i'm looking to buy an extra set of tins for my 2014 forty eight to have custom painted. I want to get a 3.3 gallon tank and was just going to buy stock parts from Harley because they're hard to find on ebay right now.i have seen a lot of them online pretty cheap aftermarket though, like on jp cycles ect, and was wondering if the aftermarket tanks are just as good as the stock Harley tanks. 20 yrs ago I remember friends telling me never to buy an aftermarket tank, they were always made cheaply. I was wondering if the same is true now or are they much better quality now? I see aftermarket battery covers and oil tanks on ebay also, also wondering about the quality.


they also advertise the side battery cover for a 2014 883 fits a 2014 48, which I know it doesn't, which is one of the reasons i'm hesitant on buying from ebay. the oil tanks and rear fenders are the same, but not the battery cover. not that the stock 48 cover fits either lol

 

Haven't bought a "aftermarket tank" in a long time ... I do remember always sealing the new tank though.

 

Got mine from V Twin about 3-4 years ago. Still works and looks great.

 

I have purchased a few tanks online and from vendors. Only had to modify one, but that was more of a custom seat issue than the tank. They all will have to be sealed inside with Kreem or what ever you decide to use. Never had an issue with any of them that I have used.

I will say that these have all been put on carbed bikes, I have never used an aftermarket fuel injection tank.

 

Bought 3.3 gal fat tank bout five years back. Kreemed it and ran it about a year before it started leaking. Just a bad design. The tunnel was three pieces which took four welds. The tunnel should have been one "U" shaped piece which would have taken two welds and would have been much stronger.

 

so basically it still holds true today...buy a stock Harley tank....thanks for the replies.
I just had this 3.3 painted this week, denim black with no Harley logo. i'll have to find another one on ebay or get one from Harley if I cant find one by sept

 

So one posts with a problem and the conclusion is buy Harley?

 

I am sure there are plenty of aftermarket tanks that are excellent. Not all aftermarket tanks have problems. You have already bought and painted it so I would use it. It may never have a problem and they aren't that hard to change.

 

your the only one who said they didn't have a problem...yet... lol
believe me, I don't love Harley, but most of the items they sell are top quality, I just hate paying for it.

 

this tank that I just painted is a stock 883 iron tank I found on ebay last year at a reasonable price. i'm putting it on my bike now. I want to find another one to have custom painted. but most of the tanks i'm running into under $400 are aftermarket