Update:

I mean the old style tank that was designed from the pressings of the Slimline Atlas tank by Neale Shilton, I looked it up in transcripts and it states 4 gallons perhaps 5 gallons on later models!

However, the tank on the Interpol1 looks much deeper than the Atlas tank and therefore higher in fuel capacity. Just if it has a similar base footprint to the slimline it is could be an interesting option!

Cheers

John H

Previously john_holmes wrote:

I have seen ref to 4 gall without the radio pocket, the Long Range Fastback used the same tank so it should be somewhere in the model data. The ones I have with radio pockets are approx 3.5 gal, certainly I do not suffer the same range anxiety as when I used the Roadster tank.

Thanks, the ones I have seen have got the oblong mounting metal frame on the top of the tank, it was just that when Norton was skint/broke and Neale Shilton had to design a Police bike on the cheap, he used the Slimline tank pressing mould, to fabricate the first series of Interpol tanks they supposedly had the basic "footprint" of an Atlas "Slimline" tank but are greater in height, giving extra-capacity.

3.5 gallons of less I feel are not sufficient any more especially since over the last 30 years, 1000s of petrol stations have closed and been put out of business by the vast Supermarket chains, "everything under one roof" philosophy! No longer can you coast round a corner and see a village petrol station!

Between Ramsgate and Canterbury a distance of 17 1/2 miles 5 or 6 petrol stations have closed depending on which route you take and 1 has opened in the last 10 years or even less time than that. It is just if you are traveling long distance 250-300 miles plus, I for one do not want to be at the mercy of the Motorway petrol stations with their exorbitant prices or have to drop into a large town or city to fuel up and risk Bus Lane/Cycle lane fines, Speed cameras and congestion and subsequent time penalties!

I feel anything less than 4 gallons/18 litres is insufficient for serious travel distances.

My BMW K75 had 21 litres, just over 4.6 gallons and used to average about 55/57 mpg, not bad for a 740cc triple, roundabout a 200 mile range before the 1 gallon reserve, completely empty @ 260 miles.

Guess I got spoiled!

Cheers

John H

Yep! It is one less worry!

A strange thing about the K75S was when it had a tank bag on, stuffed full of "stuff" it handled better and this went against all received wisdom I have read, about weight being high up!!

Cheers

John H

Hi,

Well after some searching round I got my self an Interpol tank to re-fettle, importantly the "clam" shape is from the Atlas pressing mould so I will have a specialist cut out the bottom and adjust down the Central tunnel and make a new base so it is like the underside of an Atlas tank so it fits my Featherbed, plus I should have the luxury of two fuel taps standard and reserve! Probably keep the radio mount frame for sandwiches e.t.c!

With a bit of luck the extra space may boost the tank up to about 4 3/4 gallons which is more of the target area I would wish to be in for touring round!

Historically the Atlas tanks and many others were produced by Homers of Shirley near Birmingham, the Company was persuaded in 1970 to make tanks again for the Police Interpol by Neil Shilton, but slightly adjusted in height and with a base to fit the central spine of the Commando frame! At first they were not keen, as the had earlier made financial losses through presumably being owed money by local based motorcycle manufacturers!

Some years later he was most upset when having done him this favour , the Management at Norton in Andover, eventually had the road going Commando steel tanks made in Italy, abandoning the Birmingham company!

Seems like accountants and managers disloyalty to home based products didn't help the industry to settle down to small scale production!

Reading his book at the moment, " A Million Miles Ago" and it is very illuminating into what went on in the inter-rivalry of companies and personalities, well worth getting a copy, but alas documents a sad story of the British bike industry's demise and the frustrations many people involved, that were true motorcycle enthusiasts went through to no avail!

A must read, I should think for any Ex-Police motorcyclists interested in the various mounts used over the years, supplied by Triumph, Norton and BMW!

Site must have a USA spell check mode!

Been advised in re-fabrication to have the tank internally baffled and slightly dished at the bottom!

Cheers

John H

Previously colin_cheney wrote:

Dear John,

I agree with your comments about the range of the tank being so important. When the Begonia Rally was in Zele, east of Ghent, I could fill up my large interstate tank (5.75 gallons) and ride steadily back to Leicester (about 280 miles in total) without having to worry about finding additional fuel. It makes for one less worry when travelling. And the bonus, as any Commando owner will tell you, is that as the tank empties the handling gets even better - even with camping gear .

Best wishes to all Norton owners, Colin Cheney, Leicestershire.

Thank you Colin, I have always had an issue with it since running out of petrol as a spotty teenager on the outskirts of Blackburn and having to push the Bantam to a petrol station a couple of miles to get back to Chorley for a prospective date! Actually on that night I left the bike for a walk and I think someone stole my fuel. However, In those days it was more friendly and sometimes if you were lucky a motorist stopped to help!

