fitting big tanks to an XR600R
 

I have the Acerbis 21l. tank on my xr600. I could do with more range. I see the Acerbis 24l. and IMS 27l. tanks for the XR650R. Has anyone tried fitting these to an XR600. Better still, there is that Acerbis under-seat tank for the 650 - again, has anyone tried fitting this to an XR600?

Best regards,

Mike

I think a XR 650 R would be impossible to fit.
The frame and engine attachment is diferent.
I have a 40 liters tank from Acerbis.If you are looking for big reserves!
They surface from time to time at Ebay.
Bye
KH

Looks like you are almost correct. I just got some pics from Wright showing someone's L with the seat tank fitted. However, the rear subframe had been extensively modified. So not impossible, but a lot of work. It might be easier, as you say, to get one of those big front tanks.

M

forget the rear tank set up. I like Acerbis gear, but the XRR rear tank is a festering piece of junk. they split too easy so you lose all your fuel. if you're lucky, the bike catches fire, too, so you have a big smoke signal. if you're unlucky, you run out of fuel and have nothing to set light to the bike with ;-)
40 litre front tank is the way to go. its a little easier on the 600 than on the 650L, but you need to shorten the seat and consider improving the mounts at front and rear.

Thanks Guys, I think its back to the drawing board. I've just realised that the 40l. tank is the one that Chris Scott and his mates used in Desert Riders. No way, now how am I riding with that thing. Mass too high and too wobbly.

A compromise might be that 27l. IMS tank for the XR650R. It looks like it might fit on the XR600. Anyone tried this?

Alternatively, it might be time to change bikes. My winter project might be to overland prep. an XR650R.

How about the tank you have and a couple of auxiliary 10L jerries? Plastic ones weight nothing when empty.

Thanks Pob,

Jerrycans would probably do it, but hey, why don't I admit it - I WANT A WINTER PROJECT!

There now that's out of the way ... I've been thinking of fabricating some tanks out of alloy or composite. I was at the dirt bike show last week and couldn't help but admire the alloy tank setup on Mick Extance's 450X. Two very neat saddle tanks and a slightly larger than stock front tank. I haven't done any tig welding for a long time. Its time to get me an inverter for Xmas I think. Alternatively, I could do something in carbon fibre or kevlar. Again, its been a while, but all the techniques are in my brain somewhere.

I seem to remember African Queens doing a big alloy tank for the XR600. It had deep cells to keep the weight down low. Simon Pavey used one in the 98 Dakar I think. I can't afford to buy one, but might have a go at knocking one up myself. I would couple this with some saddle tanks - maybe designing these so that they triangulate the rear sub-frame.

Alternatively, its composite over lost-foam. I'm not sure whether composite would be too brittle for off-road use though.

Any thoughts guys?

This is what we decided when thinking about Aussie next year:

How often will you be riding with full tanks? We reckoned probably only the first day of any extended legs, and because of that went for a medium 22l tank and then 2 10l fuel bladders. The beauty of this is that most of the time the bladders take up next to no room under the gear rack. Sure, for the first day you are carrying 20 l of fuel up high but it doesn't last all that long.

Another thing to think about would be a bashtank, if you're looking at getting weight down low and have access to a tig welder. This is what we're looking at, a 7 l under-engine bash plate/water reservoir.

http://www.yonder.orcon.net.nz/XR650...%20concept.jpg

note: this is only a concept, no filling or drain details are shown.



[This message has been edited by mattmbishop (edited 24 November 2005).]

just a line or two on the XRL with 40 litre tank ... Chris mounted his very high to clear the engine. I modified the tank to clear the engine and several others (including Chris' mates) copied my design. if you mount it properly, its awesome! its very manageable off road though I'd recommend nice big footrests as riding standing up is so much better on a heavy-ish bike.
now for the XRR and bladders. bladders are a great idea, but they can be a bit of a liability off road as they are hard to mount and hard to protect. we used them in addition to 42 litres of IMS main and alloy rear tanks, but I'd have rather had the 45 litre alloy front tank. I think its £1500 so its not cheap, but its a bargain compared to bespoke stuff! one problem with the IMS tank is it can crush the radiator in a tumble or literally pull it apart at high speed. the other bugger of rear tanks can be breaking your ankles so think carefully about corner details etc. I also found the lack of rebound damping adjustment on the rear shock was a liability at full weight and low speed - the shock got hot and rebound damping dropped off!

Thanks Matt and Rich,

I like the idea of a bash-plate tank. Can't get the weight much lower than this! Rich, when you mentioned the 45 litre alloy tank were you referring to the African Queens one?

Mike

for the XRR, some swiss/german dude was advertising his work very discretely last year. I can't find his site today so I took a look at the AQ one and their's is the same so they either copied or rebranded his tanks.
in short, yes, that's the same one for about the same money: 2700€ and no faffing. ie a bargain if you want serious range!

Thanks for your suggestions and help with this guys. I think I have a solution now. I found one of the 36 litre alloy tanks. Its used, and a little beat up, but looks like it will do the job. I've agreed a price, sent off the banker's draft and should take delivery in the new year. Its got a deep cell on the left hand and a shorter one on the right. There is a pic of a new one here: http://www.dirtbike.at/honda/xr600/xr6tank.html

scroll down the page a bit.

The same page also shows an 8 litre saddle tank which looks pretty nifty. I'll try to find one of these for the left side of the bike.

Nadoleg Llawen,

Mike

Happy New Year All!

My big tank came in the post at the weekend.

Its a litle beat up, as I mentioned earlier, but not bad at 1/5 the cost of a new one. Its still got its Dakar scrutineer stickers on it.

It could do with some of the dents being taken out and strengthening here and there. Can anyone reccommend a good welder who could do this work for me? I'm in the W. Midlands (S. Birmingham)

Thanks in advance.