Reproduction gas tank emblems vs NOS
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 1:33 pm
Links updated 12/2023
This subject came up very recently when an individual attempted to corner the market on NOS gas tank emblems by buying out the remaining stock from David Silver Spares. I was fortunate to have purchased a set for my red bike before this person bought out the remainder, so I had a set in hand. Another member pointed out that the website at https://www.badgereplicas.com.au/badges_honda.htm was selling reproduction gas tank emblems, and so I ordered up a set of those too to compare.
You can find these repro emblems on this page:
https://www.badgereplicas.com.au/badges_honda.htm
They sell for $72 (Australia $) per side, plus a very reasonable $8.00 for shipping and handling. I ordered these on October 28, 2014 and they arrived a week later on November 4, having been shipped from Australia in a small box.
I paid $76.72 a side from David Silver Spares, plus $17 shipping and handling, but that's nearly moot as the guy in Canada that bought them out is asking $300 for a set, so that's the best basis for comparison currently unless some more old stock surfaces.
Here are the photos:
My observations:
They are constructed differently - the NOS are swaged together and are two pieces. If you've installed a set you know that when you bend them to fit the contour of the tank they can pop apart, and ought to be glued together once the final fit is achieved. The repros are solid and show evidence of being spot welded together. They will take more effort to bend for a perfect fit then the NOS.
The repros are much more substantial then the NOS, as you can see by the different weight on the scale.
The quality of the chrome and the finish are excellent on both - equivalent. The lettering looks identical, same shape and spacing, a ringer to my eye.
If you look very closely at the photo of the H you may detect a very slight waviness on the edge. That is the single thing I might call a flaw in the repros. But I was really scrutinizing for flaws and I very much doubt you will ever notice this.
Bottom line?
An excellent part. I have not fitted them yet so I can't comment about that, but they are on their way to another builder who will, and he will comment when he does no doubt. I am going to use the NOS on the red bike because I have them and they were nearly equivalent cost, but if I do another CBX and need badges, I will use these.
N.
This subject came up very recently when an individual attempted to corner the market on NOS gas tank emblems by buying out the remaining stock from David Silver Spares. I was fortunate to have purchased a set for my red bike before this person bought out the remainder, so I had a set in hand. Another member pointed out that the website at https://www.badgereplicas.com.au/badges_honda.htm was selling reproduction gas tank emblems, and so I ordered up a set of those too to compare.
You can find these repro emblems on this page:
https://www.badgereplicas.com.au/badges_honda.htm
They sell for $72 (Australia $) per side, plus a very reasonable $8.00 for shipping and handling. I ordered these on October 28, 2014 and they arrived a week later on November 4, having been shipped from Australia in a small box.
I paid $76.72 a side from David Silver Spares, plus $17 shipping and handling, but that's nearly moot as the guy in Canada that bought them out is asking $300 for a set, so that's the best basis for comparison currently unless some more old stock surfaces.
Here are the photos:
My observations:
They are constructed differently - the NOS are swaged together and are two pieces. If you've installed a set you know that when you bend them to fit the contour of the tank they can pop apart, and ought to be glued together once the final fit is achieved. The repros are solid and show evidence of being spot welded together. They will take more effort to bend for a perfect fit then the NOS.
The repros are much more substantial then the NOS, as you can see by the different weight on the scale.
The quality of the chrome and the finish are excellent on both - equivalent. The lettering looks identical, same shape and spacing, a ringer to my eye.
If you look very closely at the photo of the H you may detect a very slight waviness on the edge. That is the single thing I might call a flaw in the repros. But I was really scrutinizing for flaws and I very much doubt you will ever notice this.
Bottom line?
An excellent part. I have not fitted them yet so I can't comment about that, but they are on their way to another builder who will, and he will comment when he does no doubt. I am going to use the NOS on the red bike because I have them and they were nearly equivalent cost, but if I do another CBX and need badges, I will use these.
N.
