Pure Unobtanium: 6.3 Gallon Aluminum Harris Tank
03-30-2013, 09:09 PM
#1
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 293
Pure Unobtanium: 6.3 Gallon Aluminum Harris Tank
Clearly I have lost my mind. I find that I am mainly only commuting on the hawk anymore, and therefore don't mind the frequent fill-ups from the stock tank. But as anybody who has the stock tank knows, you aren't getting much further than 100mi before the RLOD comes on. The design of the stock tank means that there's a fair amount (maybe nearly a gallon?) of unusable gas sitting in the tank when the bike leaves you stranded.
I have the solution for your problem.
Many moons ago, Harris Performance of the UK used to made a lightweight, handcrafted 24L capacity aluminum tank for the VTR. It sold for about £600 ($900+) and they stopped a long time ago. It was, and is a thing of beauty, and despite the other nice items my bike has, this tank eclipses the Moriwaki Zero Ti exhaust, and the Ohlins shock, hands down. It doesn't get more exclusive than this; You'll look for the next 5 years before you find another tank like this. Because of this, it's probably worth more than a stock '98 superhawk. If your bike averages 35mpg on a road trip (about what I get on long trips) this gives you a 220 mile range, all while being significantly lighter than the stock steel tank (I usually fill up at the 180-ish mark, as the RLOD still worries me). Unlike the stock tank, you can actually get almost every drop out of this tank. It comes with a fuel level sender (a rather pessimistic one at that) and petcock installed, and was professionally painted.
You’ve heard the good, now on to the bad.
It has a quick disconnect cap, which is locking, though I have never had a key for it as long as I've owned the bike. So, you’ll need to take it to a locksmith if you want it lockable. It is painted red, with nice clear coat over the Honda graphics. The tank looks factory, though I will say, the color isn't an exact match for Honda red. In certain lighting, it's apparent. But most of the time it isn't. But then you'd probably want to repaint it if you bike isn't red anyways...
The paint is a 7/10. This is due to the former owner applying a tank pad with exceptionally aggressive adhesive to it, and when it started peeling up around the edges, it removed two pinky fingernail size flecks of paint from the undercoat(Only one is visible when the seat is on). Bummer. There is also a line of abrasion into the paint around where the Corbin seat has been in contact with it over the years. There are various small dings in the paint, which I have attempted to detail in the pictures. The tanks looks really very good.
I will not give it away, and I am going to ask what will sound to some like a ridiculous price: $1500 + actual shipping costs to your location. We can discuss how you would like it packaged so you feel comfortable with its transit. It may not sell, and feel free to ignore this ad if you feel insulted. If it isn’t snapped up by one of you OCMD people (and you know who you are) I’m happy to keep it around for the next time I feel like taking the SH on a long haul. Fact of the matter is, you’ll basically double your range with a beautiful tank that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else. Thanks for looking.
I have the solution for your problem.
Many moons ago, Harris Performance of the UK used to made a lightweight, handcrafted 24L capacity aluminum tank for the VTR. It sold for about £600 ($900+) and they stopped a long time ago. It was, and is a thing of beauty, and despite the other nice items my bike has, this tank eclipses the Moriwaki Zero Ti exhaust, and the Ohlins shock, hands down. It doesn't get more exclusive than this; You'll look for the next 5 years before you find another tank like this. Because of this, it's probably worth more than a stock '98 superhawk. If your bike averages 35mpg on a road trip (about what I get on long trips) this gives you a 220 mile range, all while being significantly lighter than the stock steel tank (I usually fill up at the 180-ish mark, as the RLOD still worries me). Unlike the stock tank, you can actually get almost every drop out of this tank. It comes with a fuel level sender (a rather pessimistic one at that) and petcock installed, and was professionally painted.
You’ve heard the good, now on to the bad.
It has a quick disconnect cap, which is locking, though I have never had a key for it as long as I've owned the bike. So, you’ll need to take it to a locksmith if you want it lockable. It is painted red, with nice clear coat over the Honda graphics. The tank looks factory, though I will say, the color isn't an exact match for Honda red. In certain lighting, it's apparent. But most of the time it isn't. But then you'd probably want to repaint it if you bike isn't red anyways...
The paint is a 7/10. This is due to the former owner applying a tank pad with exceptionally aggressive adhesive to it, and when it started peeling up around the edges, it removed two pinky fingernail size flecks of paint from the undercoat(Only one is visible when the seat is on). Bummer. There is also a line of abrasion into the paint around where the Corbin seat has been in contact with it over the years. There are various small dings in the paint, which I have attempted to detail in the pictures. The tanks looks really very good.
I will not give it away, and I am going to ask what will sound to some like a ridiculous price: $1500 + actual shipping costs to your location. We can discuss how you would like it packaged so you feel comfortable with its transit. It may not sell, and feel free to ignore this ad if you feel insulted. If it isn’t snapped up by one of you OCMD people (and you know who you are) I’m happy to keep it around for the next time I feel like taking the SH on a long haul. Fact of the matter is, you’ll basically double your range with a beautiful tank that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else. Thanks for looking.
