I'm going to experiment making my bike narrower... I'm switching out my stock gas tank on my 2017 FE350 for the 2017 FC350 stock gas tank. There is a 0.4 gallon difference. My riding buddies are nervous about me running out of gas, but I'll have a Giant Loop 1 gallon gas fuel safe bladder with me. Has anyone done this?
Idk, the bikes are very narrow already. When I opened this thread I assumed you had an oversized tank. At over 6' with chicken legs its hard for me to grip the stock tank on my 501S because it's so slim. Curious why you want the cockpit so streamlined when the bars still stick out quite a ways...
In the past, I only rode streamlined motocross bikes.. and in the past 6 months, riding a dualsport bike has been an adjustment. Also I ride with knee braces which may exaggerate feeling wide. I wont get rid of my stock tank if this change is silly!
I doubt you will have any difference in width changing to the FC tank from the factory FE tank. You will still be up against the side panels either way. That .4 gallons of additional fuel is carried entirely down low in the tank. A bit on the right side and mostly down low on the left side. The side panel position will remain the same.
if you get another tank and are willing to experiment on the stock tank, try this: fill it up with boiling water, and let it set for 15 minutes. quickly empty it, put the cap on firmly, then hook your vacuum pump up to it (btw, do you have a mity-vac? or the intake of some compressors). get a fairly good vacuum on it (careful!), and push the sides in with your hands where your knees hit. might use a low temp heat gun too. get ready to take the vacuum off fast. hit it with cold water in and out when you're happy. warning: i've never tried this before... ....or even heard of it either. good luck. ps- this really only has a chance of working on polypropylene or polyethylene tanks; which is probably what you have
