What can be done about diesel spills? Rider crashed 3/07/16 on Takas

[MD]

I don't know the answer. That's why I'm posting the question. So many riders have come off over recent years on Rimutaka Hill alone due to spills. I'm sure other bike popular hills are equally high risk. Or are they? Is it something peculiar to that hill that attracts a certain type of truck and campervan driver. Dicks that insist on filling their tank to the brim and not fastening the cap. I don't think some even bother having a fuel cap.

Unfortunately today we came across another rider down and I see on Stuff it was a serious leg injury. V-Rod rider dumped in tight left hander coming up from Feathers and went over the Armco. Westpac Rescue Chopper was quick on the scene.

Stuff said it was possibly a car vs bike incident. Nope, we were there minutes after it happened. I mean no disrespect to the hurt Rider but the cause was clear as, well a dark, wet, smelly diesel spill freshly running off the camber. Once the cops arrived I went to pull alongside one and ask that they set up a cordon on the Welly side and check every truck/camper for signs of spilling, but the Cop I went to approach gave me the evil stare and wave to keep moving. I'm sure the culprit couldn't have been far ahead.

From the very first corner the trail of fresh spill was obvious and pretty much was on every left and right hander. Sadly for the hurt rider he crashed on the last corner with a spill. After that it was clear for the rest of the journey. Once you know it's going to be there it's not that hard to continue at a decent pace, just allowing yourself plenty of vision through approaching bends to pick your line left or right of the diesel trail - which today being fresh was quite visible long before reaching it.

But back to my opening point. There must be stats showing that that hill is exceptionally high in bike crashes caused by other vehicle spills - diesel or stock effluent. There should be enough evidence to warrant random blitzes checking on trucks & vans.

These stats work against us, making bikes look at fault for having so many crashes.

Best wishes to the Rider for a quick recovery.

[FastR1Red]

Thats not good news. One road here in Aus is identical. So many caravaners use it and trucks as well being one of the back roads out of the city. Everyone complains, nothing ever gets done.
Staying more observant for spills at the beginning of the twisties is the go.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[OddDuck]

Yeah, I've had someone riding with me go down on the Taka's because of a diesel spill.

It's just a shit design in the way that the tanks have a short filling spout mounted at 45 degrees on a tank edge. Unless they have a perfectly sealing fill cap it's inevitable that diesel will slosh out on a corner.

Effective change means that moron-proof design would be needed, unfortunately the format seems pretty well set.

[R650R]

One thing I got taught years ago was to be alert on the first proper bend leaving a town. If its going to be spilt anywhere it will be there, near the refuelling point while the tank is full to the brim.
Aside from that anything enforcement wise is ambulance at the bottom of the cliff stuff. A road like the rimutakas will be in the thousands per day of journeys by vehicles with external fuel tanks, only takes one to create a spill.
Its not just fuel tanks though, awhile back an experienced rider was killed and others injured up here due to an unknown forestry contractor/farmer/who knows losing a four litre oil container off the back of their ute or trailer...
All we can do is exercise care until the doom of electric vehicles arrives.....

[RGVforme]

"From the very first corner the trail of fresh spill was obvious and was on every left and right hander....Sadly the rider crashed on the last corner with a spill".

Bit of a hole in the "Put a cap on the fuel tank Mr truckie" safety campaign there in afraid.

You and other riders that day made it to where the crash was at the end of the spill trail.....He didn't.
Diesels still there....Many more road users will prob roll right over it cars and bikes.

Theres your answer......Rider error...:scratch:

Plenty of slippery stuff n corners Fuel Oil Wet leaves ect.Bar from sending crews out at 2am everyday scrubbing the roads clean for our specific use the best we can do is skill up and look for the hazards as you did here and the other rider did not.
(God how much oil and fuel must be spilt on our roads every day)

In a perfect world yes but Errrrrrrrr Nahhhhh.:no:

[ellipsis]

... very little...in answer to the question...

[Hugo Nougo]

Not just bikes having trouble on the hill today
www.flickr.com/photos/57931034@N03/?

[jellywrestler]

i was heading over one friday of the long weekend from featherston side, smelt diesel, caught up to the vehicle that had no cap on and tried my best to stop it, couldn't so stopped at the summit and rang star triple five even with the number plate, drove back to the hutt and never saw a single cop, i pleaded with them and said it wasn't just a drop of deisel.
one thing riders need to think of is if they smell diesel think deisel, same with if they hear the tinker of stones on their bikes, it's likely it's been carried from ahead of them and could be a lot worse round the corner, a lot of riders are oblivious to those two warnings.

