Carbon Fibre Falco Tanks

[mangocrazy]

I am definitely interested, and if (once the mould is made) there is the possibility of buying at a similar price in the future (obviously adjusted for inflation and increasing cost of materials), then I am even more interested. To get this off the ground, a critical mass of people willing to commit is essential. Once the mould is made, then it's a resource that can be revisited in the future. So, assuming the price isn't astronomical, I'd be willing to commit if only to make this a going concern.

[D-Rider]

Thanks Graham
We're edging ever closer to the magic numbers that will make this viable at a cost that should be attractive.

I believe you are spot on with the understanding that once the mould is made and the costs defrayed, that it will be easy to get more made at a similar price. After all once the mould costs are covered, there will be more in it for the chap that makes them .... and he tells me he loves making tanks anyway.

I'll confirm this with him of course but I would imagine that unless something drastic happens to stop him making CF parts, he'll be doing so for some considerable time to come.

Of course to get to the point where the mould is made, we need a few more to commit now rather than waiting until the future but we're slowly edging that way and it would be great to get that resource of the tank mould made.

[phtmh2]

I may be interested. Expansion is definitely becoming a problem. I just need to see if I can afford it. I'l get back to you in a few weeks.
Tom

[Falcopops]

OK OK Andy, you've got me, put me down for one without the extra breather, not sure how I'll pay for it, but I'll find a way

[Viking]

Of course as with replacement OEM tanks, the carbon ones are just the tank shells - you need to transfer your fuel pump, filler cap, front mount etc. Look on this as a good opportunity to replace the fuel filter and internal fuel lines.

I assume that all the necessary holes for fitting said items will be drilled in the right places?

As for the fuel filter and lines, how hard are they to obtain and replace?

My main problem is what to do with the existing tank if I do get the CF one. Chateau Viking is barely big enough for me, let alone having a smelly petrol tank stored in it as well.

[D-Rider]

OK OK Andy, you've got me, put me down for one without the extra breather, not sure how I'll pay for it, but I'll find a way

We're not there yet in terms of those committing to make this a reality.
We are close but still need a few more to give the confidence to go ahead.
You were already one of those who indicated 100% interest at the price we're trying to hit

At the price that would make this work we have:

• 4 of us that have stated they would be 100% certain to buy
  3 of us that would be at least 75% likely to buy
  2 that would be at least 50% likely to buy
  2 more that are below that figure and so we can discount them completely.

With a bit of caution recognising that some might have been over excited before searching for the keys to the padlocks that will free the moths from their wallets, I'm guessing that'll convert into 5 or 6 real sales.
I want to be confident of 8 before declaring this a result.
There are a few that have been involved in the 2 threads that have discussed this that I'm surprised have not yet expressed their opinions in the Survey Monkey thing ... so there is still a very good chance this will happen.

[Viking]

Oh, f**k it. It's only money.

Put me down for one as well, please.

[Falcopops]

Oh, f**k it. It's only money.

Put me down for one as well, please.

That's the attitude mate!

[D-Rider]

Oh, f**k it. It's only money.

Put me down for one as well, please.

Excellent ... that's now 5 at 100% and one less at 50%+

..... really close now

[D-Rider]

Andy,

I didn't want to do the survey without this question being answered.

OK Dale - I've rung the guy up & answered your questions .... so are you going to respond?


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/99BFMJY

[D-Rider]

Of course as with replacement OEM tanks, the carbon ones are just the tank shells - you need to transfer your fuel pump, filler cap, front mount etc. Look on this as a good opportunity to replace the fuel filter and internal fuel lines.

I assume that all the necessary holes for fitting said items will be drilled in the right places?

As for the fuel filter and lines, how hard are they to obtain and replace?

My main problem is what to do with the existing tank if I do get the CF one. Chateau Viking is barely big enough for me, let alone having a smelly petrol tank stored in it as well.

Yes they'll be fully prepped with any threaded inserts bonded in place and proofed against the dreaded ethanol.

I was thinking about the fuel lines, filter and gaskets.
The standard Aprilia parts can be quite expensive .... so I was wondering about trying to get some kits put together.
Maybe if we can get a set of standard seals & gaskets, we can find somewhere that can use them as a template to make up some ethanol-proof copies at a better price.
Hopefully we can source a compatible filter (The AF1 forum identified the following as suitable: FRAM Part Number G4777 / Nissan Micra filter part no. HFF 232) - and maybe a job lot of hoses to go in the tank plus external feed and return lines along with QD connectors.
It would be good to make up a kit we know will work at a better price.

If anyone has any contacts to help sort any of this out, then please chip in ....


As for what you do with the old tank ... well that's up to you.
Maybe you could modify it for use as a novelty chamber-pot?

[Dalemac]

Andy,

I didn't want to do the survey without this question being answered.

OK Dale - I've rung the guy up & answered your questions .... so are you going to respond?


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/99BFMJY

Hi Andy,

Not wanting to muddy the water so i didn't do it.

I've decided to spend my money on other areas, I could do with adjustable rearsets and the suspension front and back needs a complete rebuild. I don't have the cash to do it all right now unfortunately.

Dale

[Nooj]

I had no idea this had taken off nice one, Andy. You are indeed, The Man!!

I also have a spare tank sat in my garage which hasn't had much use at all, so hopefully it'll not have expanded. If it comes to it, I'm willing to buy a new tank to use for this... if the interest is genuinely there. I was talking to Richard about it today and we think it's fair to ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit on each prospective tank.

No issues regarding anyone running off with deposits, Richard's a top bloke who's already doing some carbon fibre work for me at the moment (Triumph parts ATM, but there will be Aprilia stuff following on shortly). Can't fault the quality of his work at all!

[D-Rider]

I had no idea this had taken off nice one, Andy. You are indeed, The Man!!

I also have a spare tank sat in my garage which hasn't had much use at all, so hopefully it'll not have expanded. If it comes to it, I'm willing to buy a new tank to use for this... if the interest is genuinely there. I was talking to Richard about it today and we think it's fair to ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit on each prospective tank.

No issues regarding anyone running off with deposits, Richard's a top bloke who's already doing some carbon fibre work for me at the moment (Triumph parts ATM, but there will be Aprilia stuff following on shortly). Can't fault the quality of his work at all!

Haha .... glad you've woken up at last Nooj !

Yes, from the survey monkey thingy I did to determine serious interest, it does seem that we've probably got enough committed to this to move it forward.
Those that have indicated serious interest have been given access to a little sub-forum I've put together to thrash out the finer details and bring it to fruition.
If others commit to the project, they too will be given access to the sub forum.

At present, I'm keeping this within Ridersite - we need to make sure we have enough interest to get things off the ground but keep things manageable so that Richard can produce the things without being swamped.
Once things are sorted and the initial batches made, we'll tell others where they can go to get these beauties.

[Nooj]

No issues with expanding tanks, guys. I've ordered a brand new tank for the mould to be made from.

Good idea keeping it to this forum initially. Hopefully I'll be commissioning Richard to have a few more made up once this initial run is complete, to sell in my shop, so they should be readily available to anyone else without the need for a forum minimum order.