Gas tanks from India

concours · May 21, 2024

quawk said:
Your response and pic of your bike make if tuff to decide. Considerable negative feedback about the India made tanks, but your story and the pic of your tank/bike, as I said makes me wonder. I know you can't tell everything from one pic, but your tank looks NICE. Like the whole bike.

How are your metal fabrication skills?

Good enough to re-work poorly made stuff?

savingclassicmotorcycles · May 21, 2024

I've got one for my 68 Commando 'fastback' before they were called the fastback.

Bought it years ago but just got round to putting it into paint.

the top of the tank was ok exact using a profile gauge, badge recess sizes were to small, with the 68' there's not many options as my original tank can't be used now. Bottom of the tank wasn't like the original but fit's on ok front studs needed a rework to as they were on a slant an to short, easy fix, one fuel filler inset is on an angle but clears the frame so ok again.

It's a compromise I'm gonna hand make my own badges like they used to so they fit the tank, my plan is to use this for now then get something hand made when I can financially afford it, If I had the option I'd get the emgo one but they dont do fastback or early fastback so Indian it was

something is better than nothing that's for sure.

Oh yep it's super super heavy to, so im planning on an ally one at some point made to specs.

Stephen Hill · May 21, 2024

Some established venders were bringing in tanks from India for resale. This raises the price but provide some quality control. This an alternative to the crapshoot of buying directly from India.

kommando · May 21, 2024

quawk said:
I contacted Greg Marsh about a tank.

Its a fairly common item, so try elsewhere. AN do them and no doubt others in the US if the AN pricing is too high. A number of dealers grouped together to buy the batch.

concours · May 21, 2024

kommando said:
Its a fairly common item, so try elsewhere. AN do them and no doubt others in the US if the AN pricing is too high. A number of dealers grouped together to buy the batch.

Commando Specialties has them.

Norton Commando Roadster Fuel Tank

commandospecialties.com

o0norton0o · May 21, 2024

Ironic that the commando specialties tank image in Concour's link clearly has a dent in it.... but for that price and from a company that you could actually send the tank back too if you were not satisfied, I think it's a pretty good deal myself. I would bet you that commando specialties get it from........

Tornado · May 21, 2024

concours said:
Commando Specialties has them.

Norton Commando Roadster Fuel Tank

Norton Commando Roadster Fuel Tank

commandospecialties.com

I believe CS's tanks are sourced from India/Pakistan, not the EMGO units. My repro tank came to me bare steel from a member here and was stated to be from CS. Though I have it nicely painted/fitted, it does have fitment issues that I've worked around. As always, be sure to leak test (soapy spray, latex glove over the fuel cap, blow into an open petcock with a bit of clean hose.; no need for any higher pressure than what your lungs can make).

baz · May 21, 2024

I guess if you really want to buy an Indian tank then buy one in bare metal and go over the whole thing making sure the fuel cap, taps,mounts all work
Pressure test it and then paint
I'm considering doing this with a fastback tank

Tornado · May 21, 2024

quawk said:
After this additional member feed back about gas tanks, I'm trying to convince myself to pull the trigger to go with the EMGO tank. Will the flip-up cap on my existing tank (fiberglass Hi-Rider) be able to be transferred to a new EMGO tank? The cap is actually pretty nice. Same for the petcocks, I assume they will transfer. And can I ask have others purchased items from Classic British Spares, and if so, good or not so good experience/service? Looks like they may have a good price on the EMGO tank.

I have made several purchases from CBS. Gotta be cautious on what parts you are getting as they are not a Commando specialty seller and don't know much about different variant parts between models/years.
BTW, the EMGO tank prices seem to have skyrocketed over past year or so....used to be under $400 USD, now more like $700 USD.

Of course, if money isn't a concern, I'd be ordering from Tab Classics for one of these:

Norton alloy motorcycle fuel tanks - Tab Classics

TAB Classics had build a range of Norton alloy motorcycle fuel tanks in various styles to suit several Norton motorcycles.

tabclassics.com

quawk · May 21, 2024

concours said:
How are your metal fabrication skills?

Good enough to re-work poorly made stuff?

My metal fab skills are actually pretty good, but at this point (age), I just don't know if I want to be tying up time in doing that when I could use that time moving on to other things. It's the old you can either spend the time, or spend the money scenario.

