The World's Largest Gas Tank

The World's Largest Gas Tank

Cagiva’s entry in the recent ParisDakar Rally might not have won the race, but in terms of fuel capacity, it was no contest.

Cagiva’s guppy-like Paris-Dakar machine, based on the yet-to-bereleased Elephant 650 dual-purpose bike, has a hand-made, aluminum fuel tank that holds an astonishing 16 gallons. Using the 650 Cagiva streetbike we tested in March as a guide, the Dakar racer should be good for about 600 miles before refueling is needed.

Through the use of lightw eight materials, the bike's claimed dry weight has been dropped to 352 pounds. That weight grows quickly, however, when the fuel tank is topped up, since 16 gallons of gas weighs close to 100 pounds. >