R1150GS - BIG TANK PROBLEMS ?

[rob]

I'M VERY SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING FITTING A 41 LITRE TOURATECH PETROL TANK TO MY GS ..... I RECKON THEY LOOK GREAT, BUT THE COST NEW IS CRIPPLING ..... BY THE TIME YOU'VE BOUGHT A THE TANK AND HAD IT SPRAYED TO BMW PAINT STANDARDS YOU CAN ALMOST KISS GOODBYE TO £ 900 +

I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVISE FROM THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SPLASHED OUT ...... IS IT WORTH THE MONEY ? DID YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT FINISH ? CAN YOU ACTUALLY USE ALL OF THE 41 LITRE CAPACITY OR ARE YOU LIMITED TO 35 LITRES BECAUSE OF THE INTERNAL DESIGN OF THE TANK ?

 

[Deadskin]

Big Tank Prob's I Don't Think So !!

Rob
I didn't splash out as it was on the bike when i bought it.
No probs with the paint better than bmw orange peel.
i think it was goose that said he could'nt use the last 5ltrs
i have never had this problem and have ran dry twice because the fuel guage is way out, 5 bars on the RID and it's dry, i think
they've changed the float on the sender unit now so it's more in
step with the RID.Still waiting for mine SPC
You might have a problem with some makes of crash bars
wunderlich don't fit and H+B tend to rub.

Gates

 

[Simon Eassom]

The two things you mention are exactly the reason I've not gone this route: (1) huge cost - which I'd put up with if it wasn't for (2) problems accessing anywhere between 5 and 10 litres of the tank's capacity.
The GSA tank with 32 litres, fitted with a syphon/sucker is therefore a cheaper option giving the same effective fuel capacity.
Contact Simon Thomas and ask him if he's found a way round the fuel problem with his.

 

[MikeO]

The GSA tank with 32 litres, fitted with a syphon/sucker is therefore a cheaper option giving the same effective fuel capacity.

Simon,

syphon/sucker is not required on the 31 litre tank, as it has a balance pipe fitted.

MikeO

 

[Deadskin]

(2) problems accessing anywhere between 5 and 10 litres of the tank's capacity. [/B]

Having ACTUALLY used this tank myself i've had no problems
at all, on a couple of occasions i wish i had 5 litres to swish about.

BTW my tank came from Wunderlich made by elkamet.

 

[Deadskin]

OOOH Forgot the pic

 

[simon thomas]

Rob,

I've also got the larger Elkamet tank and have to say I've had no problems with it. I did take a few measures before installing it.

The tiny breather holes in the filler neck are too small, so you have to be patient when filling to the brim. I drilled the hole a little larger,which allows the air to be pushed out by the fuel going in.

I also added a longer fuel line to the fuel pump assembly, which you retain. This simply means the fuel line extends all the way to the lowest point of the tank. Hey presto no problems and no wasted fuel.

Hope this helps.
Fittings instructions for the 41 litre tank can be found at my web site: http://www.2ridetheworld.com

hope this helps
Cheers
Simon T

 

[Mick Fagan]

Rob, I have the Elkamet tank through Touratech. I've found it to be perfect and I had it painted Marrakesh Red as per the original colour on my bike.

I've figured that one can use about 36 litres and then you are walking. With that I have been able to travel 770 Klm's approximately. However I work on 600 - 650 Klm's as a maximum range when fully loaded and two up. I have just a done a trip over Christmas and I was getting a fuel useage of 5 Litres per 100 kilometres which is exceptional and gives me a safer range than any standard tank including the Adventure with the large tank.

My previous bike was a R100CS fitted with a steel 42 Litre tank. Even using gravity feed, the useable litres were only about 37. Before that I had a 1980 R80 G/S with a 39 litre tank and it could only use 35-36 litres before one was walking.

Don't forget that fuel tanks are required by most countries to have an airspace reseervoir of at least 5% of the total capacity built in. Most manufacturers make this reservoir larger and if you work on something close to 10% then you will see that with a 41 litre tank it is impossible either legally or actually to get 41 litres of useable fuel. Besides the fuel pickup doesn't sit on the bottom otherwise it would pick all of the crap sitting on the bottom. Have a look next time you change your filter.

Also I have just travelled with an Adventure, and I can tell you that he couldn't get anywhere near the amount of fuel range out of the tank that he had envisaged on paper.

Mick.