Tornado said:
Of course, if money isn't a concern, I'd be ordering from Tab Classics for one of these:

Money is, as with most of us, a concern. So, as nice as that one looks, it won't be making it's way onto my bike.

concours · May 21, 2024

Tornado said:
I believe CS's tanks are sourced from India/Pakistan, not the EMGO units. My repro tank came to me bare steel from a member here and was stated to be from CS. Though I have it nicely painted/fitted, it does have fitment issues that I've worked around. As always, be sure to leak test (soapy spray, latex glove over the fuel cap, blow into an open petcock with a bit of clean hose.; no need for any higher pressure than what your lungs can make).

When I inspected them at CS, a few years ago, were EMGO.

JMWO

Tornado · May 21, 2024

concours said:
When I inspected them at CS, a few years ago, were EMGO.

JMWO

And when I emailed them on where their tanks were sourced (about 5 yrs ago now), they stated Pakistan. Never seen an EMGO tank selling for under $350 USD.

EDIT: Found my message to them re their EBAY tank listing:

ashman · May 21, 2024

Just buy one from India, unpainted of course and report back to us all, if you buy a painted one the risk of a leak that will need repairing would be high, an unpainted one can be fixed.
I have watched many Utubes from India tank makers and really no quality control at all, build tanks hundreds a day, so good luck if you do get one you don't need to fix to make it fit.

Ron L · May 21, 2024

concours said:
When I inspected them at CS, a few years ago, were EMGO.

JMWO

I bought a Roadster tank from Commando Specialties a couple years ago. They told me they have the tanks made in Pakistan from dies they had made. I had to do a little hammer and dolly work to get the knee indentations looking better and a skim of body filler to flatten out the ripples, but after a simple black with gold stripe basecoat/clear paint job it was acceptable. The bottom panel was a pressing with a few wrinkles (not found in OEM tanks) but cleared the frame and mountings well. Threads were OK, but I chased them anyway. All in all, the EMGO tank is much nicer, eliminating much of the re-work necessary. I have to admit that I sold the CS tank without using it (I went a different route with the bike).

Alan L · May 21, 2024

It’s a funny old world, isn’t it.
Of course I know you get what you pay for but I would have thought it costs no more to manufacture a tank which is reasonably correct as it is to make one that’s not. I’m thinking particularly in terms of dimensions. If you are capable of manufacturing a tank that isn’t quite the right shape, why not make it the correct shape particularly if you a make a lot of them.
If can make a tank that only leaks a little bit, why not make one that doesn’t leak at all?
Painting? well, obviously a really top paint job takes much more labour than an average one so I guess one shouldn’t expect perfection but presumably original tanks weren’t perfect either.
Alan

marshg246 · May 21, 2024

This is worth watching:

marshg246 · May 22, 2024

Tornado said:
BTW, the EMGO tank prices seem to have skyrocketed over past year or so....used to be under $400 USD, now more like $700 USD.

A while back, the prices charged by retailers shot up because the two companies that imported them were out of stock. That is no longer the case, but the higher prices stuck.

I only have one tank from the earlier batch left and it like the rest of my stock are at my painter and are only sold painted as requested. Mostly they have gone to my builds.

I have another small batch on the way to me rather than my painter that will sell to Access Norton and certain club members for $400 or less (don't know my final cost yet) + actual shipping. Yes, that price is up some from before - that's due to the cost to the importers going up and the cost of shipping to me going up.

Others, delivered to the US:
RGM Norton Approximately $410 (only one in stock, probably prior batch)
Andover Norton Approximately $550
The Bonneville Shop: $571.28
Steadfast $599.99

quawk · May 23, 2024

marshg246 said:
This is worth watching:

OSHA?? What's OSHA??

kommando · May 23, 2024

A 1/4 of my parents plus aunt and uncles had lost fingers or parts of fingers from work accidents, working in press shops or wood shops in Ireland in the 50's/60's with no machine guarding, the Indians are still working in that same environment.

Stephen Hill · May 23, 2024

British Cycle sells Emgo for about $540 US. Their inventory shows 2 available in the US, where they have a warehouse.

Gas tanks from India

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