Gas

[Popeye the Sailor]

Ethenol causes my Taurus with 175,000 miles to lose about 4mpg ~

JM

Now if only we knew what made such an ancient heap continue to run! 


For the low low fee of $10, I'll take it out back and shoot it for you, putting it out of it's misery.

[the_Journeyman]

Now if only we knew what made such an ancient heap continue to run! 

IT's probably connected to the think layer of grease/oil & road dust/grim caked on the underside of the motor.  It's probably all that's holding it together 

JM

[Clickjack]

Thanks guys.  I  appreciate the information.   

Got another question... I never hear anyone talking about Steering Dampeners.  Does the Duc get a wobble at higher speeds?  Or is this just a better design? 

I have noticed that my bike definitely prefers 4K over 3K, at any speed.  This isn't going to eat my gas up and cause higher wear on the motor during in town riding? 

[Spidey]

Got another question... I never hear anyone talking about Steering Dampeners.  Does the Duc get a wobble at higher speeds?  Or is this just a better design? 

I have noticed that my bike definitely prefers 4K over 3K, at any speed.  This isn't going to eat my gas up and cause higher wear on the motor during in town riding? 

Sorry, but pet peeve:  damper, not dampener. Yes, Ducs can get wobbles at high speed, like any other bike.   Many people choose to run a damper, particularly because the Duc is so tailheavy and it's easy to get headshake.  Somewhere in Acc & Mods is a thread with a whole bunch of different damper options listed (along with pics).  Personally, I think of a damper as necessary insurance, and put one on every one of my bikes, but that's just me. 

4k over 3k isn't going to make a difference.  It's actually better for the engine to rev higher than it is to lug it.  4k is not high revs, however. 

[Clickjack]

Sorry, but pet peeve:  damper, not dampener.

I typed Damper... but spell check didn't like it.  I always assume Spell check is better at spelling then I am.

4k over 3k isn't going to make a difference.  It's actually better for the engine to rev higher than it is to lug it.  4k is not high revs, however. 

This is a reference to a previous reply.  SO where do you run your bike?  In town, abiding the speed limits, where are your RPMs?

[Spidey]

I *generally* don't abide by speed limits in town cuz it's 25 most places.  My revs tend to hang between 4-5.5k for in-city riding unless I'm riding like an idiot, which is common.  There's a thread about "shift points" further down the forum that might be worth reading.  Everyone is different and a lot of it depends on your riding style and what make you comfortable. 

[Clickjack]

Everyone is different and a lot of it depends on your riding style and what make you comfortable. 

I enjoy going fast... but I try to abide the speed limits in town.  Can't afford speeding tickets on a couple different levels.  Cash and career wise. 

[herm]

This is a reference to a previous reply.  SO where do you run your bike?  In town, abiding the speed limits, where are your RPMs?

my bike (and i) both prefer to hang in the 5-6k range whenever possible
although i will let her spin down in the 4k range when i feel like i should be quieter....

[Clickjack]

i will let her spin down in the 4k range when i feel like i should be quieter....

I'm running stock pipes until I can save for a full Termi kit (Could be a while).   How loud are these bikes with out the baffles?   I like loud.  But I don't wanna wear ear plugs, and literally let someone two miles away know I started my bike. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

I'm running stock pipes until I can save for a full Termi kit (Could be a while).   How loud are these bikes with out the baffles?   I like loud.  But I don't wanna wear ear plugs, and literally let someone two miles away know I started my bike. 

You should be wearing earplugs anyways-the wind noise *will* make you deaf.

Typically this only applies to highway speeds, but once one gets used to them, they're nice for local jaunts, too.

[Desmostro]

I run 91...

...
As far as brand of gas, different people find that certain brands of gas work better on their bikes than others.  Because of the different in gas composition depending on geography, there's no rule-of-thumb.  Keep track of your mileage and note if you bike feels better or worse.  If you get noticeably better performance or mileage with one brand of gas, stick with that. 

Since we're in the middle of the largest hand over of wealth in human history, that is giving it all up for the Arabs,

Might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies
import Middle Eastern oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell..................... ... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco.... ..... 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon/Mobil...... ......... 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco............................62,231,000 barrels

Citgo gas is from South America , from a Dictator who hates Americans.

Here are some large companies that do NOT import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco..................0 barrels

Conoco..................0 barrels

Sinclair..................0 barrels

BP/Phillips.............0 barrels

Hess.................... ..0 barrels

ARC0.....................0 barrels

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much
they are importing.

Otherwise you can help them continue building this Dubai

[DRKWNG]

Interesting how only the names which import oil from the mid-east are present here in the PRH.

[herm]

Interesting how only the names which import oil from the mid-east are present here in the PRH.

PRH? --- peoples republic of hawaii?

reminds me of the peoples republic of boulder

[VeryMetal]

Not too sure of the politics involved in this one but Arco is the only gas station I have access to near my house on that list. Can anyone make a shortlist of companies that don't mix their gas with ethanol in CA? I'd like to know that.

Quite frankly, I care how my bike runs, but at the end of the day I'm not going to lose sleep over gas. I've used 89 and 91 so far, I don't notice a difference at all. Maybe if I broke out a calculator, but at about 10 bucks per tank fill, about once a week unless i ride a lot I'm not complaining too much. It's when I have to take my $80 a tank car that I used to be able to fill for $40 that I feel like throwing up a little. Good job I never drive.

alright I'm going to jack my own thread with a few newbie questions I would be too embarrassed to post as a thread...

1.  How do you carry your key?  - I carry a key clip and detach it so it's just the key in the bike when I ride.

2.  How does the Handling on the S4R change when you go 2up? - I don't like to change gearing unless it's on a track bike and even then I can do without it.

3.  I like the riding position but my hand hurts if I have to use the Clutch. - The clutch on a lot of Ducs is tough as a bastard to pull, use neutral a lot, it'll prolong the life of your clutch anyway. If it's really too painful see a physician, could be some tendonitis.

4. I would like to remove the bikini fairing. - I don't know, but good on you, it looks horrible if you ask me.

5.  Anyone else get a vibration at 65 - 70 mph? - Select your gear appropriately and keep it above 5 on the freeway if you can. Same in town, it was already stated but it's better to rev high than low. Your bike will thank you for it.

[DRKWNG]

PRH? --- peoples republic of hawaii?

Very close my good sir.  It's the People's Republik of Hawaii.  It's all in the spelling you see.