Agree with you completely Mako. Just warning the newbies. Found the " raw" ones this morning. The price should be better than they are offering. Also has a very long disclaimer about rust. But I am willing to soak it in Phosphoric acid to get rid of any surface rust when it arrives. Just going to wait to see if that price gets any better. I'll take one of those "spares" you have in your post. Make you a nice offer.... Have a NOS yamaha "desert tank" never had fuel in it... to trade??  And a new Clarke Desert tank too.

Hi
I'am a newbie to this site,
I'am in the uk,
got my 1975 dt 250 I've stripped and going to rebuild, the tank is not great, see pics, seriously thinking a chinese tank is the route for me, tanks are hard to get over here 

There is a very recent thread here about tanks from India, I think it was. Graphics and paint are all wrong, and they are not really that cheap, but I've seen the holes you are dealing with, and you may be correct in that those tanks may be the way to go. Guys were thinking about asking if ordering one unpainted was a possibility. Search "fuel tanks India" and see what pops up.
Welcome, BTW.

As a British bike owner also (Nortons & Triumph), I have seen tanks from India for those also. I had a professional painter tell me that he has had some Norton owners purchase bare roadster tanks from India in steel as replacements for the original fiberglass tanks and have him repaint those. He indicated that for a serious restoration they might not be exactly the same as what the factory supplied, but for someone who wanted to ride that they were good enough for that purpose. And the ethanol-eating-the-fiberglass as an issue was solved at least. (still have potential carb/line issues of course). I note that when I see Norton tanks advertised, if they are steel (later years), the seller always indicates that.

Testing to see if I can duplicate the double posting.
 

This is a test 

 

I dug out my Jan/ Feb. edition of Motorcycle Classics. There is an article about a 1974 Norton Commando 850 build. The owner bought a tank that was "made in India" to replace the stock fiberglass tank. After he noted the poor finish, he went on to say " It required modification to the fuel cap filler neck and a million pounds of skim coat proir to painting to smooth things out ". To it's credit , he did note the tank was " solid and fit well" . And, to be fair, he did not say what company it was purchased from and I do not know how many companies are selling them. He went on to have the tank professionally painted. Sounds like his end investment in the tank might have increased his puchase price. I am still hoping to find an OE tank to refurb.  

MACE6772...  I may have misread your "want ad" post earlier in this thread I think...  I skimmed through but didn't see it just now... 

Anyway, it sounded like you wanted an OE tank with no dents, scratches, or rust... and priced at least $100 less than the reproductions from India being sold on ebay?  If someone has one in that condition...  and my guess is someone somewhere does...  my guess is it would be priced higher than a "reproduction"?

I probably misread or misinterpreted what you meant.

Or are you looking for a good solid used tank that is in decent shape to refurbish?  Some of these parts are getting harder to find but I'd hope you'd be able to find a decent tank to refurbish...  maybe minor rust and slight damage...  for less than those reproductions...  even with a little pro bodywork there should be something used that would cost less than a reproduction (not including paint which you're saying you'll do to either)

I haven't been able to get out and dig through the shed for several weeks now but I might even have a used tank in decent shape...  Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to get over there and take a look...  I need to dig out a wheel and take some pictures for someone else anyway.

 

Need a tank, yes. Unfortunatly covid has redirected funds to higher priority home improvments this year. Bike parts are on the way back burner. Greatly appreciate your offer. Wife figures with 4 other bikes running that one can wait. Happy wife happy life. ( shhhhh...what i really need is a tank for my 76 dt125, but you didn't here that from me. wink wink).

Psssssst. Let me show you something for your wife, here...Psssssst. Let me show you something for your wife, here...