[roogazza]

i was heading over one friday of the long weekend from featherston side, smelt diesel, caught up to the vehicle that had no cap on and tried my best to stop it, couldn't so stopped at the summit and rang star triple five even with the number plate, drove back to the hutt and never saw a single cop, i pleaded with them and said it wasn't just a drop of deisel.
one thing riders need to think of is if they smell diesel think deisel, same with if they hear the tinker of stones on their bikes, it's likely it's been carried from ahead of them and could be a lot worse round the corner, a lot of riders are oblivious to those two warnings.

Good tip for others there Spyda.
I shudder when I think of how we used to get on over that hill in our youth,the lean angle and the speed.
I guess we had eyes out all the time for wet,gravel,sand or fuel spills but still reckon we were just lucky,very lucky. :eek5::eek5:

[old slider]

i was heading over one friday of the long weekend from featherston side, smelt diesel, caught up to the vehicle that had no cap on and tried my best to stop it, couldn't so stopped at the summit and rang star triple five even with the number plate, drove back to the hutt and never saw a single cop, i pleaded with them and said it wasn't just a drop of deisel.
one thing riders need to think of is if they smell diesel think deisel, same with if they hear the tinker of stones on their bikes, it's likely it's been carried from ahead of them and could be a lot worse round the corner, a lot of riders are oblivious to those two warnings.


Thanks for those tips, something else to file away in my safer riding basket.

[Grumph]

In the SI particularly, it's also narrow bridges...I've seen truck fuel tanks creased and leaking after a curving approach to a narrow bridge is misjudged.

Once saw a slick from the Seddon bridge right in to Blenheim.

[RGVforme]

As the words of the legend Uncle Keith Code ring in my head.

"Throttle control" and "Just pick it up the best you can":cool:

[jellywrestler]

In the SI particularly, it's also narrow bridges...I've seen truck fuel tanks creased and leaking after a curving approach to a narrow bridge is misjudged.

Once saw a slick from the Seddon bridge right in to Blenheim.

fuck, never you you'd been that far north, you could've seen the other island from there....

[Ocean1]

Theres your answer......Rider error...:scratch:

There's no fucking way a low side caused by a diesel spill is rider error.

I've come close to losing it a dozen times over there, and that's knowing full well the scope of the problem. I've followed 5 others going through the last right hander coming down the Hutt side where all six of us stepped out 4", both ends, one after another.

The number of dodgy diesel tanks on the road is amazing, and the 'Takas cops a liberal dousing regularly from trucks filling up at Rimutaka or Featherston.

And the only way you're ever going to fix the problem is to change the COF requirements so that a pressure test is done on every tank.

Like every other bike related safety issue, it's just not going to happen.

[RGVforme]

There's no fucking way a low side caused by a diesel spill is rider error.

I've come close to losing it a dozen times over there, and that's knowing full well the scope of the problem. I've followed 5 others going through the last right hander coming down the Hutt side where all six of us stepped out 4", both ends, one after another.

The number of dodgy diesel tanks on the road is amazing, and the 'Takas cops a liberal dousing regularly from trucks filling up at Rimutaka or Featherston.

And the only way you're ever going to fix the problem is to change the COF requirements so that a pressure test is done on every tank.

Like every other bike related safety issue, not going to happen.

Others made it though according to the OP as did the 5 riders you speak of here.......The difference?......Rider skillset?...Blind luck?.

Rider error...

[Ocean1]

Others made it though according to the OP as did the 5 riders you speak of here.......The difference?......Rider skillset?...Blind luck?.

Rider error...

Yeah, you're good enough to pick up the front off your elbow and save it. :tugger:

[ellipsis]

Others made it though according to the OP as did the 5 riders you speak of here.......The difference?......Rider skillset?...Blind luck?.

Rider error...


...fuck off cocksuck...another f-f-f-fucking hero is all we need...keyboard wanker or warrior...you are whichever one comes first...

[RGVforme]

Yeah, your good enough to pick up the front off your elbow and save it. :tugger:

Nope just not stupid enough to lay it over that far on a road well known for having diesel spills on it......:scratch:

[RGVforme]

...fuck off cocksuck...another f-f-f-fucking hero is all we need...keyboard wanker or warrior...you are whichever one comes first...

