How Do You Carry Spare gas

What are the best methods of carrying spare gas on tours or long rides where your not sure of how far the next place to get it is?
Craig

I carry one 1 liter MSR fuel bottle. I have a second one available if I feel that that much extra fuel might be needed on a trip I'd be planning. I've used that bottle on two occasions --both times to bail out Harley riders who had run dry.

I understand that Hammy carries a veritable mini Exxon station under his seat to alleviate serious anxiety issues. That's in addition to the bandoleers of airline liquor bottles filled with petrol he wears crossed on his chest

The lad's a virtual petroleum warlord I tell you


Tim
:-)

That's it, I'm riding with Hammy!

I just try not to fart.

Crahar, Plan Plan Plan.... if you think there is a stretch you might not make, find another route. I would NEVER go intentionally where I MIGHT run out. Knowing the range of your Swing is important to know. Should for most be 150 - 200 miles based on speed wind ect...
I am curious to know if there are some that actually have to carry extra fuel. Maybe out in Arizona or New Mexico or west texas.... as I said, I would know how far between next fill up location.

I was thinking of heading up toward the Davis Mountains but not sure as to the chance of finding gas in certain spots(guess I'll have to lay off the beans) I try not to go past 160 miles without filling up, but I also don't like to push my luck.
Craig

It's not usually a problem here (Belgium is less than 200 miles riding distance across at its widest) but I have a 1-litre aluminium fuel bottle and a 2-litre plastic fuel container.

As Tim mentioned, I do carry spare gas with me when I go on a long trip. I've been caught twice on the same trip, actually within 12 hours of the same day in NC. It wasn't on my Swing but on my Citycom. I still haven't really figured out my range on the Swing cos I've actually been running in less than normal conditions and have seen a low of 28mpg and a high of 55mpg. Then again, I'm about to replace the rollers with 26g sliders, put on a new OEM belt, redo my tire pressure to 35 front, 40 rear, clean my air filter, and probably switch back to my stock windshield.

As for what I use, I have 2 MSR bottles that I bought from REI but those only hold 30oz of fuel each, so I only bring those for when I'm riding in a group and we might need gas just in case of emergency. What I actually use most of the time is a 1 gallon Rotopax (www.rotopax.com), usually stored in a saddlebag as it is hard plastic and not vented as far as I can tell. It's flat and gives me way more gas in a form factor that's much more easy to store and transport than 2 aluminum bottles in a dual wine bottle holder.

I have also learned to add Stabil to the gas in these containers, and when I'm done with my trip, I dump the gas into the tanks so it doesn't spoil.

crahar wrote:

I was thinking of heading up toward the Davis Mountains but not sure as to the chance of finding gas in certain spots

Within Big Bend National Park ( http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/gasstation.htm ) there are two gas stations:

Rio Grande Village Service Station: 432.477.2293
Panther Junction Service Station: 432.477.2294

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/upload/BIBEmap3.pdf

Which route are you planning on taking to Big Bend??

I arrived via Fort Davis->Presido and left via Marathon->Sanderson. I did not have problems getting gas, but I made sure I filled up at known gas stations regardless of how much gas I had to avoid running out of gas.

Staying inside the Chisos Basin was incredible.

Make sure you ride the Presido road

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=29.569874,-104.37664&daddr=TX-118+S&hl=en&geocode=%3BFRobvwEdQJfU-Q&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=12&sll=29.536126,-104.275703&sspn=0.214172,0.308647&ie=UTF8&ll=29.351058,-103.97049&spn=0.858242,1.234589&z=10

Up I-10 thru Ft.Stockton, Alpine, Ft.Davis ,then wherever the road leads.
Craig

I was going to suggest "eat more cabbage or beans", but Dan beat me to it!

Damn!! So did Craig!!.

It's not often when someone leaves themselves open like this.


Where's Gene BTW? This wood be right up his alley too!

I've been to Big Bend and quite a bit of west Texas on other motorcycles and never had a problem with finding fuel. One thing to be aware of are deer. You will be traveling through areas where those critters like to take a close up look at vehicles. I like your planning "wherever the road takes me" . Have fun and be safe.