Was the Commando Roadster ever manufactured with a plastic tank ??


I believe they were all steel and a plastic tank must be aftermarket ???

Engie wrote: Was the Commando Roadster ever manufactured with a plastic tank ??

Do you mean moulded plastic or glass fibre?

If you mean glass fibre/GRP/fiberglass then, yes.

As Fastback tanks and early Interstate and Hi-Rider tanks were also made of glass fibre/GRP/fiberglass.

Pretty much pre-'73 Nortons had fiberglass tanks, with the filler cap hinged at the front. They were replaced by steel tanks in '73 (not sure about the hi-rider, as I've never seen a later one) with the cap hinged at the back. Something about US regulations.

My '06 Triumph Speed Triple has a plastic tank, but Triumph changed to a metal tank in '07, also something about US regulations. I know in Triumph's case, many '07s still came with plastic tanks, as they were allowed to exhaust stocks. The bikes used identical tanks in '06 and '07.

The theory is a metal tank is less likely to spill fuel in a crash, as it would dent rather than crack or split, and I understand this is the reason behind this rule. It supposedly applies to manufacturers of road-going machines over a certain volume of units sold. Triumph is supposed to have hit this magic number during 2006, and hence fell under the rule.

Some say a metal tank is more likely to catch fire, as it is more likely to spark while sliding down the road.

My 72 combat roadster (bought in the riding months of 72) had a steel tank and side covers. Bought in Canada. It also had superblends.

I've owned two '72 and one '73 750 roadsters...all had fiberglass tanks leaving the factory.

Rip VW

Riding months...that's March through November, right?

Hi, yes but all I remember is I had lots of riding time after I purchased it so it likely was bought in May or June is my guess. It could be - when Canada finally got their shipment they were the 1st of the new improved models.