I would not use compressed air, freezing full of water, or my old standby, a small explosion, to pop a dent out of a flanged metric fuel tank. Harley Davidson or Indian welded heavy gauge steel, older European welded aluminum, older European welded steel, sure, no problem. A flanged tank is usually spot welded and then soldered, and the seam itself is a weak spot.

The factory tank is pretty thin in the larger radius curves, when my stepson crashed my 98 model a piece of gravel punctured the tank.

As far as the cobalt paint, get in touch with Color-Rite, order some Kawasaki Mean Streak paint, have it sprayed. As often as I change the color scheme on my toys, I use Rustoleum out of basic spray cans. But, and this is a big but, stuff I plan to leave as built for awhile gets real catalyzed enamel of some kind, usually tractor paints.

Just out of curiosity, what did it cost you to chrome the tank?

Kris01 wrote on 08/01/14 at 18:47:36:

It just so happens that one of the best chrome platers( they get restoration and custom work from all over North America) is here in London Ont. They are called Plating Master, and they are expensive. That said, it cost $500, and the job is perfect.
http://p1.bikepics.com/2013/10/03/bikepics-2602885-800.jpg

Kris01 wrote on 08/02/14 at 11:27:43:


A professional paint job with dent removal most likely would cost close to that amount.  Paint supplies and labor doesn't come cheap anymore.  I bet I spent close to $ 300 for the primer, base coat, clear coat, sand paper, tape and buffing materials I used to paint my bike.