How I carry extra fuel!

[Curtis in Texas]

Let's talk about how to pack a bike for an extended trip. I thought I’d add something I use, that might help ya’ll.

I’m always concerned when I see a gas can tied to a loaded bike. I worry about how does one know the gas cans are still secure and not leaking all over your bike and equipment?

On my rear panniers there was enough room behind the left rack to mount a Kolpin flat fuel tank. It only holds a gallon and a quarter, but on a KLR that’s another 50 miles.(46 mpg on mine when it’s loaded down.) ( I find that I will ride farther on reserve than I did before too!) The Kolpin Tank comes with its own mounting bracket that you can adapt to your rack.

A picture of it on it’s bracket with the bag removed.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/KLR%20Motorcycles/BrianMotorcycle013.jpg

Here as seen from the top with the pannier on.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/KLR%20Motorcycles/BrianMotorcycle011.jpg

And here what it looks like from the rear. (DISCLAIMER::These are early development pictures and I've changed the rear axle bolt so the nut is on the right side of the swing arm. And I've added a rear hoop for bracing. So don't bust my chops about them please!) It doesn’t add that much weight and since it’s mounted on a special bracket made for it, it stays there. I haven’t noticed the weight at all as its low on the bike. It can be refilled without removing it from the bike. If you look at my other post you can see it was on my KLR on my trip last week.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/KLR%20Motorcycles/BrianMotorcycle010.jpg

I’ve carried mine full of fuel for over a year now and pour it in the tank about every month. (It’s been a test to see if it will handle a future planned Alaska trip mounted there.) (So far, no problems.)

On our group rides to Arkansas the guys call me “The Tanker” because some of the guys ride TW’s and they sometimes run a little short on gas. When I’m along, they don’t worry about running out.

I typically get 300 miles to a tank full off the IMS and with the 50 + miles added range of the Kolpin I can go a lot farther than my butt can stand. Make a nice security for those side trips.

And I find it handy for bringing home fuel for the lawn mower.
Even stranded cagers give me funny looks when I pull over and tell them I have enough gas to get them to the next station.

Anyway, I thought I’d throw out this little idea in case some of you don’t know about the Kolpin ATV fuel tanks. It’s sure a lot safer, if nothing else.
I'm not affiliate with Kolpin, but do endorse any produce that will make my life (and yours) safer and easier.

Curtis in Texas

p.s. For you iron butt riders, you can use some marine fuel line disconnects and run a small electric fuel pump to transfer to the main tank through the breather tubing.

[BKCowGod]

very nice - Even at 75mpg, I still have to fill up every 130 or so. I feel inspired.

[traveltoad]

very nice - Even at 75mpg, I still have to fill up every 130 or so. I feel inspired.

Yeah, 130 miles per tank is not nearly enough.

[Hltoppr]

I really like those cans...great mounting point too!

I get spoiled by the 8 gallon tank on the GS....:elkgrin:

-H-

[preacherman]

I have a aftermarket IMS 6 gal tank. It more than doubles my range.

I really like your set up. Good idea.

[rctr03]

i saw a tank like that at gander mountain, great use of space!

jimmy

[Yorker]

that is pretty slick, I have a set of East German NBC decontamination jerry can's that I bought to hold oil in my Land Rover- I always thought they'd make neat fuel cans on a motorcycle- I just donm't have a motorcycle yet...

[Willman]

Backpack???



Love the side can idea!

;)

[traveltoad]

I have a aftermarket IMS 6 gal tank. It more than doubles my range.

7.8 gal...

http://traveltoad.smugmug.com/photos/408500587_BMg7w-M.jpg

[nickatnite]

I've got the Kolpins also. I've been running this set up almost a year now on my trips.

http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/320652910_s2Meq-L.jpg

http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/320653292_J6eUZ-L.jpg

I didn't use that big metal bracket, I just used the plastic mounting piece and bolted it directly to my Jesse's.

http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/320656201_d6NHm-L.jpg

[Curtis in Texas]

I've got the Kolpins also. I've been running this set up almost a year now on my trips.

http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/320653292_J6eUZ-L.jpg

I didn't use that big metal bracket, I just used the plastic mounting piece and bolted it directly to my Jesse's.

