One of my housemates asked me the other day how working on a motorcycle compares to working on a car, and I didn't really know how to answer at first. After thinking a little bit, it seems like the side fairings and gas tank are essentially the hood. Not a very easy hood to open, if you ask me. But it gave me an idea: why wasn't the gas tank designed with a hinge at one end, and some sort of quick-release mechanism at the other? Has anyone tried doing a mod like this?

 

My 78 kz650 had two rubber grommets on the front, up at the steering head,
that fit into two c-shaped socket/cups. The cups were mounted on the tank, open-end facing forwards.
All you had to do was, un-do one bolt at the rear of the tank and then,
you could lift/pivot off of the grommets.

I think they forgo that sort of design now, because of the 'extra space needed for
clearance' externally vs internal fuel capacity.

As far as hinge etc, pro vs con, I usually remove the tank if I'm un-doing it at all.
So by hinging it, adds to the task. So, it's not enhancing servicability.

Now, if you add in a prop-stick to hold the rear of the tank up, till you pull the hoses...that would be nice.

I suppose you could weld a small hinge with a removeable pin at the steering head
and use a bolt with a small, spinner-**** head at the rear. Maybe a prop, that lays
flat to the frame, under the tank or seat.

Or just use two spinner-***** to replace the current bolts, if you don't want to grab a
wrench to pull the tank.

That's my take, anyway, Ern

 

I remember seeing some bikes with a stand to hold one end up like a cars hood. Other than that, on a sport bike the space under the tank is limited because of the huge air box. No room for luxuries.