Is that to keep your butt warm on the cold mornings?

Kicker don't stop posting just because Tweety doesn't think it's worth it. I see both sides. I want more range but is it really needed as I'm ready to get off the bike at 100 miles anyway.

Another thought I've had is to buy another tank to cut apart and raise the top of it. I've seen one that just had a section out of the top raised but it looked kind of dumb because it didn't follow any of the factory lines. I thought about trying to build a new tank that followed the factory lines just came up higher for more capacity. Yeah it'd be a lot of work but that's also part of the fun of it.

 

If the airbox wasn't so large you could use that area too. I agree on raising the top of the tank. I've seen it and it didn't look right.

I'd like the range because there's some roads in Michigan I'd love to take it on but it's 200mi between towns.

 

Yeah 200 miles is a bit much to try to pack enough fuel on your back to get that far. You'd essentially be packing a complete separate fuel tank on your back! LOL! Get a buddy to ride with you that has something with a bigger tank and siphon some to yours half way through!

 

How about this, get a set of Corbin Beetle Bags, convert them into fuel tanks. 14L on each side, that should get you around 300 miles total.

 

Now there is an idea, though those things are kind of ugly. But I'm sure they are functional!

 

And it'll solve your inability to wheelie issue (if you have one).

 

Ok, I'm going to be an internet ***** here, but Honda would probably have figured that one out! I'm sure if they had a smaller airbox, they would have filled the space with the fuel tank

Shoot, they were probably frustrated with how much volume the airbox took up to run correctly as well...

 

I was just about to comment about wheelies 7moore7 you took the lead in any case, brain storming is great, I think this is the forum with the most creative people, got to love that!!!

 

It can run without it if you jet it right. Not sure why it's as big as it is. The damn thing can probably flow 200hp. lol Maybe to silence the intake. EPA rules and all.

 

Are you sure about that??

 

I guess the correct statement is "tune" it. It's just an engine.

 

It has more to do with the carbs than the engine. If you install a different type of carb, yeah you could do it but getting CV carbs (especially one this big) to run without an airbox is not as easy as it might sound.

 

I'll fuel inject it then. It should have been EFI in '98 anyways. Better efficiency, tuneability, and more room for gas. winwinwin.

 

FCR* carbs or transplant the EFI of a late model VTR engined Varadero XL1000V - a very useful 200+ mile range if you also fit the bikes big 25 litre tank.

FCR = http://www.haymouth.co.uk/phpBB3/vie...hp?f=8&t=23295

EFI = http://www.haymouth.co.uk/phpBB3/vie...hp?f=9&t=18432

 

Actually GTS, I can see both sides too... It's just that kickerfox is making a wee bit to generalized statements... So I can't help but poke a stick in his spinning wheels to see the results...

Yes, you can make a custom alu tank, I have considered it myself... But no, you won't make one for even close to $100... The only way you get close is a one off that you collects favours from people, or do it yourself... Not something you can replicate and sell...

Yes, you can make the VTR run without the airbox... But it's a royal PITA to get it running close to properly, and it takes a very knowleadgeable tuner and a couple of hours on a dyno to get even close... Not something 98 out 100 guys can do in their own garage... The reason I know is that I'm that 99'th guy that has a dyno in my garage, and I can make it run reasonably, but have long since given up getting it to run the way I want it too without an airbox... So if that 100'th guy steps up, I'll gladly applaude him, but he hasn't been found yet... But there's plenty of companies that are glad to take your money to make the bike run "so-so"...

Yes, you can make the bike FI... There are examples of it being done, and I'm halfway decided to make an attempt myself... But there simply is no way you will see noticable gains in mileage from that... With my bike, I have the fueling bang on for about 80-85 percent of the RPM range, a tad rich for about 10 more percent, and friggin awful for the last unusable parts... So figure at best you have a potential to get an gain in 15% of the fuel range, and at best 5 percent or less gain over that part... Net gain, 15% of 5% on a full tank... Say 2-3% on a full tank if you are really lucky... So how many miles is that then?

I'm not saying it can't be done... I'm not saying it won't make a difference... And I'm certainly not saying to stop brainstorming...

I am however saying take a dose of reality and mix it in with the googly eyed dreamy ideas... There's a reason that noboy have come up with a sub $100 fix for the fuel/mileage annoyance... There simply isn't one that cheap and easy... There are fixes that cost money, and there are fixes that are cheap and "ugly"... Ie swap the tank or modify it... But so far there are none that are both...

The best one that I have figured out so far, is to get a 19L tank from a newer bike since I'm in Sweden (Europe), so there are such bikes around... That will simply bolt on, no modifications... And then, with that in place, swap to FI, and the net total should be a reasonable range for me, with the original lines intact and the weight where I want it... The only problem is that most bikes that get wrecked, the tanks are either damaged, or cost close to new price, since people are looking for them... So sofar, I'm in a holding pattern... I'd do a VFR swap if it didn't mean cutting into my Sargent seat to make the join look nice...

But anybody want a new 19L tank, I'll be happy to buy one at the dealer and ship it at cost, no profit... But trust me, it's no $100 price tag...