Cut Out Tank

I am considering trying to do some knee cut outs on a tank to give my bike more of a cafe look. Kinda like the old Norton tanks. Here is a Photoshopped image of how it will look. If you can tell by the pic. I am hoping to find someone with a spare tank, so I don't have to experiment on mine.

Try eBay.

twowheeledterror has done a lot of studying on this very topic, he might have some insight...

It's not something that should be considered out of the range of anyone with decent welding skills.

You'll need to make a stencil, make both sides, cut (I'd use a pneumatic for this), then you'll need to make another stencil to transfer to your fills, cut them out , bend, and then stitch weld them into place. I'd TIG it personally, so you don't get real bad distortion. Make a tack then move an inch down... tack again. Repeat. Once you run out, start at the back again and make a short 1/4" weld with the TIG. Then start at your next tack, and do the same thing. You get the idea.

I have dents in my tank, and am thinking about doing this just for shits and giggles so I have it as an extra. The REAL tank thats going on here is going to blow everyones mind! Except for Justins, as it was his idea!

PS: We've got the parts for the system I needed at school in the HVAC dept. Justin! They said I can take whatever I need. School rules. This body kit will kick arse.

Get you a shafty tank off of ebay. It would be easier to modify your frame to accomidate the tank.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-Kawasaki-KZ...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Post edited by: Wildog, at: 2005/11/30 13:00

Wildog wrote:

Get you a shafty tank off of ebay. It would be easier to modify your frame to accomidate the tank.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-Kawasaki-KZ...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Post edited by: Wildog, at: 2005/11/30 13:00

Not necessarilly.

Let's say he wants to leave the frame stock. Not everyone is okay with adding/removing from their frame.

Also, depending on the amount of cave in he wants on each side that might not really be easier. I like the look of custom cut KZ tanks.... I don't really like the shafty tanks myself.

Then again... what do I know, my Cafe Racer isn't gonna be running a KZ tank. lol

Maybe the ST stuff is not the answer for a 650 project, but the guy has all 4 factory 1980 ST pieces of bodywork that look pretty decent. Ought to be "A LOT" of guys in the group that could benefit by buying the stuff and using it as-is. Just in the last couple weeks I've seen pictures of 2 or 3 STs here that could look pretty good bolting on this stuff.
twowheeledterror wrote:

Wildog wrote:

Get you a shafty tank off of ebay. It would be easier to modify your frame to accomidate the tank.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-Kawasaki-KZ...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Post edited by: Wildog, at: 2005/11/30 13:00

Not necessarilly.

Let's say he wants to leave the frame stock. Not everyone is okay with adding/removing from their frame.

Also, depending on the amount of cave in he wants on each side that might not really be easier. I like the look of custom cut KZ tanks.... I don't really like the shafty tanks myself.

Then again... what do I know, my Cafe Racer isn't gonna be running a KZ tank. lol

Ive seen a tank that had the dents added in them. The fabricator said he made a template and cut both sides and then swapped the side from one to another (it is more work fitting them up and it is not as easy as it sounds)
Daniel