Well, after a four-month wait and a very tense last few days whilst HMRC decided how much to rob me for Import Duty & VAT, the Beater aluminium fuel tank has finally arrived! I'm sure a few of you will remember back towards the tail-end of last year when i started a discussion regarding larger fuel tanks, and the current available options. Well, i finally plumped for the Beater tank as they make tanks for a lot of big race teams, WSB bikes etc, and have recently been commissioned to make tanks for some Le Mans 24hour race teams. So, good enough for them, more than good enough for me! The four-month wait has been hard work, but i was kept informed on it's progress from day one, which is all credit to Takashi (From Samurider) in Japan, who has been utterly brilliant. My hat sir, is doff'd to you. Thankfully the tank was exceptionally well-packaged, as the last thing i wanted was to have to start instigating a claim against Parcel-Farce, but despite their best ham-fisted efforts to dent and damage the box, the tank arrived in perfect condition. Customs Duty and import charges were an eye-watering £319.56, which when added to the price of the tank, at around £1070 means it's still not bad value (in my opinion) for something hand-made and utterly gorgeous. I am going to question the charges, as they seem high considering Import duty & taxes made easy | DutyCalculator calculated them as around the £250 mark. The extra 5 litres capacity will come in very handy on a thirsty 1098R! I'll do a full review in due course, once it's been painted and fitted etc, but in the meantime i thought i'd get some quick photos across for you all to see.
I want to keep the 1098R external appearance as standard as possible really, so the tank is going to get painted, but i'm going to have the "Ducati" wording as bare aluminium and possibly a corse stripe, not sure yet, i'm still mulling-over some ideas. Might try to get "1098R" wording added somewhere possibly.
I debated this on my 1098R and the DP ally tank. Decided on the standard look except for the reverse bare ally "Ducati". The stripe a-la 1198SP looks tacky and really doesn't match the rest of the bike imho.
that thing looks so lovely, i'd be tempted to paint the Ducati lettering in red and leave the ally on show!
Thanks guys, I'm over the moon with the quality and fit, and for the money it's an absolute bargain. But, now I have the ordeal of finding a decent local sprayer. My original choice of sprayer didn't seem too interested, so I'm trying to find someone in Hampshire/Surrey/Berkshire who will do a cracking job. Have decided on the usual red all over, but the Ducati wording in bare aluminium, and a small 1098R between the filler cap and key guard possibly. I've also decided against the Corse stripe, as I don't think it'd suit the bike.
