Detachable Gas Tank - Any ideas?

DuctTapedGoat

DuctTapedGoat

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So, a couple years ago my chain snapped when I was in downtown Boise, and a fair distance from home. I figured I'd just toss it on the bus to get it home and throw on a new masterlink. The driver informed me that they don't allow gasbikes on the city bus bike rack for safety concerns in the event of a front end collision. Another time I had removed the tank and was waiting for the JB Weld to set on the holes and I was able to put it on the bus with only a quick response of "there's no gas tank, the motor is nonfunctional right now" without any problems.

I was thinking about this today when I saw a bus drive by. In the event that it hits the fan and the bike is inoperable due to a shot rim, broken chain, seized motor, fried clutch, etc, it would be nice to know I have an emergency way to get it home.

That's when it hit me - a detachable gas tank! Remove it from the bike, put it in a backpack and tell the driver that the motor is nonfunctioning.

But, how would someone be able to remove the tank and affix it securely in a very short amount of time?

All I can think of is chopping the tank bolts down and using a quick release nut with the arm on all four bolts, but I wanted to pose this to the community here and see if anyone else has any ideas!
 
He might, but I don't see a driver really questioning it.

The time when I had the tank off I told them there was no tank, he looked and said okay then. And as their policy at least around here is concern for the front end collision, they wouldn't have reason to question it.

Also, I'd make a secondary gas cap with no ventilation to keep any fumes down and spills from occurring in the backpack.
 
why not use aluminum tanks that go in water bottle cage. Install peacock and a quick release. When getting on Bus close peacock, remove plastic line, and throw it in your backpack. Maybe look into some sort of cap for peacock valve, or locking cap.
 
Dzus fasteners, like the ones used to hold body panels together on drag cars. You would probably have to make a couple of brackets to hold the dzus faster mounts to, and weld them to the frame and gas tank. But the brackets that they sell may work as they are.
These fastenrs go on and off with 1/4 turn using a special wrench, flat screwdriver or sometimes even a quarter will work.
If they can hold hoods, fenders and trunk lids on drag cars at over 200 mph, they surly would hold a gas tank on one of these bikes secure.


You would have to come up with something to plug the gas line after you pull it off the carb. fitting to keep your backpack from smelling like gas. A simple solid brass fitting would probably do the trick.

Another thing to consider is that the gas cap is vented, and if gas were allowed to come in contact with the inside of the cap (like if the tank accidentally got turned upside down in your backpack) gas can leak out.

http://dzusfasteners.net/
 
Last edited:
Great tip on the fasteners! I haven't used them before, but after looking over their site, it seems like they could provide just what it would take.

A cap would be very important for the petcock, it wouldn't take much for that to get turned in a backpack. Good call.

I definitely would have to modify a gascap and devent it, but I think that'd be the easiest part of a project like this.
 
Those quick connect fuel couplings are awesome - that's just what the doctor ordered!

For short distance riding and even emergency fuel, the handlebar cupholder would be great as well for the portable tank units.
 

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