[Ducati Scotty]

I think to make Scottie's suggestion work you just need to curve the hose to follow the line of the pinstripes on the front of the tank.  I like the idea except for having an exposed plastic tube along the outside of the tank.  That doesn't seem like something that would fare well in an accident.

Scott

[High On Octane]

The see thru fuel gauges are really popular on the choppers and bobbers around here.  I always thought it was cool and a fool-proof way to know EXACTLY how much fuel you have.  If I do it, I'd go as far as filling the tank 1 gal at a time and marking the sight glass to show exactly how many gallons you are at.

Scottie

[Gypsyjon]

I think to make Scottie's suggestion work you just need to curve the hose to follow the line of the pinstripes on the front of the tank.  I like the idea except for having an exposed plastic tube along the outside of the tank.  That doesn't seem like something that would fare well in an accident.

Scott

I think it would fire great in an accident....Oops, you said
fare...Sorry ;-)

[Royalista]

So, just slosh'n peak and a hipflask for emergencies? 

[Arizoni]

Different strokes for different folks as they say Scottie, but IMO that bit of plumbing hanging onto the side of a classic fuel tank looks like crap! 

It would look just right on the boiler of a Baldwin 4-6-2 but they already have several of them. 

[D the D]

Sight Tubes may be ugly to some, looks kind of steam punk to me, and is very popular with the HD chopper crowd.
This, however, is a apparently a one off custom

[High On Octane]

I actually saw Bike Bandit advertising that gas tank.  Not sure if they're actually selling it or not.     Seems sketchy to me.  I feel like that tank would just crumple is impacted.

Scottie

[D the D]

It's supposedly a one off, hand made, blown Pyrex glass by the bike's owner named Alan Lee.  That's all I know, just saved the pic 'cause I thought it was cool, but dangerous.

[Royalista]

Great color scheme.
Could be Drambuie 

[meilaushi]

Who needs a fuel light when you can do this mod?     I'm thinking of doing this to the Blackhawk.



Scottie

That sight glass is a neat approach given that the old reserve petcock isn't applicable any more.  Another method would just be a float in the tank with an indicator.  Like they say, "The simplest methods to do something are always the best!" 

[Ducati Scotty]

Or carry an 8" long dowel with a few notches in it.  Pop the cap and just dip in to see where things stand.  You could even epoxy a few neo magnets to it and just stick it to the frame or the bottom of the tank when you're not using it.

Scott

[meilaushi]

Or a sight glass like that of the oil check glass could be put on the side of the tank about where the level would be when one had a gallon left.  One could see at a glance then where one was and when to hit the gas station...  Of course, one would have to remember to look every once in a while to see if the gas was low--less directly informative than the engine coughing that occurs when one needs to flip a petcock to the reserve position.

[Arizoni]

... Of course, one would have to remember to look every once in a while to see if the gas was low--less directly informative than the engine coughing that occurs when one needs to flip a petcock to the reserve position.

Less costly too.
The fuel is what  cools the fuel pump in fuel injected vehicles (including the RE).
If the tank runs dry the pump can overheat and fail.

[Ducati Scotty]

The fuel is what  cools the fuel pump in fuel injected vehicles (including the RE).
If the tank runs dry the pump can overheat and fail.

I know this is true and part of the design, but is it really a problem in normal operation?  I haven't ever heard ot a fuel pump failing because it overheated.  The low fuel light coming on is usually the indication to fill up, so most riders get their bikes to this point regularly.

Scott

[Arizoni]

Your right.  Normally it isn't a problem but if anyone was thinking of running the bike until it ran out of fuel I figured I'd remind them of one of the hazards (along with pushing a 400 pound motorcycle a few miles to the next gas station).