For my birthday this year I am dropping hints for a new tank for my Lightning, it looks it will be a tank from India. So has anyone any advice on suppliers that were a good experience and any best avoided? Searched the threads but no guidance either way. If anyone can recommend anyone closer to home, please do. Thanks
Hi,
I have bought 4 from here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/royalchoppers?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2563
Its worth making a low offer and barter until you think you have the best deal. Then ask for any alterations you might want such as different paint, knee pad fixing or anything else you might think of. Their fuel taps, knee pads filler caps are best avoided, buy in the UK. The badge fixings and knee pad fixings will not be the best and the petrol tap thread will need to be dressed before fitting. Unfortunately you will be charged an additional 20% VAT at check out. The tanks are made to order and he will send images before posting, check carefully as 1 of my tanks was painted flat red rather than candy apple red. He changed the paint before posting to the UK. If you have a genuine problem with the tank, his default is to return your money and you keep the tank. I have never had a problem, and for the price I am quite happy to pay for what has been sent.
An alternative UK supplier at the moment:
https://www.classicbikepartscheshire.com/carburettors-fuel-c1/fuel-tanks-c105/bsa-t2
Best wishes...
WD
the problem you will have is that unless you have one made yourself to a pattern of yours you will probably end up buying the same tank from many suppliers.
I doubt there are more than a couple of manufacturers of new tanks in India, especially as BSA India will probably have some sort of copyright on advertising the name, therefore two manufacturers supplying two importers in the UK, who then supply to 30 retailers.
chances are GD Enterprises, who advertise on ebay as vintageindia13 and aakashshukla14 and probably more are the only maker Indian supplier who probably gets them from the same maker. Vint and aakash above probably supply UK outlets , so to answer your question, does it matter? if it fits it fits , if it dosnt, you either make it fit or you order another , that might also not fit.. or you might be luckier and it fits!!
obviously, getting a custom made one in England will cost more, but caveat emptor.
just adding, that Royal Choppers are also based in New Delhi.as are GD Enterprises.
I've got an Indian A10 tank which fits ok and lines up so there are some good ones out there.
Can you not find a genuine decent tank over here and get it refurbished?
I've ordered 2 tanks from royal choppers and was quite happy with them. One was for a 1946 B31 and another for an Ariel 350 NH.
What I did was to take a few key dimensions such as mounting points, emblems, height, width etc and asked them to do the same (w/out telling them what I measured :)). That way I was able to check if the tanks would fit or not. Both worked very well and were a straight fit w/out modifications.