tank range story

[bluesman]

nothing to do on Sunday, s...t weather - so I read again Perfomance Bike etc. magazines I kept for sme time and here is question: why all magazines and reviews always going on about Storm tank range?
If you just have a look at tank ranges of 50% of freshly reviewed bikes it looks like it is really kind of stupid trend - Storm's 100 mile tank range does not seem worst case at all!
Of course I am not talking about that joke 12 liters bottle on Duke 999 - that's different kind of bikes, understand.
But it seems that even quite usual sports and nakeds been given a short radius now...
I am going to put together table of tested by magazines tank ranges and see how bad it is.....just because I am curious and because I will be able t put it right to face of everybody who will tell me again about Storm tank range...

[Jaglifter]

Was thinking the very same thing myself the other day!!

[Stratman]

Yep, this has always annoyed me too, although when Honda re-categorised the 'Storm as "sports tourer" a 16, or even 19 litre tank was never going to fit the bill. Anyway, V twins are always more thirsty, especially when carburated.

[memnoch]

iI don’t care about the range there are plenty of forecourts around the uk not like I live in australia and I’ve not ran dry yet ............

[bluesman]

For usual rides it is not a problem. But living in Belgium I am obviously in love with France- Houte Alps, Var - I just love it, and it is couple of hours drive to border.
Problem is - unless absolutely no choice I NEVER travel by highways, despite french toll roads really good.
Never - I think it is boring and all concept of "getting there and then having a good ride on local roads" is really really against my idea of sport touring.
I drive all the way there via small roads, and I soon discovered that in small towns and villages in France automatic petrol stations do not accept forein credit cards, and with station man closing his boot and leaving at 6 pm you often find yoursef stuck next to petrol station waiting for somebody to come with "french" VISA, so that you can give him cash and he will fill your bike.
With daily trip of 700-800 km by small roads and Alps serpentines somehow I never can get right when exactly should you start looking for next station.
For this summer I was thinking about going to southern Norway, but there situation with petrol stations even worse (no-man's land = no petrol staiton).
So - yes, 21 liter tank would make a nice difference, but 18-19 - not really so much better.
I am trying to work out design some kind of "canister" that would be fitting to top of fuel tank, like a tank bag but with gap in the middle leaving fuel tap free. It should hold 5 liters ideally, giving me healthy 5 ltr emergency reserve....

[kevg]

something like a camel back but with fuel in it i would think.
anything that you can store petrol in and keep it safely in is a bonus.

[memnoch]

Hmmmmmm I can see the problem how about a custom under seat tank???

[Druid]

something like a camel back but with fuel in it i would think.
anything that you can store petrol in and keep it safely in is a bonus.

How about this?



I have a few of them lying around ;)

[kevg]

looks cool, think i'd prefer the contents and leaving the bike in the garage mind you, never mind filling it with petrol.

[tony.wilde1]

what you need is one of these..200mpg!!! and 8 hp!!

[simon t]

Sounds complicated. How about a luggage rack with a 5 litre can bungeed on - splash it in when the light comes on. Cheap as chips!

I'm off to France in May and I'll probably stick a 2 litre container (eg bleach bottle) of fuel in one of my thowovers. Should be good for another 15 miles or so. Don't plan on using it, but it should give the confidence to keep going another few miles after the light comes on.

Trouble is, garages don't coincide with tank range, so you can end up stopping even more frequently than necessary - e.g. if you were approaching a service area at 80 miles (16 litre tank) and the next one was 30 miles away would you risk it? At least with a couple of extra litres you know you could do it.

[Orange Robbie]

I am hoping to do the same as Simon in September for 5 days or so. I have been giving the tank range considerable thought as well. The last time I went to France was on a CBR600 which was good for around 150 miles between refuelling.
I have reached the conclusion of purchasing a sports rack and strapping either a 5 or 10 litre jerry can on for use when appropriate. Last time I went I was always able to use manned petrol stations and use a card to pay, but having read Blusmans post, I will make sure that I alwys have folding in my pocket, camping on a petrol forecourt ain't my idea of fun!

[memnoch]

I've thought about strapping a couple of jerry cans to my exhausts. The trouble of with this is, it is aesthetically unpleasing to the eye and I also had trouble also going round the corners.

[bluesman]

To bo hones I am really afraid to strap petrol to pillion for 2 reasons:
1. Adding load to rear when I just made my Storm nose-inclined fr quicker handling
2. I am terrifyed of image of Storm in flames sliding on the road...I have bad habit of riding a bit too fast after day or to in Alps, and had very close call last time

I read some posts above about finding petrol stations - guys, I do not really know why my or my mates (some of them Englishman) cards was not accepted or why we often ran into no-petrol-man situations, so if your experience was OK I hope it is only me unlucky... and I hop your trips will no be affected by that.
I think one of the reasons - we still ride after 6:00 PM when we there, so may be this is why..
I keep on breaking my head over that "spare petrol" thing, but being in process of taking mortgage and buying a house I really have to put it on shelf for now
If I will get somewhere - I will post results, but basic idea is aluminium tank fitting tight around top an a bit sides of Storm's tank with (potntially) feed into main tank...

[Orange Robbie]

Blusman said

I am terrifyed of image of Storm in flames sliding on the road...I have bad habit of riding a bit too fast after day or to in Alps, and had very close call last time

It is a Firestorm after all, would just be living up to it's name!