Hey everyone. An extra gas tank

[iba1990]

Hey everyone. An extra gas tank was on my bike when I bought it. It is on the right side between the engine & frame & sticks a little below the frame. The owner of the shop that sold me the bike said he thinks it hold 3.5 gallons. I filled the tank to the proper level & rode 223.7 miles & ran out of gas...luckly I was about 100 feet from a gas station & rolled in. I filled the tank up & it took 7.812 gallons at $2.779 per gallon for a total of $21.71. So, I know the tank must work. However, that is pretty bad mileage for one thing & was there some more gasoline left in the tank. I notice that my reserve / off / on switch is not working. I had it in the off position & rode it all day one day. There are three switches on top of  my clutch master cylinder reservoir & the one closest to me (left side) operates the spot lights. The other two, I do not know what they are for. Does anyone out there have any ideas?? Does the auxillary fuel tank have a switch for the reserve??? I am planning a 3000 mile Iron Butt Association ride early next month & 223.7 miles is not very good. I will have to stop for fuel a lot of times to make good time...which is NOT good time. I live near Denver, CO & I don't know where the Valk came form...could be California in a low altitude area. Smells like it is really running rich. So, do any of you have one of those fuel tanks & what is the story with them??? Thanks in advance to anyone who knows about it. IBA 1990 tommy t

[Gary]

A belly tank is what comes to mind. Never had one but I pulled up this info online, they may be able to help. Look familiar?

http://www.rmworksinc.com/

[DFragn]

Sounds like a belly tank at the link posted above (link appears to be down). If it is it looks like this http://valkyrie.smugmug.com/gallery/3097483#169543229_n2pvx and mounts under the frame between the swingarm and clutch cover.

From what I understand, the carbs are fed from the belly tank via a fuel pump (inclusive of the Bellytank, not OEM). When refueling through the OEM tank it fills the belly tank first then itself. If the tank still has the OEM petcock then this system will maintain your OEM reserve function and capacity. If a Pingel petcock has replaced the OE unit your reserve capacity may be a bit less.

Which model Valk is this mounted on? An Interstate tank is slightly larger the the Standard/Tourer tank. But, that doesn't mean much. If it's a Standard/Tourer the owner who installed a belly tank may have changed out to an Interstate tank for maximum mileage inconjunction with the belly tank too.

I don't recall the OEM tank or reserve capacities. Maybe someone can add that info.

[Valker]

Standard/Tourer is 5.3 gallons and Interstate is 6.9 gallons advertised. A bit more will fit with patience.

[Brad]

Mileage has a lot to do with how you ride the bike.  I live at about the 5000 foot level and have run my standard (5.3 gals) dry at 110 miles while flogging the living hell out of it (90 mph +)