A hardly ferguson rider and a southie.....You poor cunt.....Almost feel sorry for you almost......Prob a ranga too

[ellipsis]

A hardly ferguson rider and a southie.....You poor cunt.....Almost feel sorry for you almost......Prob a ranga too


...carry on knobsuck...you are now my favourite, all round queer cunt...and keep dishing out your skill set gems...laughter is good for the soul...

[RGVforme]

...carry on knobsuck...you are now my favourite, all round queer cunt...and keep dishing out your skill set gems...laughter is good for the soul...

Got a bit of a thing for gays and knobsucking the old southies don't they.:rolleyes:

I see you get your witty come backs from Crasher also........Keep working on the sense of humor and I may forgive you...:sleep:

[BMWST?]

there is an element of luck for sure.I rode over the rimutakas for years,every weekend at speeds that i now cant beleive..At the same time i was involved in two motorcycle schools.I was very aware of the road surface,etc.As has been said you can smell the fresh diesel.and i usuually did.But one weekednd when a bus spilt diesel over half the hill(on the other side of the road) i did i nice overtake on a long right hander,but i didnt spot the slick as i crossed back over the centreline after completing the overtake.Lost the front in an instant.None of the others i was with crashed,and i would say that i was at least as observant as them,if not more so.It was the only crash i had on the road over a period of 15yrs or so.At that time i was prolly doing 40 k a year.So there is an element of luck involved.

[WristTwister]

That was a useful tip there about looking for diesel spills on the first corner as an early warning of potential future spills further along the road. I'll note that down in future.

And guys, stop fighting. :girlfight: A fellow rider seriously hurt himself and you're at each other like wolves over whether or not it was his own fault.

[WristTwister]

5 of the riders that went down would have likely done so because they were too focused on one another and not the road or had been under pressure to keep up. I had a rider go down in front of me once on a wet road and did not even come close to hitting him as I left a decent following distance.

Or the lead rider could point out the hazards to the group behind, reducing the risk to those following. Sena comms are handy for warning others in your group about hazards too. #PairUp #BenefitsofGroupRiding

[BMWST?]

Or the lead rider could point out the hazards to the group behind, reducing the risk to those following. Sena comms are handy for warning others in your group about hazards too. #PairUp #BenefitsofGroupRiding
or even simple hand signals to each other,road cyclists do it a lot

[Ocean1]

5 of the riders that went down would have likely done so because they were too focused on one another and not the road or had been under pressure to keep up. I had a rider go down in front of me once on a wet road and did not even come close to hitting him as I left a decent following distance.

None of the riders went down.


Or the lead rider could point out the hazards to the group behind, reducing the risk to those following. Sena comms are handy for warning others in your group about hazards too. #PairUp #BenefitsofGroupRiding

Difficult to see how he could highlight the complete lack of traction any better than by sliding across it. Maybe he could have stopped, got off the bike and demonstrated that you couldn't actually stand on it either...


Chances are in the example given the lead rider would have been down before he had a chance to warn everyone. I think I would place more trust in having a decent following distance rather than rely on an intercom system.

Again, none of your advice is relevant, and if you'd read the original post you'd discover why. Mind you, if you ever actually read anything you'd discover that the world is full of shit that doesn't involve "riders too focused on one another".

Now why did I bother with all that, eh?

[ellipsis]

Sorry I just interpreted from your comment "stepped out" was your lingo for coming off.


...fuck off...there is no 'lingo', you understand...obviously...

[awayatc]

Forger about diesel spills...

Listenig to Cassina makes waterboarding sound like fun....

[nzspokes]

Chances are in the example given the lead rider would have been down before he had a chance to warn everyone. I think I would place more trust in having a decent following distance rather than rely on an intercom system.

That's because nobody wants to speak to you. HTH

[Paul in NZ]

Others made it though according to the OP as did the 5 riders you speak of here.......The difference?......Rider skillset?...Blind luck?.

Rider error...

No - its just not that simple as blaming everything on rider error as is the trend with people usually selling rider training...

The biggest accident I ever had was in my teens when frankly we were riding desperate old shit heaps well outside their design parameters BUT in this case it had fuck all to do with it..

