Have you ever run out of fuel? (TR650 question)

[Kenneth Webb]

Hi Kenneth, it'd be great if you could post some up close piccies of the mounting arrangement on the crashbars. I have a set of AltRider crashbars on order, and would be very keen to explore this mounting arrangements for the Rotapax's. Thanks a lot!!

There is just nothing to it! I used the Wolfman Rotopax mounts which look a little like an hour glass. They go on the old Wolfman racks with electrical cable clamps at each of four corners. For the Altrider bars, I just used three of the clamps, and they are plenty stable. Went on in just a few minutes. I will get pics tomorrow and edit this post to show what they look like without the cans. I did go ahead and mound a water can on the left.

 

[ozav8r]

That's great Kenneth, look forward to seeing some pictures of how you did it! I saw the "Pawnee" plate on the Wolfman Luggage website, and even though they look great, I thought perhaps I could make something up at a price more suitable to my "toy-budget".

 

[Kenneth Webb]

That's great Kenneth, look forward to seeing some pictures of how you did it! I saw the "Pawnee" plate on the Wolfman Luggage website, and even though they look great, I thought perhaps I could make something up at a price more suitable to my "toy-budget".

Easy to do. The plate is 1/8", maybe 3/16", aluminum, pretty stiff so maybe 6061 T6. Drill your own holes, clamps from the hardware store, and buy the Rotopax mounting lug and cans. I just used what I had on hand.

 

[FER QUILES]

Fantastic places.. kenneth.. congratulations.. great idea..

 

[ozav8r]

That looks really good! I'll shamelessly copy that -Rotopax order incoming! Thanks for sharing that idea!

 

[mrwal3]

Hi Highfive,

Setting up one of these TR650 Terra's here in Perth, Western Australia. I'm planning on crossing the Great Dandy Desert central Australia on one. What caught my eye was your pannier mounts on the side there that you've got the Rotopax tanks on. They look sturdy, can you tell me what brand/model they are, so I can order some? Don't like the mounts I've currently found.

Cheers mate.
Mark.

I did it…..ran her dry today. Well, actually, it was an hour after pitch dark before she died. Sweet thing just kept going and going.

Strapped on my comfy seat and two one-gallon Rotopax tanks, and settled in for the long-haul.

For proper documentation, here is precisely 2.0 gallons of Rotopax fuel for resuscitation later…

Filled the bike up with this pure gasoline, 91 octane. and headed out for a mix of city streets, highways, and dirt roads. Average speeds ranged from 40 - 65 mph range. There was a mix of stop & go, plus some high speed runs in the 70's and 80's. Just rode it normal….come what may. Didn't give it much thought really. I did spend a lot of time on back country, 2-lane highways running along about 55 - 60 mph. No trail riding today (too slow to rack up the miles).

Fuel light came on about here:

Took photo as soon as I could safely pull over. Here is the corresponding Reserve gauge:

Now then, it was getting close to dark and I thought this would be over soon…….wrong.

******************

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Drum Roll please

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Ran out of gas while running 55 mph down the highway….no sputter….no cough….simply gave up without a fight at:

If you do the math, it seems these two gauges deviate in readings by about 1 mile comparatively.

****Edit***just realized why the numbers are slightly off. I turned off the bike to take the photo when the fuel light first came on. When I restarted, the fuel light was off....and it took about 1 mile before it came back on. The Reserve Gauge zeroed and started counting over when the Fuel Light came on again.
**********

I happened to be 2 miles from a gas station when she died. I poured in the 2.0 gallons of fuel from my Rotopax, and the bike fired right up on the first push of the magic button…..no sniffles….no wheezes….no problems.

I scootered up the road the 2.3 miles, to be exact, and topped off the fuel tank with this much gas:

This surprised me, as I was expecting more. Anyway, 2.0 gallons + 1.74 gallons = 3.74 total.

Hhhhmmmmm…..

Got me wondering how it compares to the UG (Gallons Used gauge):

Aaaah Crikey! I forgot to reset this one at my original fill up.

Oh well, there had to be a fly in the ointment somewhere, eh? I really don't mess with this gauge much, so its not surprising to me that I forgot about it. Something for next time, I guess. A test ain't validated until results are repeated.

Good day!

HF

 

[Highfive]

Wolfman

Hi Highfive,

Setting up one of these TR650 Terra's here in Perth, Western Australia. I'm planning on crossing the Great Dandy Desert central Australia on one. What caught my eye was your pannier mounts on the side there that you've got the Rotopax tanks on. They look sturdy, can you tell me what brand/model they are, so I can order some? Don't like the mounts I've currently found.

