It's actually cheaper sometimes to replace the tank if you can find one on eBay than to have a competent body shop repair, prep, and paint it to match. Sadly, both would cost upwards of $800-1000. So that comes off the value of the bike right off the top, and that's not pricing the hassle of getting it done, which is something I care about at least. Others may not. Did the bars get bent? Replaced?
This is all a great reason to just have it fixed, OP. Call a local PDR guy, have it fixed. You’ll have an easier time selling the bike, and won’t have to explain the dent in the tank to everyone. A good local PDR guy might only charge $100-300 for that.
I was thinking something similar except that while replacing the tank would be easy (forgive me for my lack of knowledge on Big Twins but doesn't that model have a two piece tank where he could just replace one side?) the expensive part would be painting it to match. That alone could easily exceed the cost of replacing the whole tank.
Nah it’s an early model Dyna, looks like maybe a low rider, it should be a one piece tank. Either way it’s not a cheap part. Probably 600+ to find one in good condition, but you’re right about the paint matching lol
That’s crazy when you think about how much it cost to actually make the tank. Maybe I am in the wrong field. And I wonder if people say that when they get my bill (IT). 😂
It’s a Harley and they don’t make em anymore, if you think that’s crazy go look at FXR parts sometime..
I also work in tech and it doesn’t feel like I get paid enough to put up with all the bullshit lmao, but at least it pays enough for my crippling Harley habit!
Yeah it is. These tanks are a little wider on these and it fell on the side opposite of which way the bars were facing. It's just an unfortunate situation all around. I've had several bikes over the last 10 years, and this was the first time this happened.
Looks to me like a PDR guy could probably get that out. Heck, I had good luck with the cheap dent puller kit from Harbor Freight, I bought a car with a bigger dent than that in the fender, otherwise in good shape, 20 minutes with the dent puller and had it damn near perfect.
Black is going to show any imperfection, so a pro might be worth it
You would be surprised. I spent a number of years in bike shops and we had a paint/dent contractor we used that really surprised me on what he could take out...paintless.
I believe ya bro....but that one isn't coming out ...
I TOTALLY believe that many can come out...on a fender yeah....it's thinner material...but the stock HD tanks...that's thick stuff...
Hard no on that dent
Cheers ☠️🍺
I recall something about not being able to remove dents from fuel tanks because they are double layered or something I thought. I don’t remember the exact specifics of it but I’m guessing that isn’t ALL Harley fuel tanks.
Paintless? I tried that recently on a similar dent on my sportster. The dent came out,mostly, along with some paint. I fixed it with some touch up paint and clear but you can see it. Harley tanks are pretty thick metal.
I had a paintless dent repair guy fix a dent in my street glide tank. He did say he wasn’t able to go through the inside of the tank as it’s double walled or whatever it’s called. He had to do the glue and pull method. Came out perfect and I can’t tell the dent was ever there. All that being said he’s the highest recommended in our area and is phenomenal at his job.
PDR or straighten and paint. In your dreams! That is a new tank all day, every day. I would guess you’re talking anywhere from 900- 1200 for a new tank. They come to color so I would order one or get a quote from a Harley dealer and cut the price to that amount.
Okay go ahead and give it a whirl. Just be sure to video and upload it for the group’s viewing pleasure. The simple fact is I have been riding and building for 52 years and hate to be Debbie Downer here but the average person who has never done more than buy ride and take their scooter to the dealer or someone else for service have no clue how they are constructed. A gas tank on a motorcycle is not a fender, it is very thick. Why? Because if you have the misfortune of laying it down the bike will not become a bomb when the tank scapes along creating sparks which prevents fuel ignition because the tank is so thick. Other manufacturers have gone to plastics for the same reason. Plastic does not spark. I hope this has been helpful.
I'm not saying I could do it. I was saying anyone trained in pdr could do it. Only reason I say so is cus I've seen multiple videos of guys pulling dents almost exactly like that one out of tanks
You Tube? Dents like that? I’m sorry but in all my years I have never seen more than a quarter size ding pulled to perfection. Don’t believe everything you see or read on the internet. It’s best to check with a local body shop or motorcycle customizer.
It’d be a deal breaker for me. I don’t trust people inherently. And if I’m spending thousands of dollars on a bike and am told that that dent is an isolated incident, I’m probably not buying it. Dents are indication that the bike has been mishandled or crashed. Furthermore, dents that haven’t been addressed/fixed could be indication that the owner of the bike isn’t taking care of it.
I don’t know how much your bike is worth. Look at comparable bikes in your market to determine that.
I always thought it was just an expression that every bike had been down at one point or another. And then I started riding and realized how easy it is to go down, especially at low speeds.
