I was on a ride a few days ago with a buddy when we stopped for gas. I was just about to pull the trigger on the nozzle when he said......

Are you sure you can put gas in your bike with Ethanol in it? I heard it was extremely bad for any bike.

Not being sure, I elected to move onto the next station but got to wondering. Does fuel additives like Ethanol, Nitrogen, Tactrol etc potentially harm you bike or is this just another wives tale?

 

very little difference.
You won't feel it unless your name is Rossi
I ran best race fuel and only got maybe about 2% improovement...

 

you'll get worse mileage with ethanol...

 

The newer fuels are tougher on valve seats, but its marginal on the newer valves and seats (post1980). The stuff runs clean too.
Certain seals and sealants hate ethanol.
Theres no doubt the engines would last longer on standard fuels.
If your bike ever sounds like a 1976 mercedes diesel, there's probably too much ethanol in the blend to ride with.

 

They run 10% or something like that here in NH 365. When they first started doing it bike shops were littered with bikes in need of carb cleaning when spring time came. I don't know if gas companies have changed the chemical composition, or if people have learned the necessary precautions they need to take to prevent damage cause I haven't heard too much about the issue lately. Either way, it can be damaging if you let it sit. It will eat away at rubber gas lines and gaskets. Because the the alcohol content, some is likely to evaporate/expand/condense. I don't exactly know the chemistry behind it but from what I understand, what happens in a gas tank that is nearly empty and is sitting, the alcohol will evaporate, moisture in the air will condense and thats how you get water in the tank. I guess its more likely with ethanol than straight gas. If I had the opportunity to fill up with reg gas vs gas/ethanol mix, I would choose reg gas any day.

 

Gasoline will rot like milk over time.
In the confines of bowls and small orifices, it ages with unpleasing results.

 

The difference in fuel economy with ethanlol blends (up to 10%) is very slight (down by about 2%). The main problem is that the ethanol (or tactrol if you're filling up PetroCan) is that it attacks the rubber diaphragm in the petcock mechanism (I know, I`ve had to replace two of them in fairly short order due to this). This is why I stay away from them now (unless I have no other choice). You also want to stay away from any addititive (like octane booster) that has methanol or methyl alcohol. You`ve been warned.