Previously colin_cheney wrote:

Dear John,

I agree with your comments about the range of the tank being so important. When the Begonia Rally was in Zele, east of Ghent, I could fill up my large interstate tank (5.75 gallons) and ride steadily back to Leicester (about 280 miles in total) without having to worry about finding additional fuel. It makes for one less worry when travelling. And the bonus, as any Commando owner will tell you, is that as the tank empties the handling gets even better - even with camping gear .

Best wishes to all Norton owners, Colin Cheney, Leicestershire.

Is that large tank internally baffled to stop fuel surge?

Previously john_holmes wrote:

I have seen ref to 4 gall without the radio pocket, the Long Range Fastback used the same tank so it should be somewhere in the model data. The ones I have with radio pockets are approx 3.5 gal, certainly I do not suffer the same range anxiety as when I used the Roadster tank.

Hi John,

if i wanted a single seat like the police used can you still get hold of them?

Previously john_hall1 wrote:

Hi,

Well after some searching round I got my self an Interpol tank to re-fettle, importantly the "clam" shape is from the Atlas pressing mould so I will have a specialist cut out the bottom and adjust down the Central tunnel and make a new base so it is like the underside of an Atlas tank so it fits my Featherbed, plus I should have the luxury of two fuel taps standard and reserve! Probably keep the radio mount frame for sandwiches e.t.c!

With a bit of luck the extra space may boost the tank up to about 4 3/4 gallons which is more of the target area I would wish to be in for touring round!

Historically the Atlas tanks and many others were produced by Homers of Shirley near Birmingham, the Company was persuaded in 1970 to make tanks again for the Police Interpol by Neil Shilton, but slightly adjusted in height and with a base to fit the central spine of the Commando frame! At first they were not keen, as the had earlier made financial losses through presumably being owed money by local based motorcycle manufacturers!

Some years later he was most upset when having done him this favour , the Management at Norton in Andover, eventually had the road going Commando steel tanks made in Italy, abandoning the Birmingham company!

Seems like accountants and managers disloyalty to home based products didn't help the industry to settle down to small scale production!

Reading his book at the moment, " A Million Miles Ago" and it is very illuminating into what went on in the inter-rivalry of companies and personalities, well worth getting a copy, but alas documents a sad story of the British bike industry's demise and the frustrations many people involved, that were true motorcycle enthusiasts went through to no avail!

A must read, I should think for any Ex-Police motorcyclists interested in the various mounts used over the years, supplied by Triumph, Norton and BMW!

Site must have a USA spell check mode!

Been advised in re-fabrication to have the tank internally baffled and slightly dished at the bottom!

Cheers

John H

Well just learned a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, got the interpol tank, took it down to where my frame is to see if it can be made to fit found out the although the tank may have been based on the Atlas tank initially and modified for the Commando, it certainly will not modify to fit a Featherbed without drastic surgery, right at the front the tank shape narrows in too much and it would need to drop down 3 1/2 to 4 inches to fit and look right and with that would go an extra-capacity the tank would give you so it looks like back to the drawing board! Was trying to avoid paying £500- £900 for a bigger tank. And have a petrol tank suited to long distance touring 4 1/2 gallons plus!

Previously michael_sullivan wrote:

John:

Perhaps some one who has a Commando and wants the larger tank but has a large tank to fit a Dominator is looking to trade?

Maybe you should plase a listing 'Wanted to Trade' section of the Roadholder and even on here.

Mike

Ummh, Mike, Thank you, I was thinking of that option, however, the interpol petrol tank can be made to fit, it would need the bottom cutting out and raising this by 1 and a half inches to get the traditional lipped edge that covers the featherbed top frame tubes.

The very front edges right and left where the petrol tank goes over the Head steady bracket, would have to be prized apart and opened to 4 3/4 inches to 5 inches from from 3 1/8thinches it is now.

The base can then be put back in, wit h fuel surge baffling plates, the front spine access tunnel has to be lowered by an inch to an inch and a half or so and a fluted pattern a slight central concave part to aid fuel flow to the petrol taps, fixing brackets can be put back in and then I will put in two fuel taps which miss the frame top rails and supply regular and a reserve capacity option.

The radio frame hump on my tank isn't quite as pronounced as some that I have seen, could easily be incorporated into the main tank skinned over and the petrol cap moved from it's lower front left position and put central and forward on the highest point of this section in the more traditional place. This would also give back some of the capacity lost by raising the petrol tank base!

It is a good very solid petrol tank, if i get one from India it might be a piece of crap! I do not like modifying for just the sake of it, (take note Bobber crew!), however the tank is original and manufactured in Birmingham and as true Norton as any other!

There doesn't seem that much interest in Police stuff so if no one desperately needs an Interpol radio petrol tank, (there has been 3 on evil bay recently); it looks like it will get a new incarnation in long distance cruiser, either red and gold Norton motifs or white and gold Norton motifs with knee pads as all tanks should have for greater control and comfort and perhaps a modified early 1930s T bar petrol cap sporting an Imperial eagle or something regal! With gold flashes down the side flutes as per in the Atlas mouldings and "Rex Mundi" in Gothic or Cyrillic script !

Cheers

John H