Tank Compatability

Hello, all.
I'm new to the forum and did some searching before posting on this. I have a number of vintage motorcycles that I ride routinely. I’ve had a 74 Norton Commando for a couple of years now and really enjoy the bike. I have what I believe to be a hi-rider tank on the bike. I purchased a very nice oem steel roadster tank because I like the classic look of that tank and was intending on replacing the current hi-rider tank with the roadster. So, with that in mind, here are my questions:

Is a roadster tank a direct bolt-on replacement on my bike?
Do I have to change my seat if I change the tank?

It looks like the roadster tank would match up on the front mounts and middle strap . . . but there doesn't seem to be a tab for the mounts at the rear of the roadster tank. Are the frames actually different (with different mounting tabs for the tank)? Can somebody set me straight?
Thanks!

Jeff Woodard
08 1125R; 79 Bonnie; 74 Commando; 72 FLH; 71 Thunderbolt; 69 Chopper; 56 Pan; 47 Knuckle

The frames are all the same. Fibreglass Roadster tanks have a different rear fixing from steel versions. What seat do you have at the moment ? I've offered up a Hi-Rider tank to a Roadster seat and seem to remember not being happy with the fit but it wasn't far out and may differ for some years.

The best advice is to try it and see. The seat is the only possible variable.

Jeff, I think you will be off about an inch or so but Roadster seats come up for sale often. You don't live in Orange County California do you? Your name and bike collection ring a bell. Seems to me I met someone with similar stats here recently.

Hey, guys. Thanks for the quick reply. I spent some more time in the garage this afternoon and was able to pull the old tank and line up the roadster tank and it fits just fine. Someone had already replaced the horrible hi-rider seat with a roadster one, and it all lines up and looks great. Now that I know things fit, I'll have to pull the tins off for some new paint. Whereas I'd love to be a Californian . . . I'm on the other caost in Richmond, VA.
Thanks . . . and hope to be posting here more often!

Jeff Woodard

old-bikes-rule said:

Hey, guys. Thanks for the quick reply. I spent some more time in the garage this afternoon and was able to pull the old tank and line up the roadster tank and it fits just fine. Someone had already replaced the horrible hi-rider seat with a roadster one, and it all lines up and looks great. Now that I know things fit, I'll have to pull the tins off for some new paint. Whereas I'd love to be a Californian . . . I'm on the other caost in Richmond, VA.
Thanks . . . and hope to be posting here more often!

Jeff Woodard

Click to expand...

Bummer. I was hoping to sell my Roadster seat! Lmao!

Glad to hear everything looks good.