Cheers mate.
Mark.

Wolfman Rotopax Mount......same thing used by Kenneth posted earlier.

HF

 

[mrwal3]

Thanks mate. Pre ordered a 2014 terra, but wont get to Aus till November :|

 

[Thumpa]

View attachment 41284

Going to do some long miles in Utah next week and mounted my Rotopax to the crash bar. Water will be on the left side.

these look great! I'm wandering how they faired during your trip. Be good to get some feedback, handling, drag on hwy/aerodymanics etc. Having not seen the Alt Rider bars, i'm wandering how well they would hold up in a firm dismount. Are these braced across the front? For that matter would it be possible to get a front profile shot? Thanks for posting this

 

[Kenneth Webb]

I think they worked great on the trip and I will mount them this way again should plans make the extra capacity necessary. As to drag, I am sure they increase wind resistance at high speed, as on the highway, the same way my BMW GSA suffers a bit compared to a standard GS. At 60 and below, especially if doing some low speed trail work, negligible effect. I did take one spill, on a very muddy, slick red clay Notam Road. It was low speed and the K60 rear decided it wanted to be up front. I fell over like a log onto the left side and the weight went directly onto the bar and Rotopax. No problem at all. With a higher speed spill I think the Rotopax would survive better than much of the bike. I think the weight distribution was pretty good, but of course any way you can go lighter is better. If you need to pack extra fuel and water with full bags and a duffel, the bar mount works! When I returned home the mounts came off in 5 minutes; just 6 small fasteners to deal with that are readily accessible.

 

[Thumpa]

I think they worked great on the trip and I will mount them this way again should plans make the extra capacity necessary. As to drag, I am sure they increase wind resistance at high speed, as on the highway, the same way my BMW GSA suffers a bit compared to a standard GS. At 60 and below, especially if doing some low speed trail work, negligible effect. I did take one spill, on a very muddy, slick red clay Notam Road. It was low speed and the K60 rear decided it wanted to be up front. I fell over like a log onto the left side and the weight went directly onto the bar and Rotopax. No problem at all. With a higher speed spill I think the Rotopax would survive better than much of the bike. I think the weight distribution was pretty good, but of course any way you can go lighter is better. If you need to pack extra fuel and water with full bags and a duffel, the bar mount works! When I returned home the mounts came off in 5 minutes; just 6 small fasteners to deal with that are readily accessible.

sounds encouraging for the better part. Nice to have an alternative to weight distribution and excessively wide rear load. I like the pax at the back. But not coupled up with the soft bags. Great alternative for long hauls!

 

[Engenia]

Hahahaha.....you're right! Had to look it up. My F8 is 4.2 gallons.

I just dug this out of the Husky Service Manual (on my iPad, no less.....duh). Glad we got this settled. I lost some sleep last night wondering where the rest of the fuel was hiding.
Fuel tank capacity including reserve ......................................................... 3,08 Imp. Gall. / 3,698 U.S. Gall. / l 14

I put 14.82 litres into the Terra the other day, that's 3.91 US Gallons, and it hadn't run out.
I guess I'll have to drain it to find out exactly how much it's got.

 

[FER QUILES]

My last report with one tank, almost 378 km . using mainly tarmac between 85km/h 80% and 20% up to 120km/h.
I wonder with big tanks 32 liters.

 

[27rich]

I put 14.82 ltrs into the Terra the other day, that's 3.91 US Gallons, and it hadn't run out.
I guess I'll have to drain it to find out exactly how much it's got.

I just put the safari thanks on and completely drained the main. Filling it up again to the top of the red filler neck took exactly 15 ltrs.

 

[FER QUILES]

Terra is now 22.500km and testing mileage with stock tank, as 14liters . last reading 366km 14liters in display.

I just put the safari thanks on and completely drained the main. Filling it up again to the top of the red filler neck took exactly 15 ltrs.

WHAT your measurement means stock tank has 15 liters full.??

 

[drzcharlie]

On my recent trip (1900 miles) I averaged 52.4 miles per gallon so range isn't an overall problem for me. I do have a RotoPax if I need it for more remote riding.

 

[danketchpel]

On my recent trip (1900 miles) I averaged 52.4 miles per gallon so range isn't an overall problem for me. I do have a RotoPax if I need it for more remote riding.

What size Rotopax do you have?

I have a 1 gallon rotopax and am trying to decide it that's enough. I'd like to have a comfortable 200 mile range with some reserve left, at least another 25-30 miles if I had to max it out.

The extra gallon puts me real close to that depending on riding conditions, but...... "just". I must say sometimes I kinda miss the 6 gallon tank on my KLR.