Anyone installed Tool Tubes on the ST?

Hi guys,
I recently got 2 MSR bottles with these tubes to mount on the St1300.
and I am having a hard time finding a location to mount these.
Does anyone have them installed or have any ideas? I'm stumped.
We ride 2up most of the time so I have to be mindful of the Mrs. mounting and dismounting.
I don't want to drill into the side cases, so anywhere but.

Mike

Re: Anyone installed these on the ST?

I've seen these for tool kits and for welding rod holders.

But I'm guessing that in your scenario they are water bottles? So you want them close to hand?

Re: Anyone installed these on the ST?

STrangr said:

Hi guys,
I recently got 2 MSR bottles with these tubes to mount on the St1300.
and I am having a hard time finding a location to mount these.
Does anyone have them installed or have any ideas? I'm stumped.
We ride 2up most of the time so I have to be mindful of the Mrs. mounting and dismounting.
I don't want to drill into the side cases, so anywhere but.

Mike

Click to expand...

I have 2 water bottles on my bike. One for the passenger and one for me. What are "MSR" bottles?

Re: Anyone installed these on the ST?

ddemair said:

What are "MSR" bottles?

Click to expand...

Ahh... I missed the MSR part. I use 'em for storing Coleman fuel.

For the pillion and myself, water bottles (CamelBak bottles) are thrown in the tank bag. If riding solo, CamelBak bladder and a single bottle for a second flavor/type of refreshment are in the tank bag.

I understand he got the msr bottles... the tool tubes came with the deal. The tubes shown are intended to hold manuals for ag equipment right on the piece itself. Nothing to do with water bottles!!!
He just wants to know where to mount them on an ST.
They are commonly used on ADV bikes.
Doesn't everybody read ADVrider.com?
They should.....there's a whole 'nother world out there that isn't paved!!!

I'd be interested to see where these could be conveniently mounted.

scootac said:

..... Doesn't everybody read ADVrider.com?
They should.....there's a whole 'nother world out there that isn't paved!!!

Click to expand...

Sure do, but generally limit myself to Aussie section. There is a wealth of info on ADRider, but sometimes is is difficult to separate the good from the bad, the sincere comments from the smart-alec, etc ....

Williamson said:

.....
There is a wealth of info on ADRider, but sometimes is is difficult to separate the good from the bad, the sincere comments from the smart-alec, etc ....

Click to expand...

I've found very good info everywhere on ADV..... but Jo Momma isn't for the thin-skinned sensitive type!!!
Ride reports, photo section, trip planning, gear ADVice are second to none.
Of course ST-O excels at bike specific info.

Back to the tool tubes... if you have an aftermarket rear rack... possible to hang them underneath? With so much plastic, really limits the options!

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. The msr are bottles to carry extra fuel/gas. Either for camping, or extra gas for the bike on long trips e.g. Alaska. They don't need to be close to hand.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

If you normally carry a 45 to 52 liter top box you could look at mounting them on the underside of the box aligned fore and aft. They should clear the mounting plate and top of the OEM panniers. I have seen ST1100s with tents and other long cylindrical items mounted crosswise below the license plate. I don't know if the lower rear fender is stout enough for this on the 1300.

Another tip is do not overfill the MSR bottles and don't lay them on their side, as some have reported they leak when the fuel heats up....... what about passenger footpeg area? Also there are other fuel carrying alternatives that have bottles shaped more rectangular and come with a bracket (I'm not talking about RotoPacks). You'll find them on adventure bike forums/vendors (I can't recall where I saw them).

RaYzerman said:

Another tip is do not overfill the MSR bottles and don't lay them on their side, as some have reported they leak when the fuel heats up.......

Click to expand...

I traveled thousands of miles on a NC700X with a MSR bottle mounted horizontally without a leak. If you fill it to the Full line and tighten the cap you have no leaks. Just a data point.

dduelin said:

I traveled thousands of miles on a NC700X with a MSR bottle mounted horizontally without a leak

Click to expand...

not on an NC700 though. But never had a leak.

I purchased two of the tool tubes as well and haven't been able to find a spot either ....so I'm very interested in what others have to say. I did hear one st owner mounted them at the back of one of the panniers. I'm assuming he had to drill. I won't be doing that.So for now I just throw my fuel bottle in it and leave it in a pannier.

PFD023 said:

I purchased two of the tool tubes as well and haven't been able to find a spot either

Click to expand...

Well that's not encouraging.
There has to be a way

I would suggest mount them where I have my toolbox... but right next to the exhaust outlet is probably not a great place to be storing gas...

T_C said:

I would suggest mount them where I have my toolbox... but right next to the exhaust outlet is probably not a great place to be storing gas...

Click to expand...

Being in the plastic tube, I don't think I would worry about it.
Got a pic?

I carried two MSR 1 liter bottles of fuel on my SS1000 last year,,, and they saved my bacon no less than 3 times,, as the CB that I was riding had some real fuel capacity issues. I just stood them up in the rear trunk case,, wrapped in a pair of micro-fibre cloths to stop rattling. I did not experience any seepage or vapors,,, but I did keep my bike supplies,, in the trunk case,,, and clothing and such in the saddlebags. On the ST now,,, I am debating the need to carry spare fuel at all,, or oil for that matter,,, maybe some coolant. It is one less thing to worry about carrying. I suppose,, that if I was camping I might want to use the MSR's for stove fuel,, if I ever get into that mode,, but naphtha is super volitile. If I was determined to mount the carry tubes,,, I would put a flat plate on the rear rack that extends out the sides,, and bolt them to that. A bit draggy though. Cat'

OK, a couple of ideas. Since the ST has full coverage of plastic, there is really no place to hang anything extra so you will have to be creative. I've seen some wire racks that mount on top of the top box. Someone here has wire tied a piece of PVC plastic w/ an end cap and screw cap at the other end and he stores his tent poles in this tube, I've given serious thought to making one (involves welding) and drilling and mounting it on the top box but I've not moved on it. This might be one option for you.

Another would be to fabricate - either aluminum strap or steel - a bracket that runs across the width of the bike under the top box, and hangs down on both sides. think of an inverted "U" with squared off bends. Then fabricate a 'cage' like a cup holder (i saw the kind of thing I'm talking about in another thread about hydration systems) that hangs from the vertical legs of this 'U'. Or just rig up some kind of way to secure the two bottles outboard of and next to the top box. This could be as simple as installing a thin piece of metal under the top box extending out to the sides a few inches - just enough to provide a 'shelf'.

Didn't someone here have a trailer hitch with a rectangular cooler mounted on it? This is overkill for 2 quarts of fuel, but now you have even more storage space.

I'm not a fan of carrying chemicals (gasoline) inside the panniers. Should your fuel bottle leak you have ruined your chothing...... And we all know you should not ride your bike naked.

SMSW said:

OK, a couple of ideas

Click to expand...

Thanks, those are some solid suggestions.

Catmandu2 said:

I would put a flat plate on the rear rack that extends out the sides

Click to expand...

I like the plate on the rack idea, thanks.

SMSW said:

thin piece of metal under the top box extending out to the sides a few inches -

Click to expand...

That's 2 for that idea. thanks

SMSW said:

And we all know you should not ride your bike naked.

Click to expand...

Do we really, though? :butt1:

Where there is a will,, there is a way,,,, Cat'