$550 is not high for a real OEM factory replacement tank, especially if it's painted. After I bought my used '09 Iron, the salesman led me into his office and brought up the "retail" price on a NEW Iron tank in Brilliant Denim Silver...it was $1,025. The Iron tank in Black Denim was $975, supposedly because "...it was more popular and they produced more of them."

I recieved a new tank and tins as part of my sale, since the tank was dented [it was taken off of/swapped out with another bike of the same color so they could get that one out on the floor to sell while they waited for the tins to come in for the one I was going to buy] and the front and rear fenders were rusted.

While recently looking at a tank replacement for my sons '02 883 I found one at a HD dealer out of state for $525 primed. And from the looks of most of the aftermarket tanks that were available out there, either a "direct replacement," "King" or "peanut," everything else looked like a POS compared to the OEM tank.

Prices are all over the place but the dealer prices DO reflect the highest price[s], but remember, it's for a real factory OEM replacement and NOT Joe Blows tank company thin as $hit tank with $hitty welds and splatter, uneven seams and free internal rust. So pick your poison and pay now, or pay later.

=8^)

 

Keep looking.

 

For a quick fix if you are tight on cash and some elbow grease, you can always bondo over the dents. That's what I would do. I have a little experience with it but it's from trial and error on my own. You can get some and practice on something small before diving into the tank. Can put a solid flat black on the tank that is a close match "make sure it's auto paint that resists gasoline". Good luck with whatever you choose. Oh and for info on doing the bondo, just search youtube to bondo touchup or repair. Something along those lines. You can do anything with the power of tube

EDIT: Oh I didn't look at the second picture. I didn't see it was both sides... Would be tough and with how sharp the edges are on those dents I don't think you could get it smooth, like the edges are raised farther up then the material around the dent.

 

More than I'd pay for a used tank.

 

Be patient and keep looking on eBay. You should be able to find a nice one for about half that, or a bit more.

 

That's definitely on the expensive side. Wouldn't pay more than $400

 

$550? That's crazy.
Although I did sell the tank off my Nightster with that godawful "Grind" paint job for $600 or so.

I got my 48 tank for $200.
Also picked up a second 3.3 EFI peanut tank off an 883 (same tank as the Nightster) with some light scratches for $160. Spent an hour with my DA buffer and it looks like new.

Bottom line is keep looking, because deals are out there.