Gas Tank Question

What's up all?

This is my first post. I know I probably should have gone to the "introduce yourself" thread first, but what the hell? LOL

I have been checking out the forums for a couple of weeks, and have watched the bobber / chopper projects that have come out so sweet. I have noticed a couple of constants though, as far as the gas tanks used.

It seems that the most popular tanks are the stock XJ/XS tank, the Harley Sportster peanut tank, or Harley fatbobs in one instance.

I am picking up an '86 XJ 750 Maxim over the next couple of days, and will be doing the hardtail bobber bit. But I don't want the tank to look too big, which the stock tank or Harley fatbob will. I don't care for the Sportster peanut tank. So, what does that leave me? Has anyone used a different tank that looks sick, and isnt' completely fabricated by hand? If anyone has any ideas, can you post pics of the different possible tanks? My fabricaction skills are novice, at best. I will be able to hardtail the frame, and do other mild fabs, but as far as creating a tank...not so much, I don't think. LOL

Any help would be appreciated. I will be posting pics as I go. Thanks!

 

One consideration you will have to keep in mind with these bikes is the triple backbone of the frame. This will limit what tanks will work without making some serious frame mods.

 

That being said, you may find the damndest thing that WILL fit.

Check this out: Aside from being one of the neatest (as in tidy workmanship) cafe racers I've seen in a while, it's a good example of off-the-wall parts coming together. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 9759100650

The tank is from a Benelli Mojave 360 of all things. (A late-'60's street scrambler that was also sold by Montgomery Wards under the "Riverside" brand.)

I've seen a couple of minimalist cafe/bobber bikes that used other dirt-bike tanks, I tried to find the pic of the one I saw where the guy had used, IIRC, a Husqvarna tank.

The trick is to find a tank with a big enough "tunnel" for the large main backbone, and a flat enough underside to clear the other tubes where they join in.

Good luck; think outside the box.

 

"I am picking up an '86 XJ 750 Maxim "

Welcome aboard !! If that bike is water cooled (X) you got a rare bird !! you post-up your VIN we'll tell you what you have. Schooter fitted a Honda 750 tank for a different look.

 

your aftermarket choices are really limited by the triple backbone, a whole now world of possibilities is opened up if you spend $20 on metal and pay a welder the shop rate, it should take less than an hour, and have a new single backbone welded in,

but yep i put a dohc cb750 tank on mine, it's not as wide and looks ok

 

I used the upper tank off a honda shadow on my bobber. worked out great with no problems with the triple backbone frame as it has a very wide tunnel. Tank holds 2.5 gal. Picked it up at a garage sale last year for 5 bux. Picks can be found here.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=25478.html

 

trgrhappy - Absolutely PERFECT, and just what I have been looking for! Thank you! As with others in the thread, I love your fuel guage, and would love to do the same thing. Just not sure how to go about it. LOL No chance you would give me some instruction on it...?

TIMEtoRIDE - I will post the VIN, once I find the paper I wrote it on. The bike is still not in my possession, due to a family issue on the part of the seller. I haven't paid for it yet, but he has assured me that the bike is mine, once their crisis has passed. He is a deep friend of my family, so I know that it will be soon. I would like to thank you for the offer of checking the VIN for me. I do know, however, that it is not water-cooled.

 

Well, folks...Here she is. I just got it today, and as you can see, there is a lot to be done.

Crath - I am using your AMAZING build as a guide, if that is ok. No worries...this one will be based on yours, but not copying yours. I do have my own ideas. Just using your frame tech basically. I may even go the extra mile and rake the front end.

TIMEtoRIDE - The VIN: JYA5N8008CA006192 - It's hard to read, but I was definitely wrong. NOT an '86. I originally thought it was a GA when I first looked at the VIN. I found the date of manufacture, which is 8/81. Can you help me with the rest of it?

Not all that bad for $200. The seat did come with the bike, but it is trashed, so I didn't even include it in the pics. It's gonna take me some time to get work done on it. This is not intended as daily transportation yet. Just a hobby, until it's done. But I will post progress pics as I progress. Thanks for everyone's input!

 

That Vin works out to be a 82 XJ650J maxim
1982-83 XJ650 Maxim USA: 5N8 - digits 4-6 of the vin identify the frame.
date of manufacture, which is 8/81 - narrows it down to the 82 model year.

Some of the obvious 650 visual clues
650 side covers
Single disk front brake
License plate under tail light
One piece rear grab bar

The bike appears to have had some modifications done.
750 airbox side covers
possibly a 750 motor swap?

Post the motor id# (pad on the right side under the carbs) and we can verify the correct Identification of the motor.

Ghost

 

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I went with a tank off of an endduro from around 1969, I had to modify the backbone into a single and the tank only holds about a gallon and a quarter but I like being different. 8)

 

Clark, just as you said, NOT BAD for $200.00!!!
You have a lot of possibilities there.
Mine was in pretty bad shape when I got it too.
My wife didn't even want in in the yard.....

If you want to go back original there is enough expertice on this site.Parts are usually fairly easy to come by too.

Good Luck!