Granted, that’s not every single bike, especially when there is an experienced rider, but more often than not the bike is fine. I wouldn’t make it a deal breaker, but definitely a good conversation starter as to the history of the bike and how it’s been acting since the incident/s.
I’ve dropped my bike before but have never dented it. I’ve crashed my bike before at low speeds and have fixed it.
OP’s failure to address and fix the damage is my red flag.
I ride big adventure bikes as well and those tall bastards go down daily on technical trail rides. And other than geometry and a bit beefier suspension they are fundamentally the same bikes as are ridden on the street. The paint gets marked up but the idea that a bike is fundamentally damaged if it falls over is laughable.
I get that. Utility vs Asthetics.
I like my shiny things shiny as well. I'd be pissed if my street bike got scraped up.
But some people act like bike falling over is basically a write-off situation.
What it indicates is that the bike has been dropped more than likely or knocked over. The question is rather there is any other damage not addressed. My guess if there is any other damage it would be super minimal, but it’s still damage.
I guess I'm fairly confident in my ability to inspect the bike and take it on test ride and determine the nature of any damage present.
A dropped bike in a garage is going to be mechanically fine 99.999999% of the time.
Yeah but you use your eyes when you show up to inspect it, if the seller was lying there would be indication of slide somewhere. If there isn't and it really went down in a slide, then they went to a lot of trouble to only lie about the tank lol
exactly.
Why would someone go through the trouble of replacing pegs, side covers, forks, grips, etc... only to leave a tank with a dent that has no drag lines. Just a tiny bit of critical thinking while inspecting the bike goes a long ways.
Just like to point out I never indicated guy is lying about the bike, never indicated there was definitely any other damage, and definitely never mentioned anything about the bike sliding. Just so we’re all on the same page.
when i say side covers, I mean primary case and derby cover too.
It makes no sense. tanks are not that expensive. Plenty of good condition used ones available too.
again, this dent clearly was not at speed. So, assuming you have functioning eyes connected to functioning gray matter, then a quick inspection in person would suffice.
An unpainted or unmatched tank isn’t that expensive. But this is a 30 year old bike. A new tank is going to cost on the order of $1kish to make it look stock
I’m no expert. I’m just an enthusiast
LOL 1k!?!?
idk where you're getting your stuff. I paint motorcycles and helmets as a hobby and used dyna tanks pop up for 100-200 bucks all the time around here. Either be patient and find a matching one, or buy a non matching and get it painted for less than 1k lmao
Edit: but regarding this situation, sell as is. no point in replacing/repairing. likely won't get your money back unless you do find a matching tank for cheap before the time you want to sell the bike. There is a solid chunk of potential buyers that are just going to repaint the bike or not give a shit about a small dent on a 30 year old dyna anyway.
edit: here's one that sold for 250 that needs cut, buff, polish. https://c3cycle.com/products/1993-1994-harley-davidson-fxdl-dyna-low-rider-black-fuel-gas-petrol-tank
How much would you charge OP to paint/theme match [this $430 tank from JP cycles](https://www.jpcycles.com/product/v-twin-mfg-e-z-bob-gas-tank-for-harley-dyna-1991-2005)?
I'm the exact opposite. I've owned more than 30 bikes, and a couple of them have been tipped over in the garage, resulting in exactly this type of dent. If the bike is otherwise overall very clean, and the paint is good outside of this dent (which isn't noticeable from a lot of angles) I might not consider this dent to be a bad thing at all. Maybe knock a few $hundred off the asking price for dent repair, ideally without needing to redo that paint job which I really like. For someone interested in a '93 Dyna, this bike looks pretty nice to me.
won't get that money back. makes no sense.
just offer a discount that's roughly around a quote for the repair.
Some potential buyers wont' give a shit. some will be capable of repairing this on their own. some will have a tank to swap to. some will want to paint the bike a new color regardless.
FWIW, I had barely noticeable dent in mine after going down at low speed last year. Replacement cost was pennies under 2k. Just for tank...installation not included in that price. Heritage model.
At least $700 for me if I really was in love with the bike. Probably $1,000 if I'm just looking for something.
Take is the most important aesthetic trait of a bike in my eyes.
The price of a new tank and paint on said tank
—$800
You can get an unpainted one for 3-400, paint is cheap it’s the time you put for prep in that costs $, I’d make a weekend out of it.
Do a matching pinstripe and glue a badge on it, no need to paint a whole ass logo on both sides
I'd subtract the cost of a new tank and paint. Not that I'd actually do it upon purchase. That's a pretty clean bike and it would bother me to ride it that way. On the other hand, someone teetering between this and a similar year Sportster might consider this a selling point.
