Replacement sub frame fuel tank is in the works!!!!

E-Ticket said:

== Some trail rides we do are only 40-60 miles - which can be done on the stock tank alone.
What happens if you only fill the main tank? Does it still flow into the sub-gas-tank?
And if so, does that cause any fuel flow issues ... or it is a non-issue?

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At 60 miles you are getting awful close to running out of gas.

Worst case fuel range with 3 gallons of gas might be as low as 60 to 70 miles. So far I have gotten 32 MPG, but a significant portion of that was on pavement because I ride my bike to the trails. So I am not yet sure how much that number drops off the road.

CodeMonkey said:

E-Ticket said:

== Some trail rides we do are only 40-60 miles - which can be done on the stock tank alone.
What happens if you only fill the main tank? Does it still flow into the sub-gas-tank?
And if so, does that cause any fuel flow issues ... or it is a non-issue?

Click to expand...

At 60 miles you are getting awful close to running out of gas.

Worst case fuel range with 3 gallons of gas might be as low as 60 to 70 miles. So far I have gotten 32 MPG, but a significant portion of that was on pavement because I ride my bike to the trails. So I am not yet sure how much that number drops off the road.

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Well, then I must be Mr. Smooth on the throttle ... or my Low Fuel light is not working. :shock:
Last ride was a combination of cruisin' and rippin' in the Eastern Oregon high desert outside of Bend for 59 miles ... and my reserve light didn't come on.

I'll try to post here what it takes to fill it next time for an accurate mileage calculation.

I flogged the livng :cuss: outta mine one time and got 80 km ( 50 miles ) and sat in the rain crying while the guys got me some juice, f*&#ing fuel light didn't work so much for technology. Where was Thomas Edison when the lights went out ? IN THE DARK ! :lol:

As a new, to be owner of a fe570 I know for sure I want one these. Actually from the sound of things on the mileage front I need one of these. It's hard to believe these bikes are so thirsty with the EFI, my old XR650R with HRC kit still got high 40's mpg. It's another thing but hopefully the mapping software has a data logging capability and can use the 02 sensor to see what the air/fuel ratio is like. I wonder if these bikes are just tuned way rich?

My question for this thread is this. Is this a promotional price or is there going to be one? I've stretched things a bit to get into the blue tribe and if the tanks are just going to sell at msrp right away then I will wait for the toy fund account to recover a bit but if this is a promotional price then I could maybe justify getting one earlier.

I love the all blue smilie library

E-Ticket said:

Well, then I must be Mr. Smooth on the throttle ... or my Low Fuel light is not working. :shock:
Last ride was a combination of cruisin' and rippin' in the Eastern Oregon high desert outside of Bend for 59 miles ... and my reserve light didn't come on.

I'll try to post here what it takes to fill it next time for an accurate mileage calculation.

Click to expand...

I think you may get better mileage actually moving along in the higher gears compared to riding a very technical woods trail where much of the time you are slipping, sliding, falling down, trying to get over obstacles in first and second gear at maybe 10 MPH at best. This is the kind of riding I love and what I do - so fuel capacity matters to me.

I have no doubt that I get better mileage to/from the trails than I do *on* the trails. I am sure I would get better mileage on dirt roads also. It is like comparing mileage in a car between driving in stop-n-go city driving and on the highway.

CodeMonkey said:

E-Ticket said:

Well, then I must be Mr. Smooth on the throttle ... or my Low Fuel light is not working. :shock:
Last ride was a combination of cruisin' and rippin' in the Eastern Oregon high desert outside of Bend for 59 miles ... and my reserve light didn't come on.

I'll try to post here what it takes to fill it next time for an accurate mileage calculation.

Click to expand...

I think you may get better mileage actually moving along in the higher gears compared to riding a very technical woods trail where much of the time you are slipping, sliding, falling down, trying to get over obstacles in first and second gear at maybe 10 MPH at best. This is the kind of riding I love and what I do - so fuel capacity matters to me.

I have no doubt that I get better mileage to/from the trails than I do *on* the trails. I am sure I would get better mileage on dirt roads also. It is like comparing mileage in a car between driving in stop-n-go city driving and on the highway.

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Oh, I am with you there, CodeMonkey ... we ride all types of trails. This is what we usually ride - major tight single-track trails up in the Tillamook National Forest:

http://www.omraoffroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7780

And yes, those trails look nice and wide and smooth. That's 'cause I only took pictures of the nice/pretty ones. On the nasty, "... can't see 3' around the corner, due the ferns/branches in your face, 'cause your hung up on the 1' tree root step-up...." I am too busy sweathin' and cursin' trying to maintain momentum up the gnarly 1st-gear, 40 degree slope. And the last thing on my mind there is taking the camera out for a nice picture. LOL!

Cheers! E-Ticket

Update.............

I got all the inserts back from the machinist on Tuesday and they are now in the hands of the molder.

