the offical 09-12 ims/acerbis/stock tank comparison (56k no way)
#1
09-02-2011, 05:22 AM
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Murrieta, Ca
Posts: 1,439
the offical 09-12 ims/acerbis/stock tank comparison (56k no way)
ok, so now ims has come out with there tank 3 gallon for the 09-12 bikes to wean people like me off the ugly and over sided acerbis 3.7 gallon. now seeing there are now three choices for anyone with a 09-12 bike (the stock tank, acerbis 3.7 gallon 96-06 tank and modding the side panels, or now (thankfully) the ims 3 gallon), i thought i would give my option on the differences.
first stock.
well its small, heavy, and has this annoying key cap bs. it metal, so obviously all you can rely on for fuel readings is a odometer or looking in the tank. its only 2 gallons, so about 80ish miles to reserve, about empty at 110 miles iirc.
pre 09-12 tanks.
if you had the bike before aug. 2011, you had to mod the bike to an 96-06 tank. as far as i know, no one has fit the 96-06 clark or ims tank to an 09-12, but i and some others have done a small mod to the side panels to get the acerbis tank to fit.
its big at 3.7 gallons, good for the desert or a lazy commuter. it doesnt look the part as its a 96-06 part on a 09-12 bike. its semi clear, so those with a keen eye can see how much it has left. on that note its also green, and matches the stock platics almost perfect. its also got wings. this can be a good or a bad thing.
pros
*thick and protect the radiators.
*could tilt the bike if reserve is emptied and get a few more miles (not 100% proven)
cons
*because gas i held in the wings, its thicker to do so, in this case widening the bike, imho making the bike feel heavy and a bit less flickable. also makes it harder to really rail ruts cus you have to hold your leg higher not to catch.
*wings hold almost a half gallon of gas, all the time, that is almost never used except in extreme range cases. gas weighs 6lbs a gallon, so thats 3 lbs of lead 99% of the time, and gold 1% of the time.
* while the wings protect your radiators, the brackets that hold them to the lowest radiator support, hate that support. it will eat that up if you drop the bike hard a few times.
*petcock restricts the choke so you have to hold it.
pics
early impressions of the ims 3 gallon.
a, i like others got almost 3 gallons, and with time should see 3.0 or 3.1. b, i think the fit of this tank, while a bit tight getting it on, is damn near perfect. the shrouds fit flush with the tank making the side nice and smooth. the clear nature is nice, little hard to see right now but it should get better with age. so far no complains, i like it.
pics
vs prototype pic
just tank
vs prototype pic
now side by sides
and for the record, this slowed me a little...
first stock.
well its small, heavy, and has this annoying key cap bs. it metal, so obviously all you can rely on for fuel readings is a odometer or looking in the tank. its only 2 gallons, so about 80ish miles to reserve, about empty at 110 miles iirc.
pre 09-12 tanks.
if you had the bike before aug. 2011, you had to mod the bike to an 96-06 tank. as far as i know, no one has fit the 96-06 clark or ims tank to an 09-12, but i and some others have done a small mod to the side panels to get the acerbis tank to fit.
its big at 3.7 gallons, good for the desert or a lazy commuter. it doesnt look the part as its a 96-06 part on a 09-12 bike. its semi clear, so those with a keen eye can see how much it has left. on that note its also green, and matches the stock platics almost perfect. its also got wings. this can be a good or a bad thing.
pros
*thick and protect the radiators.
*could tilt the bike if reserve is emptied and get a few more miles (not 100% proven)
cons
*because gas i held in the wings, its thicker to do so, in this case widening the bike, imho making the bike feel heavy and a bit less flickable. also makes it harder to really rail ruts cus you have to hold your leg higher not to catch.
*wings hold almost a half gallon of gas, all the time, that is almost never used except in extreme range cases. gas weighs 6lbs a gallon, so thats 3 lbs of lead 99% of the time, and gold 1% of the time.
* while the wings protect your radiators, the brackets that hold them to the lowest radiator support, hate that support. it will eat that up if you drop the bike hard a few times.
*petcock restricts the choke so you have to hold it.
pics
early impressions of the ims 3 gallon.
a, i like others got almost 3 gallons, and with time should see 3.0 or 3.1. b, i think the fit of this tank, while a bit tight getting it on, is damn near perfect. the shrouds fit flush with the tank making the side nice and smooth. the clear nature is nice, little hard to see right now but it should get better with age. so far no complains, i like it.
pics
vs prototype pic
just tank
vs prototype pic
now side by sides
and for the record, this slowed me a little...
Last edited by punkenduro09; 09-02-2011 at 05:24 AM.
#3
09-02-2011, 02:21 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
Nice write up, great pictures and comparisons. To be honest, if I need to get more range out of my bike I'll carry my MSR Bottles. Never been a fan of the Acerbis tank, fugly in my opinion, and the other tank looks good, and perhaps someday, but I still need to add the kickstarter....Donations accepted..LOL
#4
09-02-2011, 02:35 PM
Nice comparative! I think the boys at IMS did a very good job...I was impressed how well the stock shrouds fit in the grooves. They mounted fine with my Unabiker radiator guards, too!
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