Where can I get a slimline or manx tank????

71Norton750 · Oct 29, 2009

Does anyone know where I can get a slimline or manx replica fuel tank? does anyone have one for sale or info? I have a 71 commando that I am trying to fit it on and if someone wants to do a partial trade with some $$$ ontop im open to it. Im also looking for disk brakes too! please let me knok what you have! thanks

Chris T · Oct 29, 2009

If you look at Ken McIntosh's site http://www.manxnorton.co.nz/home/, you will find a number of different tanks including a Manx style that he uses for the Nortons that he builds and restores. Remember the prices are in New Zealand dollars, so overseas buyers will generally be able to discount the price somewhat - although they are still not cheap. I've visited his workshop; its something of a motorcycle heaven.

71Norton750 · Oct 29, 2009

Chris T said:
If you look at Ken McIntosh's site http://www.manxnorton.co.nz/home/, you will find a number of different tanks including a Manx style that he uses for the Nortons that he builds and restores. Remember the prices are in New Zealand dollars, so overseas buyers will generally be able to discount the price somewhat - although they are still not cheap. I've visited his workshop; its something of a motorcycle heaven.

thanks , and yeah they are kinda pricy, I was looking for something in the $400 range, Ive seen plenty of them and now that my bikes is running im kind of desperate for a nice tank. I live about a hour away from the corbin seat company in hollister and I want to make sure I have a seat made to a nice tank that I actualy like.

grandpaul · Oct 30, 2009

71Norton750 said:
...I was looking for something in the $400 range, Ive seen plenty of them ...

When you find those $400 aluminum tanks, let me know and I'll take a half dozen of them. I'll send you a cashier's check on overnight express.

71Norton750 · Oct 30, 2009

grandpaul said:
71Norton750 said:

...I was looking for something in the $400 range, Ive seen plenty of them ...

Click to expand...

When you find those $400 aluminum tanks, let me know and I'll take a half dozen of them. I'll send you a cashier's check on overnight express.

Im not sure the name of the company but they are from the philepines I think, the used to sell a LOT of universal tanks that were polished and had the pop up monza caps, they are going for $350 and up to $500! I think there is one on ebay now. heres the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cafe-Rac ... ccessories
I cant fnd the exact comapany anymore but when I was looking for the tanks and I found those it was about 8 months ago, not sure if they went out of business or what? heres another one too: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/triton-motrocycle ... 286.c0.m14
anotherone: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NORTON-S ... 06.c0.m245 all 3 of these were less than $400 so if you wanted one you should send a cashier's check to them not me. :lol:

Chris · Oct 30, 2009

Hi
Sorry to say but Grandpaul is right! John at the Tank shop will do one for you for a wideline slimline or commando for £360. Also Monza caps are £38 each.
Plus postage plus duty etc. Most Alloy Tanks are around the £400 mark. If you look on E bay at Unity Equipe they sell the same tank for £580!!!!
Someone must be buying them. These are the same company that sell my friends Manx frames (Kempton auto jumble stall, to us £680) via Unity & E bay £1850.
Not a bad mark up.
The only problem with all suppliers is the guys making them are getting older & the skill is being lost with them.
Good luck in finding your cheap tank.
all the best Chris

grandpaul · Oct 30, 2009

Not sure if the Yamaha tank works with Commando frame?

Also, that second (red) one is fiberglass and totally different.

SteveMinning · Oct 30, 2009

Having built a few bikes myself and searched for alloy tanks I can tell you that you don't get what you don't pay for. Inexpensive alloy tanks usually have a reason that they are inexpensive. I bought a tank from Unity Equipe some years ago and the aluminum was so thin that it wrinkled while sitting on the shelf (heat expansion?).

Expect to pay 400-500 pounds or $800 to $1200 for a quality tank. The tank shop offers good tanks, but they are pricey:

http://www.thetankshop.com/

Andy Cowell also makes custom tanks, but he is on the upper side of the price I quoted and reportedly takes a year or so to deliver. Andy can be reached through AHRMA.

71Norton750 · Oct 30, 2009

SteveMinning said:
Having built a few bikes myself and searched for alloy tanks I can tell you that you don't get what you don't pay for. Inexpensive alloy tanks usually have a reason that they are inexpensive. I bought a tank from Unity Equipe some years ago and the aluminum was so thin that it wrinkled while sitting on the shelf (heat expansion?).

Expect to pay 400-500 pounds or $800 to $1200 for a quality tank. The tank shop offers good tanks, but they are pricey:

http://www.thetankshop.com/

Andy Cowell also makes custom tanks, but he is on the upper side of the price I quoted and reportedly takes a year or so to deliver. Andy can be reached through AHRMA.

yeah! I know about the tank shop, the only bad thing is that the guy only has a phone number posted and no email, does anyone have an email address? Ive stayed up till 4am once and called but he never answered! :evil:

grandpaul · Oct 30, 2009

T.A.baker in Wales built a really nice one fr a resto client of mine. Lots of time and money, to be sure...

dave M · Oct 30, 2009

John Williams of The Tank Shop is basically a one-man-band operation based in the rural wilds of Southern Scotland, I bought my cafe racer tank from him and was very pleased with the quality and the price. I managed to phone him in the evening his time and then during a trip to the U.K. I went to visit to pick up my tank, He does have a postal address on his web-site, so perhaps a letter might do the trick. Maybe he uses this as a means to filter out those impatient souls who expect immediate action. If you want any of his excellent work you will certainly have to have patience, as he has a full order book and only one pair of hands.

71Norton750 · Oct 30, 2009

dave M said:
John Williams of The Tank Shop is basically a one-man-band operation based in the rural wilds of Southern Scotland, I bought my cafe racer tank from him and was very pleased with the quality and the price. I managed to phone him in the evening his time and then during a trip to the U.K. I went to visit to pick up my tank, He does have a postal address on his web-site, so perhaps a letter might do the trick. Maybe he uses this as a means to filter out those impatient souls who expect immediate action. If you want any of his excellent work you will certainly have to have patience, as he has a full order book and only one pair of hands.

Thats exactly what I was thinking! Im contiplating on making my own gas tanks! I have a few bucks to play around and experiment with but not too much because what use is a tank with a bike that isnt running :shock:

Where can I get a slimline or manx tank????

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