Ducati Monster Forum

I stumbled upon someone who had their M1100S tank, front bikini cowl and rear seat cowl remade in aluminum.

I'm thinking whether I should order a tank for my M796 and would appreciate your thoughts/opinions.

The aluminum tank adds 6 liters (1.5 gal) more capacity (15L -> 21L), which is very good for long rides.

Not sure about overall weight, and no idea what that tank switch does...

It's custom made by a shop that specialized in aluminum tanks for SBK.  The owner said he can make one for ABS monsters as well.

Cost estimated roughly around 1800$, without paint job.  A bit expensive I think.

Any thoughts?

(http://www.bikebros.co.jp/eblog/files/IMG_2640.JPG)


(http://www.bikebros.co.jp/eblog/files/IMG_2636.JPG)


{EDIT}

Here's the front bikini cowl

(http://www.bikebros.co.jp/eblog/files/IMG_2632.JPG)

and the rear seat cover

(http://www.bikebros.co.jp/eblog/files/IMG_2639.JPG)

Not bad considering they are one-off's.  I would like an aluminum tank with more capacity for my S2R, as long as it used the stock fuel pump assembly.  But, alas, I don't have the dinero for it.

Looks cool. Fwiw that second pic is a nice shot in front of what appears to be your standard Chinese factory. Wonder who's doing the work, $1800 really isn't bad at all

Thanks guys.


It's actually a Japanese shop that, for two decades, has been making aluminum tanks for SBKs racing the Suzuka 8 Hours race, so I'm really not questioning the quality.

Sweeet. That's really a good price then for Japanese work. Doooo it.

+1 A CF tank for older monsters ran about that same price. Road racing make an aluminum tank for the carbys and I think it was around that price 15 years ago. So yeah, $1800 for that really isn't bad, especially if it's from a reputable shop

Looks absolutely awesome to my eyes.  Extra capacity is a great thing to have as well.  You don't have to top up if you don't want the weight, but you have the option of the extra range too.  [thumbsup]  I don't think I could stand to paint such a pretty tank.  Maybe just clear-coat it as is or even leave it totally bare.

wow, that does look awesome... if you were to paint it, you would need to do it like the 1196sp though... at least leave one stripe bare aluminum so you can see it.

Thanks for the feedback guys.  I'm pretty convinced now that it's a good deal.

My monster is black / red frame, and I kinda like it that way, so I don't think I could leave the tank all bare.

A bare stripe in the middle a la 1198SP, or maybe one stripe on each side...

Any thoughts about powder coating?  I don't want to paint it shiny, I kinda like the matte black, so black powder coat maybe...

that is gorgeous.

I would love the extra capacity!

See how it compares it weight, please

It looks like I have something new to save for....either this, or a radical tank, however the capacity here would be awesome

if you're going to paint it black, then stencil the ducati symbol in and let the alum show through the letters... i'd go with the 80's ducati lettering.  and keep the clearcoated stripe in the middle visible too... should keep the black look you like, but will show off the tank too.

i wonder how it would look anodized though?  that would accomplish the mission of both showing that it's alum and also get that black you want...  dunno if you could get the stripe or lettering if you went that route though... but it would be pretty unique

where are you located that you even got a pick of that? i have been emailing the company that makes the "beater" brand alum tanks that makes that for months and they never email back.  that tank would take care of the whole expanding tank issue for sure.

Is this an actual tank? I thought the new monsters just had tank skins and the real tank was a poly propylene tank underneath the skins

I'm located in Japan.  I'm gonna call them again to request a quote for my tank.

For monsters, they've only done the M900 in the past, and this M1100S about a year ago.

Since my bike has ABS, my tank is 1.5L smaller than non-ABS, so they'll have to have my bike for a couple of months.

I'm pretty sure they're not aware of the potential demand from overseas ducatisti.

If you wanna ask "beater" any specific questions, I'm happy to help you (I speak Japanese too) so you can PM me if you want.

That is an actual tank which replaces the inner plastic tank and the outer shell.

Nice
I would love to get one to replace the ever expanding nylon tank on my S4RS

I just added close up pics of the bikini fairing and the rear seat cover to my original post.

ha ha what?! thats a weird comment

and yes i do think it would be easier just to get skins done, for the look

maybe cheaper too

Who made this tank for you?

Can you send me their contact info?

Thank you!

like it!!  [thumbsup]

I have a couple magnetic tank bags for the 620.  I'd like to use them on the 1100 too.

$1800?!   Not bad!

Whoa, I never knew you upgraded to an 1100, you had the 620 for what... close to a decade right?

Hell, I wish I still had my first Monster 620 (or even my second).

Yup..bought a '10 in 2/10.  Just rolled 13,000 on it two days ago.  The 620 was bought in '03.  She has nearly 80K!   [thumbsup]

just FYI magnets don't stick to aluminum   ;D

and if I said.."Ha..April Fool"?!  ???  [cheeky]


Waking up at 4:00..obviously, IZ brain not functioning!!   [roll]

Oh, I didn't know you had the recently developed aluminum magnets  ;)

Why yes, his company Vanderlay Industries produces them.   [laugh]

I got them from the same website I bought my tauntaun sleeping bag.

That tank is s3xy!  [drool]

Turns out the $1800 price tag is for non-ABS model tanks, which have already been designed/built before.

For ABS monsters, such as mine, they would have to design/build the tank one-off from scratch, so it would cost up to $3000  :(

hmmm...  $3000 is a lot of money  [bang]

that sucks... i have a 796abs too... the sec i saw this, i was thinking about moving towards it too...

maybe just have them email you once they get a working abs tank done?  i figure they'll have more market for it once the 1100evo comes standard with abs.

