Desert Fox Trail 3L Fuel Cell Review

On that ride we covered around 475km for the day, but one section caught us out. We both underestimated the distance to the next fuel stop and ended up limping into Parys with roughly one litre of fuel left in each bike. It was enough to convince me that carrying a small reserve of fuel makes a lot more sense than constantly worrying about where the next petrol station is.

I deliberately chose the 3L version over the larger 6L model.

For me, the 690's biggest strength is how light and agile it feels off-road, and I've spent quite a bit of time setting my bike up to keep the weight as far forward as possible. Adding unnecessary weight behind the rear axle quickly makes these bikes feel nervous and twitchy, especially on rough gravel roads.

Three litres is the sweet spot.

It adds enough reserve to comfortably extend my practical riding range from around 240km to somewhere close to 300km, without carrying an extra three litres that I'll rarely need. The fuel cell itself is compact, weighs only 400g when empty, and packs away almost flat once it's been used.

The build quality is excellent. Heavy-duty materials, reinforced stitching, multiple daisy chains and D-rings make it easy to secure almost anywhere on the bike. I plan to strap mine across the rear luggage when needed, and when I'm riding closer to home it'll simply stay folded away.

Another nice touch is the included fuel spout, which stores neatly in its own dust-proof pocket, so there's nothing extra to pack or lose.

I also like the philosophy behind the product. If you're travelling further afield, carrying two smaller fuel cells instead of one large one gives you more flexibility in how you pack your bike, and if one were ever damaged, you wouldn't lose your entire fuel reserve.

I haven't had to use it on a ride yet, but based on the design, quality and the confidence it'll give me when exploring more remote routes, I'm already convinced it was the right purchase.

Final Thoughts

If you ride a KTM 690, Husqvarna 701 or any lightweight adventure bike, I'd seriously consider the 3L version before automatically buying the bigger one. Unless you're crossing vast distances between fuel stops, carrying only the fuel you actually need keeps the bike handling the way it was designed to.

For my riding, the 3L Desert Fox Trail Fuel Cell is the perfect balance between extending range and preserving the lightweight feel that makes the 690 such an enjoyable adventure bike.