The Rattle/Clank That Wasn't - V85 TT

[Moparnut72]

Ethanol free gasoline is pretty much unobtainium in California. The only places to get it is at marinas and airports. Aircraft fuel is leaded though, not a good idea for catalytic converters if you care.
kk

[SED]

BTW - ethanol is used by refineries to raise the octane rating of gasoline.  Non-ethanol gas uses a different (and more costly) chemical to raise the octane rating.  Always use the correct or higher octane rated gasoline to prevent damage whether it is 10% ethanol or ethanol free.  Ethanol has slightly less energy density than gasoline so ethanol blends run slightly leaner than ethanol free gas (in the absence of a compensating fuel injection system).  Best time to use ethanol free gas is during the wet season or when the bike will be sitting for long periods.   

[Moparnut72]

Octane rating can be raised by adding more octane to the blend. Octane is one of the products when crude oil is distilled. It is costly because, I believe, there isn't that much that comes off. My chemistry teacher in high school was a petroleum chemist when he was in the Army and liked to talk about the petroleum industry. Ethanol is an easy and cheap way to raise the octane level especially since the government subsidizes it. When I lived in Colorado a long long time ago only premium had ethanol in it.
kk

[Xander]

BTW - ethanol is used by refineries to raise the octane rating of gasoline.  Non-ethanol gas uses a different (and more costly) chemical to raise the octane rating.  Always use the correct or higher octane rated gasoline to prevent damage whether it is 10% ethanol or ethanol free.  Ethanol has slightly less energy density than gasoline so ethanol blends run slightly leaner than ethanol free gas (in the absence of a compensating fuel injection system).  Best time to use ethanol free gas is during the wet season or when the bike will be sitting for long periods.

Great info.  I'm learning a lot here at The Goose.

I live in the Tampa area also, let's see if we can meet up sometime!

I'm hip!  I have a touring windscreen coming this Friday, and I was thinking of a little testing jaunt over the Skyway.  The traffic to and from won't be great, but it might be worth it.

Rattly heat shields or bashplates are a thing, just tighten up the screws for them.

That's good advice.  I think all my gubbins are snug.

I've filled her up with 93 octane (but 10% ethanol), and she's a happy camper now.  There's a few places here that have the good stuff.  I'd like to try Mcmullen Oil in Clearwater.  It'd be good to have a reliable source.

TOWN	BRAND	OCTANES	NAME	ADDRESS	PHONE	LAST UPDATE
Clearwater	SUNOCO	90 93	Mcmullen Oil Co	11965 49th St N	727-573-0016	2023-07-19
New Port Richey	CIRCLE K	91	Circle K	10227 Fl-54	727-815-9956	2020-12-13
New Port Richey	MURPHY	92	Murphy #7475	12700 Us Hwy 19	727-863-6950	2020-05-27
Pinellas Park	CHEVRON	110	Racin' Gas	4801 Park Blvd	727-515-5656	2024-05-15
Pinellas Park	MURPHY	93	Murphy Usa #6714	8003 Us Hwy 19 N	727-568-0006	2022-08-19
Tampa	MURPHY	93	Murphy Express #8853	3605 W Hillsborough Ave	813-350-0672	2023-08-18
Tampa	MURPHY	93	Murphy Usa	6228 Gunn Hwy	813-969-4200	2023-08-18

[elrealistico]

Great, where do you live in the Tampa area? I am in Citrus Park.  Where do you normally ride?

I usually get 93 octane from the Sunoco nearest my house, for all my bikes, havent had any issues. I don't think is necessary to try & find non ethanol 90+ Octane. Mostly what I see in FL like at most Wawas is 87 octane non ethanol, which makes my  carbed Bonnie run bad the way I have it set up

Great info.  I'm learning a lot here at The Goose.

I'm hip!  I have a touring windscreen coming this Friday, and I was thinking of a little testing jaunt over the Skyway.  The traffic to and from won't be great, but it might be worth it.
That's good advice.  I think all my gubbins are snug.

I've filled her up with 93 octane (but 10% ethanol), and she's a happy camper now.  There's a few places here that have the good stuff.  I'd like to try Mcmullen Oil in Clearwater.  It'd be good to have a reliable source.

TOWN	BRAND	OCTANES	NAME	ADDRESS	PHONE	LAST UPDATE
Clearwater	SUNOCO	90 93	Mcmullen Oil Co	11965 49th St N	727-573-0016	2023-07-19
New Port Richey	CIRCLE K	91	Circle K	10227 Fl-54	727-815-9956	2020-12-13
New Port Richey	MURPHY	92	Murphy #7475	12700 Us Hwy 19	727-863-6950	2020-05-27
Pinellas Park	CHEVRON	110	Racin' Gas	4801 Park Blvd	727-515-5656	2024-05-15
Pinellas Park	MURPHY	93	Murphy Usa #6714	8003 Us Hwy 19 N	727-568-0006	2022-08-19
Tampa	MURPHY	93	Murphy Express #8853	3605 W Hillsborough Ave	813-350-0672	2023-08-18
Tampa	MURPHY	93	Murphy Usa	6228 Gunn Hwy	813-969-4200	2023-08-18

[Xander]

I usually get 93 octane from the Sunoco nearest my house, for all my bikes, havent had any issues. I don't think is necessary to try & find non ethanol 90+ Octane. Mostly what I see in FL like at most Wawas is 87 octane non ethanol, which makes my  carbed Bonnie run bad the way I have it set up

For me it makes sense to keep away from ethanol when I can.  Many modern engines just tolerate it and I'm gonna baby my baby.

[Huzo]

There's me learning again.  I never knew that specific meaning of "overdrive".

Many do not. Although the term is used and misused extensively, it’s prudent to recognise that the overall ratio between the crankshaft and rear wheel is the deciding factor.

[ridingron]

For me it makes sense to keep away from ethanol when I can.  Many modern engines just tolerate it and I'm gonna baby my baby.

When did modern start?  I think any recent motor released for sale, at least the last 10-15 years, was built to be 10% (or more) ethanol tolerant.

[Xander]

When did modern start?  I think any recent motor released for sale, at least the last 10-15 years, was built to be 10% (or more) ethanol tolerant.

Precisely the day before yesterday.   "Tolerant" is all I meant, in that they don't prefer it.

EDIT:  "Modern" came about a half hour before "recent."