The Honda XR650R is a rugged equipment package for desert enduro riding. By contemporary standards, however, 300 pounds “wet” is considered heavy, even for the repeated winner of Baja 1000 Races. One weight-saving attempt was the factory 2.6 gallon fuel tank, which is simply too small for dual-sport riding or the magazine’s video filming platform! On the advice of Just Gas Tanks, the Acerbis Sahara 6.3 gallon replacement tank became our solution. In this detailed how-to HD video, see the installation of this large capacity aftermarket tank on our Honda XR650R motorcycle!
At left, our XR650R motorcycle after the installation of TCI racks and skid plate plus Nelson-Rigg bags. At right, the Acerbis Sahara 6.3 gallon fuel tank extends our filming and riding range by 2-1/2 times!
The Sahara fuel tank comes with an installation parts kit. Included are quality lower brackets, two fuel petcocks and mounting hardware. The dual petcocks mount low on each side, a major gain over single-side fuel systems with a crossover hose. Even with a low fuel supply, we can keep the bike upright. There’s no need to lay the cycle over to slosh fuel into the pickup side of the tank! At right, some original tank parts get reused, including the rear strap locating stud. Removal with an impact driver and sharp hammer whack preserves the Phillips head in the screw.
Making sure that the brackets clear the radiator tanks will eliminate the risk of chafing or puncturing the radiator tanks “a hundred miles from nowhere!”. That is our motto for this machine, which gets ridden to remote single-track and two-track locales.
While Acerbis supplies quality plastic fuel line and a nylon “Y”, we opted for high-grade rubber braid fuel hose with Euro style fuel injection hose clamps at the petcocks. Every inch of hose has been carefully routed to avoid hot engine and exhaust components, sharp and abrasive edges and any wear points. A brass “T” replaces the nylon “Y”.
Fuel capacity is crucial for a motorcycle that chases motorsports races, other dirt motorcycles and four-wheelers. At left, the bike gets packed and loaded with gear, the monopod will be strapped onto the bags. Fuel capacity now approaches 7 gallons, good for a highway range of well over 200 miles at any load and pace, 260-plus miles when riding empty and under lighter throttle. Reserve positions on the two petcocks provide a safety margin.
