Tips For Carrying Spare Gas On The Trails

Tip #135 from the pages of The Total Motorcycling Manual

Lots of MX bikes only hold enough fuel for a half-hour moto. So what to do if you’re out trail riding? The first solution is to get a bigger tank. Can’t find one for your machine? Here are some options.

CAMPING GAS BOTTLES These containers hold up to one quart (1 liter), are rugged and easy to stow in a backpack, and seal well. Downside: not very much fuel.

TWO-LITER SODA BOTTLES Twice the capacity, half the durability—if that. Better than nothing, and readily available.

BLEACH BOTTLES Fill a basic 1-gallon (3.8-liter) bottle with fuel, and slip your belt (or backpack strap) through the handle to secure it. If the gasket in the cap is Styrofoam, replace it with a disc of rubber cut from an old innertube.

As soon as you burn through the first gallon (3.8 liters) in your tank, dump the bottle in—you’ll minimize the time you have to carry its weight.

As for other, softer containers (like your hydration pack), don’t even think about it. Note that carrying any extra fuel outside of your gas tank comes with a certain risk of self-immolation. Ride with the appropriate caution.

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