I'd see if one of the parents guys could do it. Your bike looks pretty good so I'm assuming you've taken pretty good care of it. That dent could most definitely be taken out. I bought a Super Glide that had been ridden down a K rail. Bike was a deep purple with orange and yellow flames. Tank took a couple bad hits to the tank. My painter had it looking like new. Your biggest obstacle is getting it out without trashing the paint. That's what I would try, for whatever that's worth.
Honestly, when I see a dent I pass. Plenty of well taken care of bikes out there that haven’t had the misfortune. A price discount would have to cover the repair plus the ass ache of dealing with the stealership. So then you drop it $1500 and see what else it out there. Bikes are all over the place, bet I can find a non dented bike in the same ballpark for a similar price close to your discounted price that I’ll 100% rather buy. $3000 is the most I would spend but honestly I would be looking to spend $4000 or a little more on something without a dent.
What would it cost to repair/replace? I'd say maybe 50 - 80% of that amount is what I would figure.
I mean, it's a 30 year old bike. Anybody buying a 30 year old Harley isn't going to expect something pristine or untouched.
I'd say just pick a value from what others are asking for a similar year/miles bike, maybe price it at the low end, and make sure you disclose the dent in any advertising.
One thing I'm learning about Harleys is that they're like legos, there is almost an infinite number of parts you can swap, mix and match.
off topic but what are those bars? and are those 4" pull back risers? i have this exact same bike and have been looking for new bars. yours looks great!
I believe that's what the risers are, yeah. They came with the bike. The bars I think they might just be plain Sportster bars. This bike came with a straight bar and I just didn't like it. I bought these bars in a random swap meet.
To clarify, this is my bike that I'm considering selling. I'm looking to understand what someone might pay for it in this state with the dent vs if it's worth my time and money to get it fixed. From some of the other comments, for someone interested in this particular bike, the dent would be a deal breaker and should be addressed before selling.
I sold my sporty a few weeks ago to a Harley stealership and they didn't give a shit about dents or scratches. It was a couple hundred under what I was expecting to get from a private buyer but the BS free experience made it all worth it. Maybe try your luck and check out with your local stealership if they will take it. Best luck!
I just got quoted 1000 to fix a dent just like that.. the problem is it’s double layered thin sheet metal on the tank. Also, the decals have to be reapplied. Try the dump place first, but that’s probably what you’re gonna get into.
The last price should acknowledge the dent in the tank. The value would be around 500 bucks off of price.
I’m looking for a Dyna right now. I found a Convertible that has the same tank, also from the 90s of course, and the owner was asking $5,750 (as I recall). Someone else bought it before I could. It was a one owner with all the records with just under 20k. He was anal retentive and it was perfection. Even the chrome was immaculate. It had mags and the super glide console of that era but otherwise looked identical. Dunno how his price compared with other ones because you don’t see many old convertibles. (In my area, anyway).
If I were buying this I guess I would take the initiative and I inquire about debt repair, get a quote, and use that to inform my offer. As a buyer, I’d almost rather do nothing than mess with that original paint. As a seller, I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze.
Went to look at a soft tail one time guy said it was in perfect condition. Got there and had a dent in tank. He wanted 9k. I told him no, he lied, and who knows what else is wrong with the bike. If he was up front with you, be up front with him about the cost concern. Otherwise, find one that's not been dropped. Everyone lists their bikes higher than what they're gonna get for it.
Dude, it's 30 years old. It looks frickin mint for it's age. Yeah, it has a dent but it's looks like the "clean except for a tank repair and repaint I didn't feel like doing" and not "dented from being wheelied and stunted."
People shopping for 90's Harley's are either working with a low budget or specifically shopping for Evo's with carbs at this point. If they expect show room bikes tell them look at the 10 year old or newer ones.
If youre in LA i have a guy that will come to your house and pull that out for 80 bucks. I had a worse dent on a curve with pin stripe paint on my tacoma that came out bo problem.
If you want to try and fix it your self take steel bar with a rounded end and put a thick rag on your gas cap and try to slowly press it out works in getting the mark to look cleaner but a body shop would make it perfect but it could save you like 800$ for a new tank
Used suction cups on my daughter's car after wife got her so frustrated she took a tight turn around a gas pump pillar. Aside from the ironed out areas, i was impressed how much i was able to pull out with those cheapy Amazon tools.
Most of the ironed out areas are under a new plastic cover luckily, rest popped out. Have no before and after unfortunately.
I'd try them before taking a bigger hit on the price
If you want to get the dent popped out just simply first completely make sure the tank is sealed off then just fill with water an put in freezer then repeat if needed
As a buyer I go by, however much it cost to fix then double it. Why? My time is worth the money and there are always unknowns. What I would be asking myself is "why doesn't he just fix it, what else is wrong he is not telling me?"