Descending left hander with farm entrance at the apex. My mate was riding 2 up in the left hand track and I was riding the right but behind by a safe margin. Farm track had be re gravelled and it spilled onto the road - he missed it - I didn't - low sided in a flash, didn't even hear the loose gravel rattling on the bike. I rode that road every week back then - was riding on gravel roads regularly and rode dirt bikes. OK - your first thought would be shitty old 6V lights but no - I'm an engineer - my bike had shit hot 12V lights thanks and no we were not going fast and there was even a street lamp - neither of us saw any gravel at all until we picked me out of the ditch...

Point is - even riding sedately - if you are looking through the corner - you are onto some hazards before you are even aware of them!

Weirdest hazard - hitting a truck (think BIG truck) load of horse carrots 2 up with Vicki and luggage on the Guzzi... Thankfully a car or 2 had been over already so it was compressed carrots. I was finding bits of carrot wedged in places for months (no not there - on the bike)

[old slider]

No - its just not that simple as blaming everything on rider error as is the trend with people usually selling rider training...

The biggest accident I ever had was in my teens when frankly we were riding desperate old shit heaps well outside their design parameters BUT in this case it had fuck all to do with it..

Descending left hander with farm entrance at the apex. My mate was riding 2 up in the left hand track and I was riding the right but behind by a safe margin. Farm track had be re gravelled and it spilled onto the road - he missed it - I didn't - low sided in a flash, didn't even hear the loose gravel rattling on the bike. I rode that road every week back then - was riding on gravel roads regularly and rode dirt bikes. OK - your first thought would be shitty old 6V lights but no - I'm an engineer - my bike had shit hot 12V lights thanks and no we were not going fast and there was even a street lamp - neither of us saw any gravel at all until we picked me out of the ditch...

Point is - even riding sedately - if you are looking through the corner - you are onto some hazards before you are even aware of them!

Weirdest hazard - hitting a truck (think BIG truck) load of horse carrots 2 up with Vicki and luggage on the Guzzi... Thankfully a car or 2 had been over already so it was compressed carrots. I was finding bits of carrot wedged in places for months (no not there - on the bike)

I am going to have an eye check, I know that with advancing age my eyes are not as sharp, the granddaughters often see the deer before I do these days.
Another consideration for us returning more mature riders.

[ellipsis]

I am going to have an eye check, I know that with advancing age my eyes are not as sharp, the granddaughters often see the deer before I do these days.
Another consideration for us returning more mature riders.


...you ride with your eyes open?...

[old slider]

...you ride with your eyes open?...


usually, until something is coming towards me..... lol

[RGVforme]

No - its just not that simple as blaming everything on rider error as is the trend with people usually selling rider training...

The biggest accident I ever had was in my teens when frankly we were riding desperate old shit heaps well outside their design parameters BUT in this case it had fuck all to do with it..

Descending left hander with farm entrance at the apex. My mate was riding 2 up in the left hand track and I was riding the right but behind by a safe margin. Farm track had be re gravelled and it spilled onto the road - he missed it - I didn't - low sided in a flash, didn't even hear the loose gravel rattling on the bike. I rode that road every week back then - was riding on gravel roads regularly and rode dirt bikes. OK - your first thought would be shitty old 6V lights but no - I'm an engineer - my bike had shit hot 12V lights thanks and no we were not going fast and there was even a street lamp - neither of us saw any gravel at all until we picked me out of the ditch...

Point is - even riding sedately - if you are looking through the corner - you are onto some hazards before you are even aware of them!

Weirdest hazard - hitting a truck (think BIG truck) load of horse carrots 2 up with Vicki and luggage on the Guzzi... Thankfully a car or 2 had been over already so it was compressed carrots. I was finding bits of carrot wedged in places for months (no not there - on the bike)

Ohhhhh Fuck off here mate.....

So if theres a tree in the middle of a bare paddock and 5 riders on bikes ride towards it and 4 riders see the said tree and avoid it via good luck or management the last one does not and hits it....

WTF is this?.........

That's right numb nuts the last riders fault for not seeing the hazard!!!....or tree in this case.

Fuck off and google common sense will you.:oi-grr:.

[awayatc]

Now I get it....

RGVforme is just out to ruffle anybodys feathers.....

I mean nobody can be this thick and obnoxious

Only cassina

And her brother

[MD]

There's no fucking way a low side caused by a diesel spill is rider error.

I've come close to losing it a dozen times over there, and that's knowing full well the scope of the problem. I've followed 5 others going through the last right hander coming down the Hutt side where all six of us stepped out 4", both ends, one after another.

The number of dodgy diesel tanks on the road is amazing, and the 'Takas cops a liberal dousing regularly from trucks filling up at Rimutaka or Featherston.

