TAB II Alloy Tank #3

Stephen_Spencer said:
Four piece injection moulded ABS plastic Voodoo, I believe.

If mounted correctly in its original configuration, painted (with appropriate pinstripes) it should look pretty good IMO.

Should improve performance/comfort a little also. Not for everybody obviously - but I’m likin’ it!

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Link isn’t working for me.

ABS can be heated and formed. If you made a reverse mold (or taped the tank and used it as a form) you could form the fairing to the tank.
 
Voodooo said:
Link isn’t working for me.

ABS can be heated and formed. If you made a reverse mold (or taped the tank and used it as a form) you could form the fairing to the tank.
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Hadn’t thought of that Voodoo - thanks. I’ll discuss that with the builder. He seems pretty switched on. 👍
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Hey Glen.

Tank is 390mm approx width, at the point where the fairing projections should terminate. Fairing is 300mm wiide between the fairing projections, at rest.

There is some flex available, but not 45+mm either side (90mm+ total). Certainly not given the vibration present on the 961, and when mounted correctly to the Thruxton fairing cage.

No doubt we’ll find a solution - simply flexing it is not an option.

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I measure 330 mm at the tie in as it sits on the Thruxton and 355 mm on the Norton.
It would certainly flex further on the Norton if it needed to.
Adding vibration with the tension at a 390mm width might be a killer though, I can see the installers point.

The Norton fairing at 355mm is subjected to vibrations when the bike is idling or running very slowly , however it is about as smooth as the Thruxton at normal running revs.


Glen
 
BritTwit said:
My feeling as well.
But if you have to have a fairing, should be something aggressive in appearance molded to the tank line like the Britten's.

TAB II Alloy Tank #3Hosted on Fotki
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Not for everybody BT, FE of course and contrary to what the original cafe racers were all about, although they did start appearing pretty early on. Interesting to see that Norton has taken the dart fairing off the 961 - clearly a styling choice.

Not sure something like the Britten fairing would look right on the Cafe Racer (although a very cool bike), it needs to be period appropriate for me.

The idea’s slowly forming - work in progress. Think the ally tank gold pinstripe will need a black pinstripe to it‘s outside so the gold one stands out.

Gotta love a bit of fettling!

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Stephen_Spencer said:
Not for everybody BT, FE of course and contrary to what the original cafe racers were all about, although they did start appearing pretty early on. Interesting to see that Norton has taken the dart fairing off the 961 - clearly a styling choice.

Not sure something like the Britten fairing would look right on the Cafe Racer (although a very cool bike), it needs to be period appropriate for me.

The idea’s slowly forming - work in progress. Think the ally tank gold pinstripe will need a black pinstripe to it‘s outside so the gold one stands out.

Gotta love a bit of fettling!

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Go big or go home
 

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  • TAB II Alloy Tank #3
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This guy in the UK describes this bike as having a hand made aluminium ‘tailgate’? Odd description.

My guess is the single seat cowl on top is made from ally, but the remainder of the dual seat unit is wrapped in silver or painted. What do we reckon? Has anybody in the UK ever come across this bike - it’s pretty distinctive?

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TAB Classics have updated their website to include detail of the 961 tank with a series of pictures, including dimensions of the construction.

TAB II Alloy Tank #3
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
This guy in the UK describes this bike as having a hand made aluminium ‘tailgate’? Odd description.

My guess is the single seat cowl on top is made from ally, but the remainder of the dual seat unit is wrapped in silver or painted. What do we reckon? Has anybody in the UK ever come across this bike - it’s pretty distinctive?

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Too much bling for me. I’d also guess to say that’s the same finish used on the V4 bikes.
Gaudy in my opinion.
 
Voodooo said:
Too much bling for me. I’d also guess to say that’s the same finish used on the V4 bikes.
Gaudy in my opinion.
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All personal preference of course, but there is no doubt a ‘bling line’ that shouldn’t be crossed IMO. Difference between trashy and classy maybe.

This is on the wrong side of it for me.

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This not.

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Stephen_Spencer said:
This guy in the UK describes this bike as having a hand made aluminium ‘tailgate’? Odd description.

My guess is the single seat cowl on top is made from ally, but the remainder of the dual seat unit is wrapped in silver or painted. What do we reckon? Has anybody in the UK ever come across this bike - it’s pretty distinctive?

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Just think that if you're goin' full alloy, yellow bird airbox is inappropriate.
Needs a chrome rear wheel hugger too.
That would be bitchin'
Downside - you'll spend all week cleaning and polishing the damn thing.
 
BritTwit said:
Just think that if you're goin' full alloy, yellow bird airbox is inappropriate.
Needs a chrome rear wheel hugger too.
That would be bitchin'
Downside - you'll spend all week cleaning and polishing the damn thing.
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Yep, yellow airbox ally mix does’nt work for me either BT. Not looking to go full alloy, just not a fan of the black bike with the ally tank alone - looks too disjointed to me. I know I’m not Robinson Crusoe there.

Just spitballing ideas on how to balance it out a little without straying to far from the traditional. Not even 100% on the Thruxton fairing yet - gonna see what it looks like with the tank on and painted👍.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Yep, yellow airbox ally mix does’nt work for me either BT. Not looking to go full alloy, just not a fan of the black bike with the ally tank alone - looks too disjointed to me. I know I’m not Robinson Crusoe there.

Just spitballing ideas on how to balance it out a little without straying too far from the traditional. Not even 100% on the Thruxton fairing yet - gonna see what it looks like with the tank on and painted👍.
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I agree on the disjointed looks of the aluminum tank on black bike.
Ask me how I know.

I think less is more, like painting the aluminum tank black and leaving just a section of the polished aluminum exposed and not doing the tail / seat in aluminum.

Too much polished alloy looks disjointed also.
 
Out of interest, any guesses what this product is - used to seal the original pump to tank. Has an almost putty like consistency?

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The manual states to use 1344E Threebond on Ally tanks, when installing the fuel pump.

Locktight 518 is also mentioned in other threads - for the original tank I guess.

Can I ask what you guys used on your ally tanks to seal the fuel pump?

Thanks.

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Stephen_Spencer said:
Out of interest, any guesses what this product is - used to seal the original pump to tank. Has an almost putty like consistency?

View attachment 109160

The manual states to use 1344E Threebond on Ally tanks, when installing the fuel pump.

Locktight 518 is also mentioned in other threads - for the original tank I guess.

Can I ask what you guys used on your ally tanks to seal the fuel pump?

Thanks.

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I used the loctite product on my aluminum tank.
 
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