| Author | Message | ||
     Purpony |
I was wondering who is interested in an aluminum oil tank for their bike? Whats the price range you would be willing to pay for one? Most likely brushed... not polished. Which model do you ride? I am talking with a company that is interested in building them for me/us. | ||
| Jayvee |
M2, brushed is fine, perhaps $250 - $350. Unless you could put some aluminum fins on the back, I'd pay more for something cool like that. The problem with the currently available one is the filler neck sticks up too far to fit under my Corbin seat. Even the Banke filler neck won't fit under my Corbin seat. Need a low filler cap, no taller than the stock one. | ||
| Purpony |
thanks for the input and info. | ||
| Jolly |
I might be interested depending on cost. S1/x1 | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
2001 S3T and 2002 M2. Brushed finish is fine. $250 - $350. One, maybe two depending on cost and personal cash situation. | ||
| Dannybuell |
96S1 would be interested if $$ is right. | ||
| Purpony |
My goal is $300 or less | ||
| Bigblockbruce |
I'd be interested in one for my 2000 M2. The stock plastic one makes me kinda nervous.  | ||
| Roderick |
Am interested for an S1. Will consider cost but about $350 sounds good for now. Roderick | ||
| Devdawg |
I'd be interested in one for a '99 M2, depending on final price. | ||
| Trojan |
They are already available, adn have been for many years. Metmachex make them over here and American Sport Bike sell them in the USA. I doubt that you would get a new company to make them any better and any cheaper than the estabnlished items. To be honest most companies are not interested in making parts for motorcycles that were discontinued more than 10 years ago and were never sold in huge volumes even when new. Why not support the people who made the investment already? | ||
| Purpony |
I know they are available but i feel the price is way to high. Half the price is probably due to the polishing which im not a fan of. Polished and chrome you can keep. The company im talking to makes aluminum oil tanks for atv's and said they are interested in making some tanks for Buells. Maybe once they look into it a little more they may back out, but at this time they sound pretty excited to help out. Im just asking around to see if there are people interested or not. This could lead to nothing though. here are a couple of the tanks they make and their prices are great! They are also all made in the USA.    | ||
| Jolly |
any idea when you will have a price quote? | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I bought a Metmachex tank when they first became available. I can tell you from experience it's a quality made item. I can also tell you, unless someone else is willing to plagerise the Metmachex offering they'll have a very hard time making an oil tank fit an S1. Getting it to locate inside the frame tubes, at the same time allowing hugger / wheel clearance, and having the capacity, then finding the locations for the pipes, I wouldn't want to save money if it meant just a cobbled together shape which made for all of the above to work. Metmachex make a very neat tank that suits the Buell well. Back in the day it took them a few attempts to get it right. It's also less money now than it was 13 years ago! Rocket in England (Message edited by rocket_in_uk on December 27, 2013) | ||
| Kc_zombie |
Jeeze, it's not exactly rocket science (no pun intended) to fabricate an oil tank for a tube frame buell. Besides I don't think this is Purpony's first rodeo. Everything he does comes out top shelf as far as I am concerned. Marc, you can count me in for at least 1, possibly 2. Thanks. | ||
| Jolly |
Its great to see so many cool parts becoming available again for these bikes! Ill be watching very closely! I would really like to have one, its gong to be a matter of when they need to be ordered - vs - how much money I have I sunk into my S2 and have I recovered yet... | ||
| Skntpig |
I say go for it but agree with Rocket. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Jeeze, it's not exactly rocket science (no pun intended) to fabricate an oil tank for a tube frame buell. Besides I don't think this is Purpony's first rodeo. Everything he does comes out top shelf as far as I am concerned. I think you missed my point on both counts actually. It isn't rocket science but it is a complex design when you take into account what is involved. If you've installed one you'll know it's a snug fit, then perhaps you'll understand the design issues I mentioned. At which time if you do, I'd be interesting in seeing the SHAPE someone else makes their tank given the Metmachex one is in my opinion pretty close to perfection in design, as it does exactly what it needs to do, and in style, as it looks right for the bike. Good luck though. I don't doubt Purp' or anyone else capable couldn't make one, but the purpose of your exercise was to beat the Metmachex price. I wouldn't want to be that person making this tank unless there were a lot to sell coz there'll be more work than there is profit, or even fun, in trying to undercut the Metmachex tank. But then I'm not an alloy tank maker so what do I know  Rocket in England | ||
| Jolly |
Another factor to consider is some of the outstanding pieces available for these bikes are being developed and produced on the European market and the price to us in the US is extremely expensive when converted to the US dollar. There are very few companies in the US producing for this bike. Our biggest support comes from American Sport Bike and American Torque makes some really nice stuff, and at a good price, I have a few of their pieces, Banke of course, but his stuff is now made to order, high quality though! There are others for sure! some new emerging companies, some that used to make cool parts then quit, that may actually be opening back up, but i havnt seen any of these companies leaning towards an oil tank yet. The conversion to dollars does open the gap for room for someone to produce it here and still make a profit. So we're now in a US market of sometimes the guy with the tools and capability and motivation to produce a few good pieces to meet the demand but keep it affordable to the US dollar. | ||