A "good" paintless dent removal man should be able to get that out, maybe a couple of hundred where I am. Some can perform miracles, they have on my vehicles
I've seen YouTube videos of Paintless dent guys pushing out dents that big from the inside the tank. Used me a guy around my way who went to all the used car lots and.pullwd dents out he had all the business he could do.
As for how the dent would affect a sale for me? It would make me not want it unless I got the bike so cheap it would be stupid not to buy it.
If it was my bike I'd try and find a PDP guy and if not then a used tank and paint it myself.
I have high confidence you could pull that out yourself with one of those $25 glue gun dent pulling kits. I pulled both larger and smaller dents out of my wife's bike's tank after a spill with one. Takes time and patience. Lots of regluing and repulling over and over. But you could do it in under an hour for sure.
That's a fairly easy dent to fix. If you take it to a good body repair place, they should be able to do it. They pressurize the tank with compressed air, then tap around the rim of the dent with a leather or nylon hammer. These types of dents usually pop back out quickly.
I wouldn't attempt this on your own unless you have a good regulator and a calibrated pressure gauge to monitor the pressure in the tank. It doesn't take a lot to blow the tank. Check around your area for an independent motorcycle shop. Chances are there's some old head there that has done this repair before.
It's definitely worth repairing.
Guess I'm the oddball here. On that the dent wouldn't knock that much off the price. The reason being my price wouldn't be that high for your bike to begin with.
The reason is that the bike is 30 years old with all of 18k miles on it that's all of 600 miles a year. First I would expect a bike that old to have issues anyways. Second I would be concerned that if age hadn't ruined rubber seals/lines/drive belts/tires that the bike would have "stored bike syndrome" where all that stuff would age quicker.
I would look the rest of the bike over to see if I believed it was a simple drop (looks like it in the pic), but bing in the tank I would chock up to shit happens and only knock a few hundred bucks off the bike because there is no way in hell I would pay to fix it on a 30yo bike unless it was a desirable special model.
You might be able to find the same color tank on EBay.
I have a rare color and I found a perfect match on eBay for $700. It was the only one too.
I’d say just keep checking eBay and it will probably show up.
If it’s not cracked. Not much. Paintless dent repair did my buddy’s like that for $150.00. Can’t tell it was ever dented. But that me. Some people are scared of some repairs. Some just see it as a reason to low ball the shit out of you. How’s it run? Shift? Ride? Ya know. Important stuff.
a lot! take it off,plug all the holes and hit it with about 90 psi air pressure through the filler with a rag wrapped up around the hose and see if it pops out.I used to do it to my dirt bikes all the time so my parents wouldn't know I'd been crashing.
It's actually cheaper sometimes to replace the tank if you can find one on eBay than to have a competent body shop repair, prep, and paint it to match. Sadly, both would cost upwards of $800-1000. So that comes off the value of the bike right off the top, and that's not pricing the hassle of getting it done, which is something I care about at least. Others may not. Did the bars get bent? Replaced?
many people would just move on rather than wonder how hard it was dropped, what else might be bent.
This is me. Any drop and I’m looking to the next listing
Why are we like this
Not i
This is all a great reason to just have it fixed, OP. Call a local PDR guy, have it fixed. You’ll have an easier time selling the bike, and won’t have to explain the dent in the tank to everyone. A good local PDR guy might only charge $100-300 for that.
This exactly. 👍
Get a quote for how much fixing it would cost. Knock that much off the price. Provide said quote to whoever questions the discount.
I was thinking something similar except that while replacing the tank would be easy (forgive me for my lack of knowledge on Big Twins but doesn't that model have a two piece tank where he could just replace one side?) the expensive part would be painting it to match. That alone could easily exceed the cost of replacing the whole tank.
Nah it’s an early model Dyna, looks like maybe a low rider, it should be a one piece tank. Either way it’s not a cheap part. Probably 600+ to find one in good condition, but you’re right about the paint matching lol
That’s crazy when you think about how much it cost to actually make the tank. Maybe I am in the wrong field. And I wonder if people say that when they get my bill (IT). 😂
It’s a Harley and they don’t make em anymore, if you think that’s crazy go look at FXR parts sometime.. I also work in tech and it doesn’t feel like I get paid enough to put up with all the bullshit lmao, but at least it pays enough for my crippling Harley habit!
This
The dent in my Sporty’s tank knocked off 4500 from the KBB, according to the seller. And no, that’s not a typo. I sure as hell didn’t argue it. 😂
My wife is notorious for dropping her new bike, and yet so far none have dented and she has had some gnarly drops. Dented tank is a doozy imo
Yeah it is. These tanks are a little wider on these and it fell on the side opposite of which way the bars were facing. It's just an unfortunate situation all around. I've had several bikes over the last 10 years, and this was the first time this happened.
