need input--Painting the gas tank or not

[jhutch2115]

I just stripped the gas tank down to bare metal and I kind of like the look, it reminds me of the 60's Honad Dream's. gas tank.  My question, is how can I keep the polished look of bare tank and keep it from rusting?? I was thinking of polishing the tank, use a clear rust inhibitor, and then just spray it with a clear coat, either automotive or possibly wheel clear coat> Is this possible or should I just pant it a silver matalic or flat siver. My bike is currently black.  PLease give me some feedback.  Thanks in advance, JIM

[Villager]

I had the same idea when I did mine. I expect you could protect it from rust pretty effectively using the method you describe, but the reason I went against it was because I couldn't figure out how to make it match the rest of the bike - give that the mudguard and rear are both plastic.

[ben2go]

Paint that sucker---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------hot f'in pink. 

[GSnoober]

You'll probably never get the bare metal to look nice for long; you might as well paint it. Of course, if you decide to POLISH the tank until it gleams, you'll go crazy trying to ride it when the sun reflects off it and blinds you. Now you understand why "toaster" tanks only had the chrome panels on the SIDES. Glare from the instruments is bad enough...

[Villager]

Dude, that's what sun visors are for!   

[GSnoober]

  Maybe under MOST circumstances, BUT...

...I've crossed the American desert, in summer, during daylight, wearing sunglasses, with TWO tinted face shields on my helmet (not an easy thing to do, but not impossible); each shield ALSO had "window tint" film applied to the inside, and I was STILL blinded by the sun when I was heading directly toward it. Fortunately, my tank bag kept the sun from reflecting off the top of the tank...

I applied sunscreen to my face every time I stopped, and wore a bandanna over my nose and lower face, and I STILL got sunburned on the exposed skin INSIDE the helmet! I soaked my helmet liner with water each time I stopped; I also soaked the bandanna on my face, and the one around my neck (to keep the sun off the back of my neck when it was behind me, and to help me keep my head cool), and I thought I'd rather die and go to HELL, because it would be cooler... I was on my way to Tucson, to visit a girlfriend before she left on an archeological dig in Central America... We only got one night together, but she made the trip worth the pain...

[jhutch2115]

Villager -- What I plan on doing to tie it in with the rest of the bike is: 1) use black lettering, 2) use 3m product (inviable bra material) in the concave portions of the tank and the area where the seat meets the tank and where the tank bag will sit.  My plan will to have the the take nice and shinny before I clear coat it. The second option is to use the metal / silver color paint w/ cler coat finish and the 3 m prduct in the same places as  previously discribed. I was talking with my Dad about this and he was telling me about the Britt bikes her road in the 60's / 70's that had the full aluminum or part Aluminum  & painted tanks, and the hot Rods as wel. So, I think that I will give this a try, and if it doesn't work out then I will do the silver metalic paint. I will keep people up todate, I have to go and do some sanding tonight. -- JIM