or difference in VAT can influence the price?

Is it possible to order parts directly from Germany (I made than when there was no official dealer in Poland), or you must order it thru official dealer (as we have it now) ??

Back to tank - I dont like idea of large TT front tank - its big (witdht, height), from factory it needs upgrade (low quality fuel hoses), my new front fairing will need rebuild It also remainds me the difference in riding between R1200GS and GSA - large and widther tank doesn't suits me.

It has 2 advantages - doesnt stress rear subframe as another options, and it gives relatively good volume/price ratio comparing to other options.

If I will need only 6l of fuel and would like to have it transfered directly to main tank without stopping I would invest in Acerbis 6l rear tank for aprox. 90 EUR.

rgds...Lucas
http://vimeo.com/mtbiker

 

[magno]

I only need about 8/9 litres of fuel for my needs. Coupled with the original tank brings the total to about 18/19 litres. Plenty of miles on the economical X Challenge. I will look into an expanded tank but I feel 8/9 litres is enough given the constraints on weight.

The rear subframe is a known weak point on the X. However, if you mount the aux tank in the correct way it will triangulate the frame and actually strengthen it. I think people have had subframes crack because they load the bike incorrectly. You need the weight low down and any pannier frames need to be fixed low down.

Design meeting with my fabricator tomorrow. We will knock up a prototype in the next week and I will post up some pics for you all to see.

X-Tank seems like a great product. If it was 200Euro cheaper I wouldn't be making my own.
Touratech tank is ugly and the weight is too far forward.
Other manufacturers of any tank seem to have given up. I'm not aware of any other tanks for the X other than the 2 above.

 

[magno]

Hey Lucas
Can you send me some pics of your fairing. I need to get something together for mine. Have you seen the rally fairing from Mindaugas in Lithuania?

 

[MTBiker]

Hey Lucas
Can you send me some pics of your fairing. I need to get something together for mine. Have you seen the rally fairing from Mindaugas in Lithuania?

Fairing from Lituania is what I have I'm waiting currently for lights delivery ...and then I will try to shape custom fairing mounting.

for large TT I will need to modify fairing (its designed and produced to work standard pannels) ...

I like how XChallenge side pannels fit... so Im looking for other fuel supply options... with any other option that suits to my need the problem is alloy subframe and forces that will press on it when riding in hard terrain.

rgds
Lucas
http://vimeo.com/mtbiker

 

[magno]

What lights are you using?
I have some bi-xenon units from a BWM M3 which look like they might be the right sort of size.
What is the quailty of the fairing like you have from Mindaugas. I'm tempted to order one and make me own mounting system.

 

[konfucius]

Is it possible to order parts directly from Germany (I made than when there was no official dealer in Poland), or you must order it thru official dealer (as we have it now) ??

Its the Swedish dealer who sets the price and you can not order from Germany anymore.

 

[MTBiker]

magno - You can find my email here: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2502056&postcount=21

I didn mount my fairing yet - Im waiting for my new lights (FX-R Bi-xenon) and then I will fabricate some aluminium holder for all that

 

[ARMA]

I know this is a long-shot but I have been looking at my Country and I think the obvious solution is to replace the main tank altogether. A newly fabricated tank could extend a few inches to the side and take up all the available space adding a few extra litres. By my (crude) calculations the tank could also extend into the rear and along the bottom of the subframe all the way to the rear and lengthening the tail so the filler cap is not at the back of the bike. I know this sounds fussy but small areas saved like this should bring the tank up to around 14 to 15litres. Now this is not enough for serious touring but it brings the bike in line with other machines in the class and means you're now looking to a cheap acerbis can to make up your shortfall for the occasional long runs between filling stations. In alloy it wouldn't be significantly heavier than plastic and would add some small structural rigidity to the subframe, more than some if the design favoured that as a main element.
I have seen four of five people making tanks that have come to nothing so I guess it's unlikely someone would attempt this but if it could be done, even at the price of a touratech tank I would buy one.
I'm actually in the process of setting up a small company making bits and pieces, I hadn't considered tackling something this big and complex. Basically I'm in the business of building parts I need and selling copies to fund getting the bits I need. I might talk to some engineers and fabricators and have a think about this...

 

[FERRET]

keep us all updated ,theirs quite a few of us out there who want/need to increase the range of the x challenge

 

[magno]

Prototype Photos

Ok peeps. Below are some photos of the prototype tank. There is some more work to do in terms of fabricating a top and side mounting bracket but hopefully this can be done this weekend and I will post some more photos.

The tank is made from Stainless Steel and the filler cap is 316 grade from a dairy (it's what we had to work with). I think it looks good but is probably a bit heavy and pricey for those looking for the cheapest solution.

So what do you think? Any comments welcome.

 

[magno]

Capacity should be around 9 litres but I will get an exact figure tomorrow.
Tank is 100mm wide for those that are interested.

 

[Zorro]

As part of my X Challenge prep I'll be making an extra fuel tank for it. Similar to the X-tank I think.
Fabrication starts this weekend. I'll have 2 made initially and will be able to make some more if required.
Capacity will be 7-9 litres I would think.
Anyone else out there interested subject to pics and price? Just trying to get a feel for the potential market.

Yes. Interested, dependent on spec and price.

 

[FERRET]

Interested as well, please keep us posted

 

[magno]

Aux tank

Pics of prototype tank below. Will be testing it over the next few weeks and months so will keep you all updated. I've already made a few tweaks to the design for the next one. This one is aimed at proving the principle.

 

[pinkytiff]

Likewise, interested depending on final spec and price - looks good