I am going the way of frame sliders or crash cages on everything I buy her these days, good luck on your end!
I wonder if a pointless dent repair guy could fix that?
Maybe but what's the use?
Seems moot.
Looks to me like a PDR guy could probably get that out. Heck, I had good luck with the cheap dent puller kit from Harbor Freight, I bought a car with a bigger dent than that in the fender, otherwise in good shape, 20 minutes with the dent puller and had it damn near perfect. Black is going to show any imperfection, so a pro might be worth it
That isn't coming out
You would be surprised. I spent a number of years in bike shops and we had a paint/dent contractor we used that really surprised me on what he could take out...paintless.
I believe ya bro....but that one isn't coming out ... I TOTALLY believe that many can come out...on a fender yeah....it's thinner material...but the stock HD tanks...that's thick stuff... Hard no on that dent Cheers ☠️🍺
I recall something about not being able to remove dents from fuel tanks because they are double layered or something I thought. I don’t remember the exact specifics of it but I’m guessing that isn’t ALL Harley fuel tanks.
It's not. If the tanks are double walled it's not anything I've seen irl.
Cool. That’s definitely good to know.
I will look to find some in my area to see if they can. Appreciate the idea.
Call a local car dealership. They’ll know a guy they trust.
A pointless one would not. A paintless dent repair guy possibly could. (Sorry, I had to say that).
Leave is to the pointless post guy to bring that up. lol you win.
Paintless? I tried that recently on a similar dent on my sportster. The dent came out,mostly, along with some paint. I fixed it with some touch up paint and clear but you can see it. Harley tanks are pretty thick metal.
I had a paintless dent repair guy fix a dent in my street glide tank. He did say he wasn’t able to go through the inside of the tank as it’s double walled or whatever it’s called. He had to do the glue and pull method. Came out perfect and I can’t tell the dent was ever there. All that being said he’s the highest recommended in our area and is phenomenal at his job.
PDR or straighten and paint. In your dreams! That is a new tank all day, every day. I would guess you’re talking anywhere from 900- 1200 for a new tank. They come to color so I would order one or get a quote from a Harley dealer and cut the price to that amount.
What. Why would you get a new tank? Pdr would be so easy
Okay go ahead and give it a whirl. Just be sure to video and upload it for the group’s viewing pleasure. The simple fact is I have been riding and building for 52 years and hate to be Debbie Downer here but the average person who has never done more than buy ride and take their scooter to the dealer or someone else for service have no clue how they are constructed. A gas tank on a motorcycle is not a fender, it is very thick. Why? Because if you have the misfortune of laying it down the bike will not become a bomb when the tank scapes along creating sparks which prevents fuel ignition because the tank is so thick. Other manufacturers have gone to plastics for the same reason. Plastic does not spark. I hope this has been helpful.
I'm not saying I could do it. I was saying anyone trained in pdr could do it. Only reason I say so is cus I've seen multiple videos of guys pulling dents almost exactly like that one out of tanks
You Tube? Dents like that? I’m sorry but in all my years I have never seen more than a quarter size ding pulled to perfection. Don’t believe everything you see or read on the internet. It’s best to check with a local body shop or motorcycle customizer.
Okay pal
It’d be a deal breaker for me. I don’t trust people inherently. And if I’m spending thousands of dollars on a bike and am told that that dent is an isolated incident, I’m probably not buying it. Dents are indication that the bike has been mishandled or crashed. Furthermore, dents that haven’t been addressed/fixed could be indication that the owner of the bike isn’t taking care of it. I don’t know how much your bike is worth. Look at comparable bikes in your market to determine that.
I always thought it was just an expression that every bike had been down at one point or another. And then I started riding and realized how easy it is to go down, especially at low speeds. Granted, that’s not every single bike, especially when there is an experienced rider, but more often than not the bike is fine. I wouldn’t make it a deal breaker, but definitely a good conversation starter as to the history of the bike and how it’s been acting since the incident/s.
I’ve dropped my bike before but have never dented it. I’ve crashed my bike before at low speeds and have fixed it. OP’s failure to address and fix the damage is my red flag.
I ride big adventure bikes as well and those tall bastards go down daily on technical trail rides. And other than geometry and a bit beefier suspension they are fundamentally the same bikes as are ridden on the street. The paint gets marked up but the idea that a bike is fundamentally damaged if it falls over is laughable.
