XR650L Acerbis 5.8 gas tank project

Last fall my boss bought a new gas tank for the motorcycle. Yes, sometimes I use the motorcycle for work. I opted for the 5.8 gallon version. The stock tank is 2.something gallons, which with the 650 gets me somewhere around 100 easy on the throttle miles. As you can see above, the new tank is more massive than the old tank, it does however weigh less and when you consider the little wing-a-lings attached to enhance cooling with the old tank vs including wing-a-lings into the new tank, it isn't that much more bigger.
This is what the bike looks like without the seat, some plastic and the tank. I didn't take a pic of the bike before stripping it down. The current tires are Kenda K270 on the rear and Dunlop something or others on the front. The bike has 3400 miles, the rear tire is just over 1000 miles and the front is new with around 50 miles. I ride the bike mostly on dirt roads with some trail riding and some highway. I think that the current tires wear fairly well and while the tires may not be the best for the trail, my riding skills are as much a prohibitive factor as the equipment.

I think it looks good. If it were my bike, in addition to changing the gas tank, I would remove the smog equipment, speedometer, tail light, turn signals, head light, the stock handlebar, the stock muffler and the skimpy rock protection. I would add a LED headlight, LED taillight, LED turn signals, skid plate, aftermarket trail computer, XR 400 oil cooler, big bore kit-10:1 compression, change the camshaft, de-restrict the carburetor, and put stiffer springs in the suspension to support my 250lbs. The mods I want would shave off 30lbs and add around 15 horsepower. Currently the bike makes around 30hp and weighs 350lbs.

Now to convince myself that I want to spend money on a bike.

The Buckeye administrative area. Due to the remote location this area was the result of great ideas unrealized. In the last two years a new campground was constructed around the reservoir, and other improvements have been made. Due to some of the progress it is hopeful that this area will be better improved.
Kigalia Garage. The door still works and the Garage still serves as a storage facility for different projects, mostly range improvements.
Kigalia Guard Station. The guard station was burned down. The subject of reconstruction is sore among the district staff. It was originally constructed in the 1930's, and went through years of use and non-use.
Little Gooseberry Guard Station. This is the building on the South. It is described as a region 4, plan 4 design. It was constructed in 1935. There was a telephone line that connected Gooseberry to Kigalia Guard Station.
Big Gooseberry Guard Station. This building was moved from the Baker Administrative area in 1967. This building was a Region 4 Plan 7 building, the same as Kigalia, and Warner. It was orginally constructed in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corp.
This is a box of dynamite that was discarded near the opening of a mine shaft. Be careful if you find dynamite in the wild, it is unstable and more dangerous within a 50' radius than a pack of angry bears.
This is an abandoned Uranium mine. Be careful and don't go inside, it can be more lethal than dynamite.
The wood for the man-cave. Presented in this picture are (120) 2x4x8 boards, (16) treated 2x4x12 boards, (16) 2x4x12 boards, a new dewalt compound miter saw, an air-compressor, nail gun and nails. Pending approval of a city building permit I will start framing.

North Cottonwood Guard Station

This fixer upper on the forest that is little known, remote and hard to access. In the last 10 years it has been partially remodeled. The potential is unlimited, the work required is extensive, but it has good walls, roof and foundation. All the access trails were washed out last year making the trip in an adventure on Motorcycle and ATV, impassable for truck.

The following is part of the history published on the Manti-La Sal history "Sheep, Stations and Shacks":

"One of the earliest La Sal National Forest structures, the North Cottonwood Ranger Station was a two-room sandstone building constructed around 1912. An executive order issued on March 3, 1913, by President William H. Taft withdrew the site for administrative purposes. Historical records indicate that the USFS intended to utilize the site year round, while also developing a nursery. The USFS purportedly expended "considerable money" on a stone house, fencing, dams, ditches, and reseeding. By 1940, however, the station was described as "one of the most dilapidated areas on the forest."

The North Cottonwood Guard Station is my favorite spot to get away in the area.

Man Cave Ideas found on the National Forest nearby.

This is a range cabin found on the Elk Ridge. The cabin is authorized under a range allotment permit. If I could build a version of this in my basement/backyard without getting in trouble with my wife or the city I would. I may incorporate the cedar style siding into one of the walls of the mancave.


