Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Question re: Tank Badges

Okay, I have my spare tank about ready to paint & got to thinkin about what tank badges would really set the new color scheme off the best. But then wondered if previous versions would screw right into place. So, I figgured I ask.....

A) will the Pre-unit "garden gate" badges fit....or
b) will the 1966-68 TR6 /T100 "eyebrow badges" fit?

I am kinda leaning to the "Garden Gate" version best....can anyone enlighten me on fitment????

A Garden Gate or an Eyebrow type from the late '90s Adventurer, T bird and TB Sport are all direct bolt on. What are you looking for? I have some nice Eyebrows I will not be using. Glue on for fuel injected and 2 security Torx mounted type in hand. PM me if your interested, if you just gotta have the Gates, keep looking or buy all the L&R components from B. Bandit. Kinda spendy but gorgeous nonetheless. Once in 3 Blue Moons, somebody offers up a set of proper Gates at a reasonable price with a "Buy It Now" option" on E Bay. But, you have competition and you have to be fast and lucky.

The curve is different on most of the old tanks but they can be bent to fit if you are careful and warm them in the oven to soften. I cringe at the thought of damaging an already scarce pre-unit badge.

What about the center to center mount holes spacing on the older badges, are they the same Ian?

The 63 on are close if I remember right but I never tried to swap them with a pre-unit. I can measure them tomorrow if you want,I have a tank off of a 72 Daytona in my living room easy to get to.

The 66-68 eyebrow as Dog indicates will fit with a little bend. Be cautious about the front point it will dig the paint its very sharp. You would have to cut your own gasket. The screw holes are just a bit off but they work.

Good to Know, I have seen some good deals on some awesome looking older badges, but always passed. I can bend things. Thanks

Erle is our resident expert on this as a man who's bent and shaped yesteryear's badges to fit where they once did not. What say ye, Sir Erle?

Have to be very careful, they crack easily.

Here's three pics of three "Original" vintage badges on the modern tanks.

They can't be bent (not enough to be worthwhile). I scribe them and sand (grind) them to contour JUST LIKE you fit a countertop to a wall.

Then I use two-sided emblem/trim tape to make a gasket. You could use rubber from an old inter tube, but I find using the two-sided tape MUCH easier, plus it stays in place. Then the holes get MUCH closer to being right, BUT NOT QUITE!

If you look closely, you will see how far off the rear one is. You can "fill" the elongated hole that's left with metal filler, bondo, etc., but I will just fill it with paintable caulk and paint with the same paint I used on the badges,

SOMEDAY. (I ain't holdin' my breath)

Ian...I have to admit that I would be real leary of trying to heat & bend a pair of vintage badges especially after ponying up the $$$ for a nice pair from Ebay.

Ryk....I did some lookin on Ebay...just because and saw several vintage 60's sets at a reasonable price...so it's really a matter of timing....I don't recall if any of them were listed as from the Adventurer, TB or TB sport models. Most were Pre Unit/Garden Gate or the 60's eyebrows as I recall.

Erle, thanks for the pics....your techinque is very do-able on the 60's vintage eyebrow & helped me visualize what they would look like with the paint scheme I have in mind.....two tone....amamranth red over black with the black seperated by the top edge of the badges & along the curve of the front of the knee recesses. I may be leaning toward the 66-68 eyebrows afterall.

Thanks for all the info guys, I have to check again on Ebay....(Don't really wanna go spend a ton of $$$ on the badges)

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Well, I found a pair of 68 vintage eyebrows on FleaBay for a resonable price after all. They should arrive sometime next week. I'll put the ol Erle approved custom touch to them to get the fitment jez right for sure.

Still looking for a rear fender tho. There is a 2004 BA fender on Fleabay for $200 + shipping. Any fitment issues from 2004 BA to 2007???

Yes it will fit, but $200 is kinda high priced for a used fender. If it's perfect and it's the color you want, maybe it is a fair price? But, I'm sure with patience, you could save money, though. I see them go by the auction for less, with regularity on FleaBay all the time.

Good on ya Karl.

I bought the "re-pop" badges from Emgo, I think that's how it's spelled. Similar to these (or the same), but always new, and around $60 ($90 for the older ones), for each of the three in the pics.

That way I don't ruin a "vintage" original (NOT that I'd care ), their NEW and flawless, AND I DON'T SPEND MUCH MONEY!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Triumph-Tank-Bad...300&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1966-1967-19...ee3&vxp=mtr

+1

I've bought two fenders for $50-60 each. One needed repaint (cause I wanted black), and one didn't.

I bought a black steel one from PinWall on EBay for $89 and $20 shipping a couple of years ago. Just to hack on. Whatever reason, most of the salvage bikes have little to no damage on the rear fenders, must be 'cause they aren't going backwards when they crash, all I can figure.

Yep.

Both of them were OEM, one from PinWalls, the other from a small seller similar to.

Well, I checked with pinwall on whether they had a rear fender & the response I got was "All of our parts are listed on Ebay". I rather expected they might assist in sourcing one that would fit....but nooooo. So my search continues for the rear fender.

On another note, I got my "vintage" tank badges only to discover that they were indeed the re-pop ones from Emgo.
So, at best I am less concerned about modding the vintage bits (that I didn't get), and more than a bit ticked I ponied up the extra $$$$ and got aftermarket copies! (granted the difference in price wasn't that significant ....but it is the principle of the thang ya know)

Oh well, what's that old saying..."Let the buyer beware". A lesson learned is still a good lesson.

Once you get them fitted and mounted to your tank, ALL of the above will go away.

I believe you'll be happy.

I bent some 70's badges just fine. Used a heat gun and the ground, worked fine.