Riders Of Vision

When I bought my bike the tank leaked in all four spots:'( After building my other bikes tank in steel I really didn't want to repair this one too. Getting a good seal out of a steel weld is tough. So I think I'll make a new one in fiberglass. I'm just looking for some feedback on a  modified shape. I don't want to make a totally new shape, just add to whats already there. I made a few quick photoshop ideas, and would like some feedback. I hope members don't mind my use of there beautiful Visions. I'd use mine but its really ugly right now.


Taller


Wider


Wilder

I kinda like taller & wilder combined.

I actually made the top half of a Vision tank out of fiberglass... But living in a condo, I got into a little trouble with the neighbors because of the smell of the resin that was used. When the weather warms up, I plan on finishing the bottom half at a friend's house.

A couple of issues to resolve with this is how to mount the petcock and the gas cap. I have not given this much thought yet... Right now, I am away from home on vacation.. when I get home, I'll post some pics of what I have done so far...

~John

just keep in mind , as you tinker with the tank size, shape ,width,, you are also tinkering with your center of gravity.   a bigger tank means more fuel to flop around, and that means additional disruption of the bike's mojo.  if you just have to make it bigger, then take the time to add baffles inside you tank, or fid it redicing your ability to carve the turns at speed .

I'd like a taller, wider would hit the fairing.

 :) I gotta say, I like the original style/shape/size 8)

I like the wilder but...
Looks like its reaching out to grab a fistful of precious cargo to be honest :O

I got some good resin that is almost odorless from DMC. So far so good on the bottom half. I'll be casting a plate with nuts welded to it for the petcock. The filler cap problem can be solver with a bolt on aircraft style cap. A little spendy but I don't see any easy alternative. Oh yeah I'm also eliminating the seams.
I don't think making the tank bigger will effect the center of gravity. It will effect weight transfer when cornering though. Although you don't have to fill it up all the way no matter how big it is. The extra capacity would never be a bad thing. As for baffles, because the tank is practically split in half on the underside, I don't think they will be necessary.
I think I'll go with a little wider. It'll have the added benefit of a little move wind protection. Taller might make the already large tank look enormous.

I would like to have a taller tank..... one that you can rest your chest on for those longer rides....That was the one thing I liked about my friends bikes.... they had the early superbikes....I will have to settle for a tank bag someday to do the job.

a fully loaded tankbag works great for that GT

Here is the progress so far. Ive finished the mold for the bottom half, and I'm part way through building the buck for the top mold half. I hot glued floral foam onto the tank for the reshaping, and then fiberglassed over it. Next step is body filler and sanding.
I got bored waiting for the resin to dry so I thought id take off the exhaust and check things over. I can't believe how much this sucker weighs. So I decided to build a new exhaust from scraps. I'll post pics on the progress.

yeh...the stocker exhaust weighs a whopping 28 pounds

Good work so far keep it up

The finished buck. This is what the tank will look like finished. Only with more paint and less ugly.

oops, I was thinking the reshaped tank was going to hold more gaz.... guess not?

I may be wrong, but I think that what we see is the mould, that he will make the  reverse mould from .If so, it looks like he will pick up at least 1/2 gallon  and maybe a bit more.

Yeah the "buck" is just the mock up of the finished product. I will use this buck to make the reverse mold, and the reverse mold to make the final fiberglass tank. I plan on leaving an unpainted strip down the side so you can see the gas level. A poor mans fuel gauge.
By the way I'm also posting the exhaust progress in a new Thread.

Say, chimera, if you were to make another tank for commercial purposes, how much would you charge for the finished product?

It's hard to say at this point. I'll have to see how much work and material it takes to build the actual tank. Although I'm thinking that it will be cost prohibitive. I should have a lot more progress by the end of the weekend.

Progress has slowed a little. I've been working on my other bike. I did manage to finish the top half of the mold. I had to split it in two though. After a little repair work it should be ready to go. I also received the new locking aircraft style gas cap. It just bolts on.

Top half

I'm all about that lock
rock on mutha