R100 petrol tank on a commando?

DonOR · Feb 5, 2010

My leaking glass tank has left my bike unusable.
My first choice, alloy from waldridge, is nice, but a bit out of budget for these times.
A fellow on the other side of the island, a three hour drive (one way), has an R100 tank in excellent shape, for a song.
Any members out there try this one? It would great to hear if it clears the bars without spending a day at it.
Cheers,
Don

grandpaul · Feb 5, 2010

The scale of that tank is wrong. In reality, it is larger by a significant amount.

DonOR · Feb 5, 2010

grandpaul said:
The scale of that tank is wrong. In reality, it is larger by a significant amount.

thanks Paul, that's simply my photoshop visualization of the concept. I guess I could fit an electraglide tank on there if I was really crazy... I'll let you know what I find out.

batrider · Feb 5, 2010

aaaargggghh!

pelican · Feb 5, 2010

looks cool in ur pic 8) but gp is right ... the actual tank is prob 2.5 times that size

DonOR · Feb 5, 2010

NOW I looked it up...BMW tank is 6 gallons, commando glass tank, about 3.
so much for that idea, any other suggestions?

79x100 · Feb 5, 2010

The big problem with fitting any other tank to the Commando is the large diameter of the frame spine which needs an even larger tunnel to clear it and the rear of the engine cradle joins the spine in quite a forward position (even Roadster tanks have a clearance for them). I can't envisage any standard tank that will drop straight on.

Coco · Feb 5, 2010

Mount a Hi Rider tank. Someone has to have a cheap Hi Rider tank laying around.

Sorry, I just love those tanks so I'm trying to live vicariously through you.

79x100 · Feb 5, 2010

Coco said:
Mount a Hi Rider tank. Someone has to have a cheap Hi Rider tank laying around.

Sorry, I just love those tanks so I'm trying to live vicariously through you.

I've got an NOS Hi-Rider tank but it is, as per the vast majority , fibreglass as well. Only very late examples had steel. It is a nice tank and ideal for showing off trick head steadies !

The cheapest steel tanks in the UK are Long Range Fastbacks but postage charges are going to push the cost right up.

tpeever · Feb 5, 2010

DonOR said:
My leaking glass tank has left my bike unusable.
My first choice, alloy from waldridge, is nice, but a bit out of budget for these times.
A fellow on the other side of the island, a three hour drive (one way), has an R100 tank in excellent shape, for a song.
Any members out there try this one? It would great to hear if it clears the bars without spending a day at it

I think you will need to bite the bullet and find a used steel Commando tank to repair or a new one from Pakistan (that might also need some repair).

RennieK · Feb 5, 2010

grandpaul said:
The scale of that tank is wrong. In reality, it is larger by a significant amount.

Actually for a 6 gallon tank I'd say the scale is pretty well bang on.
But that is one big mutha of a norton.

swooshdave · Feb 5, 2010

RennieK said:
grandpaul said:

The scale of that tank is wrong. In reality, it is larger by a significant amount.

Click to expand...

Actually for a 6 gallon tank I'd say the scale is pretty well bang on.
But that is one big mutha of a norton.

Keep in mind that the Interstate is only 5 gals.

splatt · Feb 6, 2010

move the back edge of the tank back to the pin striping on the side cover, that would make it similar to an interstate

L.A.B. · Feb 6, 2010

swooshdave said:
RennieK said:

grandpaul said:

The scale of that tank is wrong. In reality, it is larger by a significant amount.

Click to expand...

Actually for a 6 gallon tank I'd say the scale is pretty well bang on.
But that is one big mutha of a norton.

Click to expand...

Keep in mind that the Interstate is only 5 gals.

The early Interstate tank capacity was listed as "5.84 Imperial gallons, or 7.3 US gallons (26.57 litres)" however, the later Interstate tanks were 5.25 Imp.gal./6.3 US gal./23.87Ltr.

Even so, the BMW tank couldn't be made to fit easily, as it can hopefully be seen in the photos, not only is it too long (surprisingly the BMW tank isn't much longer than the Roadster tank!), it would foul the frame loop tubing!

Here's a BMW frame for comparison:

79x100 · Feb 6, 2010

Nice one Les !

Once again L.A.B. demonstrates his commitment to the forum by completely dismantling a motorcycle for the benefit of forum members !

swooshdave · Feb 6, 2010

L.A.B. said:
swooshdave said:

Keep in mind that the Interstate is only 5 gals.

Click to expand...

The early Interstate tank capacity was listed as "5.84 Imperial gallons, or 7.3 US gallons (26.57 litres)" however, the later Interstate tanks were 5.25 Imp.gal./6.3 US gal./23.87Ltr.

I was using metric gallons. :mrgreen:

DonOR · Feb 6, 2010

many thanks LAB!
this does not look like an easy fit... though I do have a real big rubber mallet here, hehehehe.
If I do find a low budget, short term solution, I will post.
Cheers,
Don

rvich · Feb 8, 2010

If your tank is completely unusable, it must be time to try some radical experimentation! If you are willing to let it go, let me know and I will gladly torture it and report back to the group.
Russ

Cookie · Feb 8, 2010

There is a Suzuki tank that might come close to fitting. I have one at home I made into a faux tank for a Goldwing. I'll post a picture tonight. The tough pasrt for me is that I like the shape of Commando tanks.

DonOR · Feb 8, 2010

rvich, once I find a solution, you can have the tank.
Like Cookie, I think the design, form, contours, and workmanship are sublime... it is simply beautiful, but ethanol will completely destroy it, and after two treatments of POR-15, I'm ready to give it up. I'll let ya know.

R100 petrol tank on a commando?

DonOR

grandpaul

DonOR

batrider

pelican

DonOR

79x100

Coco

79x100

tpeever

RennieK

swooshdave

splatt

L.A.B.

Moderator

79x100

swooshdave

DonOR

rvich

Cookie

DonOR

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