This is the Warner Guard Station. History: The Warner Guard station was built before 1935. It is a Region 4, Plan 7, two room dwelling with a Plan 24 garage to the north. It was used primarily as a summer station. Both structures are still standing. The guard station appears to be under renovation. The guard station is available for rent to the public by the Moab Ranger district during the summer season. The history of the forest can be found at the hyper-link. I like the simplicity of the interior and exterior.

This is the Mesa Guard Station, it was built before 1921. It was built as a guard station, downgraded to a guard cabin in the 1930's when the Warner Guard Station was completed and by the 1940's it had gone into a state of disrepair. The building consisted of three large rooms and a store room. It is still standing today, but is a couple of heavy snowfalls from becoming another pile of wood. I don't think that it would be repairable given the damage to the foundation. I do like the natural stonework around the foundation and want to incorporate the appearance of natural rock work into the decor. The site is still withdrawn as an Administrative area.


This is at the Mesa Guard Station, of note is the rock walk-way. I am thinking of using slate tile to mimic stone for the floor.

Big old blue dart.

I posted these in the wrong order, oh well. This the the newly named "big old blue dart". Note it is not in the garage anymore.... It got outside on its own power thanks to some help from my dad and an morning of wiring, cleaning, trouble shooting, carpet laying, etc. I took the family on a quick drive around the block and it works. Now for the little stuff to be finished so that I can register the beast.

The inside: the carpet is new, the dash is in, the wires disappeared and the seats are hideous. Off to wal-mart to buy some cheap seat covers.


I took my Dad, my family and some friends on a really long ride to the doll house ruin. It is in its original condition, looks like it was built last year not 700+ years ago.


The sprinklers are in. The fence is up. The Blazer is out of the garage. A few more things to do and I will be getting the Man Cave under construction.

I have been busy and out of town for a while and have put some projects on the back burner. Note the newly tilled side yard... Yesterday we hauled 40lbs of seed home from wal-mart. I have some pipe and plans to get the trench-digger to install a sprinkler system on this side of the house. After observations this year we determined that the north side of this area(the left of the picture) would be a good place for tomato plants. I will be plumbing the water to include a valve to water the plants, a line with a tap attachment, and another valve to water the grass.

I constructed this pad with the left-over cement (fence posts). Wal-mart was clearing out their grills. Our last one died a windy death in Eagle Mountain and was brought here in a state of misery, the kind that normally is resolved with a pistol. This one has a dedicated shelter and a cover to preserve it for a few years. If we have a repeat monster snow year I will have to shift the grill to a better, more wind proof location.

Believe it or not this is progress. Remaining are the stereo and speakers. The gauges, switches, engine-thingy's, and lights have been wired. Luckily most information about wiring old trucks can be found on the internet. The beast will be hooked up to the battery soon and hopefully there will be no unintended fire, sparks, smoke or explosions.

This is a peek into the new wiring nest... All of the old wires were removed, everything is replaced. I don't know what will happen when it is hooked up to a battery, I hope only good things.

Besides work, the yard projects, the garage projects, the blazer project, the garage cleaning project and the hope of a man cave, I am working to get into school this winter to finish a Bachelor's Degree. I left the military with such haste I didn't get all my GI Bill information recorded. Once that is done I will be signing up for classes.

I got a new 5.8 gallon gas tank and front tire for the motorcycle so that now I will be able to travel 200 miles without a fill up.

This year we have been blessed and I fear that the girls are spoiled. I hope that over the next few months I will be working less and spending more time around the house and having fun.

Below is a link to a song on You-tube that a buddy of mine posted on his facebook page.

Shrek Song

Update for "Waylon"

Waylon is coming in up on 40000 miles. My not so trusty steed hasn't let me down, just likes to complain. We took the wagon (camp trailer) on the trail across the state. Had to get the whip out on I-70. Waylon has the ability to pull, just got to rev him out to get over the San Rafael Swell.

When we got home the transmission was acting up. I unplugged the battery for a few minutes and now things are right again.

At 30k miles I re-shoe'd him. The BF Goodrich KM2's did very well. Road manners were decent, tires were quiet and off road was impressive. KM2's weren't available so the new Shoes are Nitto mud tires. They are a 10 ply tire which means higher load rating and ability to run over 70 psi. Waylon's pressure light had been stuck in the on position because the tires weren't rated at a high enough pressure, problem solved with the right tire. Road manners are a little worse than the KM2s (noise and vibration), but they are impressive off road. With 10k miles I haven't noticed any irregular wear. We will see if they make it to 30k. Overall Waylon serves the purpose, just wish there was more room, no speed limiter, and that I could drive with the lights out...