Spare Fuel for Long Motorcycle Tours

Despite being able to pass anything but a gas station, the 2008 Triumph Rocket III Classic did not come equipped with a fuel gauge. The engine could be referred to as a fuel gouge, however, as it consumes an average of one U.S. gallon of premium gasoline per 30 miles, 26 miles if you ride it like you stole it, as the owner of 4Fraziers.com does.

The system is equipped with an idiot light that glows when the fuel level drops randomly somewhere between half and empty, which is very helpful if you want to stop for fuel somewhere between twice and half as much as you need to. If that doesn't make sense to you, don't worry, because Triumph's mechanism to trigger this light doesn't make sense, either.

Those who own one of these magnificent beasts must either purchase and install an optional fuel gauge for around $200.00 U.S. or employ the time tested gasometer method. Setting the trip odometer at each fill up and refueling when the mileage climbs to 175 or so, depending on how hard you've been driving your British muscle bike.But what do you do when your en route to Big Bend, you've forgotten to reset that odometer at your last fill up, and those three massive pistons are spluttering on their last fumes?

Hopefully you have packed away two or three MSR fuel bottle full of gasoline and a few disposable funnels. Nobody but nobody wants to be pushing an eight-hundred pound bike across the dessert for 30 miles. And if you leave it while you walk to a gas station it's not likely it will be there when you return, considering the wandering souls who lurk in the wilds of the Texas badlands close to the border who would rather ride a hot-wired bike than walk.

MSR fuel bottles are designed specifically for white gas camp accessories like stoves and lamps, but they are ideal for storing the fuel you need to get you to the next gas station in a pinch. They can withstand immense pressure and the caps don't leak, so even in the sweltering desert heat they won't bleed all over your extra pair of socks next to them in your saddlebags.

They're a little pricey at $20.00 U.S. a pop, but worth their weight in gold if you ever run out of gas.

To keep the fuel in these nifty containers fresh just pour their contents into the fuel tank before you fill up and put fresh petrol in them once your tank is full at every other gas stop. You may never need them, but if you or a travel mate ever does run out of gas on some lonely stretch of road you'll be happy you had this extra peace of mind stowed away in your luggage.