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Good evening class. The next lesson for Advanced XSive modifications 1196 will concern going overboard on fuel capacity. I have done just that.
...probably because I'm "over bored"
yawn...
I decided to install a different aux fuel system in lieu of my old luggage rack...gravity feed...boat tank. The old system worked but had a couple disadvantages:
1- It took up a lot of room on my luggage rack...room I could use to carry other things on long road trips...things like...THE KITCHEN SINK! 
2- 20 lbs of fuel perched that high really made the bike top heavy (duh!) Not a problem at speed but doing slow parking lot manuevers was tricky.
Since I installed a Vetter trunk and LED tail/brake lights (thank you RAY!) I had no luggage rack to mount an aux fuel cell. Besides I wanted to get the center of gravity down with the added 20 lbs of fuel and the only way to do that is lower it. That is exactly what I did.
I bought a 3.6 gallon fuel cell from Summit Racing...the kind they use on dragsters. It is vented, made of ABS, and the perfect size. I mounted it to my saddle bag frame behind the rear wheel. I kinda copied a design I saw for the Kawy Concourse.
I also added a 12v fuel pump and a console mounted fuel gage. The fuel pump is bolted to the back of the aux fuel cell frame I fabricated (read welded). The whole system is very slick. All I have to do it release the fuel line quick connect and unplug the wiring harness and the entire aux fuel system comes off in a modular fashion. It is very easy to run with or without the added fuel capacity ...which ever I choose.
This system will bring my total fuel capacity up to 8.7 gallons. I figure 8 or 8.25 willl actually be useable. So I should be able to make 275 to 300 miles between fill ups depending on conditions. Of course the limiting factor will be my bladder.
Here's a couple shots of the tank labeled.
The 4 pole connector brings power to the pump and to the sending unit to return to the fuel level gauge in the console.
The fuel pump is a low pressure (7-8 psig) firewall mount type like you'd get at any auto parts store. I simply bolted it to the back of the fuel cell frame. When activated it pumps fuel from the cell into the main tank. Just spliced the aux fuel line into the main petcocks just like I did on the old gravity feed boat system.
The console is a Cycle Sound for a Vetter. I just didn't install a stereo system. I covered the speaker holes with a couple of 5.25 inch aluminum plates and installed the fuel gauge in the space where the player radio would normally go. While I was at it I installed a clock and a voltmeter. These gauges are Autometer Ultralites.
I installed the fuel pump toggle switch in the same hole the antenna would mount on the Cycle sound. All of wiring goes through an ignition relay...except the clock which is a constant 12v source.
Now when I cross central Nevada...you kow...that 190 miles from Tonopah to Caliente ... I won't be sweating bullets about fuel
It wasn't cheap but the way I ride ...especially the western US...it will be very nice to never give fuel a second thought. Besides ... it should allow me to make much better time on long road trips only having to stop every 270 miles or to pee...which ever occurs first. You can bet it will be the latter.
However...I have read about some hard core butt burners that wear a "Depends" just to keep from stopping!
.......
And that deserves a two and a half cactus yell...YUCCA...YUCCA...YUCK!
...probably because I'm "over bored" yawn...I decided to install a different aux fuel system in lieu of my old luggage rack...gravity feed...boat tank. The old system worked but had a couple disadvantages:
1- It took up a lot of room on my luggage rack...room I could use to carry other things on long road trips...things like...THE KITCHEN SINK!
2- 20 lbs of fuel perched that high really made the bike top heavy (duh!) Not a problem at speed but doing slow parking lot manuevers was tricky.
Since I installed a Vetter trunk and LED tail/brake lights (thank you RAY!) I had no luggage rack to mount an aux fuel cell. Besides I wanted to get the center of gravity down with the added 20 lbs of fuel and the only way to do that is lower it. That is exactly what I did.
I bought a 3.6 gallon fuel cell from Summit Racing...the kind they use on dragsters. It is vented, made of ABS, and the perfect size. I mounted it to my saddle bag frame behind the rear wheel. I kinda copied a design I saw for the Kawy Concourse.
I also added a 12v fuel pump and a console mounted fuel gage. The fuel pump is bolted to the back of the aux fuel cell frame I fabricated (read welded). The whole system is very slick. All I have to do it release the fuel line quick connect and unplug the wiring harness and the entire aux fuel system comes off in a modular fashion. It is very easy to run with or without the added fuel capacity ...which ever I choose.
This system will bring my total fuel capacity up to 8.7 gallons. I figure 8 or 8.25 willl actually be useable. So I should be able to make 275 to 300 miles between fill ups depending on conditions. Of course the limiting factor will be my bladder.
Here's a couple shots of the tank labeled.
The 4 pole connector brings power to the pump and to the sending unit to return to the fuel level gauge in the console.
The fuel pump is a low pressure (7-8 psig) firewall mount type like you'd get at any auto parts store. I simply bolted it to the back of the fuel cell frame. When activated it pumps fuel from the cell into the main tank. Just spliced the aux fuel line into the main petcocks just like I did on the old gravity feed boat system.
The console is a Cycle Sound for a Vetter. I just didn't install a stereo system. I covered the speaker holes with a couple of 5.25 inch aluminum plates and installed the fuel gauge in the space where the player radio would normally go. While I was at it I installed a clock and a voltmeter. These gauges are Autometer Ultralites.
I installed the fuel pump toggle switch in the same hole the antenna would mount on the Cycle sound. All of wiring goes through an ignition relay...except the clock which is a constant 12v source.
Now when I cross central Nevada...you kow...that 190 miles from Tonopah to Caliente ... I won't be sweating bullets about fuel
It wasn't cheap but the way I ride ...especially the western US...it will be very nice to never give fuel a second thought. Besides ... it should allow me to make much better time on long road trips only having to stop every 270 miles or to pee...which ever occurs first. You can bet it will be the latter
. However...I have read about some hard core butt burners that wear a "Depends" just to keep from stopping!
.......And that deserves a two and a half cactus yell...YUCCA...YUCCA...YUCK!
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