And the only way you're ever going to fix the problem is to change the COF requirements so that a pressure test is done on every tank.

Like every other bike related safety issue, not going to happen.

Lets put aside the bitching on who's a safer rider blah blah. This point above gets me. Why the hell are trucks running around with fuel caps that are not fuel caps? I'm no truckie, so excuse my ignorance but every car I have owned takes 2 or 3 twists on a cap and hey presto - it's water tight! So it's not a lack of technology to blame.

Sure truck fuel tanks are external but that is a cosmetic difference no more relevant than what colour is the vehicle to whether it will spill fuel or not. Car tanks are similar shape with similar 45 degree rising spouts ..with a cap on the opening. A cap that actually works.

I'm stunned that WOF/COF checks on trucks & vans don't inspect the whole safety aspect of the explosive fuel containment. Sort of an obvious risk factor.

I bet if I pulled into a VTNZ spilling petrol all over their feet, as I jump out of the car lighting a fag they would scream blue murder at me and fail the car. So how can trucks/vans get away with it?

And to the Poster who said don't corner with lean that might cause a crash. Really! That's the whole point of being on a bike on a hilly road. It gives the rider a feeling often described by words like; happy happy joy joy, fun, enjoyable, exciting, exhilarating, friggin awesome...

[Ocean1]

Why the hell are trucks running around with fuel caps that are not fuel caps? I'm no truckie, so excuse my ignorance but every car I have owned takes 2 or 3 twists on a cap and hey presto - it's water tight! So it's not a lack of technology to blame.

There's a few standards car tank caps are mnufactured to comply with, most of them incorporate pressure/vacuum break systems, all of them fit for purpose. So as long as you're not running around with a rag stuffed in the hole chances are you'll be sealed up pretty good.

I don't know about standards truck tank caps might be built to, but in my experience anything over 10 years old is likely to leak any time diesel laps up to the cap.

I don't actually know what the COF rules say about fuel caps, (anyone?) But like I said tested compliance to a standard that actually ensures a seal is the only way you'll ever see any improvement.

[pritch]

IIRC there is a section of the law that says it's an offence to drop stuff on the road. Stock trucks are specifically excluded. The exclusion does not relate to diesel.

Where are SD and Rastus when you need them?

[Erelyes]

I don't actually know what the COF rules say about fuel caps, (anyone?)

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/heavy-vehicles/miscellaneous-items/fuel-system

Relevant fail items are:
8. The fuel filler cap or capless fuel filler seal is missing, insecure or likely to allow fuel spillage when the vehicle is in normal use.
9. The fuel tank is fitted with a ‘temporary use’ fuel filler cap.

Of course how the hell you test whether a cap is 'likely to allow fuel spillage in normal use' is a fine question, especially if the truckie turns up for the COF with a near empty tank.


In a perfect world yes but Errrrrrrrr Nahhhhh.:no:

This isn't 'perfect world' stuff, we're not talking about a drip here and there.

I wonder if the 5-0's are briefed at all about periodically checking trucks/campervans/etc for fuel spillage. Something as simple as, is the bodywork (or neck) under the filler wet with diesel.

[RGVforme]

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/heavy-vehicles/miscellaneous-items/fuel-system

Relevant fail items are:
8. The fuel filler cap or capless fuel filler seal is missing, insecure or likely to allow fuel spillage when the vehicle is in normal use.
9. The fuel tank is fitted with a ‘temporary use’ fuel filler cap.

Of course how the hell you test whether a cap is 'likely to allow fuel spillage in normal use' is a fine question, especially if the truckie turns up for the COF with a near empty tank.



This isn't 'perfect world' stuff, we're not talking about a drip here and there.

I wonder if the 5-0's are briefed at all about periodically checking trucks/campervans/etc for fuel spillage. Something as simple as, is the bodywork (or neck) under the filler wet with diesel.


Wank me a river of cum over this will you please.......Perfect world who lives in that....:laugh:

[Ocean1]

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/heavy-vehicles/miscellaneous-items/fuel-system

Relevant fail items are:
8. The fuel filler cap or capless fuel filler seal is missing, insecure or likely to allow fuel spillage when the vehicle is in normal use.
9. The fuel tank is fitted with a ‘temporary use’ fuel filler cap.

Of course how the hell you test whether a cap is 'likely to allow fuel spillage in normal use' is a fine question, especially if the truckie turns up for the COF with a near empty tank.



