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Message started by MMRanch on 05/31/16 at 07:57:29

Title: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by MMRanch on 05/31/16 at 07:57:29

So we took a ride yesterday and the wife says " do we have enough fuel " ?

We all know the assure is "No , we don't have enough when the tank is full ! " ::)

I've been looking at this one :

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/720-605

Anybody found anything that is a workable solution . ?

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Dave on 05/31/16 at 08:17:36

I don't think that tank will work....the tank looks like it has a very thin space for the frame backbone.

The Vulcan 750 tank is supposed to add a gallon, and be doable.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1245897456/7#7

I tried to find a photo somewhere - but I couldn't locate one.

There were also some other tanks folks used - getting room for the decompression solenoid and wide split in the frame rails near the seat is a problem.....and what are you going to do for you speedometer/indicator lights?

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/31/16 at 09:22:22

For just around town or a short hop, like from Longview to Tyler, plenty of gas.. It's a lot easier to haul gas and oil for the occasional longer ride than modify the bike. The seat, seating/ergonomics, and,if you're riding the slab without a windshield, just staying on at seventy gets tiresome.. Stopping for gas can be good.
Getting the oil fill loose was a problem, finger tight in, needed pliers to get it out.. So, I got a piece of wood about 3/4 X 1/2"
slotted it to fit on the top of the oil fill. I don't like plier marks.
The little two stroke oil containers are great. And you can get stainless steel water hauler s, about a pint, maybe a tad bigger, with a good hard plastic screw in top. Coupla those, oil, and ride. I really don't know anywhere you could go where you would actually Need to haul gas, unless you were just daydreaming and missed the station.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by verslagen1 on 05/31/16 at 10:16:42

While that tank might work, you're gonna have to clear out what's mounted in the frame if the tunnel isn't too wide.

The vulcan tank should be an easy upgrade as long as you intend to put the gage on the bars anyway. Or the GT550 tank that dave has shouldn't be hard as well. I did a trial fit with mine, hammered on it a bit to fit but was ok with the fit. Not as low as dave got it, but happy with the look. You do have to push the seat back a bit, but I had to do that with the stock tank to clear the vz forks anyway. Make a plate to mount the rear of the tank to and the seat mount. I got the threaded inserts to do the job. You will need to cut off the front posts no matter what you do.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Dave on 05/31/16 at 10:42:07

I needed my tank to fit really low on the frame, as it needed to line up with the Cafe' seat and side panels, and you wouldn't need to do that on a Cruiser.
http://i50.tinypic.com/xlmj3n.jpg

The GT tank is a bit longer than the stock tank - but MMRanch has already trimmed off some of the Harley seat already. The GT380/550 tank gives me a range of 160 miles from full to Reserve....I have about 20 miles left when I switch to RES. I believe it is about 3.2 gallons from Full to RES.

I do believe a 4 gallon tank in a Cruiser shape would be more visually appealing the cruiser design than the GT tank.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by KennyG on 05/31/16 at 18:40:47

For what it is worth.

My friend at the Chop Shop thinks it would be easier to fabricate a frame backbone and use Dave's decompression lever,than
to modify the tank. There are probably a lot of suitable tanks if it wasn't for the width of the backbone

My friend builds mono shock frames and has a machine for shaping sheet
metal into gas tanks, fenders etc.

He did not say it would be cheap....LOL

Kenny G

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by MMRanch on 05/31/16 at 21:02:52

Thanks guys , last weekend the wife and I took weekend drive (her car) down to Natchez MS. just to see the campground on the South end (Its a fit place to camp but no showers). We didn't get fuel at lunch and found no fuel for a hundred miles without having to back-track for a while --- her car has a 600 mile cruse range so we were OK anyway --- but a 200 mile range on the bike would be good sometimes . :)

I'm going to keep an eye on ebay for some one parting out a Vulcan 750 and then measure for a speedometer cable long enough to reach the handlebar.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by KennyG on 05/31/16 at 21:26:39

M M,

If you have an old time speedometer shop in your area they will make a speedometer cable any length that may want.....

Kenny G

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/01/16 at 02:30:39

0C2229043526342F470 wrote:

M M,

If you have an old time speedometer shop in your area they will make a speedometer cable any length that may want.....

Kenny G

I remember when you could find one of those shops.
And payphones.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Dave on 06/01/16 at 03:52:36

A few weeks ago I wanted to use a payphone to call a "troublesome" resident in the City I work for.....and I didn't want them to have access to my cell phone number.

I drove around for an hour.......there are no payphones around our town anymore!

