brt650 Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 My mate and I are at logger heads. I have a 159 Sherpa T I'm overhauling to ride . My current stead is a Italjet 350T. But decided to get a bully. Now do I fit the genuine tank to my restoration project or do I go with the later plastic tank and seat from a later bike. Parts are easier to get for a 199. My problem is that the bike was fitted with a '71 tank and unknown seat. Possibly alpina? I want to fit the 199 tank but my mate say's I should keep the bike original.I don't have a 159 tank. He does have a spare but won't part with it.Do you think if I broke into his shed and took it , he'd notice? Well what are the benefit's of fitting the fibreglass tank versus the plastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feetupfun Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 What does your artistic mind say? I personally don't like the look of the fibreglass M159-tanked Sherpa T and do like the look of the plastic M198/199 type tank in both red and blue so for me it would be easy (thats why I got a M198 in the first place - because they look so cool) As far as longevity goes, the plastic tank will probably discolour over time and they can be tricky to make look good again with paint (which is probably why they are being made again 30 years after they were originally made). The fibreglass tank will be able to be repainted ad infinitem with ease, but will need to be lined with epoxy to protect it from the ethanol that will soon be in all our Aussie car fuels. I reckon the best Sherpa T tanks are the aluminium ones that were fitted to UK bikes. The older bulbous ones look especially good. The later ones that look like the plastic tanks are sensible and long lasting but don't really look any better than the plastic ones. It is a great debate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brt650 Posted May 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 My artistic mind say's go 199 all the way. But there is that element of doubt. BultacoUK are listing the 199 tank at 125 pounds. $250 our money.Add 50 for postage and it seems resonable. Add another 200 for a seat.I haven't been able to locate a 2nd hand 159 tank.The bike is still a couple month's from completion. So I'll haunt the local sales areas first before I make my decision. To me it doesn't matter if I make the bike less valuable because it's not original.But you know how your riding buddies get.Anything to put me off my game. Thankyou for your thought's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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