More modern than I usually post, but my main bike these days is a 2003 Suzuki SV1000. Its a great motorcycle, but the 12.5 litre gas tank means a limited range of 200ish kilometers before getting into reserve. Not near enough for touring- and most of my highway riding is a 300 km "commute" and I've put 16.2 litres of gas into the tank while filling up, that's a pop can of gas left- too close.
I decided that the best way to add fuel capacity was to take up some of the under tank airbox space. Removing the airbox lid and sticking a piece of 2" Styrofoam to the underside of the tank to reduce airbox size saw no change in performance, so I poured in a measured 3 litres of water and marked it. A cardboard template was made and the size transferred to a piece of sheetmetal. Wish I could say I welded it in- but reliably welding 24 gauge sheet metal is not within my capabilities. (Thanks, Fred!)
The plastic airbox lid was trimmed down, letting the underside of the tank act as a lid. The snorkel is retained for sound suppression. Some weatherstrip tape sealed the whole area.
Results are great. The bike looks the same but now has 3.5 litres of extra fuel - more than enough for my riding style and with only a bit more low speed intake honk.
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Hard to believe the SV carries more fuel than the Katana.
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5 comments:
That is very cool. I'd like to see even more pics.
I loved my SV650 but holy cats it crippled me to ride.
Maybe a pic of the welded seam?
I came from 40 years of riding a Suzuki Katana, so it was an easier riding position for me. I did have to fashion up some "highway pegs" to give me alternate leg positions.
Full disclosure: I was crippled to begin with.
Not that it would illuminate your swell work hardly at all, but if you find it convenient to throw up a photo (side shot) of the tank in place on the bike, well I'd just ... swoon.
Added! Looks exactly the same as stock. It's Magic :-)
The Katana looks semi-huge overall compared to the SV.
Really nice project and execution, sir.
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