That's a nice way to set them up Nick. I don't suppose that with the GS Beemer you would need to worry about having too much weight past the rear axle center line. I think I'd drive my self crazy being paranoid about being tapped from the reear. But, once I think about it, mine is just as vulnerable.

I had a bunch of stuff packed on my rear rack on my first trip and had a heck of a time keeping the KLRs front wheel on the ground . It would wheeliee like a big dog from every stop light. I almost lost it once in front of a lot af traffic at a highway intersection. That's when I decided to use a bigger tank bag and tank panniers for my tools and other heavy stuff. Balancing the weight is key to comfortable riding.

I've often thought that now that I have the bike better balanced for long trips that I might hang the other Kolpin tank I have on the rear of my top box, like you have, for the Alaska trip, but I hear that fuel is not a major problem unless you take too long a side trip.

And with a 350 mile range I don't think I'll need to worry about my fuel. Just everyone elses.

Curtis

[nickatnite]

That's a nice way to set them up Nick. I don't suppose that with the GS Beemer you would need to worry about having too much weight past the rear axle center line.
And with a 350 mile range I don't think I'll need to worry about my fuel. Just everyone elses.

Curtis

It's really not bad at all. When I'm loaded solo or loaded with me and Jules, you can't really tell that it's back there. Here is a full side view.

http://voodeauxphotography.smugmug.com/photos/355536183_j2iYL-L.jpg

[Sleeping Dog]

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/celestia/order/orderform/?recno=203

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/celestia/imagelib/PP_800_500C.jpg

Spec'd for the F800 GS & R1200 GS/ADV the Peg Packer is a nice solution. Replaces one of the passenger pegs so the weight is forward and low. It will also work with the F650GS/Dakar (singles) and I expect that it could be modified to fit a KLR

Jim

[TACODOC]

Let's talk about how to pack a bike for an extended trip. I thought I’d add something I use, that might help ya’ll.

I’m always concerned when I see a gas can tied to a loaded bike. I worry about how does one know the gas cans are still secure and not leaking all over your bike and equipment?

On my rear panniers there was enough room behind the left rack to mount a Kolpin flat fuel tank. It only holds a gallon and a quarter, but on a KLR that’s another 50 miles.(46 mpg on mine when it’s loaded down.) ( I find that I will ride farther on reserve than I did before too!) The Kolpin Tank comes with its own mounting bracket that you can adapt to your rack.

A picture of it on it’s bracket with the bag removed.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/KLR%20Motorcycles/BrianMotorcycle013.jpg

Here as seen from the top with the pannier on.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/KLR%20Motorcycles/BrianMotorcycle011.jpg

And here what it looks like from the rear. (DISCLAIMER::These are early development pictures and I've changed the rear axle bolt so the nut is on the right side of the swing arm. And I've added a rear hoop for bracing. So don't bust my chops about them please!) It doesn’t add that much weight and since it’s mounted on a special bracket made for it, it stays there. I haven’t noticed the weight at all as its low on the bike. It can be refilled without removing it from the bike. If you look at my other post you can see it was on my KLR on my trip last week.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/Curtis-J/KLR%20Motorcycles/BrianMotorcycle010.jpg

I’ve carried mine full of fuel for over a year now and pour it in the tank about every month. (It’s been a test to see if it will handle a future planned Alaska trip mounted there.) (So far, no problems.)

On our group rides to Arkansas the guys call me “The Tanker” because some of the guys ride TW’s and they sometimes run a little short on gas. When I’m along, they don’t worry about running out.

I typically get 300 miles to a tank full off the IMS and with the 50 + miles added range of the Kolpin I can go a lot farther than my butt can stand. Make a nice security for those side trips.

