Hey guys,
i'm a proud new owner of a 2000 VTR. been looking at em for a while and finally decided to pick one up. the only draw back is the stupid small tank, plus i've been spoiled by the range of my vfr.
anyway, i came across this company from the states that makes a 21 litre endurance tank made of carbon fibre/kevlar. it's a little pricey but this'll make my long trips that much more easier. what do you guys think?

http://www.eti-fuelcel.com/Honda.html

do you think the extra weight and slightly different dimensions will have a significant effect on handling/performance?

any tips would be hugely appreciated.
glad to be on board!
vtromey

 

Personally I don't think it's worth it. For my '98 that is only an additional 1.1 gallons or about 35 miles for an $1100 tank.

The weight savings are interesting, but there is plenty of other places to cut weight. Starting with the rider in my case.

 

yah, i was hoping i wouldn't get a devils advocate response

but you're right it IS dang pricey! plus i gotta convert to CAN dollars

well i just got my VTR on the road yesterday, filled it up for the first time and i'm gonna do the math with mileage. only an extra 35 miles huh?! (56K)
let's see, i'm goin from a 16 litre tank to a 21 litre. . . if i get 200 K with 16 litres, that's just another 50 klicks with the extra 5 litres! DANG i bought a PIG on GAS!!!!

not too concerned about cutting weight, i was even hoping someone made a larger aluminum tank. . . . anyone out there?

 

Oh yeah, you bought a pig. That's the only real knock on the VTR that I have. Just enjoy it for what it is and you'll be quite happy. Focus on what it isn't and you'll not appreciate the linear torque of a litre twin...not to mention the sound.

 

One could get serious and add capacity to the stock tank underneath .

Doing away with the airbox top would make big room for such but then you'd be sucking hot engine air .

Thats not the end of the world though . Many bikes from years past breathed hot air into the carbs .

Myself though am more into getting the engines to run more efficient with cams , epoxied heads and porting for more power AND similar range of a larger tank due to better fuel mileage .

These engines give the carbs a HUGE signal thats for sure .

 

I did find an article about going with smaller main jets and getting 15 miles more per tank. That's about half what the $1100 tank does.

http://www.roadracers.co.uk/vtr.htm

 

so i rode the bike last night and got to 180Kms (on 12 litres) before the light went on, with average riding. that gives me on average, 60 kms per 4 litres, so i could've gone to 240kms before running out.
with another 5 litres on the aftermarket tank, i should get at least another 75Km which'll take me to over 300 kms pertank (more for sure if i ride at low hwy rpms), that's reasonable, especially if i'm gonna take this baby cross country. . . it's gonna be unsettling riding this thing in between small towns out in timbucktwo!!

i want the bike rejetted and install aftermarket slip ons, so that'll change mileage somewhat. . .
guess i'm still buggin and expecting what my VFR could do with the VTR. . . . . oh yah, THINK linear torque!!! V'twin thump!!!! kay i feel better now.