This isn't 'perfect world' stuff, we're not talking about a drip here and there.

I wonder if the 5-0's are briefed at all about periodically checking trucks/campervans/etc for fuel spillage. Something as simple as, is the bodywork (or neck) under the filler wet with diesel.

I could easily make a ring that fits over the neck of the fill pipe that changes colour if exposed to diesel. Get pulled over with the wrong colour showing = Green sticker.

There are fixes for the problem, it's just that none of the entities required to implement a fix give a fuck.

[BMWST?]

I could easily make a ring that fits over the neck of the fill pipe that changes colour if exposed to diesel. Get pulled over with the wrong colour showing = Green sticker.

There are fixes for the problem, it's just that none of the entities required to implement a fix give a fuck.
because trucks make money for the govt,and those who are inconveienced are only mad cap motorcyclists,who will cry a river but continue to create a noce set of statistics for them selves

[mrchips]

What can be done ?.....

Make sure... health, bike / car, life, house & mortgage repayment Insurances up to scratch in case you come a cropper from the shit these careless mother funkers dump on the road

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk

[RGVforme]

Now I get it....

RGVforme is just out to ruffle anybodys feathers.....

I mean nobody can be this thick and obnoxious

Only cassina

And her brother

:violin:.....You know any other tunes?......You played that one already...

[Paul in NZ]

Fuck off and google common sense will you.:oi-grr:.

Why? Do you need some help with common sense? In your case its unlikely to help...

[ellipsis]

...give up people...this cunt is on cassinna's level...

[pritch]

...give up people...this cunt is on cassinna's level...

May I respectfully disagree? As remarkable as it may seem a new level has been attained. The solution though is only a few clicks away.

[awayatc]

Agree...

Cassina is ignorant ,repetitive and boring

RPG fodder is ignorant, repetitive ,boring AND obnoxious

[RGVforme]

Agree...

Cassina is ignorant ,repetitive and boring

RPG fodder is ignorant, repetitive ,boring AND obnoxious

Your choice to read the posts your choice to reply In the way you see fit........

My problem how.:rolleyes:

[old slider]

Have been following this with mild interest, suddenly for some reason this famous Kiwi advt sprang to mind.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=peanut+butter+nutter+add&&view=detail&mid=DFE750D59FDA67D6899ADFE750D59FDA67D6899A&FORM=VRDGAR

[WristTwister]

Difficult to see how he could highlight the complete lack of traction any better than by sliding across it. Maybe he could have stopped, got off the bike and demonstrated that you couldn't actually stand on it either...


Thanks for the pro-tip, I would have said over the Sena "diesel spill watch out". :no:

I should have stopped and done a slippery break-dance in the diesel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj624YzzCVc) or high-sided.

Anyway, seeing as nothing is likely to change regarding diesel spills on roads anytime soon, the best thing we can do as riders is learn to spot it and alert others we're riding with.

[old slider]

Thanks for the pro-tip, I would have said over the Sena "diesel spill watch out". :no:

I should have stopped and done a slippery break-dance in the diesel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj624YzzCVc) or high-sided.

Anyway, seeing as nothing is likely to change regarding diesel spills on roads anytime soon, the best thing we can do as riders is learn to spot it and alert others we're riding with.



Why cant we make some noise to try and reduce the spills? or any ideas who we write to/contact so that this problem can maybe get some recognition

[Paul in NZ]

Why cant we make some noise to try and reduce the spills? or any ideas who we write to/contact so that this problem can maybe get some recognition

This thread actually holds the vital clue why we cant get stuff like this resolved. Motorcyclists all secretly hate each other and criticises bitterly what ever any other motorcyclist does... Its an ancient charter or something...

[old slider]

This thread actually holds the vital clue why we cant get stuff like this resolved. Motorcyclists all secretly hate each other and criticises bitterly what ever any other motorcyclist does... Its an ancient charter or something...


I think with so many different aspects of motorcycling we all get something different from it.

This appears to generate conflict between the various groups, same with Hunting, we do it for many different reasons.

But what I do notice is when something affects all groups we tend to come together, (well mostly) lol

I believe we can do something about Diesel spillage, particularly from leaking tank caps, we just need to make plenty of noise and into the right ears, sooner or later they get sick of the barrage and will hopefully look into it, Crikey, it is riders lives being put at risk is it not.

