I am looking at buying a new tank for my 2001 883c XL. I see alot of tanks i like on other years of sportsters, but nothing that jumps out at me as far as ones that fit my bike.

I was wondering how different are the mounts and such between the different generations of sportsters and how hard is it to adapt one to fit another?

I REALLY like the stock tank on the new sportsters... the 4.5gal tank you get on the new customs is sweet. But wont fit my bike according to harley and others. WHY NOT? and how hard would it be to modify it to fit?

Also why is it that 3.5 is the biggest tank avail before 2004?

I also have seen a few tanks i like on like 80's bikes... is it hard to mod those to fit a 2001?

I would like a bigger, wider tank. one that doesnt look like a can strapped to the top of the frame. the little angular tank on the 2001 sporty just looks small and weak, and i feel it detracts for the overall feel of the bike. sitting on it looking down at the tank just makes you feel like your on a bicycle, not a harley. It looks like an afterthought... and not at all part of the design of the bike.

 

I put a fat bob tank on an '01 Sportser I got from Drag Specialties. Fit up perfectly without any modifications. They have several styles from ones with consoles to slick top tanks.

 

86-03 tanks same

 

86-03 tanks same mount

 

The smaller peanut tanks from 57-95 are some of the best looking tanks ever to be put on a Harley. Those tanks are a staple on hundreds of thousands of choppers worldwide. IMHO anything bigger than even the 3.3 looks silly as hell on Sportsters. The bike is short and behind the motor is really squished. Bigger tanks make this look even worse. That's me though, your results may vary.