IMS Fuel Tanks for Honda CRF: Fitment, Capacity & Buying Guide

Choose the application before choosing the gallons

Write down the full model, year and whether the bike has ABS. Identify any aftermarket seat, radiator guard, brace or other component near the tank. Match those details with the tank listing and its installation instructions.

• CRF250L and CRF250L Rally: use separate applications. The standard CRF250L listings also split between 2012–2016 and 2017–2020.
• CRF300L and CRF300L Rally: do not interchange their tank fitment. The featured IMS 2.5-gallon tank is for the standard, non-ABS CRF300L.
• CRF450L / CRF450RL, CRF450X and CRF450R/RX: select the exact application. “CRF450” alone is not enough to choose a tank.

A larger tank can occupy space used by another accessory. For example, the 2017–2020 CRF250L 3.5-gallon listing warns of possible radiator-guard incompatibility. Confirm the actual combination before ordering.

IMS tank options at CRF's Only

These are selected applications, not an interchangeable set of sizes. Capacities are nominal US gallons. Follow the model-specific links and select the required configuration.

*CRF300L year check: IMS currently identifies 2021–2024 non-ABS models for this 2.5-gallon tank. Our listings extend to later years, so contact us to confirm a 2025–2027 application before ordering. The ABS and Rally exclusions still apply.

The 450-family year ranges above follow the linked CRF's Only listings. For a closer comparison of those three sizes, see our CRF450L / CRF450RL fuel tank upgrade guide.

Nominal capacity is not a guaranteed riding range

Nominal capacity describes the tank's advertised volume. Usable fuel is what the installed fuel system can deliver under the conditions you ride. Your planning reserve is fuel you deliberately avoid counting on. Keep those three quantities separate.

A useful planning calculation is:

Planning distance = (verified usable gallons − chosen reserve) × conservative measured mpg.

For example, if you have established 2.5 usable gallons, retain a 0.5-gallon buffer and use 40 mpg measured under comparable conditions, the calculation is 2.0 × 40 = 80 miles. This is an illustration, not a range rating for any featured tank or CRF.

Base consumption on your bike, riding pace and terrain. Soft ground, technical sections, load and changing conditions can alter fuel use. Use your own records from comparable riding, and do not deliberately run an EFI pump dry to establish capacity.

Compare the fuel you carry as well as the tank you buy

More fuel adds weight. A tank's empty weight does not describe the bike's weight when full. Choose capacity around the longest planned interval between refueling opportunities plus a sensible margin, then consider the effect of the carried fuel on handling and rider comfort.

Material, color and cap type are separate choices

The featured IMS tanks use cross-linked polyethylene. Choose the exact color and cap configuration offered for your application; a product-family name does not establish what every version includes.

• Natural: a translucent, off-white finish that can help you see the fuel level. It is not pure white or clear, and a visual level is not a calibrated usable-fuel measurement.
• Black and other colors: select from the options on the specific listing rather than assuming every capacity has the same choices.
• Screw cap: the configuration featured in the linked listings. Confirm the tank's supplied cap, seal and vent arrangement.
• Dry-break: a different refueling configuration requiring compatible equipment. Do not assume a receiver or screw-cap adapter is included.

Retaining an OEM locking cap requires a tank specifically designed for it. The standard screw-cap CRF250L tank is not automatically that version, and IMS states that its 3.5-gallon CRF250L Rally tank does not accept the OEM locking cap.

If you want dry-break refueling, ask for a complete configuration check. For example, IMS explicitly excludes both the receiver and screw-cap adapter from its 3.0-gallon 112255 dry-break tank.

Plan the pump, seals and bodywork before installation

These EFI tank upgrades should not be treated as complete new fuel systems. The documented CRF250L, CRF250L Rally and 450-family kits transfer the original pump assembly using tank-specific mounting and sealing instructions. A replacement fuel pump is not included simply because a tank comes with mounting hardware. For the CRF300L, confirm the supplied kit contents and installation instructions before starting.

Seal instructions differ. The 450-family IMS manuals specify a supplied pump O-ring in place of the original pump O-ring and dust seal. The featured CRF250L manuals specify reuse of their original pump gasket arrangement. Inspect parts and follow the exact manual; do not transfer one model's seal procedure to another.

Bodywork requirements differ, too. The early CRF250L 3.1-gallon instructions note that shroud trimming may be necessary. The later standard-L 3.5-gallon installation specifies a shroud modification. The 450-family 3.0-gallon tank requires left-shroud trimming, while the 4.5- and 5.7-gallon tanks require removal of specified inner stand-offs on both shrouds.

1. Read the complete tank instructions. Inventory the supplied hardware and identify any required additional parts.
2. Prepare the tank as IMS directs. Clean its interior before installation to keep manufacturing or handling debris out of the fuel system.
3. Transfer components using the specified procedure. Follow the correct pump orientation, seal arrangement and tightening specifications.
4. Verify clearance and routing. Check the seat, shrouds, radiator protection, fuel line, wiring and venting.
5. Complete the prescribed leak checks. Resolve seepage, poor alignment or pinched lines before operating the motorcycle.

Work with fuel only under the precautions in the instructions, away from heat and ignition sources. IMS recommends professional installation.

Compare the complete installed setup

Use the current product page for price and configuration. Allow for required mounting parts, replacement service items, any separate refueling equipment and installation labor. The largest tank or lowest base price is not automatically the best choice for your build.

Contact CRF's Only with your model and year, ABS status, intended competition use, required fuel interval and existing seat or radiator-protection details. We can help you narrow the tank, cap and installation requirements together.

For other CRF models, start with our Honda CRF Rider Guides and confirm the exact tank application. Capacity alone cannot establish fitment.

IMS Honda CRF fuel tank FAQ

Will any IMS tank with the capacity I want fit my CRF?

No. Match the full model, year, ABS configuration and part number first. Equal capacities do not mean equal pump mounts, frame fit or bodywork clearance.

Does the IMS 2.5-gallon CRF300L tank fit ABS or Rally models?

No. The featured 112258 application excludes both. IMS currently lists 2021–2024 non-ABS CRF300L fitment; confirm later years with us before ordering.

Can I use all 5.7 gallons in the largest featured tank?

Do not assume so. IMS warns that 1–2 gallons may remain in the wings depending on conditions. Plan around usable fuel and retain a reserve.

Does an IMS tank include a new fuel pump?

The documented CRF250L, CRF250L Rally and 450-family kits transfer the original pump. Confirm the contents of your exact kit, follow its seal and hardware instructions, and address pump-condition issues separately.

Will I need to modify the stock shrouds?

Possibly. Requirements vary by tank. Several featured CRF250L and 450-family applications specify trimming or removal of mounting features. Review the exact instructions before purchasing.

Are these IMS tanks approved for street use?

The featured applications are for closed-course competition use only and are not for street or highway use. The motorcycle's original registration does not change that product restriction.