Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Bonnie tank on a America?

Have any of you guys looked into putting a standard Bonneville gas tank on an America? Although they don't look the same, the Triumph page indicates they're the same capacity. I think it might give it a little more old school look.

Any thoughts? (Better yet, any Bonneville owners want to trade tanks?)

Tim

This has been discussed before, but I don't remember the outcome offhand. I wanna say no... not without modifications anyway! But I'm not sure exactly.

Will not fit, completely different sizes for everything, sorry.

It can be done, but it takes some work. Because the Bonne tank is a bit shorter, you'd need to get a special made seat or it would look funny. The Bonne uses 2 smaller bolts instead of 1 big one, best dealt with by making an adapter plate. I'm not sure, but the tank looks a little narrower where it fits over the frame. If that is so, it will take a bit of cutting and welding.

why not just but a bonnie then

I would look into it as mush as possible Kileface. I think the Bonny tank would look nice sitting Frisco style on the America. It would be a sweet look. Don't get discouraged by some of the replies because most of their ideas of Customizing is bolting on floorboards or lightbars. There are a few trailblazers here on this site so someone else may have an idea. Any look worth having is worth customizing to make it work.

This is the custom forum, right??

Fryguy

Right on.
I have been considering the same thing. But would like to find an old tank to beat on.
If anyone has one laying around, please let me know.

Paschal,

Myself included. I have been scouring Ebay and other boards for a 60's or 70's Triumph tank I can bang on to see if I can get the look I am looking for. Some of the tanks are going for outrageous $$$. Its tough because I am splitting my cash between my custom america and a '53 Buick I am currently working on. Too many toys not enough cash.

I think the small Triumph tank sitting high on the backbone will be a cool look.


Fryguy

Thanks for the encouragment, Fryguy. I morphed a Bonneville tank on with a paintshop program, and it looks pretty cool, for sure. If I have any luck I'll let you know.

Can you post your paintshop picture? I'm curious to see what it looks like.

Fryguy

Hey Fryguy, sorry for the delay. This is it. Copy-and-paste this url:

http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/photopo...=500&page=1

Not exactly what I was picturing but thats pretty cool. It reminds of the Thunderbird tanks from the late 90's. I think I would like it with a more shallow tunnel. See if you can lower the bike in the picture, a little more morphing per se. I think it will make a big difference.

Very nice start!

Fryguy

That would look pretty good. If you look close, you'll see what I meant about getting a custom seat. It would fit better if the front of the seat were about 3/4 to an inch farther forward.
A small plate with 3 holes, 1 to bolt to the frame like the stock tank, the other 2 to bolt the plate to the tank would take care of bolting it down.
An adapter to mount a T100 guage/warning light assy in place of the present speedometer would make the conversion look right.
I don't have my service manual here, so I can't look up the T100 guage/light hookup. At the worst, you'd have to make an adapter cable th plug into the guage assy at one end and the "dash" cable at the other. This would make it possible to tuck the unsightly cable behind the fork instead of having it run up the left front of the tank to the "dash".

I'd like to do something like this myself. That shiny plastic bit on the tank and the toy size tach are the things I like least about this bike.