Any guesses what the toggle switch (or whatever) is on the top right hand side of the tank?

Reserve?

gives power to the flux capacitor  ;D

Nitro switch  [evil]  I wish  ;D

I wish Ducati hand't opted for a smaller inner tank to accommodate the ABS.


perhaps, but someone will still have to be the first customer for them to start working on an ABS tank.




maybe enough of us can order tanks for ABS monsters at the same time to drive the price down.

who's in?

I'm interested, but it would be for a different model...prolly no help to you at all.

If possible, I'd like a quote on a S4rs tank and seat cowl in aluminum.  Would be sweet with what I have planned for after summer.

Considering other after market manufacturers have been known to do the 'prototype' free for volunteers ... I think the higher cost is a bit rich. I completely understand if it is a genuine 'one-off' - so your idea for a bulk order has merit.

You have the distinct advantage of being local, being able to communicate with the builders and having an untapped market on the DMF ... try and use that to your advantage. Unfortunately (for you) I would think the biggest market would be 'old-style'-plastic-tanked-Monsters (in the US) ... but again it doesn't mean you can't use that to your advantage - fancy life as a conduit?

Life as a conduit... not really.  But I would not mind helping fellow DMFers :)

You do bring up a good point though - lemme check with the shop if they have the appetite and capacity for such a market.

I may reach out to you guys again for advice  [thumbsup]

I can't imagine how tough things are over there, thank you for looking into it for us/me!

overflow?

This. It's definitely a barb, not a switch

I like the idea of replacing the whole tank to get rid of any potential problems with ethanol

but the cost...  [puke]   ducati should just go back to steel tanks since ethanol is being pushed everywhere.

would someone PLEASE figure out a way to stop the ethanol bandwagon...

Steel isn't a solution, either, since ethanol is hygroscopic which can eventually result in corrosion.



+1

so AL tank is the solution? ooo like that idea!

Ethanol will corrode aluminum, however, 10% ethanol (E10) gasoline 'should' be safe.

basically... the more and more i hear about ethanol... the more and more i realize that those aliens from the movie aliens dont spit acid, they were just spitting ethanol.

Ethanol should be for drinking only

by the way, that tank was custom painted and featured in the latest issue of Ducati Bikes magazine in Japan a few months back.

Here are some pics.


(http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/43/92/7418298ee2e53de77317a47f633b5522.jpg)


(http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/03/95/87e80062281369397fcc424bec1053c9.jpg)


Here's a lose up pic of what we thought to be a switch on the tank.

It seems to be a connector for some type of tube or cable...

Can anyone guess what it is?  I have absolutely no clue...


(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5615974974_93d7513089_z.jpg)

Vent hose to prevent vacuum

i was wondering where they put the breather hose/fuel overflow hoses...  though it might have been routed some other way.

kinda really dont like the way they have that set up... sticks out like a sore thumb...  maybe they could recess it and then put on a aluminum cover like the plastic ones on the orig tank to cover it up.

beyond that though, it looks great cleaned up and painted. i like that paint scheme a lot.

That means it's not using the stock gas cap which has the breather built in.

Hi lads, did anyone end up trying one of these tanks?

Am interested in one for a non ABS M1100. The extra 6 litres is very appealing... I would guess a weight saving also?
Does anyone know the contact details?

Thanks

the company is called beater, and i think you'll have to ask jvax... he's based in japan and evidently knows how to contact them.

Thanks Thought

Jvax, any idea if these guys have crafted up a tank for a sport1000?

DRKWNG, I haven't seen any in their inventory.  They do mostly superbike big volume (24L / 6.3 US gallon) tanks for the suzuka 8 hour race.

They have ready-to-ship stock for 1X98, 999/749, 748/916/996/998, D16RR, F1/F3, TT2, Imola etc.  They also have a big tank for the MH900e, 1st gen monsters (900/750...) and 3rd gen mosnters (696/796/1100).  Off the shelf tanks are listed for approx 2000 ~ 3000 US$.

They can take on-off orders, but cost isn't cheap, list price on their website starts 350,000 JPY i.e. 4,500 US$ at the current exchange rate (would have been 2800 US$ before the Lehman crisis) :o  You can get a decent monster for that price  [bang]  but hey, if money is not a concern, their quality is the best in the market  [thumbsup]

PM me if you need more detail.

Whats a carbon tank worth in comparison?

BTW, here's a link for you guys to drool on:
http://www.moto-works.jp/beater/index.html (http://www.moto-works.jp/beater/index.html)

And wtf does this mean?  :-[

It means you won't be buying one. ;)

This link shows the entire lineup:

http://www.moto-works.jp/beater/index.html#bzx10_2012 (http://www.moto-works.jp/beater/index.html#bzx10_2012)

 This is SUCH a bummer! That is just the tank that I want for my bike, now I would have to go to Japan to get one!
The Bimota is looking better and better, only problem is the cost of insurance.......

what's stupid about that. is they ARE NEW, no gas in them!!!

means all those chinese made plastic gas cans can't be shipped??? DUMB DUMBER DUMBEST country I know right now is my own.

Unless its previously been on a motorcycle and filled with fuel, or being shipped filled with fuel, how is it a "VOLATILE LIQUID CARRYING CONTAINER"??   

It's merely an aluminium vessel.  I want one to use as a garden watering can  ;)

One can always get ahold of a friend that lives over there, ship it to them, then have it shipped to the states..... It might be possible...

 I got tired of waiting so I traded my Monster in on a 2008 Bimota DB5R. It's plastic tank was not made by Acerbis and it is shaped nicely!