03-31-2013, 04:58 AM
#7
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Skurup, Sweden
Posts: 6,109
03-31-2013, 07:03 AM
#11
Junior Member
Squid
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 24
beautiful tank you have there dude...
its nice to see these ultra rare items are still out there, i know yeti in the uk has the same tank, it would be interesting to contact harris and find out if they could do a small prodution run of them for the original price, i doubt they would tho...
good luck with your sale
its nice to see these ultra rare items are still out there, i know yeti in the uk has the same tank, it would be interesting to contact harris and find out if they could do a small prodution run of them for the original price, i doubt they would tho...
good luck with your sale
03-31-2013, 08:37 AM
#14
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 293
beautiful tank you have there dude...
its nice to see these ultra rare items are still out there, i know yeti in the uk has the same tank, it would be interesting to contact harris and find out if they could do a small prodution run of them for the original price, i doubt they would tho...
good luck with your sale
its nice to see these ultra rare items are still out there, i know yeti in the uk has the same tank, it would be interesting to contact harris and find out if they could do a small prodution run of them for the original price, i doubt they would tho...
good luck with your sale
03-31-2013, 02:47 PM
#15
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 1,548
neat piece of equipment. The only other bigger range tank I recall is the carbon fiber ones made by..........I'm blanking on the name right now. And for that right person you might get what you are asking - I certainly hope so and I am soooo glad I don't own mine any longer to be tempted by it! But its a lot and given the, unfortunately, probably not durable in that classic kind of way, appeal of the superhawk I doubt it will do anything but depreciate. You might want to ebay it and see if you can locate that right person while there are still some nutcases like us who like this bike enough to make it special.
GLWS
GLWS
09-19-2013, 03:55 PM
#19
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 293
Ok, So I have let most of the major riding season lapse, and am just now following up on this listing. I thought I had a deal worked out with a member, but it seems to have gone quiet so maybe not. So I'll toss it out there; I'd consider partial trade on a set of CBR900rr rear/ CBR600F3 front rims plus cash on your end for the tank.
Love the tank, and will hang on to it until the right deal comes along, but with me just commuting on the SH anymore, don't need the greatly extended range, and have a hard time feeling ok with it sitting in a ding/dent prone parking garage at work.
Cheers,
R
Love the tank, and will hang on to it until the right deal comes along, but with me just commuting on the SH anymore, don't need the greatly extended range, and have a hard time feeling ok with it sitting in a ding/dent prone parking garage at work.
Cheers,
R
10-18-2013, 11:10 AM
#23
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 156
Carbotex, they also made a carbon frame for our bikes.
neat piece of equipment. The only other bigger range tank I recall is the carbon fiber ones made by..........I'm blanking on the name right now. And for that right person you might get what you are asking - I certainly hope so and I am soooo glad I don't own mine any longer to be tempted by it! But its a lot and given the, unfortunately, probably not durable in that classic kind of way, appeal of the superhawk I doubt it will do anything but depreciate. You might want to ebay it and see if you can locate that right person while there are still some nutcases like us who like this bike enough to make it special.
GLWS
GLWS
10-25-2013, 12:03 AM
#26
Thread Killer
SuperBike
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Geneseo, IL
Posts: 2,017
10-25-2013, 07:27 AM
#27
Administrator
MotoGP
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kempner, TX
Posts: 4,402
That IS what the user in question posted in a public forum
Stevie C. (Firestorm 13)
You'll be fine,,, unless you are Firestorm 13 posting under a second account
10-25-2013, 12:00 PM
#28
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pa
Posts: 734
Stevie C got locked up in Scotland for banging sheep. It was a bad scene.
And to beat U up some more;
IMHO - while I would like a longer range, to add that much weight up top would really throw the balance of the moto out, not worth it. If I want a top heavy moto - I'll go buy a UJM from the late 70's & save myself $500.
Good Luck
And to beat U up some more;
IMHO - while I would like a longer range, to add that much weight up top would really throw the balance of the moto out, not worth it. If I want a top heavy moto - I'll go buy a UJM from the late 70's & save myself $500.
Good Luck
10-25-2013, 12:09 PM
#29
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
11-25-2013, 01:13 PM
#30
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 293
A sunny November "Bump". 
nnjhawk02, while you're certainly entitled to your opinion, I can tell you that I barely notice a difference. The aluminum is certainly much lighter than the stock steel tank, so the additional fuel is far less of a penalty than you'd might imagine. Besides, you don't need it to be at full capacity ALL the time.
Besides, does that mean that every bike with reasonable range is a top-heavy pig? Certainly a modded VFR tank with still less range is going to be much heavier.
nnjhawk02, while you're certainly entitled to your opinion, I can tell you that I barely notice a difference. The aluminum is certainly much lighter than the stock steel tank, so the additional fuel is far less of a penalty than you'd might imagine. Besides, you don't need it to be at full capacity ALL the time.
Besides, does that mean that every bike with reasonable range is a top-heavy pig? Certainly a modded VFR tank with still less range is going to be much heavier.
