When I turn the handlebars fully to the left the bolt on the left side of the triple clamp is hitting the tank. Aside from pulling the bolt and grinding it down or replacing it with a different bolt that would give more clearance, is there a better solution to try first? The front faring was removed, so I’m guessing that’s why the tank is getting hit now.

Greetings Futech:- You are correct to consider the triple clamp stop is worn or bent resulting in tank and triple clamp hitting one another. Another possibility is that somehow the tank is sitting too far forward, or unevenly mounted on one side - Have a look at this as a possibility because you state that it only occurs on the left side. Something else, there are low profile Allen (cap) head bolts available that don't stick out so far. I would be reluctant to grind down the face of your current bolt because, it will see you risk damaging the internal hex of the bolt head due to less metal being available for a secure fitting of your Allen key, and if your bolt is not made from either Titanium or Stainless then grinding off the standard bolt will result in rust of the ground bolt face, unless you protect the surface. Finally, - Is this a new problem, or has this happened after work has been done on the forks. And another finally, are the front forks out of alignment, given the problem is only on the left side. Also check that your bolts that mount the forks in the triple clamp are at the correct torque specification, using a torque wrench. If any bolt does not torque down to the correct tightness it may be that either the bolt thread or the thread the bolt goes into is damaged. If loose the forks & triple clamp can easily twist out of alignment. Let us know how you go.

Thanks for the info. I’ll be checking on the torque today and read up on how to check alignment. I bought this a couple months ago off a guy who had taken off the faring for a cafe build that didn’t come to fruition; I’m not sure if he touched the forks at all. I just noticed it when I finally took it off my lift to take it out for a road worthiness test.

As far as the tank position goes, what’s the best way to mount the tank securely, as it doesn’t have the faring or the original “tongue” at the rear of the tank to fasten it down?

futech wrote:As far as the tank position goes, what’s the best way to mount the tank securely, as it doesn’t have the faring or the original “tongue” at the rear of the tank to fasten it down?

Rather than having a "tongue" at the rear for securing it, a moto of that vintage would have a pin on each side beneath the rear of its tank.


Those pins pass through rubber grommets on fixtures welded to the frame then the pins are secured by circular clips fitted into grooves on them.


The front underside of the tank has two semicircular mounts that engage large rubber bumpers mounted to pins welded on the frame. The rear pins and their fixtures are indicated in the attached images.

If it's 85 or earlier then the rear of the tank does have a tongue that bolts down.

If the rubber bungs Part no 2 are missing the tank will sit too far forward and also to one side possibly causing this..

Also make sure that these nubs are still at the bottom of the steering head.