| S1owner |
Its not that complicated. Everyone always looks at pieces made of metal and think wow look at all the bends look at all the intricate work! Really! Its just metal formed by a person that because people look at it like its godd work can charge more. Metal is shaped formed welded its that simple. No diffrent from plastic parts wood parts etc just diffrent skills that less people are talented with. I have engineering, architecture, wood & metal fab knowledge formally trained in most but seriously its as simple as making it and testing it till you have it refined. Rocket with all due respect you really have a habit of crapping on peoples thoughts and ideas. Sorry for the ramblings good luck Purpony If I still had a use for one I would be in! | ||
| 1eyert |
Interested in one, for my 2000 S3 rebuild. | ||
| Serialk |
count me in for one for the X1 | ||
| Steveford |
X1 and S1, increased capacity would be a big plus. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
I absolutely don't have a habit of crapping on someone's idea thanks very much. I try to give good advice. However, if you're getting mixed up when I at times say I don't like something or how someone has done something to their Buell, that's a different matter. I am all for anyone making or designing or enhancing the range of tuber Buell stuff. Why wouldn't I be? I don't have to like it, but I'm certainly not going to put someone off making something I might like if I can see the finished product. The tank. The price Al sells them at is a bargain. I paid £400 for mine direct from Metmachex back in the day. They've come down considerably. AND if you care to read my first comment, which really is what I was getting at. The shape of the Metmachex one is bang on perfect for the bike. If someone else were to make a rival tank they in my opinion would have a hard time bettering the shape, BEARING IN MIND ALL THE ISSUES I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, without plagerising the Metmachex design. And I too can bend and feck about with metal and that is not as simple a tank as you think it is to make. If it were so, someone would have made a rival tank in the US many years ago for a lot less money I'd wager. Funny how no one still does make a rival tank. But go ahead, Prove me wrong. If a nicer shape comes up I'll buy one too - but that ain't gonna happen! As for capacity, you can damn near squeeze 3 1/2 litres in the Metmachex tank but the increase will make no difference to the performance of the oil or to what the oil does for the engine. What it might do though, as it did with mine, was increase the desire for the engine to puke out the breather at high RPM. Believe me I have experimented with the capacity over a few seasons riding and it pukes less if at all with the capacity bang on what Buell recommended which if memory serves is 2 US quarts. Rocket in England | ||
| Jefc73 |
Lol. I would like to see an American tank that was made better. Bring it on. American parts for an American motorcycle. | ||
| Jolly |
I feel compelled to make a change to my statement above...I just noticed that American Sport Bike still has aluminum oil tanks, I thought he no longer carried them.... I was really sure that no one in the U.S. was still carrying these... Al is a great guy, always finds the time to help when I call with a difficult question or if I need a part quickly and has a great shop for supporting these bikes, I guess I'm not surprised to see he still has these. | ||
| Jefc73 |
I agree with Jolly. Al is a great guy and I like supporting him by buying from his business. A wealth of knowledge for sure on the Buell motorcycle. We are priviledged to have his business support us Buell fanatics. | ||
| Slaughter |
Is http://www.purpony.net a sponsor yet? Now would be a good time to consider becoming a sponsor so as not to violate terms of agreement - and you could and SHOULD pursue this even though it does compete with similar products already being offered by current sponsors. Good luck with the project(s)! | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Lol. I would like to see an American tank that was made better. Bring it on. American parts for an American motorcycle. Lol too. That is not what I meant either if you're implying I'm supporting British products for the sake of it. I am pleased as Punch my motorcycle is made in America. I love my Minnie Winnie too. And my Snap-on tools; I'm still buying since my first wrench purchase 36 years ago! That said I love my Blackpool UK made TVR  Joking aside, I viewed Metmachex web and they don't list the oil tank. I assume they make them exclusively for Al, as American Sport Bike still sell them. I did however assume they were around $400 NOT $600. My apologies. I thought they had dropped in price a few years ago. I did see Metmachex make a cool looking hydraulic clutch conversion http://www.metmachex.net/p3_4_0.htm doesn't seem out of the way at that price UK. I don't see this for sale on American Sport Bike shop? Rocket in England | ||
| Steveford |
Rocket, I've had two of the Metmachex tanks - S3 and X1 and they're very nice pieces but the X1 wasn't perfect. The X1 tank was a BITCH to get in there, I think they could have done a better job with the lower mounting holes and the inner rear fender would hit it, too. Perhaps that was unique to the one I got, I can't say. If we can get a more affordable one of equal quality, why not. I found that 3 quarts was about the level they'd take, the S1 tank may be different. |