For a 200 mile range - you are going to have to get something over 4 gallons. The Vulcan 750 is 3.6 gallons.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/01/16 at 05:44:07

I just walk into a business and ask if I can use the phone. The bank was very accommodating, let me use an office,

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Gus on 06/01/16 at 07:06:28

Awhile back I had possession of this 2003 GZ250. The tank on it is nearly a gallon larger than the Savage and has nice lines for a cruiser tank. I think it would fit with little modification BUT the front mounting tabs on the Savage would have to be altered. Below are some pictures of the from of both tanks. The Savage on the top and GZ on the bottom.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Gus on 06/01/16 at 07:08:07

This pic shows difference in mounting tabs. The tabs on the Savage would need to be narrowed and set forward some. The rear tabs are nearly a dead wringer with little modifying needed. Savage on left.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Art Webb on 06/01/16 at 07:24:34

33080512030F141209010C13600 wrote:

with cell phones so prevalent, no one uses payphones anymore, and folks vandalize them, so there's no profit in them anymore

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Dave on 06/01/16 at 08:12:55

I am looking at a few Suzuki GS tanks on eBay. The GS850 is reported to have a 5.6 gallon tank!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-80-Suzuki-GS850GLT-Gas-Tank-/371596201876?hash=item5684dc0f94:g:zgkAAOSwz2lXCRPD&vxp=mtr

http://www.suzukicycles.org/GS-series/GS850G.shtml

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by verslagen1 on 06/01/16 at 08:15:08

Here's what I did when I remounted the stock tank.
I had to shift it back an inch to clear the vz800 forks.

Make up 2 spacers, same length, 1 has a thru hole, the other is threaded for a 5/16 bolt.
The length is the width of the tank tunnel in the area of the tank mounts less the width of the frame. Also subtract the width of the dampers. Divide by 2 and you got the length. I made mine out of 1" diameter aluminum bar.

I found that the tank dampers mount on the head of a 5/16 allen hd bolt.
You'll need 1 long bolt to thru the spacer, frame and thread into half the other spacer.
You'll need 1 short bolt with just enough threads to secure the bolt to the spacer for mounting the damper.

Position the tank where you want it.
Slip the spacers and dampers in and mark the frame.
Remove all and drill the frame and mount the spacers.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Gus on 06/01/16 at 08:27:58

The GZ tank really doesn't give enough more room to justify the work involved. That GS850 tank shows some promise; its big! I wonder how that would look on a Savage.
With that storage box on my bike and a little wider bars; it might not look out of place.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by MMRanch on 06/01/16 at 21:33:50

Wow , I'm almost drooling for a GS850 now !! ;D

naaa just kidding , but it is perty !

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by old_rider on 06/01/16 at 21:38:41

Looking at that GS850... wow! 5.8 gal? and I only see fuel holes on the one side? Does it have a fuel pump in the tank to pump gas from one side to the other?
Guess i'll have to do some reading :) sure would like to have a bigger tank on the wife's bike. My ninja 300 has 4.5 gal... and goes quite a ways.

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Dave on 06/02/16 at 03:34:32

55565E48535E5F483A0 wrote:

I only see fuel holes on the one side? Does it have a fuel pump in the tank to pump gas from one side to the other?

Think of it as you "2nd reserve". When you switch to reserve and then run out again......you can lean the bike over to the left side and get another pint of fuel to flow over from the right side of the tank! :)

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Art Webb on 06/02/16 at 07:00:50

MM, I had a GS850
You don't want it
it is a solid, reliable bike, but don't ever have to do the carbs, getting them back on the bike is a nightmare
Valve adjustments are shim over bucket, which ain't bad, and they are easy to access
The tank doe not have a fuel pump, it sits high enough it doesn't need one
the biggest problem is, it's beared way too low, and the only way to change gearing is another final drive off (IIRC) a GS 100 or 1100
Engine does sound nice at slower speeds, though, a nice growl rather than the shreik a twin cam I 4 makes

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by MMRanch on 06/02/16 at 13:21:57

Old Rider has the best idea , 4.5 gal. and a motor that doin't use much ! :)

My brothers boy wants to sell me his GS-500 so he can get some 600cc class water cooled scream machine.

It might happen ??? Its 4.? gal and 65 ish mpg.

Next time I have the S-40 tank off I'll be measuring and mapping it , the Softail tank is 5.? gal and looks good but I need to flip one of them upside down without spending $200.oo . Might have to visit a shop or two . ;)

Title: Re: Larger fuel tank ?
Post by Dave on 06/02/16 at 18:17:30

Jed hasn't completely crashed up the GS500 yet? I would bet that you can get a lot of used parts for it on eBay - but most likely little of the bodywork survives intact. I am sure the GS500 is a fun bike....my little Ninja is half the size and still a lot of fun.