Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

As a few of you know I have in my spares an MT250 gas tank that is fully new old stock or NOS, I was pretty blown away by it when i got it and was wondering what people thought about it, I can just use it in my restoration for a bike that will get used in the woods, but I wasnt sure if people would think i was committing an act of sacrilege by doing that. I have another tank that is rusty but I could get repainted to look like this one, but down here that would cost me around $750-1000 with a liner, dents taken out, new graphics and professional paint, now i dont want to spend that kind of money when I have a perfectly good tank on my shelf that i can use unless people think i should hold onto the NOS one. So what do you think guys, use and abuse, or put it on my mantle piece?

_________________
MT250 with CR250 top end & Bassani pipe... almost fully restored.

See more of my motorbike builds at my Honda MT250 and Yamaha RD and RZ website, 2Smoked.com

If you like watches, check out my websites: DeskDivers.com & PloProf.com

Hi Jon,

One vote for the mantle piece.

I'm one of those people who are bummed when a perfect part gets damaged (I realize many couldn't care less) and my MR tank sustains wear and/or minor damage every time I ride. If I had put a NOS tank on it, it would now have substantial knee wear and the standard triple-clamp dent(s), along with several branch gouges and who knows what else.

I've got a NOS tank for my RM, and my OEM CR tank looks pretty much perfect on the bike (there's a tiny dimple you'd never find unless I told you where to look, and some seat wear that's only visible with it off). Both these tanks are packed away, and the Hondas have Clarke aftermarket plastic tanks. With these, I have zero worries and am free to concentrate on riding, not damage control. The RM rarely gets ridden these days, and still has the original tank on it.

If it were 1978 I would say throw the NOS tank on - you can always order another one - but nowadays those tanks are really scarce, and getting more so by the day.

Just my $.02.

Ray

_________________
'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric

I have a MT125 tank that should be the same as the MT250 tank? It's got one dent in it and it has liner in it. I just bought the bike but the motor is going in a different bike. Have you tried compressed air to pop out the dents? Read before you do it if you do it so you don't hurt yourself but it can work. If you were interested I'd sell it to you. I'm waiting for another person to respond about it.

Having a nice tank would make me want to see what I was capable with the old tank. The challenge to see what I can do to make it look good? This being said all my dented tanks get dented more and turned into knee dents. haha.

Thanks guys.

Ray, I reckon you and I are along the same lines. It sort of feels like a rare opportunity to have the tank at all i guess.

Joshi, I have 3 tanks for the bike I am talking about, one is sprayed with cans red and full of filler, but is solid inside, one is the NOS one, and one is the one with rusty dots on the outside and a dent in the top, but clean inside. So im not short on tanks for this build, just not sure if i should make it look like new with new parts or if thats a mistake.

_________________
MT250 with CR250 top end & Bassani pipe... almost fully restored.

See more of my motorbike builds at my Honda MT250 and Yamaha RD and RZ website, 2Smoked.com

If you like watches, check out my websites: DeskDivers.com & PloProf.com

Well Jon what did you decide? I just ran across your post and have the same dilemma. I have a TL125 tank brand new still in the box.The tank on the bike is almost perfect with typical TL oil canning on one side and one small scratch. Either one would bring good money. I guess if I ever decide to sell the bike I can make up my mind then.

Hi Gary, Im still in two minds to be honest... I think that (like you) I am very lucky to have the option, usually Im stuck with nothing decent fuel tank wise to fit to my bikes and end up spending huge money having repairs, liners and paint work done, that means this time im sort of content to continue to debate this dilemma in my head each time i go into the garage.. bizarre i know, but its not often we get 'options' LOL!

This will amuse you... My wife said 'sell the NOS tank and use the cash to buy the rest of the parts to complete the bike...' - but then wives say things like that... hmm... Hope she wont see this, but she does have a point, er, just this once... haha! but, well... its such a hard to find item im not sure i want to part with it yet. LOL!

_________________
MT250 with CR250 top end & Bassani pipe... almost fully restored.

See more of my motorbike builds at my Honda MT250 and Yamaha RD and RZ website, 2Smoked.com

If you like watches, check out my websites: DeskDivers.com & PloProf.com