Inexpensive tank protector D.I.Y.

[Rainman]

Im sure everyone has fought the battle of trying to keep the top of your "Tank" a.k.a airbox cover from getting scratched up by jacket zippers and what not. I couldn't find a protector that wasn't ultra expensive or didn't look awful and it was frustrating! I had an idea that worked great! I purchased some 3m clear surface protectant also known as ski tape. I drew out a piece in the shape I wanted peeled off the back like a sticker and put it on. Its clear so you can hardly see it and just like that no more polishing scratches!
The best part is it cost me less than $10 with shipping.You can get it for $2.95 per foot from Tognar.com

 

[KennyR]

Good idea. Most stick on tank protectors are pretty ugly. I just wear a belt that closes with Velcro rather than a buckle.

 

[Fire-medic]

A piece of magnetic vinyl can also work.

 

[Littleschipper]

Some of the vinyl ones look cheesy but there are a few that I would use. I have over 40k miles on my bike and not a single scratch on the tank cover. I must be riding it wrong…….

 

[Rainman]

Some of the vinyl ones look cheesy but there are a few that I would use. I have over 40k miles on my bike and not a single scratch on the tank cover. I must be riding it wrong…….

My Max is black so you just breathe around it and it looks scratched. How do you keep your leather jacket from touching the tank cover?

 

[Littleschipper]

My Max is black so you just breathe around it and it looks scratched. How do you keep your leather jacket from touching the tank cover?

My airbox cover is stock, fake carbon fiber metal. When I ride my jackets are always zipped up so the zipper pull is at the top, not near the tank. The Joe Rocket textile jackets I own all have a small amount of material that overlap on each side to cover the zipper itself, so even if I laid on top of the cover the metal of the zipper wouldn't make contact with the cover.

 

[82ndCowboy]

I must be riding mine wrong too.
It's not a crotch rocket. I don't lay on the tank when riding.
Why are you guys laying on top of your tanks?
In reality, I ride my max all over an in all weather. And I have a small tank bag. So it's not perfect. It has some wear scuffs and scratches.
Way too much work to keep it perfect.
Just Ride It!