SuzukiSavage.com - Choppin' the tank

elitemunkeycrew Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 137 Sierra Vista, Az Gender:	Choppin' the tank 09/20/12 at 10:36:05 Is it feasible to cut the lip off the tank where the speedometer sits then weld a piece of metal to close up the hole? I want to relocate my speedometer but I don't want the hole that's left afterwards. I just want a smooth tank. Any thoughts?
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elitemunkeycrew Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 137 Sierra Vista, Az Gender:	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #1 - 09/20/12 at 10:51:54 I want to go from this:
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elitemunkeycrew Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 137 Sierra Vista, Az Gender:	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #2 - 09/20/12 at 10:56:26 to this: original photo is from rycamotors.com
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28682 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #3 - 09/20/12 at 11:02:01 No easy or cheap way... Welding and bondo... Paying someone will cost more the the tank is worth... ... but,.. there's no alternate tank that an easy swap either... Tough pickles... that is... I'd swap to different tank...
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #4 - 09/20/12 at 11:12:55 look for a new tank, save you a lot of grief either a vn750 or a gs something the vn has been installed before, looks like the savage tank w/out the hole, about 4.5 gal, has a fuel gage sender too.
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elitemunkeycrew

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Re: Choppin' the tank
Reply #5 - 09/20/12 at 12:01:24

verslagen1 wrote on 09/20/12 at 11:12:55:

look for a new tank, save you a lot of grief

either a vn750 or a gs something

the vn has been installed before, looks like the savage tank w/out the hole, about 4.5 gal, has a fuel gage sender too. Cool

So a Kawasaki VN750 tank or a Suzuki GS450 tank will fit?

I looked on ebay at the GS450 tanks and it looks as thought it has the same tabs on the front of the tanks as the savage tank. Are they a direct fit?

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misterbbq

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Re: Choppin' the tank
Reply #6 - 09/20/12 at 13:28:30

from another thread by seviersavage:

Here is a quicky side pic. My observations so far are:

1 it's a doable mod but takes several steps to complete, and yes you will have to cut off the original mounting studs for stock tank. Thats the point of no return.

2 I wanted to mount speedo and fuel gauge in chrome housings and thats where a lot of time was spent. As for the tank youll need to fabricate mounting brackets on the frame of the bike. You could drill thru the frame and use all thread but bushings and bolts to hold the tank have to be figured out.

3 It's a shoehorn operation with the sporty seat, gets a little cramped
but I still have some adjustment left to play with on the rear mount so I might find a smidgen of room yet.

4 on a scale of 1 to 10 this mod rates an 7 just because you'll need to make parts and weld brackets if possible.

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I opted not to weld on the frame. Not for any other reason than I wanted to be sure about the placement of my mounting brackets, I was afraid I might be wrong and have to gring off and restart.
I chose to weld up a bracket that I could then mount to the bike frame using a bolt and chrome acorn nut. The savage frame is less than two inches thick where the tank mounts and the tabs on the vulcan tank are about 8 inches apart. There is a lot of room for error there.
And yes I had to get a longer speedo cable, from another bike, It is however a direct and perfect fit. Also I had to extend the wiring harness by about 4 inches for the speedo.

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One last thought on this mod. I didn't take into account that the petcock position on the 750 tank is different. My petcock ended up resting solidly against the chrome cover. On close inspection the rubber fuel line is not touching but the body of the petcock is. At worse it could cause problems? from heat, or constant rubbing putting a hole in the petcock. At least it's going to leave a mark on the cover.
Hasn't been a problem so far and the covers never get real hot, I can still touch them after a ride so I'm just living with it for now.
Seviersavage

there were pics but they're all dead now.

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teabowl13 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 535	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #7 - 09/20/12 at 14:32:44 Someone here did exactly what you are describing; cut out the well that holds the speedo and welded it up, and then he sold the tank. I think I remember seeing it posted in the marketplace; search there, that may be helpful?
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EJID Serious Thumper Offline Work to ride and ride to work. Posts: 1536 Pocatello, ID Gender:	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #8 - 09/20/12 at 15:24:02 I remember seeing the pics of the VN750 tank and it looks like it was meant to be on the bike. I try to keep an eye out for one to try one day, but haven't been fortunate yet. Seviersavage, do you still have pics of that green bike? or was it someone else?
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Cavi Mike

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Re: Choppin' the tank
Reply #9 - 09/20/12 at 16:37:44

elitemunkeycrew wrote on 09/20/12 at 12:01:24:

I looked on ebay at the GS450 tanks and it looks as thought it has the same tabs on the front of the tanks as the savage tank. Are they a direct fit?

The GS450 tank doesn't bolt on and it doesn't fit the posts in the front either. The bottom of the tank fits the frame perfectly but it still requires cutting the old posts off the frame and rewelding them about 5" forward. The rear of the tank could probably be bolted on using some type of custom fabricated adapter but there won't be any room for the saddle. The rear mount needs to be cut off and a new mount welded to the bottom.

I know this because the GS450 tank is what I put on mine.

Front mount:
http://cavimike.com/savagetank06.JPG

Rear mount:
http://cavimike.com/savagetank07.JPG

Thread:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1343961685/21#21

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elitemunkeycrew Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 137 Sierra Vista, Az Gender:	Re: Choppin' the tank Reply #10 - 09/21/12 at 08:25:05 Thanks to everyone for the advice. I wish more people rode savages so they could get to hang out on this forum and get advice from some solid people.
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