Under great, great, great deliberation and debate is a replacement tank. The one I put a big ding in is driving me nuts, and if I’m replacing it I might as well go for one of the long range alternatives. There’s a mob in the US making huge tanks which look impressive, and they contain a lift pump to get the fuel from the far corners up above the carb. My reservation here is that if the pump fails there’s unavailable fuel, and a possible breakdown waiting to happen.

I had a log talk to Robin, the guy who makes the Safari tanks here in Oz. They don’t have a lift pump but rely on forward acceleration to wash fuel into a sump above the carb. It makes sense, and apart from motorway (freeway) riding normal stop/start riding will ensure the sump stays full as the fuel gets drained. It’s quite a price but I’m going to go for it. The tank weighs less than the standard and carries the fuel lower down, so if I put the “normal” amount of fuel in around the town it’ll be a more nimble machine.

It’s also a little more protection for the radiators than the standard plastic panels. The most important (and it’s killing me) debate is what colour. Translucent green or Black. Black will disappear into the bike, keeping the hard look and remaining anonymous. Green means I end up with a coloured bike (never had a green bike before), plus I will be able to see how much fuel is in there just by looking. That could be very useful indeed! But, but, but……

Decisions Decisions! Black or Green….