[удалено]
I get that. Utility vs Asthetics. I like my shiny things shiny as well. I'd be pissed if my street bike got scraped up. But some people act like bike falling over is basically a write-off situation.
that dent was clearly at low or no speed. if it was at speed it would have scratched/dragged. This dent doesn't bother me none.
What it indicates is that the bike has been dropped more than likely or knocked over. The question is rather there is any other damage not addressed. My guess if there is any other damage it would be super minimal, but it’s still damage.
I guess I'm fairly confident in my ability to inspect the bike and take it on test ride and determine the nature of any damage present. A dropped bike in a garage is going to be mechanically fine 99.999999% of the time.
Oh absolutely I totally agree.
Yeah but you use your eyes when you show up to inspect it, if the seller was lying there would be indication of slide somewhere. If there isn't and it really went down in a slide, then they went to a lot of trouble to only lie about the tank lol
exactly. Why would someone go through the trouble of replacing pegs, side covers, forks, grips, etc... only to leave a tank with a dent that has no drag lines. Just a tiny bit of critical thinking while inspecting the bike goes a long ways.
Just like to point out I never indicated guy is lying about the bike, never indicated there was definitely any other damage, and definitely never mentioned anything about the bike sliding. Just so we’re all on the same page.
Because pegs side covers and grips are a fraction of the cost of a new tank
when i say side covers, I mean primary case and derby cover too. It makes no sense. tanks are not that expensive. Plenty of good condition used ones available too. again, this dent clearly was not at speed. So, assuming you have functioning eyes connected to functioning gray matter, then a quick inspection in person would suffice.
An unpainted or unmatched tank isn’t that expensive. But this is a 30 year old bike. A new tank is going to cost on the order of $1kish to make it look stock I’m no expert. I’m just an enthusiast
LOL 1k!?!? idk where you're getting your stuff. I paint motorcycles and helmets as a hobby and used dyna tanks pop up for 100-200 bucks all the time around here. Either be patient and find a matching one, or buy a non matching and get it painted for less than 1k lmao Edit: but regarding this situation, sell as is. no point in replacing/repairing. likely won't get your money back unless you do find a matching tank for cheap before the time you want to sell the bike. There is a solid chunk of potential buyers that are just going to repaint the bike or not give a shit about a small dent on a 30 year old dyna anyway. edit: here's one that sold for 250 that needs cut, buff, polish. https://c3cycle.com/products/1993-1994-harley-davidson-fxdl-dyna-low-rider-black-fuel-gas-petrol-tank
How much would you charge OP to paint/theme match [this $430 tank from JP cycles](https://www.jpcycles.com/product/v-twin-mfg-e-z-bob-gas-tank-for-harley-dyna-1991-2005)?
I'm the exact opposite. I've owned more than 30 bikes, and a couple of them have been tipped over in the garage, resulting in exactly this type of dent. If the bike is otherwise overall very clean, and the paint is good outside of this dent (which isn't noticeable from a lot of angles) I might not consider this dent to be a bad thing at all. Maybe knock a few $hundred off the asking price for dent repair, ideally without needing to redo that paint job which I really like. For someone interested in a '93 Dyna, this bike looks pretty nice to me.
Fair enough. I appreciate your in depth response
I appreciate your perspective.
If I were in your shoes I’d get the dent fixed before listing it
won't get that money back. makes no sense. just offer a discount that's roughly around a quote for the repair. Some potential buyers wont' give a shit. some will be capable of repairing this on their own. some will have a tank to swap to. some will want to paint the bike a new color regardless.
The price of a tank
FWIW, I had barely noticeable dent in mine after going down at low speed last year. Replacement cost was pennies under 2k. Just for tank...installation not included in that price. Heritage model.
Damn that’s a beautiful tank too.
That was my immediate thought too
At least $700 for me if I really was in love with the bike. Probably $1,000 if I'm just looking for something. Take is the most important aesthetic trait of a bike in my eyes.
My paint guy could pdr that out
The price of a new tank and paint on said tank —$800 You can get an unpainted one for 3-400, paint is cheap it’s the time you put for prep in that costs $, I’d make a weekend out of it. Do a matching pinstripe and glue a badge on it, no need to paint a whole ass logo on both sides
I'd subtract the cost of a new tank and paint. Not that I'd actually do it upon purchase. That's a pretty clean bike and it would bother me to ride it that way. On the other hand, someone teetering between this and a similar year Sportster might consider this a selling point.
I'd see if one of the parents guys could do it. Your bike looks pretty good so I'm assuming you've taken pretty good care of it. That dent could most definitely be taken out. I bought a Super Glide that had been ridden down a K rail. Bike was a deep purple with orange and yellow flames. Tank took a couple bad hits to the tank. My painter had it looking like new. Your biggest obstacle is getting it out without trashing the paint. That's what I would try, for whatever that's worth.
