Flip top faux tank
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:25 pm
I had an idea the other night, and I was hoping someone could give me some guidance. I want to replace the stock faux tank with a different tank. What I am envisioning is one of those tanks that have the indents where your knees would go with the knee pads. What is this style of tank called?
I want to cut the bottom off so it would be hollow. I want it to flip up on some type of hinge, and use a leather belt that would go from seat, over tank, to triple tree area to hold tank down.
First concern, finding a tank that when hollowed out would still be wide and long enough to cover everything on the bike. Second, once the tank is hollowed out, would it be stiff enough, or would I need to brace it somehow to keep it from being flimsy? The third, and probably easiest, is designing a hidden hinge to allow tank to flip up so I can have access to filler cap, coolant, etc. I'm worried about clearance issues. I'd like It to flip forward, but I imagine handlebars will be in the way. Flipping back towards seat would probably work best, but I'm still worried about it clearing handlebars as it rises up.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I fear my ideas are starting to exceed my skill level.
I want to cut the bottom off so it would be hollow. I want it to flip up on some type of hinge, and use a leather belt that would go from seat, over tank, to triple tree area to hold tank down.
First concern, finding a tank that when hollowed out would still be wide and long enough to cover everything on the bike. Second, once the tank is hollowed out, would it be stiff enough, or would I need to brace it somehow to keep it from being flimsy? The third, and probably easiest, is designing a hidden hinge to allow tank to flip up so I can have access to filler cap, coolant, etc. I'm worried about clearance issues. I'd like It to flip forward, but I imagine handlebars will be in the way. Flipping back towards seat would probably work best, but I'm still worried about it clearing handlebars as it rises up.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I fear my ideas are starting to exceed my skill level.