Suzuki's aluminum gas tank?

mike868y
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mike868y
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 9:30am
Hey guys, just wondering what the theory behind Suzuki's aluminum gas tank is? Is it just to look cool or is there a legit technological advantage given by the metal gas tank? It seems very old fashioned, and it seems as if they may have a lot of trouble with denting.
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john1753
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john1753 11/25/2008 6:08pm
11/25/2008 6:08pm
surely plastic is better, being lighter and cheaper.
flarider
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flarider 11/25/2008 6:25pm
11/25/2008 6:25pm
IMO, thermal issues
davis224
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davis224 11/25/2008 6:27pm
11/25/2008 6:27pm
supposedly so it wouldn't implode on itself under pressure from the fuel pump.
xnationalwrench 11/25/2008 6:28pm
11/25/2008 6:28pm
I believe it had something to do with the EFI pieces inside the tank. I don't think the RMF250 doesn't use a aluminium tank.

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rocrac
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rocrac 11/25/2008 6:34pm
11/25/2008 6:34pm
The tank is pressurized and also holds the fuel pump.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 11/25/2008 6:36pm
11/25/2008 6:36pm
rigidity
davis224
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davis224 11/25/2008 6:42pm
11/25/2008 6:42pm
I do believe they reason suzuki gave was the suction from the fuel pump dealio, but I just realized, honda and kawi made a plastic tank work, and so do all the manufacturers including suzuki on their FI quads. Gimmick? One model only special need? Guess only the engineers know for sure.
UpTiTe 11/25/2008 6:46pm
11/25/2008 6:46pm
Iknow why they did it in 83 and 84.

To keep the fuel pressurized.
flarider
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flarider 11/25/2008 6:51pm
11/25/2008 6:51pm
But the tank has a vent hose
500guy
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500guy 11/25/2008 6:53pm
11/25/2008 6:53pm
davis224 wrote:
I do believe they reason suzuki gave was the suction from the fuel pump dealio, but I just realized, honda and kawi made a plastic tank...
I do believe they reason suzuki gave was the suction from the fuel pump dealio, but I just realized, honda and kawi made a plastic tank work, and so do all the manufacturers including suzuki on their FI quads. Gimmick? One model only special need? Guess only the engineers know for sure.
thats because the quads have a different set up and use battery power
UpTiTe 11/25/2008 6:55pm
11/25/2008 6:55pm Edited Date/Time 11/25/2008 6:56pm
flarider wrote:
But the tank has a vent hose
Not the new bikes, in 84 they ran a fuel pump. If they are running a pump for the EFI it would still suck in a plastic tank even with a vent hose.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 11/25/2008 6:55pm
11/25/2008 6:55pm
flarider wrote:
But the tank has a vent hose
one way?
UpTiTe 11/25/2008 6:57pm
11/25/2008 6:57pm
One way would still release pressure.
rocrac
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rocrac 11/25/2008 7:00pm
11/25/2008 7:00pm
It's powered entirely by the magneto which eliminates the need for any form of battery. The unit is bolted to the bottom of an all-new aluminum fuel tank. That's right, aluminum! The light-weight material was chosen rather than traditional plastic for a better seal with the EFI system. Inside the tank rests the Keihin fuel pump which is located at the lowest point. Because fuel won't be lost through overflow and is metered with higher precision, the new RM-Z is said to get much improved fuel economy. So much in fact that Suzuki was able to pare down the aluminum tank to 1.6 gallons, a 0.2-gallon decrease from the old model.


Courtesy of Dirtrider.
flarider
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flarider 11/25/2008 7:00pm
11/25/2008 7:00pm
YZ441
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YZ441 11/25/2008 7:02pm
11/25/2008 7:02pm
ugly bike
Hunter
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Hunter 11/25/2008 7:02pm
11/25/2008 7:02pm
flarider wrote:
But the tank has a vent hose
UpTiTe wrote:
Not the new bikes, in 84 they ran a fuel pump. If they are running a pump for the EFI it would still suck in a...
Not the new bikes, in 84 they ran a fuel pump. If they are running a pump for the EFI it would still suck in a plastic tank even with a vent hose.
False.
UpTiTe 11/25/2008 7:02pm
11/25/2008 7:02pm
Bobby just go ahead and make that call to my buddy Tony and ask him.

