http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17035976&postcount=2294 Doesn't look good re: the Leo header...
I saw that Also emailed Just Gas Tanks to see if they knew of or had given up on, a workaround. I won't give up that glorious LV single pipe system. I am thinking the tank may need a cross brace to prevent spreading apart (wind) but not need physical support. I will contact Aqualine in Australia too. What I am thinking is, perhaps a stainless cable attached to the cross brace mounts, whether straight across or routed through a bolt on frame boss higher or lower, would suffice while clearing the header springs. Probably wishfull thinking. I am assuming Blake tried to conjure up a modified or fabricated cross bar that would clear the LV header. But a friend last year on our annual tecate-Cabo-Tecate 50/50 dirt ride rode his XR650R with an Acerbis (7 gallon?) tank. He did not have the cross brace and just said screw it. Never had a problem without the brace...
Someone on the Australian ADV forum said the same thing, that the Safari brace was a joke. I was just peering at my 630, I have to see photos of the brace or where it passes through the bike wing to wing. However, if it is the springs that impede the brace, i see a possible workaround. The headers actually enter two "sleeves" that bolt on to the head of the engine just as on the stock headers. But the springs attach to the two flanges that attach these sleeves. Perhaps the Titanium cannot mount directly to the aluminum head like the stock headers, but the springs attach to these flanges and stretch to attach at the other end to a titanium loop on each header pipe, the tension keeps them pulled into the "sleeves" bolted on to the head by the flanges. It appears to me the flanges could be rotated 180 degrees which would drop the springs a good 2 inches. One would have to have a new titanium loop welded onto each header pipe for the springs to attach to lower down. Should be doable and not too pricey I would hope. johngill, do you know of a link to pix of the 630 Safari tank brace??? That would help. I also emailed Aqualine in Ozzie.
The strange thing about the Safari tank brace, is that it only connects to the tank lobes on each side, and merely straddles the frame downtube. The rubber covered vertical plates that straddle it will keep the tank from moving sideways in a crash, without being mounted firmly to the frame downtubes. It doesn't look like a bad design at all to me, it all fits well with the stock header pipe. The LV Ti header already had fitment issues with the Uptite Racing skidplate, but a small amount of Dremel work took care of that at the left side head pipe. I looked at making a short piece of flat stock for each side that would mount the cross brace about 3/4" further forward.... and that seemed like the most elegant way to do it. I've had the 6.6 Acerbis on my 525, and it's cross brace required removing the front engine mount bolt. I've also put the 6.3 Acerbis on one of my XR650R's. Both of those tanks were pretty sturdy, but I got peace of mind with the cross brace - so omitting the brace never really crossed my mind. Rather than get into fabricating tabs for this brace....I figured I would just replace this exhaust with the stock (for now), sell the Ti system, and eventually go with the LV dual slip-ons or a Q4. The weight savings of the Ti system is nice - but this bike replaces bikes that have been set up for weeklong trips in Baja, Moab, Death Valley (XR628, LC4e, TE 610). A few pounds won't make or break it's functioning well there.
OK Blake, thanks so much for chiming in, I think I can go forward with the tank purchase and fab something. Can you tell me if it is the spring hook that is the problem? Or is it the loop the spring hook clips to? If you can tell me ahead of time what the obstruction boils down to it will help. I had Aqualine email me the mounting instructions but there was nothing helpful there.
The cross brace hits the loop welded to the Ti head pipe, but when it hits that loop, the cross brace is a good 3/4" forward of where it needs to be. Omitting that loop is no guarantee the cross brace can be move far enough back to clear the head pipe. I wish I'd taken pictures while I was doing it.
If any SoCal TE630 owners running the LV single pipe system want to swing by JustGasTanks they would LOVE to set a Safari tank on it long enough to photo the obstructions to the crossbrace. Failing that I agreed to call them Monday and the next day truck my 630 down to Oceanside and leave if for a couple days. They would definitely do a better job than I could and nice of them to take interest and offer to try a workaround.
The Leo Vince full system will be on it's way to a new owner tomorrow, and I have their dual slip-ons headed my way.
Are there any places that sell cool, big, husky stickers that one could put on a Safai tank......you know, to dress it up a bit??
Took some photos of my full Leo Vince and also my girlfriends SM630 that has the stock header.. STOCK LEO VINCE TI
Anybody know a good place to get a good deal on a Safari tank?? Anybody with a Leo Exhaust and a white Safari tank want to sell their's??
I was offered that deal and feel that's pretty fair. Still scratching my head though. Talk about sticker shock!
Yeah, I know.......it's just the sticker shock. I could have to buy some random BMW Touratech tank and have to pay $1970.00!!! that's a BIG OUCH!!!
It's a big step up in quality from many aftermarket tanks. I've had Clarke, IMS, and Acerbis. IMO Acerbis and Clarke make a very good tank, and the IMS I've had have frequently needed some futzing. The Safari is a quality piece, and the finish shows it. A lot more goes into the production of this tank - the embedded threaded inserts, which have to be spot on for the fuel pump...the petcocks that come with....and the electrical extension plug required to get to the new location of the fuel pump. Once you see it and start installing it....and using it... sticker shock will evaporate a little bit. On my TE 610, the IMS fit well, but the two front petcocks (of four) threaded into the plastic (no threaded inserts) using teflon tape. There was a little screen filter on each petcock that was all too easy to crush to smithereens when threading in the petcock - and if you didn't cross thread at least one of them....you're my hero. That IMS tank's lower lobes were unsupported, and with the bike on the sidestand, the left lobe (with the weight of the gas) would sag to the outside. It was noticeable how off center that tank became on day one. Granted, the cost was 1/3 of the Safari... but still a PITA.
