I am building a 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 250, and I'd like to use my magnetic tank bag on it. It's similar to some CBRs in that it has plastics over the tank.

I'm looking for magnets to glue under the plastics for the tank bag. I've tried sheet metal (Not strong enough), flexible vehicle door magnet material (Again, not strong enough), and hard drive magnets (Strong enough, but the magnetic field is messy).

Where can I buy some cheap, half-dollar sized magnets? It would be great if I can buy them locally.

ATTENTION: I already have a backpack. I'm not interested in a strap tank bag. I'm not interested in a tail pack. I'm not interested in saddlebags. I'm only interested in buying magnets for my magnetic tank bag.

 

You want Neodymium Rare Earth Magnets, very strong. You can get them cheap on eBay in just about every size imaginable, or search the local science stores.

 

Those won't be TOO powerful, will they?

 

No, so long as you don't get huge ones. You may have to experiment with size to get what you want, so maybe buy a kit of various sized ones to begin with.

 

Wait. . .if your tank bag already HAS magnets, then you don't need MORE magnets. You just need to attach a magnetic metal, like iron or steel, to the plastic on the tank.

I think what Incognito was getting at was REPLACING the magnets in your bag with ones that will be strong enough to attract the metal tank THROUGH the plastic. Nyodymium magnets would work if you got ones that are big enough, but they may make your bag stick to annoying things while you carry it around with you. They're VERY strong magnets.

 

I don't really want to tear into my tank bag, I was thinking of just gluing some of the rare earth magnets underneath the plastic. I've tried sheet metal, vehicle door magnet material, and a 5/8" wrench. The tank bag doesn't adhere to any of them through a layer of plastic.

I think the magnets are the way to go. I'm going to try to find them locally so I can test them. When I get results, I'll be sure to post them up.

 

Good selection of magnets here:
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a...Magnets/1.html
Hope this helps.
mikey

 

Please do; I'm getting an 07 RR soon, and I don't want to give up my Icon Urban.