Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?

Johnnymac

Johnnymac

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Hi Guys. Who do you recommend as a vendor to source good alloy tanks for slimline featherbed frames? Not keen on spending my life's savings on a tank, but son't want to end up with a crappy Indian one either. I was looking at the Terry Baker one's from the UK. They look like a well made tank and a reasonable price. Sucks that shipping to the USA is rather expensive though. Any ideas?
 
I was very pleased with a 3 gallon Manx sprint type tank that I bought for my Commando cafe racer from The Tank Shop, but I understand he has a long lead time these days. I am also on the lookout for a Slimline alloy cafe racer tank, but they seem less numerous than the Wideline ones.
 
I bought an alloy tank from Baker in 2006 and it took 4 months to arrive.
 
You might check out Andy Cowell. He does lightweight aluminum gas and oil tanks. He made the Lyta style tank for Pat Mooney's Petty Manx, and it looks pretty good. No idea what he charges, though.

Andrew H. Cowell
2375 Midway Road SE
Bolivia, NC 28422
Voice: 910.431.2956
Fax: 910.253.8313
E-mail: seitzybz@aol.com
 
So what do you guys think? I think that these are the best ones out there that I've found..and reasonable in price. Terry Baker, made in the UK, I am thinking that the Short Circuit Manx £420 (Lyta replica) is the one I'm going to get for my Featherbed. What do you guys think? You can customize it moving the fuel cap to either side, forward/backwards, etc.

Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?

Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?


They have other tanks but I think that the Lyta style would look best.

Here is their Mini Manx which is very nice too.
Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?
 
I personally like the Lyta style. The Manx type looks OK on a racer but a little ungainly on a street bike. I think the Lyta flows nicely and blends very well with a Manx type single seat. Good luck with this please let us know if the delivery etc. is achieved without any drama.
 
It depends on the distants you be riding, the short circuit tank looks good but if you plan on longer rides I would go the long circuit tank, they just sit a bit higher and look just as good.

Ashley
 
The Lyta tank looks great. The Manx tank you pictured, is the TA Baker (TAB 2 Classics) "Mini Manx" tank, and is very cool, but it's sort of half between a Manx tank and a Lyta tank.
If I was you, I'd request a larger cap. Those caps are smaller than the original, and look a bit weird. And please, please, please, keep the cap on the left.
 
wilkey113 said:
The Lyta tank looks great. The Manx tank you pictured, is the TA Baker (TAB 2 Classics) "Mini Manx" tank, and is very cool, but it's sort of half between a Manx tank and a Lyta tank.
If I was you, I'd request a larger cap. Those caps are smaller than the original, and look a bit weird. And please, please, please, keep the cap on the left.
Click to expand...


Oh yeah, the cap will be on the left side. What size were the original caps?
 
The original cap is 3".
Most modern repro tanks use a 2.5" cap, and that's what the caps on those tanks look to be.
 
wilkey113 said:
The original cap is 3".
Most modern repro tanks use a 2.5" cap, and that's what the caps on those tanks look to be.
Click to expand...

Wilkey113, I asked the guys at TAB Classics and their caps are 2" (in the pictures). They can make it with a 2.5 inch. But it doesn't appear that a 3" one is possible. I can't seem to find any 3" ones online either.

If you look at these 2 genuine Lyta tanks, you can see that even on the original ones, they used different cap sizes.

Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?
 
Hey John,
They did indeed use different size caps when you're talking about the Lyta tanks. The photo you posted for reference is actually my photo, that I had posted elsewhere a while back.
All the original Manx caps were 3". Are you leaning toward the short circuit or the Manx tank? That 3" size cap is difficult to find.
I suppose it's a matter of preference. I always liked the larger caps.
Either way, you can't go wrong. Just as long as it's on the left.
Jeff
 
Well I got pics from the folks in the UK. My tank is done! Looks great. Woohoo. Here are a couple pics.

Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?


Good source for Alloy tanks for featherbed (Slimline)?
 
I got this from Norvil. I like this style as it doesn't have the clip on dents as I feel it displaces the Norton badge too far back. The dents are not needed anyway without a fairing. A Slimline one is/was also available. And in case you was thinking about the oil stain under the bike was from the Norton I can tell you it was NOT lol. 8)
 

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