manx 5 gallons tank for commando (alloy)

Status
Not open for further replies.

Orsonoce

Joined
Nov 12, 2010
Messages
234
Hi guys, I am thinking about change the tank (and seat) of my commando fastback.
Thinking of Manx 5 gallons (alloy, not fiberglass!) Searching around here I noticed a few providers some of you mention and wanted to have some suggestions/hints. Prices are very different and it's difficult to make a decision here.

http://www.wilcoxmetal.com/manx5.htm expensive, -I learnt from the forum this is grt quality
http://www.clubmanracing.com/nortoncommando.php -fiberglass only, so not interested
http://www.thetankshop.com/ dunno. -hearing that quality is pretty bad. is it?
http://www.tabclassics.com/categories.php?class=Norton -dunno anything about this one
http://www.burtonbikebits.net/Tanks.htm -same for this. not sure how they work
http://www.rgmmotors.co.uk/search-result.asp -pretty good price. any info on quality?
http://www.unityequipe.com/html/products.html -seems like good stuff. at a premium price. but still less than wilcox, comments?

thanks
 
The Tank Shop products are very good. Excellent overall quality alloy tanks.

Mick
 
I bought a Tank Shop Manx short-circuit model for my Commando cafe racer, excellent work, it fitted perfectly, the finish was beautiful, even polished on the underside. I would buy a tank from them again when I have the right project.
 
I have heard as well as being top quality the "Tank Shop" guy takes a lot less time than most to fulfil orders. Some buyers have been waiting several weeks to get alloy tanks from UK suppliers, as rotting GRP tanks have meant lots of people are wanting alloy replacements.
 
Gday Orsonoce,
I purchased an alloy 5 gal Manx fuel tank and oil tank to suit my featherbed project from the Tank Shop. I was more than happy when I received it as the workmanship I believe is second to none. John Williams is the master craftsman and a real wizard with the English wheel. What he created for me out of a single flat sheet of Alloy is mind blowing. I highly recommend his work, you can talk to him on ph # 44 1387740259.

Rgds Foxy
 
Orsonoce said:
http://www.rgmmotors.co.uk/search-result.asp -pretty good price. any info on quality?
Click to expand...

I bought a Slimline short circuit tank a few years ago - without clip-on indents so it was made to order according to RGM. I received a Wideline version with no baffles whatsoever, no reinforcements anywhere and a filler cap thread insert glue to the tank by some lousy looking epoxy. Wasn't too happy obviously.

BTW, aluminium isn't suited to Ethanol fuels as well so no need to replace a GRP tank with an alloy version. Ethanol dissolves the oxide layer so given enough time it will destroy the tank - if the rest of the fuel system including that fuel-eating thingie at the end of the chain survives the dissolved stuff.


Tim
 
So then does it follow to ask "who makes good steel tanks"?
I think it does. So who does?
 
Wow, never heard of that TAB Classics place before but there Norvil tank sure looks nice. Has any one seen their stuff in person or know anything about them?
 
manx 5 gallons tank for commando (alloy)

MANX SHORT CIRCUIT (LYTA STYLE) ALLOY PETROL TANK TO FIT COMMANDO

Full of sex.


manx 5 gallons tank for commando (alloy)

ALLOY MANX STYLE PETROL TANK TO FIT COMMANDO WITH MONZA CAP

Not bad. Guy in club has this and polished.

Both the same price. Just over $600 w/o shipping

http://www.rgmmotors.co.uk/items.asp?ca ... nels,Racks
 
Yeah here's mine after Paul got it back from the Polisher's... I think the leak can be fixed, I just haven't applied myself to it yet...

The petcocks also didn't let in enough fuel flow and would starve the bike under load... Not sure if that's because ethanol made the rubber swell up or what, but removing the petcock and twisting a drill bit in the open petcock cured the issue... and they don't leak!

manx 5 gallons tank for commando (alloy)
 
gtsun said:
Wow, never heard of that TAB Classics place before but there Norvil tank sure looks nice. Has any one seen their stuff in person or know anything about them?
Click to expand...


I've got one of their tanks on one of my featherbeds (a 3 gall sprint tank) fully baffled, and top quality. I'd recommend them!!
 
There was a picture in the old Motorcycle weekly or whatever ( Motorcycle Sport ? ) of the French Gendarme's Commando
in the Circuit De Perenee's . ( The things some people have to do for work ! ) The European Cop interforce ' Rally ' .

