Roebling3

Great looks. Best of luck with the Honda. Don't you have an '87 LM 1000? Now there's a contrast in riding experiences! I, until recently had a 5 Gen. and still have the LM 1000, + 4 other Guzzi's. Good fortune, R3~

I've used fabric dye on a few occasions. It needs to be quite warm. Easy, cheap, unlimited colors, good penetration. Remember the container used for dipping may retain the color. R3~

If you go to the ironbutt site I believe they have links to fuel tank fabricators who specialize in motorcycles, including adding a 'spacer'. The FJR mentioned earlier may have been *John Ryans'. His fuel tank was similarly modified. Years ago I used a bladder cell inside the tank bag. Tubing to the non-pressurized side of the fuel return line (not a VFR). IIRC it carried a bit more than a gallon and was enough for a frequent trip @ the time. the bladder didn't need a vent. A laptop provided pressure. A hemostat was the valve.. A really long time ago I extended a bmw airhead tank by cutting the original tank straight down ~3" behind the fuel cap and within an inch of the bottom. Then horizontally back over the fuel taps, then straight down again. With another matching tank I adjusted the cuts to make the final tank ~ 3 inches longer. It worked well, and looked 'factory', but was not worth the headaches. We each assess our risks. I would not use a fuel tank as a push bar for the next fool that rear ends me. *If you've not heard of John Ryan You'll find information on the Iron Butt site regarding John's many record setting long distance motorcycle trips. October 13th marks the date that John, riding his FJR, was hit from behind and killed. A rather good book was written about John by Melissa Holbrook Pierson. It is titled; "The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing". ca 2011 w.w. norton & company. Ms. Pierson also wrote; "The Perfect Vehicle". ca 1997. again w. w. Norton.

Though I've met but few Netherlanders even those I've not met put a smile on my face. Thanx guys. Good fortune, R3~

Metallican525, others: I believe Hondas' and other manufacturers concern regarding the re-use of bolts is relative to bolt stretch under prescribed torque values. when used the 1st time the bolts are resilient and in many instances do not need thread locker or lock washers. When bolts are used the 2nd and subsequent times they harden and no longer provide the inherent tension of a new bolt. Good fortune, R3~

I used a 2L fuel bladder in the tank bag for a night time run I did occasionally. Fuel was either not always available or I would rather not stop. Connecting the line from the bladder to a 'T' on the return fuel line to the tank, after the back pressure valve worked fine. A Hemostat was the on/off. My lap top in the tank bag, did some pressurizing. After ~100 miles open the Hemostat. R3~

I'm late in here. Has anyone suggested looking through the Iron Butt website? I believe there's a link to 1 or 2 companies with stock models and custom work. The FJR mentioned was perhaps the late John Ryan's. At his services yesterday there was a serious contingent of Long Distance motorcyclist's, plus a commensurate number of custom tanks. BTW: 2 very good looking 5th Generation VFR's were there. When I used to run longer miles, in the dark, a 4 liter fuel bag in the tank bag with a lap top pressurizing it, worked great. I tapped into the unpressurized side of the fuel return and used a hemostat as a valve. Good fortune, R3~ BTW: That 'thing' carrying flammable liquid and hanging off the back at bumper level, scares the beejeesus out of me. And a fuel tank at tail trunk ;level is hardly better. You don't ever want to be in a liquid fueled fire.