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Post by Fingermaus on Jan 8, 2016 0:04:22 GMT 1
Hi All
I emailed Holtworks last month just out of curiosity.
I explained the shortage of good tanks for the 4L1's and 4LO's and asked what sort of numbers would be needed for them to make copies. Took them a while as they're really busy, but they got back to me this week.
They said that they can make an exact copy of an original tank.A minimum order of 20 would be needed to get it off the gound for them to produce tanks at £520 each.
The ones they make for other bikes look really good and the lengthy lead times would indicate a healthy business making good products. Website and testimonials look great. There are the obvious pros and cons to Alloy tanks, but It's food for thought if no one's making decent steel copies and good ones are getting harder and harder to find. I suppose a good Alloy tank is better than no tank.
As I said, I did this out of curiosity and I'm posting this to see if it's an option that can help our community in what seems to be an approaching fuel tank crisis. I'm not volunteering to get something sorted, but If there is enough interest and somebody wants to take it up then it's on the table. I don't need a tank but If I did I'd probably go for one.
What do we reckon?
Phil
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Post by rigga on Jan 8, 2016 0:11:56 GMT 1
I think that's always going to be the kind of cost for one if these due to limited amount needed in order to recoup costs. If it is as good a copy as I think these guys can do, I'd be interested as there currently is no options
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Post by arrow on Jan 8, 2016 0:18:57 GMT 1
I don't need one, but it sounds like they know what they are doing and the price looks ok, if I were buying. Hope something good comes out it for all concerned.
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Post by Tobyjugs on Jan 8, 2016 0:19:47 GMT 1
i would also want one
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Post by spondon440 on Jan 8, 2016 0:21:26 GMT 1
Be prepared to wait at least 18 months for it, I have a holtworks tank on my Buell, its a work of art but it took a lifetime to get made and people are still waiting for them from the original order for a minimum order of 12 units.
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Post by Tobyjugs on Jan 8, 2016 0:26:53 GMT 1
I'm patient
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Post by JonW on Jan 8, 2016 2:58:15 GMT 1
Im patient too... Id be interested to know more if someone runs with it.  |
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Post by raven13 on Jan 8, 2016 3:28:18 GMT 1
summat norbo should think of maybe?  ? |
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Post by lb on Jan 8, 2016 5:58:08 GMT 1
I could be interested in one....depending on final price.
Posted this on the US rz350 forum,might be one or two crazy Canadians that wants one...
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Post by steeley on Jan 8, 2016 6:46:09 GMT 1
hi yes I have had a look at there site before and there tanks look very good .I am still of the mind that the way to go is have repair plates made for the areas that rot out ie the lower side area and the underside left and right. once you had the repair sections the rot could be cut out the panels trimmed up to fit and tig welded in. don't get me wrong it sounds easy but I can tell you its not ,I am in the process of repairing a friends Tzr250 and it is doing my head. I wish I had a tig 20 years ago I would find it second nature to use by now lol.
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Post by Yogi on Jan 8, 2016 8:27:57 GMT 1
summat norbo should think of maybe? ? Come on Norbo ,moneybags |
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Post by JonW on Jan 8, 2016 8:45:22 GMT 1
If Norbo did it he would have to make something for his investment and hassle, 520 would become something more for sure... as it should be.
I also like the idea of buying direct if im buying, Id save the VAT being from outside the EU which would cover the cost of posting it or come close, they quote 125quid to send a tank to Aus and the VAT is 100ish... And, that would not be the case with norbo as he's not vag regd of course.
All you really need is to set up a group buy with the company making em, people order and pay directly, you just need the number of orders to be placed before production.
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Post by dusty350 on Jan 8, 2016 8:59:26 GMT 1
Was it "Legend" that did a run of repro Lc tanks a few years back ? I didn't have an Lc then, so didn't take a lot of notice, but I'm pretty sure it was them that did some - saw them on ebay at around £300 if memory serves. Not sure how good they were, but if they were Uk made, then someone has been making them. Dusty  |
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Jan 8, 2016 10:21:33 GMT 1
Was it "Legend" that did a run of repro Lc tanks a few years back ? I didn't have an Lc then, so didn't take a lot of notice, but I'm pretty sure it was them that did some - saw them on ebay at around £300 if memory serves. Not sure how good they were, but if they were Uk made, then someone has been making them. Dusty Yes it was legend The tanks looked good and we're made in a few sections an tig'd together Some say the fuel cap didn't sit quite right He struggled to sell them and says he will not be getting more Maybe was just a timing thing as used tanks were more readily available then Steve |
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Post by dusty350 on Jan 8, 2016 11:19:59 GMT 1
Hi Steve
I wonder who was making the sections ?
