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Fuel bladder... to carry that essential extra fuel!
In preparation for our next trip I am doing some research. I would be reluctant to replace the fuel tanks on our travel bikes. (cost a lot!)
However carrying jerry cans is not ideal, they are bulky and for most of the time you don't need really extra fuel. I came across these "fuel bladder" in goggle: www.liquidcontainment.com.au, Motorbike fuel tanks, Petrol Bladder, Diesel Bladder, Av Gas bladder Tanks Has anyone used them? They seem too good to be true! Also no clue of price!? On our previous trip we used collapsible fuel containers, but they were for single use only (lucky as we only needed them once in South america!). It was not possible to fiddle so that we could reuse them. cheers, |
If you go to ADVRider here:
The Toolkit Thread - Page 2 - ADVrider Look for message No. 20 at 09-06-2007, 08:13 PM, by 'hilslamer'. At the end of a long line of photos you find reference to a makeshift fuel bladder made from a Starbucks coffee carrier. Looks pretty neat so I think I'm going to see if they're available in England. |
I've got one of those liquid containment bags. They're awesome. The bloke lives just around the block as well, which is handy. Only had to use it once on Ruta 40 short tracking the fuel stop.
10l was AU$150 when I got them. Just roll them up when you don't need them. Don't stick them in with other stuff when you're done using them, because plyurethene seems to permeate the smells and everything will smell of fuel. |
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Not too keen guys on "makeshift stuff". If desperate I'd rather use a bottle of coke or soda. But I'd rather get proper good quality stuff that I can reuse on multiple trips. That's the problem with changing the fuel tank. Once you sell the bike you have to do it again on the next. I wasted too much money on preping up my previous bike, all that for the little bugger to self-destruct! Next bike for next big trip I intend to spend minimum in built-in prep-ups and ensure that what I spend is in stuff I can easily remove and reuse in another bike, regardless of model. |
follow up
Please can you let us know what he says?
Whether there is a discount for multiple orders and the possibility to save on shipping costs? :thumbup1: |
Fuel container.
Check this out as a cheaper alternative.
Army Issue Roll Up water Carrier from Surplus and Outdoors / Water Carriers It's 20l with a couple of handles/tie down points. Not meant to be a fuel carrier but it is petrol proof (did a 6 week storage test). The tap isn't suited to petrol but can be easily blocked off. Dave. |
Whereever I've needed extra fuel capacity I organised Coke bottles (whatever size you can get locally), 4 litre oil containers and even plastic milk cartons. Use them for that part of the journey and then bin them. IMHO, Coke bottles are the best: sturdy, leak proof tops, don't need a funnel to pour content into fuel tank and the nozzles at filling stations fit in the top.
cheers Chris PS And they are free |
I went for an aux. tank for the reasons stated here:
https://sites.google.com/site/threew...d-improvements One thing this does solve is if you sell the bike or want the weight off. Also, much cheaper than big plastic tanks from well known accessory shops. It is of course a permanant fixture even if empty. In terms of back up bladders, the coffee idea probbably isn't that daft. For reasons of cleaning and ease of production, the plastics used in the coffee bladder are probably the same as those used for wine bags/boxes. As wine is fairly similar to petrol in terms of attacks on polymer structures, I'd expect one to last weeks rather than days. Still disposable rather than reusable. Same argument goes for coke/milk bottles too. If you do end up using this back up, wrapping in a black bin liner will slow any degredation even further by keeping UV out. Plastic washer bottles off trucks offer another semi-permanant alternative. Andy |
coke bottles
Yes, coke bottles are fantastic at storing fuel when needs must. Mainly because a) they don't leak and b) they're free.
They are also cylindrical, a pain to lash onto bikes securely and have to be filled individually at a painfully slow rate. |
I think big tank is the way to go, with some bottles/cans on the few extreme stretches.
Canisters and bladders is extra equipment that you have to take care of and the more seldom you use it the bigger is the risk that it fails when you use it. Yes a big tank is expensive but why do you want to sell the bike after your trip? You can make it even better and use it for the next trip, and the next trip….. |
In europe it is illegal to transport fuel in anything other than an Approved Fuel container. These are, generally, the steel jerry can or a plastic can of either 5 or 10 lts.
Having a friend in the Insurance industry, I discovered that some insurance companies specifically state that petrol Must Not be carried in the boot of the car. You can just imagine what they would say if they discovered you were carrying petrol in a plastic bag on a bike...:eek3: My own personal view is that you would need to be nuts to consider such an option as a plan from the start....I would really have to be in a tight jam to consider... |
You're right - big tanks are the way forward but:
1) they're more expensive. 2) usually bulkier and heavier than standard 3) often require extra taps/management of the quantity of fuel in each side. 4) not realistic to take off if you need to lift a heavy bike up on your own. 5) spend most of the trip only half full because you just don't usually need that much range! |
not the point..
"My own personal view is that you would need to be nuts to consider such an option as a plan from the start....I would really have to be in a tight jam to consider..."
There aren't really aimed at people for Europe. Besides, if you need to use one you probably aren't going anywhere with nosey police or insurance agents... This allows you to take on extra fuel when you really need it, at minimal cost, and without affecting the basic layout of your machine. This isn't strictly a plastic bag - it's a fuel bladder. Would F1 cars use 'plastic' bags to stop fuel leaks when tanks getting punctured? Yes they do. |
Oh, I've just had an email from the Bennetts representative in the Congo.
He says I can put my fuel in whatever I like :thumbup1: (ignore the last comment) |
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