Most Commando owners (with a stock Roadster tank) complain, to some degree, about range. I tend to look at it more as a time limitation as I am a “stop and smell the roses” kind of rider. I seem to burn a little over a gallon (U.S) per hour no matter what my average speed. Since no one fills their tank to the top, unless they like gas on their right knee, and I don’t count reserve and a little more; that leaves a little over an hour and a half of riding. Most of my rides are short ones around town, or over two hours long, usually on back roads. There are many places, even in the San Francisco Bay Area where you can ride for that long and not see a gas station, at least not one that’s not straight out of “Deliverance”.
There are expensive ways to address the problem, but they usually involve changing the basic look of the bike…..so………..this is what I came up with.
The rules:
1. I love the basic look of my Roadster, so it had to be removable.
2. I hate hassles so; it had to be quickly removable.
3. It had to be reasonably inexpensive.
4. It had to work without a lot of attention.
5. It had to be built by me using mostly hand tools, and I have limited experience with metal.
4 Quart Tank, also come in 2, 5, 6, 7, and I am sure can be made any size you would want.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Quart-Qt-Low- ... 935wt_1054
These are the basic parts I used. Angle aluminum, bolts (1/4 28), from Ace. Some scrap wood, Fuel line and parts from Rocky Point Cycle. https://www.rockypointcycle.com/mm5/mer ... creen=ORHL
Bag from http://www.amazon.com/Barton-Outdoors-M ... ggage+Bags
I removed the straps, Velcro, and a pocket on the outside. I cut round pieces from an old car mat and put them in the ends of the bag to give it shape.
Quick connect-disconnect fuel line valve.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quick-Connect-D ... 1481wt_998
First I make tabs to attach to the grab bar attachments. The two rear upward facing bolts are the only attachment between the tank and the bike.
Then I made a base for the tank and bag. Note the two spacers to hold the base off the tail light.
Then I made the tank support from 1” angle and wood. Note the slope of the wood to match the bike at rest.
Then the tank.
The bag is attached with two ¼” - 1 ½” from the bottom, with a large fender washer.
Note the quick release fuel line in the lower left. There is no rear attachment.
On the bike it looks a little large for my taste, but it meets my goals, two nuts and a quick release and it’s on or off. I’ll keep an eye on the attachments, and add one at the rear if necessary.
There are expensive ways to address the problem, but they usually involve changing the basic look of the bike…..so………..this is what I came up with.
The rules:
1. I love the basic look of my Roadster, so it had to be removable.
2. I hate hassles so; it had to be quickly removable.
3. It had to be reasonably inexpensive.
4. It had to work without a lot of attention.
5. It had to be built by me using mostly hand tools, and I have limited experience with metal.
4 Quart Tank, also come in 2, 5, 6, 7, and I am sure can be made any size you would want.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Quart-Qt-Low- ... 935wt_1054
These are the basic parts I used. Angle aluminum, bolts (1/4 28), from Ace. Some scrap wood, Fuel line and parts from Rocky Point Cycle. https://www.rockypointcycle.com/mm5/mer ... creen=ORHL
Bag from http://www.amazon.com/Barton-Outdoors-M ... ggage+Bags
I removed the straps, Velcro, and a pocket on the outside. I cut round pieces from an old car mat and put them in the ends of the bag to give it shape.
Quick connect-disconnect fuel line valve.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quick-Connect-D ... 1481wt_998
First I make tabs to attach to the grab bar attachments. The two rear upward facing bolts are the only attachment between the tank and the bike.
Then I made a base for the tank and bag. Note the two spacers to hold the base off the tail light.
Then I made the tank support from 1” angle and wood. Note the slope of the wood to match the bike at rest.
Then the tank.
The bag is attached with two ¼” - 1 ½” from the bottom, with a large fender washer.
Note the quick release fuel line in the lower left. There is no rear attachment.
On the bike it looks a little large for my taste, but it meets my goals, two nuts and a quick release and it’s on or off. I’ll keep an eye on the attachments, and add one at the rear if necessary.