Ah , Commando , Dunstall Twin Discs , ' S ' headlamp bar / protector , P.R. seat , Norvil pipes ( they fit closer and higer )
and a Humongous ( 6 Gallon ? ) Alloy P.R. Style fuel tank . and a big grin for some reason ! .

Be more the go for a Commando . The Manx type to me is really a Duplex Loop ( Featherbed) tank and not a Isolastic period one.

The Lyster / Kennedy and KUHN ones are all similar , but this was HUGE .
Seen a breadbox bonnie tank ( Two ) chopedd / fitted to a Commando to get a decent capacity and P.R. look.Maybe + 1 foot to std.
Also a knocked about Interstate tank , reworked to get Knee Grips and clip on cut outs similar to Manx , would be more fitting
in my humble opinion . :shock: Would also salvage a dinged tank , so shouldnt be expensive ? .
 
I sort of agree. but not quite sure.
Let me tell you what's in my head: I love the proddy tank and seat. think it's one of the best possible looks for a commando, but I have the sense that to fit that on my bike would make it a bit fake (trying to make it look like a PR, but it is not a PR), while with a manx tank, you're clearly moving away from anything that existed (you're not faking a manx, you're just using that tank on a different bike).

mmmh too philosophical?
 
Orsonoce said:
I sort of agree. but not quite sure.
Let me tell you what's in my head: I love the proddy tank and seat. think it's one of the best possible looks for a commando, but I have the sense that to fit that on my bike would make it a bit fake (trying to make it look like a PR, but it is not a PR), while with a manx tank, you're clearly moving away from anything that existed (you're not faking a manx, you're just using that tank on a different bike).
mmmh too philosophical?
Click to expand...

Back in the day, if someone was seriously trying to race a Commando, they certainly might take a good look at the proddy engine and body parts which were all available to order. Manx-style tanks made to fit on Commandos, Yamahas, and God knows what else never came into vogue until hipster/wannabees wished them into existence through demand and open wallets.

Moving away from what is practical and makes sense so you can move towards "posability" is moronic.

If you "want to move away from anything that ever existed, for whatever stupid reason, then put a f(*&ing Honda Dream tank, a Harley Duo-glide or a five-gallon paint bucket on it with a couple of taps added....
 
Not for anyone to tell someone else what to do whith there bike. It's all personal opinion, I don't think Manx tanks look right on Commando frames, to me they look great on Featherbeds with vertical cylinders but that's just me. Others might love it. I have a PR set of body work & I really want to use that tank but still don't trust the glass sealing thing. Seriously considering one of those alloy PR / Dunstall tanks.
 
Orsonoce said:
I sort of agree. but not quite sure.
Let me tell you what's in my head: I love the proddy tank and seat. think it's one of the best possible looks for a commando, but I have the sense that to fit that on my bike would make it a bit fake (trying to make it look like a PR, but it is not a PR), while with a manx tank, you're clearly moving away from anything that existed (you're not faking a manx, you're just using that tank on a different bike).

mmmh too philosophical?
Click to expand...

YES. :|
 
Beng, I'm not sure why you would have a problem if I wanted to fit a five gallon paint bucket on my commando -as gtsun say defo believe it's down to personal taste (or dis-taste) and I am not sure I would express my opinion in such a strong way if I thought someones point of view was a bad idea.
Said so, I am quite a purist, and the options for me are either to keep the bike as original as possible, or to move ahead with some period enhancements and modifications. So your comments around Manx tanks not used back in the years is a very good one.
I think I did not express myself in a clear way: what I meant with "moving away from anything that existed" is that I did not want my bike to look like a fake PR. Not that I want to move away from the commando style and the way commando's where used back in the days. it's actually the other way round.
 
Orsonoce said:
Beng, I'm not sure why you would have a problem if I wanted to fit a five gallon paint bucket on my commando -as gtsun say defo believe it's down to personal taste (or dis-taste) and I am not sure I would express my opinion in such a strong way if I thought someones point of view was a bad idea.
Said so, I am quite a purist, and the options for me are either to keep the bike as original as possible, or to move ahead with some period enhancements and modifications. So your comments around Manx tanks not used back in the years is a very good one.
I think I did not express myself in a clear way: what I meant with "moving away from anything that existed" is that I did not want my bike to look like a fake PR. Not that I want to move away from the commando style and the way commando's where used back in the days. it's actually the other way round.
Click to expand...

beng is the closest thing to a troll we have on the forum, I prefer to think of him as a grumpy old man, but that's just me. :mrgreen:

That and if you say "fake PR" on more time I'm going to cry.












:cry:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top