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c-m
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PostPosted: 16:59 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Fuel tank size Reply with quote

My bike has reasonable sized fuel tank at 19 litres and town to town riding sees a range of about 180miles.

I was looking at some Ducati's and similar bikes and their tanks are only 15 litres or so. This give the bike and truly awful tank range.

When MotoGP bikes, where weight is crucial have a 22litre tank, why aren't modern road going sports bikes designed with that sort of capacity?
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The Artist
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PostPosted: 17:05 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

MotoGP bikes are not comparable to road bikes. Their tanks have to hold enough fuel for one race as they cannot refuel. Their tanks will be sized up against the engine fuel consumption in each race.
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Alexio
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PostPosted: 17:23 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get a BMW? There are some which have tanks (probably after market) that are like 36 litres.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?
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400bandit
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PostPosted: 19:40 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't get a Firestorm. Supposed to have a 15 or 16 ltr tank but I have not been able to get 14 in even when running on vapors!

Couple that with pretty bad fuel consumption = not but a lot of fun and noise...

Joe
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(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)
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G
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PostPosted: 20:18 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Re: Fuel tank size Reply with quote

c-m wrote:

When MotoGP bikes, where weight is crucial have a 22litre tank, why aren't modern road going sports bikes designed with that sort of capacity?

MotoGP bikes need to burn a hell of a lot of fuel to make a lot of power. They also probably have some sort of fuel foam to prevent excessive slosh. Probably got less general 'road gunk' to take up space around the bike too.

Most riders don't need/want a bigger tank, as they'll usually want to stop for a break by then anyway, definitely if we're talking sports bikes, which, to be fair, are designed for 'sports' Smile.

My KTM manages about 100 miles before reserve on the stock 12l tank, but I've got an extra 14l on it too. CCM has 11l and the KTM200 has an 'extra big' 9 or 11l (stock is 7l or something.)

Obviously fuel economy needs to be mixed with the fuel tank size to get a good idea. Kawashima posted up an interesting spreadsheet on this sort of thing recently.
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c-m
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PostPosted: 20:43 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

My point was though that if they can get a 20+ litre fuel cell onto a motogp bike and still keep the weight low, areo dynamics and ergonomics, then they could easily include a that size tank on something like a ZX9R.

100miles before reserve on the KTM is a very short distance in modern terms.
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G
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PostPosted: 20:56 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

But without the fuel foam, you'd get more slosh, compromising handling with a less full tank. As I say, I also suspect that a road bike has more general *gubbins* taking up space. They also have to have some consideration for 'wet weight' tests, which are biased by more fuel, as well as just the fact people will often fill their tanks up, leading to marginally reduced performance (handling and power.)
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rac3r
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PostPosted: 21:40 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

My full tank costs about £10ish and I get about 100 miles before the reserve light comes on or 95 with 'messy' riding Laughing
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Jamie S
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PostPosted: 21:53 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had to switch to res last night on the dt after just 65 miles !
I really need to have a play about with the gearing a bit, 70mph at 9k (red line starts at 10) isn't doing a whole lot of good for my fuel economy
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Jamie S
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PostPosted: 21:53 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had to switch to res last night on the dt after just 65 miles !
I really need to have a play about with the gearing a bit, 70mph at 9k (red line starts at 10) isn't doing a whole lot of good for my fuel economy
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The Artist
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PostPosted: 22:58 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can get well over 200 miles from my tank.
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ms51ves3
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PostPosted: 23:40 - 14 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just found out that my Honda Chaly tank is 1.8 litres Laughing Honda claim it's 2.8 litres.
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Alexio
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PostPosted: 04:24 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

ms51ves3 wrote:
I just found out that my Honda Chaly tank is 1.8 litres Laughing Honda claim it's 2.8 litres.


1.8 litres is what, 80 miles? Razz What ever it is, it's going to be plenty for the Chaly. Also, fuel certainly affects my 125's performance. A full tank means a whole 10MPH less on some roads.
____________________
will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?
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Itchy
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PostPosted: 05:06 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get some adventure rider tanks>?,

Walter had a tank strapped to the side of his X challenge, David Lambeth makes them for £75 they are sort of like coke bottles but bigger which you plumb in via a tri pipe.
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c-m
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PostPosted: 09:38 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can you get longer range tanks for supersports?
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Kickstart
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PostPosted: 09:45 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

ms51ves3 wrote:
I just found out that my Honda Chaly tank is 1.8 litres Laughing Honda claim it's 2.8 litres.


Isn't that below the min delivery for many petrol stations?

All the best

Keith
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Alexio
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PostPosted: 09:45 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

c-m wrote:
Can you get longer range tanks for supersports?


Searching Google suggests no.

You can always fill a jerry can and put it in your rucksack Thumbs Up (obviously not for track use unless you're feeling particularly brave and stupid)

Kickstart wrote:
ms51ves3 wrote:
I just found out that my Honda Chaly tank is 1.8 litres Laughing Honda claim it's 2.8 litres.


Isn't that below the min delivery for many petrol stations?

All the best

Keith


There seems to be some contention about that. Pumps normally state 2L min delivery but many stations don't mind less according to anecdotal evidence. Still, it's not really an issue. Just fill the remainder in to one of those green petrol tanks and take it home. Use a 550ml plastic coke bottle even Thumbs Up
____________________
will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?
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Kickstart
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PostPosted: 09:51 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alexio wrote:
Use a 550ml plastic coke bottle even Thumbs Up


Don't get caught!

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing
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G
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PostPosted: 10:07 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Known plenty of people to get way under that - they just put that to discourage people from messing them about.
Dusty used to regularly get 50p of fuel for his R6, to cover a short ride Confused.
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tvr321
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PostPosted: 22:13 - 15 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Isn't it in the rules that the fuel tank on a MotoGP bike has to be a certain size?
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P.
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PostPosted: 11:04 - 18 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just to add a quick comment in, apparently the tank on my car is 66litres, but the fuel pump is included in that calculation, which actually stores 1.5 litres of fuel.
Dont know if its the same with bikes, but just adding some info Smile
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St0rmer66
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PostPosted: 21:25 - 19 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

tvr321 wrote:
Isn't it in the rules that the fuel tank on a MotoGP bike has to be a certain size?

I think the tank can be any size they want.. they're still only allowed a finite amount of fuel though regardless! (and it would be stupid to make it too big, for weight and stupid to make it to small, you need fuel for power!).

My bike has (I think) an 18litre tank.. had the fuel light come on after around 90 miles of spirited riding! Shocked . Big twins are thirsty.
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thewildblue
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PostPosted: 08:20 - 20 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote

I squeezed 19.5 litres in my 19 litre versys tank and there was still a good litre or so left in there.....

On most of my bikes Ive usually manged to get the stated amount or in sometimes more into my tank. Then again I fill up while sat on the bike rather than on the sidestand........ Wink
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