fibreglass fuel tanks....almost afraid to ask....

[tattoo]

Right. Not asking for anyone to say ABC Co's fibreglass fuel tanks are better/worse than XYZ Inc's....but for a carb'd street bike, running street gas, that will get ridden a handful times per month, leaving the "Not DOT approved" statements all aside....am I nuts for considering a fibreglass fuel tank?

I've been to a handful of FG tank maker's web sites, see that their tanks are already "guaranteed for life" against the ill effects of street fuels, or that for an additional fee they'll coat the tank interior for use with street fuels, (ie those containing ethanol as the biggest identified culprit), but I also keep reading about individual's having nightmarish experiences with FG tanks on (street?) bikes.

I browsed the first half dozen pages of threads here in the Tanks and Seats section hoping to find that most folks here either overwhelmingly bless them or curse them....but did not find much.

So, what's the skinny? Or do folks simply not use them for the street for the simple straightforward reason that DOT don't approve them?

Thanks

 

[Tim]

I think if you buy from a reputable supplier and do some of your own research on the interior treatment they need / what the supplier offers, and they'll stand behind the product, you should be fine.

90%+ of people run steel tanks because they use tanks from factory bikes. Regardless of whether the tank is original to the model of bike they have, they use some form of factory tank.

I'm running a steel Bridgestone tank on my SR500, and picked up an aftermarket plastic off-road tank at the Barber swap meet for $10 that I'm going to move to for the SR.

Factory made fibreglass tanks are typically expensive and more than most of us want to spend, but if they have exactly what you want and it will fit your bike, then it's probably worth considering.

 

[VonYinzer]

The main difference is that in a wreck a steel tank will dent/cave but still hold fuel. A glass tank will shatter and dump fuel all over you and the bike.

That said, plan for the worst hope for the best. If you want a glass tank, go for it. Line it properly so the fuel doesn't break it down and kick ass.

 

[grcamna5]

I had a custom fiberglass tank made for my 86' VFR750 and just to be sure I brought it to a boat place and they 'Gel coated' the inside just the way they do the boat tanks;it was a little heavier but good insurance.
I don't have the $ but have you considered a custom aluminum tank ?

 

[o1marc]

Legendary Motorcycles made my tank and it is a quality piece. I actually had one sent me and had to modify the bottom of it to fit my application. I contacted them to see if they would do the mod after it did it in cardboard. They instead had me send the tank back, sent me just a bottom to modify and then they made the tank around that modified base. Mine is lined for ethanol fuel. My tank would have run around $400. I ended up picking them up as a sponsor on my race bike. I've been chided on another forum before for pushing a product on it's merits without discussing it was sponsored piece. If I have a sponsored product that is not quality I don't promote it other than the required display sticker.
As far as being illegal in most states to run a glass tank on the street, you will find most police don't know that, wouldn't bother to check the material in a traffic stop and one cop I asked about it said he didn't know (until he checked during our conversation) and said it would have to be a pretty dick cop to write you up for it.

 

[tattoo]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Yes - those alloy tanks look beautiful, but would blow too much of my budget.

Should have provided more context: the bike's OEM tank is not economically usable, so it needs to be replaced. With that being the case, I hoping to put a longer tank on the bike for the look that I'm hoping to achieve. Options that i'm aware of so far, is purchase a used steel tank off another kind of bike, and deal with its age/general condition/etc. Or get one of these new-fangled FG tanks.

For sure, the higher risks that come with the tank shattering in any kind of unfortunate incident are a consideration!! And I've not fully worked through that in my mind yet.

I've been finding "user reviews" on fibreglass tanks here and there, and most are negative. However - that could just be the "you always hear about the horror stories and not the good stories" thing.

 

[J-Rod10]

On the flip side of Marc's experience, I had one from them that delaminated rather quickly. It also bubbled the gel coat. Yes, it was sealed. It also was said to be ethanol proof resin.

I also saw one at Barber pouring fuel where it had separated at the seam, in the Ace Corner. With them being set up right there next to it, they rectified it pretty quickly.

 

[irk miller]

Several years ago, I hit a hidden hole while running a fiberglass tank. The tank cracked, poured fuel onto a hot motor and caught on fire.


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