And I find it handy for bringing home fuel for the lawn mower.
Even stranded cagers give me funny looks when I pull over and tell them I have enough gas to get them to the next station.

Anyway, I thought I’d throw out this little idea in case some of you don’t know about the Kolpin ATV fuel tanks. It’s sure a lot safer, if nothing else.
I'm not affiliate with Kolpin, but do endorse any produce that will make my life (and yours) safer and easier.

Curtis in Texas

p.s. For you iron butt riders, you can use some marine fuel line disconnects and run a small electric fuel pump to transfer to the main tank through the breather tubing.

Awesome! :punk03:

Thanks for the idea!

http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/products_3.html

[Every Miles A Memory]

Great idea and alot less expensive than getting a larger tank for my DRZ 400. (Not expedition bike, but great for side trips while camping)

It only has a 2 gallon tank, and that only gives me right over 100 miles per tank. This would keep me from worrying so much.

[HenryJ]

Awesome! :punk03:
Thanks for the idea!
http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/products_3.htmlI have been considering my options to extend my range. The Kolpin fuel cans really do seem like an economical way to do this and the integrated bracket system sure seems like a good idea.
I like to do lots of research prior to a buy and found numerous complaints about the second generation of their fuel containers. The early models with the vertical fill and separate vent were VERY good , or so the consensus is. The problem containers are the ones with no vent and the fill at 45 degrees on the corner of the can. Once they eliminated the vent and redesigned the container in preparation for CARB compliance, the problems seem to have started. Leakage. Some have had luck with greasing o-rings and overzealous tightening.

In mind the best option is a larger tank. There is no bolt-in tank for my application. There are some conversions, but I am not sold on what needs to be done to make things fit just yet. A fuel can seems to be the answer. I had almost resigned myself to tossing a Blitz can in the trunk, or finding a bladder when I ran across one of the Kolpin Jr. cans w/bracket on Ebay. New unused. Old style. It has not arrived yet, but my fingers are crossed.

Just wanted to help put the word out that the new Kolpin cans may not be all they are cracked up to be. No first hand experiences though. Anyone here have experience with them?

[deserteagle56]

After a lifetime spent exploring the outback on dirt bikes I recently decided to try a quad. For the most part, I love it. There is one glaring downside - the fuel mileage. Even though mine is only a 450cc it never gets better than 20 mpg. My Jeep does nearly as well! Anyway, whereas I was used to getting 75 mpg on my current dirt bike, riding all day on a couple gallons of gas, the quad was going on reserve at 60 miles into the trip (the tank is 4 gallon)! Not acceptable! The local Artic Cat dealer carried the Kolpin gas containers and I had seen them in the Cabelas catalog so I assumed they must work fine. I bought one from the dealer and immediately went to a service station to fill it up. I screwed the lid on and sat it in the back of my pickup - only to see gas spilling everywhere! I took the lid back off, checked it, and tried a couple more times to get it to seal, to no avail. So I strapped the container upright in the back of the pickup so the lid was pointed up and drove back to the Artic Cat dealer. Apparently he had experience with this problem before - he grabbed a set of Channelocks and REALLY screwed down on that lid. I had no idea that plastic lid could take torque like that! But it did stop the leaking.

I carry a spare spout/lid for the Kolpin, just because I'm afraid that one day I will break one. But the trick seems to be to CAREFULLY align the spout and lid pieces and then use a lot of force screwing it down. I've carried the Kolpin on many long rides on the rack of the quad now with no leaking problems. Because they have to meet the CARB specifications, these things do NOT vent - on a cold morning the container is flat but in the hot afternoon sun it swells way up!

[HenryJ]

http://www.s-10crewcab.com/~henryj/TW200/fuelpack.jpg
I found an old style kit on ebay. I used the supplied bracket from the kit. I drilled the bracket to run a heavy zip-tie around the upper back bar of the rack. I used a 5/8" rubber U spacer around the bar to properly space it from the box and line it up vertically.

The cap sits at the same level as the Action Packer.