F800 GSA ("A is for Adventure")

[mechcanico lee]

See post no. 35 above - already bought a cheap 27l fuel can from a yacht chandler, fairly slab sided and won't get filled until we reach the start of the "empty quarter" . If I'm very lucky I might find someone at the other end about to make the trip back and I'll sell it to them.

Oh rite missed that bit, if its 27l will it be quite bulky, have you a picture of it would be good to see , will you mount it on your side cases or something ?

 

[Micky]

I think you want to be careful before deciding you NEED a bigger tank. I was in Mongolia this year on my X-Challenge, which is probably 5-10% more economical than the F800 ... but not a lot in it. I had problems with my auxilliary tank so disconnected it and ended up just buying 3 litres of spare fuel in a 50p plastic jerry can I picked up in Ulaanbaatar, to use when my 10 litre stock X-Challenge tank ran out.

Only I never used my 3 spare litres. The 10 litre tank was enough to cross Mongolia. So the 16 litres on the F800 definately is enough. There will be very very few routes in this world where you cant get fuel within 300km

I'll go with that Walt, dunno what they worry about

We crossed Russia, Mongolia and the Gobi Desert on the F650GS singles and only once did the warning light come on before we could obtain petrol, still made it though

We only used the petrol we carried in the extra containers for the stove

 

[Sooty09]

I sometimes brag a bit to my friends who ride but do not tour about my trips to the Alps or northern France etc. I feel firmly put in my place when those about me start telling stories of their rides across the Gobi desert or outer Mongolia etc. I wish I had the bottle to try, Mr sensible always pops up with the 101 reasons I cannot do it.
I can see the reasoning for strap on fuel cans, based on experience are these aluminum panniers the thing to take on a world trip? I see many GS1200
riders belting round the dales with them attached, why don't they take them off when not touring? Everything I need for a day out fits easily in a small top box.

 

[everywherevirtually]

I sometimes brag a bit to my friends who ride but do not tour about my trips to the Alps or northern France etc. I feel firmly put in my place when those about me start telling stories of their rides across the Gobi desert or outer Mongolia etc. I wish I had the bottle to try, Mr sensible always pops up with the 101 reasons I cannot do it.
I can see the reasoning for strap on fuel cans, based on experience are these aluminum panniers the thing to take on a world trip? I see many GS1200
riders belting round the dales with them attached, why don't they take them off when not touring? Everything I need for a day out fits easily in a small top box.

I did the Eastern European leg of Sibirsky extreme with soft Ortliebs. I now have metal boxes for day to day stuff. Partly so I can show off the stickers of the places I've been and partly so I can put my helmet in my top box with a modicum of security.

When I do a proper overland trip outside of Western Europe I will be going back to soft luggage and a cheapy petrol can. You just cant beat it for versatility and lightness.

 

[chad]

I did the Eastern European leg of Sibirsky extreme with soft Ortliebs. I now have metal boxes for day to day stuff. Partly so I can show off the stickers of the places I've been and partly so I can put my helmet in my top box with a modicum of security.

When I do a proper overland trip outside of Western Europe I will be going back to soft luggage and a cheapy petrol can. You just cant beat it for versatility and lightness.

there are some bloody good soft luggage systems coming out now, the new type throw over the back of the bike sort of saddle styly spot on for that type of trip

 

[Cole]

the other thing to bear in mind is just because there is no petrol station, doesnt mean there is no petrol.

Almost every inhabited place will have petrol ... some geezer in the 3rd world village you are passing thru will have a lock up with a few drums of fuel. Even if there is no such individual selling fuel, a motorcycle doesn't need much and anyone with a petrol vehicle will have a jerry can or two either in the back of the vehicle or at home that he will sell if you ask nicely.

Did a very remote road in Siberia where there was 'no fuel' for 800km (500miles) between Tynda and Chara. But there are villages ... ergo we found fuel when we needed it.

Another remote road was the amazing road around the Afghan border in Tajikistan. I had been told by a guy who did it a year earlier that I needed a 550km range. The info turned out to be less than correct. I needed less than 300km range. Just have to ask around.

Then there's the Road of Bones ... Surely there you need a massive fuel range??? Again, dont even have too ask around. There are sufficient fuel stations such that 300km range will get you the 2100km from Yakutsk to Magadan.

There's apparently a 300 (or 400?) mile stretch somewhere along the NW African coast where fuel isn't available,

I would try and get more info on that, try and cross reference the info. I dont know that part of Africa at all, but my initial thoughts would be to question it - especially along the coast.

 

[Cole]

Have fun on the trip ... sounds like a good way to escape the winter.

But that 27 litre tank is going to weigh a ton, and if you see fuel stations every 60 miles, you are going to hate it.

 

[freeloader]

Have fun on the trip ... sounds like a good way to escape the winter.

Too late - we're hovering around freezing here, no central heating (coal fire in one room) and the back door stays open 365 days a year for the dogs...

But that 27 litre tank is going to weigh a ton, and if you see fuel stations every 60 miles, you are going to hate it.

True, but I'll be transferring fuel to the bike tank as and when I can, so the tank becomes 5kg lighter every 50 miles - that's the "plan", anyway. All depends on terrain, how bad it is versus the hassle involved in stopping to transfer fuel, etc, etc...
...we'll see. It's still a bit hazy, hopefully it'll all fall into place.