'07 "F" tank on '92 "E"

[mr72]

I think I may have achieved maximum success getting the dents out of my tank, and while I know I can probably get it roughly in shape enough that a little spot filler will make it look fine with paint, I would rather just paint. But undented, unrusted E tanks are pretty hard to find, and when you find them, they are expensive. The F tanks are much more plentiful and cheaper.

I am considering putting a tank from an '07 on my '92. I have read a little about it, some say the seat won't fit right but some say it will. It looks like it might be ok. How bad of an idea is this?

Thanks!

[Watcher]

I don't know what search criteria you are using, but have you tried searching for a donor GS500?  A part out may lead to a good tank, or even buying a "dead" motorcycle for cheap, snatching the tank, then parting it out yourself may be a way to break even or even make money in the end.

[mr72]

I went ahead and bought the '07 tank. It's just most of the 1st-gen GS500 tanks I find have dents and damage, or they are way over $200. But I can find later-model tanks for under $150 all day long with absolutely no damage.

I think I can adapt the newer tank to the old bike. I suppose we shall see. Worth it for me to find out. this thread gives me hope.

[qcbaker]

I went ahead and bought the '07 tank. It's just most of the 1st-gen GS500 tanks I find have dents and damage, or they are way over $200. But I can find later-model tanks for under $150 all day long with absolutely no damage.

I think I can adapt the newer tank to the old bike. I suppose we shall see. Worth it for me to find out. this thread gives me hope.

If the 07 tank doesn't work out for you, this thread may be relevant to you: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=70903.0

Another user here is parting out a 97 E, I bought a couple parts from him that worked out great. I saw pictures of the bike it came off of and the tank looked to be in decent shape.

[Endopotential]

But I can find later-model tanks for under $150 all day long with absolutely no damage.

Whoa, where are you finding those tanks?  Most of the ones I see on Ebay are $200 with dents.

[mr72]

There were two on eBay yesterday. I bought one and the other sold to someone else.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162223545531?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[SirHansford]

Been a week or so,  how's that bike holding up now?  been getting to do any riding?

[mr72]

Yeah I've ridden it nearly every day at least a couple of miles, using it for errands close to home. Probably going to do a longer ride or two this weekend.

It will idle now but not very consistently. I am still dialing in the pilot mixture. The long warm-ups are kind of frustrating. It's mechanically solid enough that I trust it to be reliable and not leave me stranded, so I am moving on to cosmetics, thus the "new" tank.

I started a project log in the other forum, feel free to follow along. At least I am not struggling to just get the bike working! 

[Joolstacho]

mr72, just use your 'old' sidecovers with the new tank, and don't worry about the front mounts, I've been riding mine like this for several years with no sign of problems, never looked like coming off, your thighs would stop them flying off anyway even if they did let go.
And yes you can make the old seat fit with the new tank, but it LOOKS much better if you trim off that front 'tongue' extension on the seat, if you don't trim it you might need to bend the extension on the seat base back a little using a hot air gun.

[mr72]

Thanks for the tips. I will consider modifying the current seat, I have both a heat gun and also don't mind cutting it and making it look right. I'm no stranger to this kind of fab. I do think I prefer the looks of the old seat, and particularly how it's much narrower up front, so I'll probably keep it rather than trying to make something work with an >02 F seat.

I also don't mind making brackets to hold the side plastics if they seem to be loose after everything is together. My bike is missing one of the grommets on one side so I'll have to locate one anyway. Good to know this won't likely keep me from riding while I sort it out one way or the other.

[Joolstacho]

Here's what I did re: trimming off the front of the seatbase. Later tank, everything else original '89.