Spoke with the molder today and the model is at the female shop, and is almost done. Should be another week and the female will be at the foundry to have the aluminum mold made. From there the aluminum mold needs to be "finished", parting line bolts installed and the interior of the mold cleaned up.

Then first tank will be made without holes or inserts and I will return with my bike to fit first tank to my bike and verify all of the fastener locations. Then tooling will be installed into the mold to hold all the inserts and we will have the first tanks. As I have said before, we will test the first 3 or 4 tanks for proper fitment and to make sure there are no leaks, and that it functions properly.

I sure could have used it last weekend at our club race as I ran out about 1.5 miles from camp!!!

I'd say about another 3-4 weeks and we will have the functional units in our hands. Once we know that everything is cool we are going to produce at least 100 units, as we already have 85 pre ordered tanks. And those of you who have pre-ordered will of course have the first ones as they come off the production line.

Thanks for your patience and continued support!!!! We're almost there!!

Dale

DaleEO said:

Update.............
Thanks for your patience and continued support!!!! We're almost there!!

Dale

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And THANK YOU for the regular updates! Most reality-based peeps understand something like this is major-involved and time conusming when you do it right.

What's worse is when you're just left in the dark and wondering what's going on...

So, no worries, mate! :mrgreen:

Cheers! E-Ticket

Got confirmation today that the mold is being cast at the foundry. The molder indicated that he will be ready to make the first tank out of the mold in 10 days!!!!

Can't wait to see pics!!!!!

06z said:

Can't wait to see pics!!!!!

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Can't wait to be taking the pics!!!

Can't wait to be burning fuel from the new tank :bounce3: :bounce3: :cheers:

Steve

tazer said:

Can't wait to be burning fuel from the new tank :bounce3: :bounce3: :cheers:

Steve

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Me too!!

Hey Dale,
Do you have an estimated cost in US$ for shipping to Australia?

Davo said:

Hey Dale,
Do you have an estimated cost in US$ for shipping to Australia?

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No, John is taking care of that and he is on his way to a national right now. Ask me after the weekend and I can tell you

OK no hurry, I probably wont order one for a month or 2.
I enjoyed your shift kart story.

Davo said:

OK no hurry, I probably wont order one for a month or 2.
I enjoyed your shift kart story.

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Right on, glad you liked the story, it was a gas to drive poor mans ferrari LOL!

Is this kit a done deal? I'm ready to order. Just need to know how it installs and if it's going to hold up to off road racing.

Serpexc said:

Is this kit a done deal? I'm ready to order. Just need to know how it installs and if it's going to hold up to off road racing.

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Hi Serpexc,

To answer your question directly, no, the kit is not a done deal. However it is in the works, the mold was being cast last time I talked with the molder, and it takes time to finish the mold off as mentioned previously.

We have all the bits for the tank to go into production, and we are just waiting on the molder to get done with the mold and cast a few tanks so I can go back over with my bike and do the final fit test for the location of the hard points, or mounting points.

How does it install? It will be a direct replacement of your stock subframe, the fuel line and quick disconnect will already be attached to the subframe as will the fitting for the vent line. You will need to take off your stock gas tank and empty it, take off the stock fuel pump bracket on the bottom of the tank and replace it with our adapter plate, which, will also already have the fuel line and the other half of the quick disconnect on it.

By the way, the fuel line quick disconnect is a double sided shut off, so that when you separate the two halves no fuel will leak out.

You will then remount your gas tank, and then set the subframe in place, couple the quick disconnect which is very similar to the one that comes stock on your bike, then bolt the subframe in place.

Fill the tank and you are done.

As far as it's ability to stand up to off road racing.......That's what it is designed for, a direct replacement for the stock subframe. It's made of the same material, only the overall thickness of the XLPE material will be thicker than the stocker to make a true gas tank.

I'm glad you're ready to order, because we want to sell you one. And I want one too for my bike!!! But, if you've read through this thread you will see that we have had some delays in getting it done that basically its not our fault that we're behind on our original production date. I believe the molder had the best of intentions when he gave us our original delivery date, but, this is different than just making an after market tank that would go on any other bike, way more complex. So that's why were not done with it yet. Trust me, we have a good chunk of money invested in this project so we'd like to see it done as soon as possible.

The last post that I put up concerning time line was 5 days ago, and the molder thought he'd be making the first few tanks in 10 days. They need to make about 4 or 5 tanks to "break in" the mold, then we'll have our first prototype that we can do the final mounting and attachment hole verifications on. So I'm going to give the molder his 10 days and see where we're at. Then I'll let you all know.

Again "I" want one of these tanks for myself so I can go and do my long rides and ride in a non conservation mode, I want to go burn some fuel baby!!!

Thanks for the update.

I guess you are as frustrated as the rest of us with these delays. It is understandable - it has to be done properly the first time. Hopefully I can be in a position to purchase one myself when you are finally able to go into production.