Carrying extra fuel

[Deleted account 210312001]

Evening all!

I gave a 2010 Twin cam GS not the adventure am planning a few big trips first one to spain and I hate the tank size! I should have bought the GSA but money didn't allow me. I don't mind stopping every so often to look at the view or for a coffee etc but cant stand filling up the tank.

I have toyed with the idea of changing to the GSA tank but I like my side panels as they are, with the ali panels.
So am thinking of carrying extra fuel on the bike, I have vario panniers so cant attach extra cans to that. I am taking a pillion with me and shes paying for half the trip,

So ..... am thinking crash bars on the side of bike and where the body panels are on the tank fit 2x 3l/5l spare fuel cans.

any suggestions would be great!! or photos of how you carry the fuel?

Thank you
Benson

 

[Roberto]

Isn't it more of a faff decanting to carriers and filling them up than just stopping and filling up?

 

[JJH]

200+miles range. You won’t have any problem in Spain. As already posted you have to stop anyway. JJH

 

[Santa-2512]

How many miles do you think you get out of a standard tank?

You might be surprised to know it's over 200 and prolly nearer to 250

I did a run up to Dent earlier in the year, Admittedly solo, but had a 50L sack with my tent & bedding in & a full rucksack strapped to it as well.

If i recall we only stopped once on the way to fuel.

Like wise comming back, it was once to fuel

I used prolly used half a tank bimbling around the Dales, and then ran back until i was within 50 odd miles of empty to refill

 

[Old Codger]

Surely after 200+ miles on a tankful you’ll need a stretch of the legs and a drink . Also spare a thought for your pillion and their comfort . No point in carrying extra weight and an inflammable load .Unless you’re going to Outer Mongolia you won’t need to worry.

 

[roamer]

You will need to give your pillion a break before the tank needs filling, everyone has a different idea of a holiday, as long as you both are agreed on a plan inc stops etc,
extra fuel carried will actually involve filling up twice instead of one at a fuel station,

 

[Tractors are go]

It's a holiday not an endurance competition !

200-220 miles equals 3 hours IF you can average 70mph.

So relax, enjoy the scenery, spend time talking to your pillion during breaks; stretch your legs, ablute, eat, keep hydrated.

Enjoy yourself !!!

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[er-minio]

I don't mind stopping every so often to look at the view or for a coffee etc but cant stand filling up the tank.

You don't like filling up the tank, so your solution is to have more tanks on your bike to fill up the main tank?
Then you have to fill up more tanks at the petrol station anyway.
How is this a solution at all?
How does it make sense?


You're going to Spain.
Anywhere in Europe there is generally an higher concentration of petrol stations than here in the UK (or, say, around the fucking M25 ). You'll probably have to fill up every 250+ km at least – enough distance to plan a nice stop/rest.

 

[bisbee]

Insurance may be an angle you have not thought of

 

[stratblue]

Train your pillion to spring 'ninja style' from their perch before the wheels come to a standstill, they can do the fill up and pay then meet you at the exit whereby they get back on using this method.

 

[TLSgazza]

Stupid idea. it'll take longer to take two tanks off the bike to put 6-10 litres in at the side of the road than it like be to stop at a fuel station to fill up properly.You then get to do an extra 60-100 miles if you're lucky. Then you need to fuel up again filling said extra tanks as well. Your pillion will also think you are a pillock.
Just use your bikes range until you need to stop for a break as well.

 

[The Other PaulG]

I agree with much of the above, extra tanks = extra faff.

What carrying spare fuel DOES, however, is give you confidence to run your main tank low.

When you're somewhere unknown, I think we tend to fill before it's strictly necessary because we're not sure when we'll find more fuel (maybe it's a Sunday in France..)

So yes take a little extra but I think its value will be in the comfort it provides, rather than being a realistic re-fill solution.

 

[Ajay]

Sundays in France used to be a problem filling up, as UK credit/debit cards were widely rejected at auto-pay pumps. No more in my experience, can't remember last time my card rejected in France & most towns will have an auto-pay filling station

I agree with other posters, carrying spare fuel cans is an impractical solution to a problem that isn't there.

 

[er-minio]

What carrying spare fuel DOES, however, is give you confidence to run your main tank low.

You know what gives you confidence to run your main tank low?
Filling up when you have a decent amount of miles left. Measured with the trip meter and/or *fanfare* the onboard computer.

I've never had an issue paying for fuel in France any day of the week. Maybe ages ago, no longer today.

There is seriously no need to ride around with spare tanks of fuel attached to the bike in Europe.
Also, consider the risks and the fact that, in some countries, it is severely frowned upon.

 

[Deleted account 210312001]

ill just get some fuel cans for the bike then..............

 

[Davy F]

ill just get some fuel cans for the bike then..............

Do you know Taminator ?

 

[JJH]

ill just get some fuel cans for the bike then..............

Good on you. Stick to your guns. Make sure their empty for ferries. JJH

 

[Nin]

If you have a Buell Ulysses you’ll be used to carrying extra fuel.

A 12 litre outboard fuel tank does the job well. Although I question the need on a GS, it’s your call...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[oldnfat]

Standard GS across Namibia, including damaraland.....we carried 4 litres extra each. Filled up where we could. Never needed the extra BUT it sure did ease the tension on a few runs between fuel stops where we were on vapour at the end.

 

[KMD]

My 2007 1200GS has the dreaded fuel strip problem, so I can't tell from the fuel gauge how much I have left. So I've adopted a system whereby I re-set trip one to zero at every fuel stop and use miles traveled as my fuel gauge. Never let me down yet, and by 200 miles I'm usually ready to get out of the seat anyway. I do carry a half litre fuel bottle though, just in case my cunning plan fails and I need to get off a motorway. I wouldn't carry extra fuel just to extend the journey though, by the time my tank is empty I'm ready for a stop anyway.