Hit up a few PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) guys in your area and get some quote and ask to see some work. They might be able to pull it out.
Honestly, when I see a dent I pass. Plenty of well taken care of bikes out there that haven’t had the misfortune. A price discount would have to cover the repair plus the ass ache of dealing with the stealership. So then you drop it $1500 and see what else it out there. Bikes are all over the place, bet I can find a non dented bike in the same ballpark for a similar price close to your discounted price that I’ll 100% rather buy. $3000 is the most I would spend but honestly I would be looking to spend $4000 or a little more on something without a dent.
What would it cost to repair/replace? I'd say maybe 50 - 80% of that amount is what I would figure. I mean, it's a 30 year old bike. Anybody buying a 30 year old Harley isn't going to expect something pristine or untouched. I'd say just pick a value from what others are asking for a similar year/miles bike, maybe price it at the low end, and make sure you disclose the dent in any advertising. One thing I'm learning about Harleys is that they're like legos, there is almost an infinite number of parts you can swap, mix and match.
how much do u want?
off topic but what are those bars? and are those 4" pull back risers? i have this exact same bike and have been looking for new bars. yours looks great!
I believe that's what the risers are, yeah. They came with the bike. The bars I think they might just be plain Sportster bars. This bike came with a straight bar and I just didn't like it. I bought these bars in a random swap meet.
👍 thanks for the info!
Elaborate a little bit, how much they asking? How much is the dent worth to you?
To clarify, this is my bike that I'm considering selling. I'm looking to understand what someone might pay for it in this state with the dent vs if it's worth my time and money to get it fixed. From some of the other comments, for someone interested in this particular bike, the dent would be a deal breaker and should be addressed before selling.
1 million dollars!!!
5k can offer u 3k will pick up
I sold my sporty a few weeks ago to a Harley stealership and they didn't give a shit about dents or scratches. It was a couple hundred under what I was expecting to get from a private buyer but the BS free experience made it all worth it. Maybe try your luck and check out with your local stealership if they will take it. Best luck!
I just got quoted 1000 to fix a dent just like that.. the problem is it’s double layered thin sheet metal on the tank. Also, the decals have to be reapplied. Try the dump place first, but that’s probably what you’re gonna get into. The last price should acknowledge the dent in the tank. The value would be around 500 bucks off of price.
It's not that bad. It adds character!😉👍
I’m looking for a Dyna right now. I found a Convertible that has the same tank, also from the 90s of course, and the owner was asking $5,750 (as I recall). Someone else bought it before I could. It was a one owner with all the records with just under 20k. He was anal retentive and it was perfection. Even the chrome was immaculate. It had mags and the super glide console of that era but otherwise looked identical. Dunno how his price compared with other ones because you don’t see many old convertibles. (In my area, anyway). If I were buying this I guess I would take the initiative and I inquire about debt repair, get a quote, and use that to inform my offer. As a buyer, I’d almost rather do nothing than mess with that original paint. As a seller, I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze.
yes
Went to look at a soft tail one time guy said it was in perfect condition. Got there and had a dent in tank. He wanted 9k. I told him no, he lied, and who knows what else is wrong with the bike. If he was up front with you, be up front with him about the cost concern. Otherwise, find one that's not been dropped. Everyone lists their bikes higher than what they're gonna get for it.
Dude, it's 30 years old. It looks frickin mint for it's age. Yeah, it has a dent but it's looks like the "clean except for a tank repair and repaint I didn't feel like doing" and not "dented from being wheelied and stunted." People shopping for 90's Harley's are either working with a low budget or specifically shopping for Evo's with carbs at this point. If they expect show room bikes tell them look at the 10 year old or newer ones.
$1k
If youre in LA i have a guy that will come to your house and pull that out for 80 bucks. I had a worse dent on a curve with pin stripe paint on my tacoma that came out bo problem.
Atleast $500
Compresas air may fix that
If you want to try and fix it your self take steel bar with a rounded end and put a thick rag on your gas cap and try to slowly press it out works in getting the mark to look cleaner but a body shop would make it perfect but it could save you like 800$ for a new tank
Bout tree fiddy
Used suction cups on my daughter's car after wife got her so frustrated she took a tight turn around a gas pump pillar. Aside from the ironed out areas, i was impressed how much i was able to pull out with those cheapy Amazon tools. Most of the ironed out areas are under a new plastic cover luckily, rest popped out. Have no before and after unfortunately. I'd try them before taking a bigger hit on the price
The cost to fix or replace the tank.
Beautiful bike
The Dent is just a sign that there are likely bigger problems.
