Incoming - Aluminum Fuel Tank for my Dominator

It is amazing how much i have read on this site about 961's without noticing the reduced capacity on the plastic tanks.
I have been regularly putting in 13 litres and wondering whether i should go one town further. Lucky save.
 
Incoming -  Aluminum Fuel Tank for my Dominator
Installed mine finally last night.
 
Mark, far be it for me to plant evil thoughts in your mind...

but...

How about a V4RR inspired paint scheme on your airbox and seat... the chrome effect paint and alloy tank combo with added Union flag effects... hmmmm.... wish I’d got an alloy tank...


Incoming -  Aluminum Fuel Tank for my Dominator
 
It is amazing how much i have read on this site about 961's without noticing the reduced capacity on the plastic tanks.
I have been regularly putting in 13 litres and wondering whether i should go one town further. Lucky save.
Oh its been talked about . Raphi was the first to post about the Alum tank having nearly 1 gallon more capacity. But the tank has the same basic outside size and shape. The plastic tank has very thick walls and corners . The next real question is how much of that 17.5 L can you access on the road ? Like I said I can access nearly 3.5 (3.47) US Gallons on the plastic tank . So that makes 4 to 4.2 Gallons on the Alum tank accessible at 45.5 MPG US gallons that comes out to a respectable 190 miles to the tankful . That 45.5 MPG figure comes from my last long trip , fully bagged (side bags, tank bags, tail pack) running 80 mph indicated (75-76 mph real). I would be happy with that !
 
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Tony, not sure how much of the fuel is accessible on either of the tanks but the pump housing is the same so as you say, I would presume that all of the 3.5+ litres extra in the ally tank you would get on top of whatever level you dare drop to now.
 
Scott, that Triumph has a nice paint scheme, I was thinking of the mirror image of that, i.e. white tank with polished teardrop for the Norton logo. Seeing that chequered stripe reminds me that I have a strip of it somewhere :)
 
Nigel I could live with polished alloy, I can live with the white plastic but not sure about chrome though. If I get time I will remove the rear hump and see what lay underneath, I like the idea of an alloy tail, I know a good local welder but as yet don't know of a good fabricator with a wheel to get those smooth lines.
 
Nigel I could live with polished alloy, I can live with the white plastic but not sure about chrome though. If I get time I will remove the rear hump and see what lay underneath, I like the idea of an alloy tail, I know a good local welder but as yet don't know of a good fabricator with a wheel to get those smooth lines.

It’s not chrome, it’s paint. Worth looking into as it probably looks closer to polished alloy than chrome in reality...
 
Tony, not sure how much of the fuel is accessible on either of the tanks but the pump housing is the same so as you say, I would presume that all of the 3.5+ litres extra in the ally tank you would get on top of whatever level you dare drop to now.
Perfect then !
 
It is amazing how much i have read on this site about 961's without noticing the reduced capacity on the plastic tanks.
I have been regularly putting in 13 litres and wondering whether i should go one town further. Lucky save.
I usually fill up after 100 to 110 miles. I've been stuck and it sucks. Fuel light flickers when full and fails to come on when empty. 140 miles. Exactly. Ask me how I know. I get btw 39 and 41 mpg depending on riding conditions.
 
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Installed mine finally last night.
Next Q is how are you guys keeping it clean? One ride in and its got micro swirls and smudges everywhere. I ordered some Autosol (The Aluminium specific one) and some microfibre cloth and going to try that. On the other hand it doesn't look terrible either with the "neglected" look
 
Next Q is how are you guys keeping it clean? One ride in and its got micro swirls and smudges everywhere. I ordered some Autosol (The Aluminium specific one) and some microfibre cloth and going to try that. On the other hand it doesn't look terrible either with the "neglected" look

Why don't you try something like a 6" buffing wheel on a hand drill.
With a good polish, that will do a very nice job without causing carpal tunnel.
Just be careful around the Norton logo. Cover it with painter's tape.
 
Next Q is how are you guys keeping it clean? One ride in and its got micro swirls and smudges everywhere. I ordered some Autosol (The Aluminium specific one) and some microfibre cloth and going to try that. On the other hand it doesn't look terrible either with the "neglected" look
Mothers aluminium polish is what I use, it is amazing stuff, I polish around the front where it gets scratched every 2-3 rides and it’s easy to keep
 
I think I will learn to love the 'neglected' look but to get a swirl-free-ish lustre I am using Belgom Alu which I think is a little like Mothers (which I have heard good reports but yet to try)
 
And my first dent . No idea how it happened, any thoughts how to get it out?
Incoming -  Aluminum Fuel Tank for my Dominator
 
And my first dent . No idea how it happened, any thoughts how to get it out?

That sucks!
If it were my tank I'd be berserker, raving mad, screaming obscenities in the basement with a towel over my mouth.
Is there any paint left behind in the dent?
It's high up so could have been a truck or SUV tap from a parking, or leaving vehicle.
Do you park it at the curb?
 
That sucks!
If it were my tank I'd be berserker, raving mad, screaming obscenities in the basement with a towel over my mouth.
Is there any paint left behind in the dent?
It's high up so could have been a truck or SUV tap from a parking, or leaving vehicle.
Do you park it at the curb?
Maybe it bumped in to one of my other bikes while moving it around the garage. No paint so or anything because I never park where its out of my sight ever. I'm surprised how soft the metal is though.
 
Maybe it bumped in to one of my other bikes while moving it around the garage.

That's happened to me also.
I actually dropped my 961 in the garage while maneuvering it around the others.
A lot of raving, screaming..., but I lucked out - no damage except the clutch lever ball end.

You think that a body shop with a suction dent puller might be able to pull the dent out?
The aluminum is thin, so could work.
 
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