Small bubbles on tank - Please Look!!

Hi Everyone
Just been in the shed to check the bike and found that the tank has loads of really small bubbles all over the tank. I've read a few posts about the tanks getting 'mumps' due to the water in the fuel but is that what I have???? And is there anything I can do? or is this an issue for the dealer However the bike is an 07 SDR so is way outta warranty!! If this is the tank I would have thought that KTM would have to replace it (in/out of warranty) as its is made from the wrong material??!!??
Any comments advise is greatly appreciated!
The bike has not been riden in the last month and has been left with about 1/4 tank of fuel??
I've tried to take some pics but its difficult to see them using a camera!

Mine has some paint issues too, my very friendly dealer said

'Nothing doing, sorry'

I would still take it to the dealer as its not acceptable, worth a punt.

Thought it was just the Yanks that had the issue with their ethanol fuel.

You could decal it up to hide the bubbles.

razy had the same issues on his 05/06 bike - may be worth bunging him a message to find out if he resolved his?

who's your local dealer?

Hi
Thanks for the replys, I was thinking about the tank bag but you should'nt have to resort to it really, and would spoil the look of the bike!! Was thinking about sending an email to KTM (Bernie Tiller
Aftersales Support Co-ordinator) to see if I'd av better luck than my dealer!! My closest dealer is Dave Barkshire of Norwich. I've only took the bike there once for a service and I wasn't really that impressed tbh! (long story but he told me he had a 'faulty' batch of 'o'rings from KTM and thats why it was leaking oil from the oil screen!! Faulty batch of 'o'rings my arse!! he just re-used the old one and when I took it back I didn't even get a sorry for you inconvience!!
I just dunno what to do apart from being really pissed about it !!!!!

Is it in the plastic or just the paint? Either way, I feel for you because it does diminish the looks of the bike. If it is just the paint though you could probably have it repainted for a lot less than what a new tank would cost. KTM replaced my tank even after the bke was a year out of warranty but mine had both the mumps and it was also so distorted that the mounts that hold it to the frame were starting to twist. If it's just paint and not the tank itself they may refuse to replace it but it's definitely worth asking them.

Not really sure if its the plastic or the paint coz I don't really wanna poke the bubbles too much. If this is a problem with the tank and KTM don't do anything I'm gonna be so angry. I know these bike have there weakness and flaws (I bought mine coz its different from the norm) but a petrol tank you cant put petrol in ....... really.........

You sure there's no "ethanol" in the petrol over there could be just watered down,,,,could be watered down ethanol,,,,,,looks to be to, familiar a symptom to me, to be anything but,,,,

Wow...I've got a couple of mumps on my tank which sucks but that there is a seriously bad case of herpes.

I got some small ones after last winter on my 05 tank, then in April 2012 when I went back to the UK found a huge blister on the top of the tank with the paint cracked and lifting.......

Bike is stored in a dry garage covered with a cotton sheet, full tank of super unleaded with a dash of Silkolene Pro FST,

Yes, be sure we have now got ethanol in some of our petrol

This is how the tank bag looks

Looks like you'll need to sand it down and repaint it first with a heavy sealer/primer, then whatever paint scheme you'd like to go with. I found a lot of the paint on my one wasnt actually "paint" as such but more of a textured rubber coating when i went sanding. Use a good plastic primer to be safe

What about bubbles on the inside?

These photos have been taken looking front to rear over the bars. It was difficult getting a reliable image at such an acute angle so there are two to decypher:





I've had the bike since June '12 and only managed to complete 320 odd miles. These images are of the second tank as the same happened with the original. Physical growth problem exists also.

It looks like the sort of place a one eyed, mutant tank monster named Ron would live in.

Disappointing last 6 months this has been...

I just received a new tank due to cracks in paint and mumps. Old tank was PA6 nylon made by Acerbis (Italy). New tank is PA6 nylon made by Elkamet (Germany)

Have all of the problem tanks been produced by Acerbis? Hoping I got a "good" one. I use 91 octane non-ethanol gas as much as possible. Costs $.40 more per gallon but worth it IMO. I bought the bike with 3000 miles on it. Previous owner used strictly 93 octane e10.

Next time you have tank lifted, check the bottom to see manufacturer. Post what you find. Is your tank deformed, bubbled, mumps, cracked paint??

What can we do to lobby for the removal of ethanol from our fuels?? There are SOOO many people effected by it...Powersports, boating industry, all small engines, classic car collectors. Problem is that the general population is too nieve to see what is happening and that it effects them too (poor mileage)

OK first post ramble off

My tank is currently off - i'll check manufacturer tomorrow - has a couple pimples and expanded ( used the 2 custom hinges ) helped some but not completely.
will post tomorrow ( sunday )

cheers