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rocrac
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rocrac 11/25/2008 7:06pm
11/25/2008 7:06pm
YZ441 wrote:
ugly bike
Not quite as ugly as the YZ's though.
YZ441
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YZ441 11/25/2008 7:08pm
11/25/2008 7:08pm
to each is his own my friend. i find that the 09 YZ's look pretty sick in white.
Kawirider
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Kawirider 11/25/2008 7:31pm
11/25/2008 7:31pm
Its pretty trick looking though, IMO.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 11/25/2008 7:35pm
11/25/2008 7:35pm Edited Date/Time 11/25/2008 7:36pm
UpTiTe wrote:
Bobby just go ahead and make that call to my buddy Tony and ask him.
seriously? I will....but, why don't you?
UpTiTe 11/25/2008 7:38pm
11/25/2008 7:38pm
Dont have his number.
john1753
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john1753 11/25/2008 7:44pm
11/25/2008 7:44pm
"magneto"!?
i didn't know X-men helped develop Zooks!!!!!
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tunedlength 11/25/2008 8:42pm
11/25/2008 8:42pm
flarider wrote:
But the tank has a vent hose
UpTiTe wrote:
Not the new bikes, in 84 they ran a fuel pump. If they are running a pump for the EFI it would still suck in a...
Not the new bikes, in 84 they ran a fuel pump. If they are running a pump for the EFI it would still suck in a plastic tank even with a vent hose.
Honda and Kawasaki uses plastic with EFI..
R-acer
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R-acer 11/26/2008 3:53am
11/26/2008 3:53am
If anything...it looks cool
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 11/26/2008 4:29am
11/26/2008 4:29am
Folks, if the tank is vented, then it can't be pressurized - either positvely or negatively. From a safety standpoint, I can't imagine Suzuki sending guys out to ride motocross with a pressurized tank of gasoline between their legs anyway, that seems kind of spooky to me. Probably, they wanted a more rigid mounting area for the internal fuel pump than a traditional plastic tank.
davis224
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davis224 11/26/2008 4:32am
11/26/2008 4:32am
davis224 wrote:
I do believe they reason suzuki gave was the suction from the fuel pump dealio, but I just realized, honda and kawi made a plastic tank...
I do believe they reason suzuki gave was the suction from the fuel pump dealio, but I just realized, honda and kawi made a plastic tank work, and so do all the manufacturers including suzuki on their FI quads. Gimmick? One model only special need? Guess only the engineers know for sure.
500guy wrote:
thats because the quads have a different set up and use battery power
1, that still leaves honda and kawi's new 450s, 2, your source of power should have no bearing on how much fuel pressure you have, and I think a 1000cc twin would put more stress on something than a 450cc single.
R-acer
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R-acer 11/26/2008 4:37am
11/26/2008 4:37am
WhKnuckle wrote:
Folks, if the tank is vented, then it can't be pressurized - either positvely or negatively. From a safety standpoint, I can't imagine Suzuki sending guys...
Folks, if the tank is vented, then it can't be pressurized - either positvely or negatively. From a safety standpoint, I can't imagine Suzuki sending guys out to ride motocross with a pressurized tank of gasoline between their legs anyway, that seems kind of spooky to me. Probably, they wanted a more rigid mounting area for the internal fuel pump than a traditional plastic tank.
This sounds right to me...
xnationalwrench 11/26/2008 4:46am
11/26/2008 4:46am
One of the tests about the new bikes stated that they used almost a double thickness of plastic in fuel tanks.

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