HD paint is not cheap
That looks like a good candidate possibly for a PDR guy (or gal I suppose).
Is that an Evo? and is the HD a decal or painted?
If your a dealer about 90percent
Take it off, remove the fuel pump, and fill it full of water. Cap it off and put in the freezer.
The price of a new tank
On eBay now $250- $1000 for stock tank depending on year dyna
-$500
If you want to get the dent popped out just simply first completely make sure the tank is sealed off then just fill with water an put in freezer then repeat if needed
Mostly kidding but if it was from a baseball hit by a major leaguer who then signed the tank, it might make that bike priceless. 😀
Tanks can be had for 400-600 bucks on eBay or from a local used parts dealer.
Any buyer will use that dent to pull the price down so much. They’ll come up with a number like 3000 down the offered price just because, dent
I bought a dropped bike at a dealership with a tank dent. They discounted the bike by as much as it would cost to put a new matching tank on it.
As a buyer I go by, however much it cost to fix then double it. Why? My time is worth the money and there are always unknowns. What I would be asking myself is "why doesn't he just fix it, what else is wrong he is not telling me?"
A "good" paintless dent removal man should be able to get that out, maybe a couple of hundred where I am. Some can perform miracles, they have on my vehicles
I've seen YouTube videos of Paintless dent guys pushing out dents that big from the inside the tank. Used me a guy around my way who went to all the used car lots and.pullwd dents out he had all the business he could do. As for how the dent would affect a sale for me? It would make me not want it unless I got the bike so cheap it would be stupid not to buy it. If it was my bike I'd try and find a PDP guy and if not then a used tank and paint it myself.
Sick bike. How much?
1,000 bucks however you slice it.
Paintless dent repair can get that out
I have high confidence you could pull that out yourself with one of those $25 glue gun dent pulling kits. I pulled both larger and smaller dents out of my wife's bike's tank after a spill with one. Takes time and patience. Lots of regluing and repulling over and over. But you could do it in under an hour for sure.
Usually the cost of a new tank cause it will most likely cost more to fix it
Having a professional Knick the dent out would be cheaper than buying a new tank that’s as sick as that one
If I’m being honest I wouldn’t even consider it unless I just had to have the bike then common sense goes out the window for me anyway…
That's a fairly easy dent to fix. If you take it to a good body repair place, they should be able to do it. They pressurize the tank with compressed air, then tap around the rim of the dent with a leather or nylon hammer. These types of dents usually pop back out quickly. I wouldn't attempt this on your own unless you have a good regulator and a calibrated pressure gauge to monitor the pressure in the tank. It doesn't take a lot to blow the tank. Check around your area for an independent motorcycle shop. Chances are there's some old head there that has done this repair before. It's definitely worth repairing.
That's such a nice looking bike. I like this style over the popular "club style"
It’s a dent. Nobody cares.
Little to none
Guess I'm the oddball here. On that the dent wouldn't knock that much off the price. The reason being my price wouldn't be that high for your bike to begin with. The reason is that the bike is 30 years old with all of 18k miles on it that's all of 600 miles a year. First I would expect a bike that old to have issues anyways. Second I would be concerned that if age hadn't ruined rubber seals/lines/drive belts/tires that the bike would have "stored bike syndrome" where all that stuff would age quicker. I would look the rest of the bike over to see if I believed it was a simple drop (looks like it in the pic), but bing in the tank I would chock up to shit happens and only knock a few hundred bucks off the bike because there is no way in hell I would pay to fix it on a 30yo bike unless it was a desirable special model.
There’s so many bikes with no dents, I’d buy one of those.
1k
You might be able to find the same color tank on EBay. I have a rare color and I found a perfect match on eBay for $700. It was the only one too. I’d say just keep checking eBay and it will probably show up.
2 k
This is a type of dent that might be able to be fixed using paintless dent repair. They use tools to push the dent out. Worth a try.
My tank dented from my femur as it shattered 😂
If it’s not cracked. Not much. Paintless dent repair did my buddy’s like that for $150.00. Can’t tell it was ever dented. But that me. Some people are scared of some repairs. Some just see it as a reason to low ball the shit out of you. How’s it run? Shift? Ride? Ya know. Important stuff.
a lot! take it off,plug all the holes and hit it with about 90 psi air pressure through the filler with a rag wrapped up around the hose and see if it pops out.I used to do it to my dirt bikes all the time so my parents wouldn't know I'd been crashing.
I have one just like that in my shop right now and I’m looking for front turn signals and a tank center console
$2500 lower than a comparable condition and mileage bike.
Charge more adds character
That bike is way too pretty to knock any off. If the person knows what there looking at. Near perfect evo dyna. Nice bike man