I know a few people here race and go to LSR events.. Has anyone looked at gas tank options? It seems that its hard for larger men, (like me) to tuck in tight against the tank, and that the really fast people have their metal tanks cut/dented to fit their abdomen closer to the tank and sometimes to allow their helmet to sit lower.
Since I love window shopping I've been looking at the lowered Catalyst Racing tank, I've talked to the (slightly stuck up) people at Beater-Japan tanks (they want about $8k for one gas tank!!) and I've been looking at ETI Fuel Cells. I have one of their tanks on my other bikes and it seems like a solid option.
Would there be any interest - in a few months or so - in a group purchase on a lowered light weight fuel cell? The composite tanks weigh almost 50% less than stock, and it can be customized to fit most of us a lot better than the stock tank.

There is a busa owner on hatabusa.org who has an aluminum tank with two caps just like some of the Beater tanks. Very sharp but he said it did not result in a weight-loss so find out for sure before going ahead with that one.

At over 1000 bucks, I don't see being able to afford a FuelCel any time soon + I have the Gen1 which probably has a dif gas tank. Some time down the road maybe, I'd love to have a lowered one like the Catalyst. They do not have the ZX-14 tank on the FuelCel site. Will they make a tank for the 14 if they get some orders?

LOL I'm subscribing to all your threads, Cool.

When you think about it, some of the smaller lightweight parts are $200~$300. This is actually a pretty smart choice for weightloss in terms of dollars. I almost wish my gas tank was damaged.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/13/2016 @ 8:43 PM *

Better than a side stand... I figure the most important places to lose weight are the wheels and rotating assembly, the tail, and then the top of the bike.
Eti doesn't make anything for the 14 yet, but if we could start with a group order of 5-10 I'm sure they'd be willing to make something.
Comparing my catalyst tank to the Eti composite tank the catalyst one didn't fit as well, and I don't really like the gas cap.
Has anyone compared the gen 1-2 tanks to see what the difference between the two is, or if it would be possible to make a one size fits both tank?
*The catalyst tank is supposed to be designed to fit both..

* Last updated by: CoolBrzBlu on 1/15/2017 @ 8:59 PM *

Has anyone compared the zx14 and zx14r tanks to see what the exact differences are, and if it would be possible to make a lowered one size fits all tank?

Good question?

Love the interest in these parts.. They are pretty good bang for the buck upgrades, and they are available for a lot of other high performance Bikes, but it seems like everyone only focusses on building the engine or power adders for the zx14s.. :/

* Last updated by: CoolBrzBlu on 12/4/2016 @ 11:21 PM *

If you're ambitious enough, you can make your own. Much better to buy one but if it's not there...it can be made. I'm seeing oil cooler block off plates are no longer available and Im going to make one. The brain and the hand. this isn't rocket science, all it takes is time. You can do with your hands what someone else does by hand or machine.

I'm willing to try some things, making a gas tank is too far out of my comfort zone, at least for now.

Q: You do not list my bike, can I still have a FuelCel for my application?

A: Usually yes. We do require an original tank from which to begin a custom tank. In most instances we can avoid any damage to the original tank in this process, but it is not a guarantee that the finish will not be chipped. Pricing varies, so please email us with your inquiry.

I might talk to FuelCel again next year to discuss a custom tank, definitely something worth saving for.

I'd be interested too but mines gen1 and not quite the same tank.

I don't see how they would damage the tank. All they will do is use hot glue to attach a very thin plastic fin all around the tank front to back, top and bottom.. this fin passes transversely through the mold they will make next. The fin divides the mold so the mold can be separated into two halves without cutting it. if shape is irregular enough to require a 3 or 4 piece mold, there would be additional fins passing through the mold to accommodate. They will smear vaseline on the tank and fins for a mold release agent, coat with a few alternating layers of cloth / liquid latex rubber, then encase in plaster ~4" thick.

Everything is pulled apart immediately after the plaster hardens but before it dries enough to shrink. The plaster is called the mother mold because it supports the latex/fabric conglom mold which is the actual copy of your tank.

smear inside of latex mold with vaseline and now fill each half with clay probably use some lightweight material to fill inside to reduce weight. Stick halves together, remove mother mold remove latex mold...voila--copy of your tank. Shave down or reshape any way you want. --or you could cast it in plaster if you wish but clay is easier to work with--you can't stick new plaster on old plaster so once you carve away plaster, its gone.

Now you take your clay race tank and repeat the mold making process with fin, latex and plaster. Sepparate mold and coat inside with fiberglass or whatever composite they use.