[James Deuce]

I did that once, but it was low speed because I noted the signs of a truck brushing the bank on a tight corner. Little did I know that he'd torn his tank open. I negotiated the clay all over the road and then found myself lying on my side watching my beloved TRX smack into a cliff face. I stood up and promptly fell over and then managed to drag myself out of the way of the spinning RAV4 approaching me. The driver was awesome and gave me a lift back to Featherston and backed my story for the Insurance and Cops. We had a coffee while she and I calmed down.

We weren't taken seriously, the truckie was never found and the other two accidents caused by the decent diesel slicks he left heading to Wellington weren't apparently connected in any way.

I think Ocean said it best, that the cost of compliance for diesel tanks would preclude doing anything real about the issue, and in the meantime, you have use a bit of nouse when negotiating any road with hairpins and switchbacks, as the signs are there to see, but it's difficult to judge if its a month old stain or fresh.

[TheDemonLord]

one solution would be to conduct a flare test:

If your cap is loose - you put a lit Flare in the tank.

When the Vehicles Explodes/burns up in flames - you will know that it won't be able to spill Diesel on the road again.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Wank me a river of cum :

You thirsty again?


Ohhhh...Poor Diddums! RGVcumguzzler has lost his rag again.

"Oh fuck off fuck face.." is the rep this time. Always the ones that like giving it out that can't hack it eh. Make sure you wear a bib, so as to catch the jizz you might dribble out when you're speaking. Cumdumpster.

[Moi]

...I believe we can do something about Diesel spillage, particularly from leaking tank caps, we just need to make plenty of noise and into the right ears, sooner or later they get sick of the barrage and will hopefully look into it, Crikey, it is riders lives being put at risk is it not.

Those who live in either the Tauranga or the Tukituki electorate could visit their MP and have a chat to them. The MP for Tauranga is Simon Bridges - Minister of Transport. And Craig Foss is MP for Tukituki and Associate Minister of Transport.

Be interesting if those KBers who live in those electorates and who are quite vocal on here are prepared to make an appointment to see their local MP and discuss this issue with them...

[Ocean1]

I think Ocean said it best, that the cost of compliance for diesel tanks would preclude doing anything real about the issue,

Oh I think a low pressure test would be easy enough to implement. But it requires change, and whatever the reason the relevant authorities don't see us as anyone who's opinion they respect* as relevant to their sandpit, so change isn't likely.

* Not sure why, if there's a group of people with more experience and expertise with the particular set of friction coefficients that define available traction for a rubber tyred vehicle than motorcyclists I'd like to meet them, I'd have them on a starting grid somewhere within a month.

[old slider]

Those who live in either the Tauranga or the Tukituki electorate could visit their MP and have a chat to them. The MP for Tauranga is Simon Bridges - Minister of Transport. And Craig Foss is MP for Tukituki and Associate Minister of Transport.

Be interesting if those KBers who live in those electorates and who are quite vocal on here are prepared to make an appointment to see their local MP and discuss this issue with them...


Great thinking, I will definitely make an approach to Chester Borrows in our area, How can we get all Motor cyclists to take such a simple step, Shit I think we would all enjoy seeing a reduction in incidents caused by spillage, if its at all possible.

[James Deuce]

Oh I think a low pressure test would be easy enough to implement. But it requires change, and whatever the reason the relevant authorities don't see us as anyone who's opinion they respect* as relevant to their sandpit, so change isn't likely.

* Not sure why, if there's a group of people with more experience and expertise with the particular set of friction coefficients that define available traction for a rubber tyred vehicle than motorcyclists I'd like to meet them, I'd have them on a starting grid somewhere within a month.
Change is always regarded as avoidable cost, particularly where motorcyclists are involved. It's easier and cheaper to legislate against motorcyclists, chastise them for a lack of skill or blame them for riding too fast for the conditions, conditions that may involve lubricant at a random point.

[Grumph]

I actually thought the one thing that would have brought all motorcyclists together on here was the high reg costs we pay and when I proposed a fairer fee concept I just got attacked from those on here happy to be paying what we are. So those who enjoy debating with me on the topic then I can only assume are quite wealthy or have a history of being at fault in crashes or fear being at fault. You would think a diesel cap inspection would be simple to add to an inspection considering a lose fitting cap is going to eat into the trucking companies profits too.

If RUC's were built into the price of Diesel, you'd never see a leak. From the trucking companies point of view, diesel is cheap - and written into the costs of a job.