KTM Owners Forum banner

Aqualine PAINTABLE tank, who wants one?

9K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  cool dude 
#1 ·
Let's face it: for longer trips the standard 950/990 adv tank is just a tad on the small side. I have been looking for alternative solutions, ranging from a jerrycan strapped to your panniers to a small rear tank/single exhaust combination or even small additional carbon fibre tanks next to the dashboard.
The best solution for me is still the big polyethylene aqualine tanks. About 40-45 L. Fill them up completely if you need a really big range, or just take 30L for acceptable ranges, comparable to my former BMW 1150 GSA.

If only they weren't such a pain to make them a little more attractive for the eye. No paint sticks to them (bubbles up) and decals peel off in no time due to the permeable characteristics of polyethylene. Such a shame for such a nice bike. Tanks that look like detergent containers...

I am an engineer and have good contacts in the chemical industry. Making those tanks paintable IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE. My tank is on its way and should arrive in the coming weeks. It will then be a test case for chemical treatment in Germany and then I'll get it sprayed in Belgium. Now this is all pretty expensive and pretty much unfeasible for a single tank (apart from a test case...), so I though about doing this for larger numbers of tanks in order to make it economically interesting for all of us. And I mean the chemical treatment.

Unless no one is interested of course. Hence this thread. I just want to make sure if there's enough interest to proceed with this on a larger scale. I would justt make them paintable,not paint them myself, and offer them at a competitive price compared to the unpaintable version...

WHO WOULD CONSIDER BUYING ONE? (if the test turns out to be successful...)
WHO REALLY WANTS ONE, IF ONLY THEY WERE PAINTABLE?
WHO THINKS THIS IS UTTER STUPIDITY?

Lemmenow

Awaiting your replies

T

NOTE: this chemical treatment doesn't alter the physical charcteristics of the tank. It just gets rid of the permeability. Furthermore, the treatment lasts forever!

This is what a nicely painted bike could look like (without paint flaking off after 2 weeks):

 
See less See more
1
#2 ·
Have you a rough idea of the price? I would imagine people are reluctant to drop a grand on the Aqualines to begin with given that you'll have to travel thousands of miles from the UK before you really need the extra capacity


For me my bike is a tool so the iffy looks are OK if the price was right, but if it only cost a little more, say 10%, or you could apply the process to a second hand set, I'd listen
 
#3 ·
I am still in the process of investigating the feasability of this, but it won't cost a lot more if we are able to find enough customers (MUST be within the 10% range, otherwise it's a no go for me as well). Used tank? I might have to ask the specialists if this works. There might be some cleaning involved... Dunno yet.

On the need for a bigger range: I travel a lot to remote locations and there the need for a big tank is obvious. But here in Belgium its also getting on my nerves to sto every 250 kms for fuel (mine does a 280 max on a tankfull). I think I have been spoilt with my former bike with a big 30 L tank and a lot better fuel economy...

T
 
#4 ·
Unless no one is interested of course. Hence this threat.
Calm down buddy as I may be interested. :D

When I first got my 990 I didn’t think that the bigger tanks were really necessary unless you wanted to travel outside of Western Europe. However having now put a few thousand miles on the beast the thought of stretching the admittedly poor fuel range is starting to make sense (particularly if your somewhere in rural France on a Sunday and nowhere near an Autoroute!!!).

Would prefer to try the cheaper options first, like for instance, returning to the original fuel map (have Ackros with their alcoholic mapping at present).

So for now you can put me down as a possible interest.

Good luck with the project. :)
 
#5 ·
Yes I would be interested in this also, for those who think large tanks only have merit outside europe? well nothing is as much fun as sitting at an autocard gas station in Sweden at 2pm having discovered english cards are not acceptable and computer says no :) So I'm saving pennies as we speak for the aqua's and given that i have a blue S would either have toconvert to one of the far inferior ;-) colour schemes or have transparent fugly tanks, so sounds good
 
#6 ·
for those who think large tanks only have merit outside europe? well nothing is as much fun as sitting at an autocard gas station in Sweden at 2pm having discovered english cards are not acceptable and computer says no :)
All the Aqualines would do in that case would mean you were twice as far from your point of origin when you ran dry...;)


Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of the Aqualine tanks, I just don't see what they do that a pair of rotopax don't at one tenth of the cost...
 
#7 ·
I am also interested but 30 to 35 litres is enough for me (but I would consider something bigger). My main requirement is the standard engine bars still fit. The aqualine tanks don't take the original engine bars.

Of course depending on the price.

Look forward to your concept. :D
 
#10 ·
Aqualine Tanks

I've had the Aqualine's fitted for about a year, so consider the initial investment well paid back by the time I've saved not having to fill up every other day, on a 80 mile daily commute. I tend not to brim them, normal fill is around 35l and whilst you do notice the extra weight initially I actually prefer the handling with all that low down weight. It's also great fun when touring with a bunch of rice-rockets that they have to kep stopping for fuel and I tootle past - did Le Mans from home without a break last year.

A lot of the recent discusion in MCN has been around fuel capacity/range and I', one of those on the side of 300+ between refills.
They're not however pretty, even the black on a black bike makes the whole thing look fairly agricultural! Not sure I could face taking them off for a repaint, but would definately have taken the option if it had been available when I originally purchased.
 
#11 ·
So whats the word on this, Im guessing with the cost of the tanks take up may not be a goer for a mass batch? I for one would need to save/borrow this as a lump sum as its not down the back of the sofa.
What is the treatment process called? Is it possible to have this done as a one off and what sort of cost would be envisaged??

Now I believe it's possible im curious to know how:)
 
#12 ·
Ok all, this is the status of this project:

I have been in touch with Aqualine and Robin was very enthusiastic about it all. There is one test tank on its way right now and a set of material samples for test runs. I will do a test with that one tank and ride it for two or three months to see what happens. I won't sell anything of which I am not sure it really works.

Price of a paintable tank will be around the TT price, so you will get a paintable tank for the price of a non paintable one, but that's only possible because of the TT margin ;-)

The only downside is the long delivery delay. That is mainly due to the delivery times from Aqualine and the lead times for chemical treatment. It could easily be 2 months, taking into account that I would need at least between 5 and 10 tank sets at a time to make it all feasible. Non treated tanks will be offered at a lowered price (probably +-1000 £). Painted tanks (standard KTM colors, blue, black shiny, black matte, orange, white) will be a surplus, just the painting costs.
Delivery to the UK will be around 25 EUR.

That's all I can say for now

More info to come

Keep you all posted

Tom
 
#14 ·
I would be very interested in hearing more about this treatment. There are plenty of other tanks that this could be applied on, for example my 660 rally tanks are also PE.

This might also help you pool enough people together to lower the cost per unit. I would assume they dunk them in a bath of some type and don't have to make any Aqualine specific forms, right?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top