Rant on Mojave Tanks

[midlyfcrisis]

if it catches my eye and makes my heart flutter i dont give a shit.doing something just to be different doesnt make it revolutionary.i like that tank but its too small for my purpose ive seen enough of them but not to the point of nausea.i found a tank i like and it might too be over used....oh well its 4 gallons and appeals to me,manx tt here we go

 

[CBPayne]

Hey if you want a bike that doesn't have any plug & play parts buy a Virago. I know there is a lot of people who hate these bikes, but if you want a challenge you'll buy one.
By the way Chuck Taylors are not comfortable especially when your standing all day in. Not hatin the Chucks, I wear them usually when I wear my sunglassed at night. 8)

 

[carnivorous chicken]

I, too, am over the Mojave tank craze, but I wasn't motivated enough to rant about it until I saw this e-bay ad today: $550 for a Mojave tank? Sure, someone will chirp in and say something like, "It's NOS, it's nice, it might be worth that to someone" but I remember not too long ago NOS tanks lie this were going for $100 or so.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-BENELLI-MOJAVE-GAS-TANK-AND-CAP-HONDA-CB-KAWASAKI-DUCATI-YAMAHA-CAFE-RACER-/230961510558?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35c660f89e&vxp=mtr#ht_488wt_1141

 

[sbaugz]

these threads piss me off. Someone's always ranting about pipe wrap, firestones, benelli tanks, etc. Maybe people use the mojave tank because its a damn beautiful tank! Maybe its because most of the other tanks out there such as CB550, CL350, CB750, to name a few look like a bulbous turd. I frequent the xs650 forum and am building a xs650 cafe. The xs650 tank is a piece of crap so most are using an xs750 tank. It just looks cooler. Who gives a shit if that tank is played out and every xs650 cafe bike has one on it. We use it for a reason- because its aesthetically pleasing. Same thing with firestones. People bitch and moan about firestones, that they are played out, and they are unsafe. Those people probably never owned a bike with them on it. And yes, I think they look cool on certain bikes too. Why does everyone always have to criticize on these boards. Not everyone is an innovator like the turd who started this thread.

a couple of cases in point. This picture below is not my bike. If you think this is anything but a beautiful work of art, then you are blind. Sure it has a played out mojave tank, but there is no beating the look of this tank when done right.

Another case in point. Picture below shows a bike with firestones. Looks damn f-in cool if you ask me, whether you think they are played out or not.

so quit worrying about what is too trendy, or what is played out and ride/build your damn bike the way you like it- whether that includes a bike with firestones, mojave tank, pipewrap, clipons, brat seat, etc.

 

[VonYinzer]

You're on point with everything but the Firestones, amd yes I have owned a bike with them on it. They make look cool or whatever term you choose, but they are comparatively unsafe when put up against nearly any other tire on the market. If that wasn't the case, I'd be all for them. But its not.

 

[crazypj]

That Suzuki 'sausage' looks ridiculous with clown shoes
Personally, I thought the Mojave tanks were overpriced at $100.00

 

[DrJ]

Heh heh, clown shoes.

 

[teazer]

Those tanks are a fashion fad. That's true, as were Manx tanks that we all fitted to our (NON Norton) motorcycles back in the day because they looked good. Nothing wrong or new in any of that. The tank on that SeaBee threefiddy works because teh whole bike is nice and shiny and the seat and tank match. It's well done.

I'd argue that the reason it works on that bike is because the bike is well thought out with great attention detail.

The Suzuki Sausage has absolutely nothing going fopr it and is JUST a fashion statement. It will be slower and less safe than stock and that makes zero sense to me. Make it look different? Sure. Go right ahead. Make it less capable and less safe? That's just dumb IMHO.

I do see what appeals to people about the cartoon character it creates. The bike is a parody of itself and I can see why that appeals to others at different levels, but not to me. To my eyes it's a parody - a joke and one that could get someone hurt.

The thing is that we all have a different sense of what looks right or good or cool or whatever. Individual tastes are good. But clown shoes intrude into that discussion because now we have allowed reduced safety and competence to be less important than looking cool and that I cannot agree with.

That doesn't mean we all have to build super fast bikes, but such a significant reduction in safety goes beyond sensible individual expressions of personal taste. And that brings up the whole issue of whether society should stop some people from doing dumb things and where that line should be drawn. Different groups have different beliefs on that subject that are not opinions but are based on personal and societal values and that is a whole other discussion.

 

[Brodie]

Those tanks are a fashion fad. That's true, as were Manx tanks that we all fitted to our (NON Norton) motorcycles back in the day because they looked good. Nothing wrong or new in any of that.

I agree with this. As far as my limited knowledge goes all the old Cafes were built from the best parts of the bikes available. Tanks with knee dents are sough after because of the ability to tuck your legs in and streamline the bike further. So it would make sense that most Cafes ended up with one.

