82 GS850GL gas tank swap..need more volume...which ones fit, who has done this

[Blue Falcon]

OK, after a very disappointing ride this weekend having to gas up every 115 miles due to the 3.4-3.8 gallon gas tank on my 850 and blowing a fork seal out, for the love of everything.... what other model gas tank fits on this beast. One with more volume, closer to 5 gallons if I can.

as far as the fork seal, already had sonic springs, seals, hagon rear shocks etc on order to get that done this weekend. I just need a larger tank...very disappointed in the volume.

If you have one for sale... pm me.

 

[Burque73]

Here's one a ways away from here but check out the pics for ideas. Looks to be from a GS 1100 G

https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/mpo/6110896766.html

 

[Blue Falcon]

Here's one a ways away from here but check out the pics for ideas. Looks to be from a GS 1100 G

https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/mpo/6110896766.html

wonder if that is the 5 gallon tank...

 

[Burque73]

5.8 Gal I believe

 

[JJ]

It is a tank from an '82-84 GS850G, GS1100G, or GS1100GK, but it is NOT a bolt-on swap.

 

[Steve]

The tank on your bike has a 4.5 gallon capacity, so you are not going to increase it all that much by going to a 5 gallon tank.

The one shown is, indeed, from a G or GK, with a 5.8 gallon capacity, but you will have to change just about everything on the front of your bike to be able to use it. :-k

- The mounts on the frame will need to move forward about two inches. I think there are some mounting points there, they just need to be filled in with the posts.
- The triple trees will need to be changed to the G style triples.
- The fork tubes will need to be changed to the G style tubes.
- The front fender will need to be changed to the G style fender.
- Not sure whether the speedo drive will need to be changed or not, it has a different mounting angle.
- If you get an entire front end with a G headlight, you will need to change the mounting ears, too.

Putting in 3.6 gallons in 115 miles shows an average of 31.9 mpg. THAT is what I would want to change. I just filled my bike this evening after a ride on Saturday. The last part of the ride was 135 miles, I put in 3.7 gallons, which is 36.25 mpg. Quite a bit lower than I usually get, but we were coming into a stiff headwind.

My 850 usually gets around 38-42 mpg, my wife's 850 gets about 42-48 mpg, but has hit a high of over 55 for several tanks in a row.

32 mpg shows that you either have the jetting WAY off or you are simply racing around with a HEAVY hand on the throttle.

.

 

[Blue Falcon]

The tank on your bike has a 4.5 gallon capacity, so you are not going to increase it all that much by going to a 5 gallon tank.

The one shown is, indeed, from a G or GK, with a 5.8 gallon capacity, but you will have to change just about everything on the front of your bike to be able to use it. :-k

- The mounts on the frame will need to move forward about two inches. I think there are some mounting points there, they just need to be filled in with the posts.
- The triple trees will need to be changed to the G style triples.
- The fork tubes will need to be changed to the G style tubes.
- The front fender will need to be changed to the G style fender.
- Not sure whether the speedo drive will need to be changed or not, it has a different mounting angle.
- If you get an entire front end with a G headlight, you will need to change the mounting ears, too.

Putting in 3.6 gallons in 115 miles shows an average of 31.9 mpg. THAT is what I would want to change. I just filled my bike this evening after a ride on Saturday. The last part of the ride was 135 miles, I put in 3.7 gallons, which is 36.25 mpg. Quite a bit lower than I usually get, but we were coming into a stiff headwind.

My 850 usually gets around 38-42 mpg, my wife's 850 gets about 42-48 mpg, but has hit a high of over 55 for several tanks in a row.

32 mpg shows that you either have the jetting WAY off or you are simply racing around with a HEAVY hand on the throttle.

.

Steve, I wish it was a 4.5 gallon capacity... I am under 4 gallons. Once I got home on Sunday, drained the tank from full 1 gallon at time into a gallon container and then put it in a 5 gallon. got 3 full gallons and just shy of 3/4 gallon on the last one. I would have been happy with 4.5 lol.

The MPG is misleading, I was putting in 2.8-3.0 gallons at 115-125 miles, around 40mpg. The last two tanks I filled I let it run til I had to flip to reserve. At reserve level I would fill a full 3.0-3.1 gallons. Frankenstein strikes again on the bike lol...

 

[Steve]

Steve, I wish it was a 4.5 gallon capacity... I am under 4 gallons.

In that case, you don't have an '82 tank. :-k

I think the '81 tanks were 3.5 or 3.8, the '82 and '83 tanks were 4.5.

You have any pictures of the tank on the bike? Especially from the side.

.

 

[Blue Falcon]

In that case, you don't have an '82 tank. :-k

I think the '81 tanks were 3.5 or 3.8, the '82 and '83 tanks were 4.5.

You have any pictures of the tank on the bike? Especially from the side.

.

GS850 pinterest

 

[gustovh]

Yes he has the small tank.

V

 

[Blue Falcon]

Yes he has the small tank.

V

well...sh.....i mean... poo

 

[Burque73]

Here's a solution to the L's short fuel supply. Just have to find bags to accommodate it. One extra gallon in each bag.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/505...Mz24TpnrgP--OOr4aJkO01M2XJwLpILnP1BoCE8bw_wcB

https://www.google.com/search?q=sad.....69i57j0l4.8112j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[Blue Falcon]

Here's a solution to the L's short fuel supply. Just have to find bags to accommodate it. One extra gallon in each bag.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/505...Mz24TpnrgP--OOr4aJkO01M2XJwLpILnP1BoCE8bw_wcB

https://www.google.com/search?q=sad.....69i57j0l4.8112j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I don't know whether to laugh or be serious..... but thanks lol. now to just wire up a fuel pump and switch to auto feed the gas into the tank... I am just gonna suffer with the small tank until I do more research on this conundrum. The goal is to get to 180 miles without refueling.

 

[Steve]

The goal is to get to 180 miles without refueling.

When we are out on a longer ride, my wife's bike goes on reserve at about 140-150 miles, and that is with it doing 40+ mpg. With your 32 mpg average, you are going to need a 7 gallon tank.

.

 

[Blue Falcon]

When we are out on a longer ride, my wife's bike goes on reserve at about 140-150 miles, and that is with it doing 40+ mpg. With your 32 mpg average, you are going to need a 7 gallon tank.

.

I'm getting 41mpg lol....but thanks for the vote of confidence (3 tanks consistently @41mpg) that 3.x gallon tank is killing me tho. Even at 40 mpg... reserve will kick in at about 120 miles.

 

[Burque73]

Hey Falcon, I'm thinking you'll still be happy with a good running classic GS. Just more frequent opportunity to stop and get compliments on the old girl!

This song comes to mind.

 

[Blue Falcon]

Hey Falcon, I'm thinking you'll still be happy with a good running classic GS. Just more frequent opportunity to stop and get compliments on the old girl!

This song comes to mind.

the life of Brian always cheers me up. Thanks Roger. I was hoping that a bigger tank would be a much simpler solution. Looking like the gas tanks will be my option this summer. A guy between me and Rick custom makes gas tanks and a finished tank, fits the bike and is between 5-6 gallons is right at $500 quoted. Really reasonable for a complete tank. I have pre-buyers remorse about spending as much on a tank as I did on my bike. I did however already order the gasket for the level sending unit and lent him my old petcock so he could map out a tank drawing to size. I think he sees an opportunity to fills void in a nichce market, as I explained the issue with taking another model tank and making it fit. He said it will fit, be bigger and require no steering, seat or mount mods. Once I have a solid written quote I will know more. Until then 120 miles.