If the fabricaror still had the patterns that would be half the job done so saving set up costs. As with everything people that wanted them would have to stump up a decent deposit before anything would happen.
Dusty
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Jan 8, 2016 11:48:23 GMT 1
I don't think he would divulge that info but my be worth asking
A lot of tig work involved as the knee cut outs were one piece and the front corners were another
I thought they looked good and we're made from a heavier grade steel
Zintec would be good
Steve
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Post by steven on Jan 8, 2016 12:08:04 GMT 1
Hi,
Im just lurking and reading with much interest.
I was told in the past that there are a few craftsmen about that could hand make an LC tank from Ali, I was told that cost would be in the region of £1000.
So the £520 price sounds ok to me.
I dont relay need one, as I have spares, but Id love a quality hand made one in something shiny !
I would be interested in one, subject to quality.
steven.
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Post by paulperth on Jan 8, 2016 12:22:31 GMT 1
I wonder what the cost would be if you ordered 100 would the price come down ? Economy's of scale would suggest that the price would be lower. If you had a spare 50k in the bank I'm sure you could earn more than the interest you get the only problem would be lead time. But then who has a spare 50 k
I don't see selling 100 over the course of a year that much of a problem
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Post by JonW on Jan 8, 2016 12:52:19 GMT 1
The problem with the Legend one was that it wasnt a perfect copy of OEM, anything made needs to be restoration quality, then it would sell.
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Post by ellasae on Jan 8, 2016 13:10:19 GMT 1
Assuming that the quality was there , and from what I've seen of their work there doesn't appear to be anything to worry about , I'd pay £520 for one.......
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Post by steven on Jan 8, 2016 13:29:15 GMT 1
....there is a saving with an alloy tank too in that you dont have to pay to have it painted, or go to the hastle of painting it.
you just sit with a tube of auto sol and polish it on the living room table while watching corrie every now and then !
steven.
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Post by spooch63 on Jan 8, 2016 20:38:31 GMT 1
If Norbo did it he would have to make something for his investment and hassle, 520 would become something more for sure... as it should be. I also like the idea of buying direct if im buying, Id save the VAT being from outside the EU which would cover the cost of posting it or come close, they quote 125quid to send a tank to Aus and the VAT is 100ish... And, that would not be the case with norbo as he's not vag regd of course. All you really need is to set up a group buy with the company making em, people order and pay directly, you just need the number of orders to be placed before production. Setting up a group with the company would seem the obvious way to go, would see who was serious about wanting one, only downside I can see with that idea is that I would want to see a finished copy before placing an order, if they could be persuaded to make up a tank to satisfy us of the quality we could expect then I can't see why it shouldn't be a win win situation all round. |
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Post by crowley on Jan 9, 2016 17:31:22 GMT 1
I have a Holtworks tank on one of my Buells. The quality is excellent and they are a good company to deal with. Other Buell owners also agree.
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Post by crowley on Jan 9, 2016 17:31:42 GMT 1
I have a Holtworks tank on one of my Buells. The quality is excellent and they are a good company to deal with. Other Buell owners also agree.
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Post by Fingermaus on Jan 10, 2016 22:17:01 GMT 1
Quick update.
I asked Holtworks if the tank which is used to make copies from will be a sacrificial tank or undamaged during the process and Michelle replied with:-
"Hi Phil
Tony said his guy is pretty good and hasn't damaged a tank so far. So we hope to return the tank undamaged.
Best regards
Michelle"
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Post by 4l04ever on Jan 10, 2016 22:24:24 GMT 1
We could probably get them a good one to copy, and a rusty one to cut up to measure etc inside.
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Post by crowley on Jan 11, 2016 10:37:23 GMT 1
The 'copy' tank that Tony used for Buell tanks was undamaged.
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Post by JonW on Jan 11, 2016 12:16:22 GMT 1
....there is a saving with an alloy tank too in that you dont have to pay to have it painted, or go to the hastle of painting it. you just sit with a tube of auto sol and polish it on the living room table while watching corrie every now and then ! steven. This is maybe where the market differs on these... If you wanted an alloy tank for a polished special then the Legend one was perfect. It wasnt a perfect copy of an LC tank, it didnt have the right cap area for one, and that put the resto guys off. For me, I would need tanks that i can paint and be indistinguishable from OEM when painted and decal'd, just be solid and not need a liner. |
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Post by iwantalc on Feb 14, 2016 19:11:43 GMT 1
legend tank on ebay item number 201519546455
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artie
Thrash Merchant
Posts: 341
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Post by artie on Feb 14, 2016 19:35:38 GMT 1
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