That brings up the whole issue of whether society should stop some people from doing dumb things and where that line should be drawn. Different groups have different beliefs on that subject that are not opinions but are based on personal and societal values and that is a whole other discussion.

Honestly I think that once someone is past 16YO some stuff they should just be able to work out for themselves, and if they choose to ignore the input from a knowledgeable source let them learn the hard way. If someone is not smart enough to know not to drink bleach then maybe they shouldn't be around. There are black and white issues and there are grey ones, but enough people have spoken out about how bad clown shoes are for gripping that everyone should get the idea.

 

[crazypj]

The problem isn't ignoring advice, it's building dangerous stuff then selling it because it looks 'cool'
I would think your old enough to know there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there

As for your other points, it's been tried since the late 1880's,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_eugenics

Most 1960's cafe's were built with what people could afford, rarely what they wanted

 

[Brodie]

The problem isn't ignoring advice, it's building dangerous stuff then selling it because it looks 'cool'
I would think your old enough to know there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there

You do have a point there PJ. I would just hope that those people would at least mention something to the buyer. But then honesty is one thing and profit is another.
While I have never tried firestones, and do not plan to, the reviews all seem to be the same. People buying them because they look cool and going for one or two rides and getting new tyres before heading out again.
Hopefully the people that are buying these "cool" bikes can work out something is wrong with the grip.

 

[sohospeedshop]

Can of Worms!.... My bad!

 

[VonYinzer]

Eh... Don't feel bad. Gives everyone a place to vent. Haha.

 

[Scruffy]

That Suzuki 'sausage' looks ridiculous with clown shoes
Personally, I thought the Mojave tanks were overpriced at $100.00

Suzuki Sausage... cute. I call them Slopokey Salvages, since most of them can't get out of their own way and end up looking like junkyard rejects, mine included. Beyond any shadow of a doubt one of the worst machines Suzuki ever foisted off on an unsuspecting riding populace. Electrical parts that make 1960s Lucas bits look good, brakes that would have been substandard in the 1930s, concrete is more comfortable than the so called seat "padding", lousy ergonomics if you are over 5'10" with buckhorns, 5'6" with the current stock issue riser and drag bar combo... They don't handle worth a damn with the stock 100/90-19, they needed an 80/90-21 to go with the 140/90-15 rear tire that is required to make the speedometer accurate versus the stock 140/80-15 (and why the factory didn't spec them for common as dirt 130/90-16 rear tires makes no sense at all)...

And the guys who spend big bucks on the current "cafe" or "Scrambler" or "bobber" kits end up with an already suspect machine made 10x worse.

And yes, I actually like my bike. If I didn't, it would have been gone long ago, I've had it for 15 years. Bought it brand spanking new, popped the fork seals within 5 minutes, the kick stand safety switch failed within a month, the front brake has never worked properly...

 

[sbaugz]

Suzuki Sausage... cute.

And the guys who spend big bucks on the current "cafe" or "Scrambler" or "bobber" kits end up with an already suspect machine made 10x worse.

been there and done that. My first venture into building my own bike involved a RYCA cafe conversion kit. Bike ended up looking really cool, in my opinion, but was still a crappy ride on a crappy donor bike. Sold it within a few months at a loss. Live and learn. Not to slam the RYCA guys and the kits. THey make nice conversions for someone that's into that.

not to get way off topic or anything.

Here's mine:

 

[crazypj]

If you saw the original 1986 graphic you'll know it looks like Sausage
Mick Grant (1970's racer) was at 'the shop' for the launch, said motor reminded him of 1965 trials Ariel (then went 'trials riding' standing on passenger pegs ;D )

BTW,the Ryca conversion does make it look like a classic 60's bike

 

[SONICJK]

I like those RYCA conversions.
Saw one for crazy money the other day on CL and looked into it for the first time. Pretty cool.

 

[Rich Ard]

Re: Re: Rant on Mojave Tanks

I like those RYCA conversions.
Saw one for crazy money the other day on CL and looked into it for the first time. Pretty cool.

They have one coming for the sportster that looks pretty good and will, i expect, make them a ton of dough.

 

[Scruffy]

My 1998 that hasn't had a speedometer or odometer since 2005...when it got that dirt track tank to replace the popped stocker. Stepson laid it over on a wet intersection drip line meets drip line junction, lots of oil on the road.

 

[jiggyfly]

new here, but hardly new.
I find it ironic that a bunch of guys owning, building, & riding CB350's, XS650's, CB750's...etc, etc....refer to anything as "played out".....
Tell me what isnt??????

I'm building a Suzuki "sausage" (cute, btw)....yeah, even with the "dreaded" Firestones!
If I wanted a bike that went fast, or handled well, I sure as fuck wouldn't have started with a Savage! ;D

I'll keep it on the track for that. In town cruiser, at best.