Bike fuel and water capacities

[Finian]

Hi,

Am planning a trip to north africa and am about to weld up a rack to carry two 20 litre jerry cans, one fuel, one water, on my XT600. Please can anyone advise if this is a good capacity to have for exploring the sahara. I already have an acerbis 23 litre tank. Am planning to throw the rest of my luggage above the jerry cans in panniers and dry sack.

Many thanks, Finian

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[rpalmen]

Could you be a bit more specific on 'exploring the sahara'? What distances do you plan? What time of year?

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The best planning is to go!

[filip]

hi finian
with this fuel capacity you're looking at abt 550km +100km reserve. I recommend a soft luggage system in which you can stow 2 10ltr fuel jerry cans and 2 10ltr ortlieb water bags; you want to keep your weight as low as possible. by the time all your fuel is in your tank you can switch the havier stuff to a lower position on your bike. there are pretty strong saddle bags these days which can be strengthened and fixed to a sideframe at the rear of your bike. this extra weight 20ltr fuel + 20ltr water is abt the max one can bear when setting off in the sand. you normally won't need that much water; only in the summerperiod in which it's not (very) wise to travel the sahara. you'll be out of fuel much earlier anyhow.
ciao
filip

[Finian]

Hi,

Am hoping to head to Atar in Mauritania and then down to Nema via Tidjika and maybe Tichit/Aratane. I might have to hook up with other people for some of these stretches as they're quite long. Would like to have a capacity that allows me to do as much as possible without overloading too much.

Thanks for the info, Finian

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