External fuel tanks

[lragan]

Do you have a forwarding kit on your bike? That was a huge improvement for me at over 6 feet tall...

I purchased a forward control kit, but it was setup such that my legs were resting directly on the transmission when I was using it, so I took it off.  I don't know if that's just normal, but I didn't like the burn.  I'm thinking of just keeping the controls stock and getting highway pegs for cruising.

One of my '96 bikes has Jardine forward controls.  They are arranged so my legs do not touch the transmission or other warm parts when riding.  The other bike has stock controls, an MC Enterprises engine guard, and pegs on the engine guard.  I prefer the latter setup, primarily because I can change positions -- gives some relief from cramps on long rides.

Of course, I am not as long as Harry, and, unfortunately, have ample "natural" padding...

[snoopy]

One of my '96 bikes has Jardine forward controls.  They are arranged so my legs do not touch the transmission or other warm parts when riding.  The other bike has stock controls, an MC Enterprises engine guard, and pegs on the engine guard.  I prefer the latter setup, primarily because I can change positions -- gives some relief from cramps on long rides.

Thanks Lawrence, I think I'm going to go with stock controls, and an engine guard/highway peg combo.  The peg would be great for the long distance, iron butt stuff, but I'd still want the stock controls so I can be spry enough to survive Dallas traffic.

[snoopy]

You might also check out Russell day long seats...

Those look better, but they are more expensive.  Does anybody out there have one of these seats?  Has anybody tried both the day-long and the mean city cycles seats?

I've done some research, and I'm thinking of sending in my seat to get the Russel day-long treatment.  Now I just have to save up some money.  Hopefully I won't have to wait until next riding season.

[TLRam1]

Hootmon can you post up a photo of your seat, not that one, the one on the bike. 

[lragan]

Hootmon can you post up a photo of your seat, not that one, the one on the bike. 

[Brad Badgett]

The rack from Dobie (attached to Hondaline rack supports) sets parallel to the pavement.  The back of the tank is even vertically with the back of the rack.  The two cicular braces that hold the tank to the rack/plate stick out ~ 1 inch in front of the rack, but not past a verticle line at the end of the pillion seat.  Forgot to mention that I also got from TourTank 4 spacers ( 1 inch tall)that also support the braces to the plate.

Brad Badgett

[Brad Badgett]

I can remove the tank any time that I want to.  I put a quick disconnect ~ 8 ihches from the tank.  Disconnect the connect,  Take off the 4 bolts holding the tank to the plate, lift off tank, back to stock tank only.

Brad Badgett

[hootmon]

Hootmon can you post up a photo of your seat, not that one, the one on the bike. 

You asked...

[snoopy]

The rack from Dobie (attached to Hondaline rack supports) sets parallel to the pavement.  The back of the tank is even vertically with the back of the rack.  The two cicular braces that hold the tank to the rack/plate stick out ~ 1 inch in front of the rack, but not past a verticle line at the end of the pillion seat.  Forgot to mention that I also got from TourTank 4 spacers ( 1 inch tall)that also support the braces to the plate.

Brad Badgett

Okay, I understand.  You don't have a sissy bar / backrest then, correct?

As I've mentioned earlier, I've calculated that I can fit about a 6.67 inch diameter tank without it extending further aft than my luggage rack.  And since the 6 inch diameter tanks don't hold enough fuel for me, I am thinking of getting a 10 inch tank and it'll just have to extend a bit past the end of the luggage rack.  So at this point I just need to figure out how much weight I can support with that luggage rack, so I know how big of a tank I can get.

Designing this appeals to the engineer in me, but I'll probably save up my money and get my seats redone before getting the aux tank.

[snoopy]

Hootmon can you post up a photo of your seat, not that one, the one on the bike. 

You asked...

Nifty seats.  I bet those wings on the port and starboard side of the driver's seat provide most of the comfort that the seat offers.

[TLRam1]

Good looking seat, nothing done to the passenger seat other than recovered, correct?

Brandon, the Honda rack is rated at 6.0 lbs, it will carry more but Dobie had his break, hence the new luggage rack he built. 

[snoopy]

Brandon, the Honda rack is rated at 6.0 lbs, it will carry more but Dobie had his break, hence the new luggage rack he built. 

I'm actually wanting to design a quick tank disconnect system which will work with Dobie's luggage racks.  I am imagining a plate that the tank is mounted to, which can be quickly snapped onto the luggage rack in a tool-less, or near tool-less way.  I just need to know which tank I'll design this for before I can finalize everything.

I currently have an email thread going with Dobie to see just how much weight my Cycle-istiC luggage rack can support.  The weakest points in my setup will be the screws which hold the luggage rack to the side supports.  I *think* that the ones that Dobie provided with my kit are stainless steel, but I've done a bit of research and think that I could replace them with alloy steel screws to have an even stronger luggage rack.  I'm just waiting for Dobie to confirm before I can choose a tank size and draw up the plans.

[hootmon]

Good looking seat, nothing done to the passenger seat other than recovered, correct?

Brandon, the Honda rack is rated at 6.0 lbs, it will carry more but Dobie had his break, hence the new luggage rack he built. 

Terry, I don't know.. the seat was bought "as is"... I do also have a back rest.. passenger comfort is not a big concern for me, as I rarely ride two up..
The seat is actually pretty hard, and the back piece (rear of the front seat) is really soft, I wish it was the other way around!
I do prefer to get as much weight on my thighs as possible, and spread the weight over as much surface as possible.. which this seat does..
Since I bought the seat used, I don't know the whole process of fitting the seat to the rider.. I heard they want pictures of you on the bike so the can custom make it to you and your bike, but that is just what I heard..
Like I said, the Mustang was way better than stock, and this seat is better yet... I can't say it's the best, but that is what I "know"...

[TLRam1]

The seat looks to have a lot of seating surface, more so than the Mustang, if the padding were softer it would probably be just about ideal.

[snoopy]

I've come a long way towards my goal.  I got a hand-me-down Mustang seat from hop along, MC Enterprises engine guard off ebay, highway pegs from a shop in Farmer's Branch, and a better windscreen from Smoked.  I'm getting close to having this thing ready to iron butt.  Now all I need is an air horn and the external fuel tank.

Per the iron butt rules, I have to have a verifiable fuel stop every 300 miles, so that makes my decision on what tank much easier.  I figure I get 35 MPG running about 85 MPH, so I calculate that I need just under 5 gallons of extra fuel storage.  Based on the maximum density for gasoline that I could find, the total weight of the tour tank I've chosen (when full of gasoline) will be about 40 pounds.

I seriously doubt that I'll be riding the Magna for 300 miles straight, but it will be nice to know I *could* if I needed to.