Ims Fuel Tank

IMS FUEL TANK

Cheap insurance against the long walk home

HONDA’S XR600 IS ONE OF THE ALL-time favorite mounts of long-distance off-road riders. The 600 has earned a reputation of being super reliable, often logging more than 15,000 off-road miles before major

rebuilding is needed. But there is one problem with a stock XR600, the same one that plagues many dirtbikes: Its 2.6-gallon tank is too small for exploring areas where gasoline isn’t available every 60 to 75 miles.

C.H. Wheat is owner of IMS, a California company that specializes in making oversized plastic fuel tanks for dirtbikes. He’s also an Honda XR600 rider, and has designed an XR fuel tank that holds 4.6 gallons of fuel, which extends the bike’s range to about 140 miles.

The tank mounts to the XR's stock tank mounts, retains the XR fuel petcock, and is available in a matching XR red color or white for $ 169 from motorcycle dealers or directly from IMS (1189 W. Lacadena, Riverside, CA 92501; 714/781-5849). The design of this tank places most of its extra gasoline low and to the front, allowing the IMS tank to be almost as narrow between the rider's knees as the stocker. Thus, the IMS tank doesn’t require any change in riding style, not always the case with largecapacity fuel tanks.

Our test tank has survived extended trail rides and several forays into the wilds of Baja, and shows every indication of being indestructible. For riding in the boonies where fuel stops are few and far between, we consider the IMS tank as essential as a helmet and good pair of boots, s