It would be a job but quite fascinating if you have the time. Could do a few practice runs on smaller objects to become familiar with the process. One thing you have to watch for is shrinkage. Plaster shrinks as it cures and clay will do the same as water evaporates. The larger the piece, the more it shrinks and a fuel tank is pretty large. I could see it losing an eighth inch if you let the mold or casting dry out too much. Bolt holes need repositioning probably solve that without much trouble if you worked in clay. The final composite tank probably shrink a just a tiny bit too. Just about every casting material does.

so maybe you be better off letting fuelcel do it. unless you want to go into competition with them...what do you say, Cool you and me go into the composite bodywork biz?

Cool and Rook Custom Cast Racing Bodywork. Carbon Fiber and Composite Bodywork and Fuel Tanks.

I like that idea. Just need to find some way to make enough to support my little girl. Making things faster (mostly in my head) is a big part of my life.

You and me both, bruh. You and me, both.

I have two.

...and I don't care if anyone thinks the bike is just a machine. To some, it's something wild and exciting and fills the empty hours and keeps us from beating ourselves up over the sh!t in our lives. Keep that bike a few more years and it won't even be worth selling but it will be worth gold to you.

Took my little one to the ER yesterday, she was helping with cleaning and oiling the chain when she decided she should brush her teeth with the brush with the chemicals on it.
All better today, and she seems to really like her little power wheels rc car.
I have most of my old income back, but I'm pretty frustrated with my job.

* Last updated by: CoolBrzBlu on 1/15/2017 @ 9:01 PM *

LOL took mine to the ER to have a splinter pulled. The dr just gave a local anesthetic injection and grabbed it with a tweezers. Over a thou in splinter pulling. Insurance covered most, I think. I would have let it fester up overnight and I bet it would have slid right out but you know having a divorced partner, you don't make those decisions.

My other daughter stepped on a sharp twig that peirced her sandal. I thought it would be good to swim to flush it out. NOPE. That was deadly. She had to go to the Dr and get some insanely expensive antibiotic. I guess you will die if you cut your foot when you swim. Somehow I survived stepping on a broken underwater beer bottle when I was young. Oh we'll, you just don't take those chances when you're divorced.

hehe so she cleaned her teeth, hey? LOL

I like my job but the income sucks. I think I'm better off though. I can't stand not liking my job. Really almost rather be on the street. I couldn't see doing something I dislike doing for too many years.

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/15/2016 @ 3:21 PM *

That is an expensive splinter..

I remember a raft that my friends and I built for our small and very green pond. We used the raft for a while, even with all the rusty nails. I guess the algae and bird droppings must have kept our wounds clean...

Her teeth, lips, and tongue (at minimum) are very clean... And my hair is a little more grey..

Not crazy about work, but it does pay the bills, maybe the new president will give us back our old pay too. If I could just get a transfer up north I think I'd be pretty happy with my job.

* Last updated by: CoolBrzBlu on 12/16/2016 @ 10:15 PM *

That is an expensive splinter..

I have faith that Trump is going to make a positive difference for almost everyone except maybe not teachers. I'm a teacher but I believe it will come around sooner or later.

If you move up North, try not to go too far. TX is good riding climate.

Speaking of gas, you guys always have used 93 octane or even higher?

I used mid-grade for a short time before the bike had the aftermarket pipe. I read lower octane burns more completely. I could tell no performance improvement with mid grade and the small difference in cost isn't worth engine damage risk. I have used regular for storage and it decel pops like crazy when you first run the bike in spring. I don't think there is much reason to store with anything but premium either.

As it was explained to me, higher octane fuels like race gas burn less readily than pump gas but they allow safe operation at high rpm with boost. HIgh octane is less likely to predetonate...I guess because it does not burn as easily.

Tx is a nice riding climate, but the idiot drivers on the Mexican border cut me off or try to hit me on almost a daily basis. I miss lane splitting too..

Fuel cell under the seat and replace the tank with a shell that goes over the frame where the tank once was. Or you can buy a lowered tank. You can buy all that except a fuel cell from catalyst composites or various companies that specialize in drag bikes, such as hardcore.

I have some Catalyst parts on my 10. Not that impressed for the price, at least with the gas tank. I'd like to maintain some street worthiness with my new motorcycle, so at least three gallons of fuel at the very minimum, cant really see just using an underseat fuel cell.

* Last updated by: CoolBrzBlu on 12/27/2016 @ 4:34 PM *

LOL 2.5 quarts of gas. Cool idea for weight loss but way too impractical for a street bike. Let's see....35 miles/ gallon x .55 = 19.25 miles. better hope they have gas if you leave town.

Catalyst is our only option for gas tanks. Talked to them again yesterday, they said their tank fits both gen 1 and 2. Trying to get more info on their lowered tank as far as weight, capacity, and dimensions, or exactly how much lower it is.. Might try them again...