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Maki
11th April 2008, 14:32
When you fill up at a petrol station, do you straddle the bike to keep it upright while you are pumping gas or do you get off it, put it on it's sidestand and fuel it up with it leaning over a bit. If it's leaning over, can you really fill the tank properly? Thanks...

LilSel
11th April 2008, 14:34
Well... your not 'supposed' to straddle ya bike whilst filling... there's signs that say... 'no straddling'...

I do on the odd occasion when its not just me filling up on the one pump :)

Nasty
11th April 2008, 14:36
I use the side stand ... or when going for a total top up I use the centre stand ... I don't straddle cos its annoying if I spill on the tank :)

ManDownUnder
11th April 2008, 14:36
Yup straddle. Fill her to the top and do the "wiggle wiggle" to just get that last 200mls in

Just be very careful to avoid fuel down the back of the tank or you'll be doing the less than graceful "crotch on fire" dance...

klingon
11th April 2008, 14:37
Personally I straddle it because I want to fill it right up to the top - the tank's small enough as it is without leaving a gap at the top.

'Officially' you're not meant to straddle it because
a) A petrol spill that runs down the tank onto your private parts can be very nasty
b) If there was a fire you wouldn't just be able to jump back from the fumes
c) The petrol station signs say so.

But I don't know anybody who fills their bike with it on the side stand.

If I was being sensible I would put mine on the centre stand to fill it... but I think my lazy gene is stronger than my sensible gene.

Your choice.

firefighter
11th April 2008, 14:37
Always, but I take off my helmet and gloves so it's pretty obvious i'm not going anywhere in a hurry.

Usarka
11th April 2008, 14:38
if u straddle and fuel comes into contact with hot engine then the woof you hear won't be Octane the friendly forecourt dog coming over to hump your leg that's for sure.


dont most bikes have an overflow anyway? so if you fill it to the brim then you just lose it out the side when you turn out of the driveway? :sherlock:

onearmedbandit
11th April 2008, 14:40
I never fill the tank while still on the bike, one less risk that I can eliminate (Service station forecourts tend to be quite slippery, and you're holding onto the nozzle while balancing the bike. Sure it can be done, quite easily, but for myself why bother, it's easier to get off the bike and fill up). Besides, just how much fuel can you squeeze in there? Also when you put the bike on it's sidestand to go pay the extra fuel probably just disappears out the overflow anyway.

firefighter
11th April 2008, 14:44
if u straddle and fuel comes into contact with hot engine then the woof you hear won't be Octane the friendly forecourt dog coming over to hump your leg that's for sure.


dont most bikes have an overflow anyway? so if you fill it to the brim then you just lose it out the side when you turn out of the driveway? :sherlock:

erm, you'd have to be pretty unlucky for the fuel to ignite off the hot engine.....

Maki
11th April 2008, 14:44
Wow, thanks. Im impressed by the quick and helpful replies.

Usarka
11th April 2008, 14:48
erm, you'd have to be pretty unlucky for the fuel to ignite off the hot engine.....

unlucky is my middle name!

actually i have four names so i dont really have a middle name.

(stop putting fire retardant on my rants!):innocent:

firefighter
11th April 2008, 14:53
unlucky is my middle name!

actually i have four names so i dont really have a middle name.

(stop putting fire retardant on my rants!):innocent:

hahaha, yeah me too, just quietly I had to call 111 because my shed caught fire.........hahahahaha, yep embarrassing! :Oops:

Gwinch
11th April 2008, 14:53
I'm a recently converted straddler. With the top of the tank as flat as it is it's really just peice of mind knowing that you're at capacity. No problems with balancing either, I always have the bike in such a position that I can reach the pump with no difficulty whilst still having both feet flat on the ground.

Magua
11th April 2008, 14:54
Side stand. Maybe I should start using the centre stand. Might improve my 170km range.

nodrog
11th April 2008, 14:57
i straddle, but only if i have put my smoke out first.

sugilite
11th April 2008, 15:12
Besides, just how much fuel can you squeeze in there?
2.7 litres on my old school 750.

scumdog
11th April 2008, 15:20
Well... your not 'supposed' to straddle ya bike whilst filling... there's signs that say... 'no straddling'...

I do on the odd occasion when its not just me filling up on the one pump :)

Never yet noticed any signs like that down here.

But straddle-and-fill 90%+ of the time, only time I don't is when about to have lunch, visit a pub etc and leave the bike on the side-stand for a while.

If I fill to the max and prak the bike the combination of the bike leaning over on the side-stand and the heat of the engine expanding the fuel causes some to come out the overflow.

Freakshow
11th April 2008, 15:30
I tryied the whole fill to brim and shake to get the extra in but a few occasions I have filled and parked and returned to the gas pouring out the overflow. I have been filling to the botem of the cap and no overflow problems and no changes to milage out of a tank. So I have gained in economy by not pouring gas on the back wheel. Riding bikes we are destin to be filling up repetivly.

Rosie
11th April 2008, 15:49
I put my bike on the side stand to fill it. It's going to end up on the side stand anyway when I go to pay for the fuel, so I'm not convinced that filling while level would have any advantage. And my bike is fairly tall and top heavy, so trying to fill while sitting on it (on a slippery surface) could be bad.

And most service stations have signs saying you aren't allowed to.

Ixion
11th April 2008, 16:01
Proper bikes have centre stands. If you have foolishly purchased a defective machine lacking this essential fitment, you must improvise.

Carry two lengths of rope. Secure one length from the bike to the petrol pump on the right. The other to the petrol pump on the left. Pull both tight. The bike will now remain upright.

If you have ridden in the lane that has pumps on only one side, there is no hope for you. Buy a car.

Crusier riders should have no problems of course, there bikes remain upright without any stands. If yours does not, you need to fit wider tyres. No, wider than that. Wider. Much wider.

Pumba
11th April 2008, 16:09
Where is the advantage in putting all that extra gas in, as soon as you close the cap and put it on its side stand to go inside and pay it all runs out the overflow pipe and onto the ground:slap:

Zookey
11th April 2008, 16:49
Yeah ya cant fuel jappers more than 20cms.from the ovory pipe,but if ya dont sit and fill anything else youll be stopping twice on the way home from where ya bean:spanking:

Jantar
11th April 2008, 18:55
Yeah ya cant fuel jappers more than 20cms.from the ovory pipe,but if ya dont sit and fill anything else youll be stopping twice on the way home from where ya bean:spanking:

I recognise the language, but I can't make any sense of it. Can you translate it please? :pinch:

skidMark
11th April 2008, 19:00
erm, you'd have to be pretty unlucky for the fuel to ignite off the hot engine.....


Ive heard stories, there was a fella who too khis gn 250 out of the garage, fired her up to warm her up...then went upstairs to get his hemlet and gear on...gets his gear on picks up the helmet as hes walking downstairs hears kabooom....

ventures outside.... gn250 in flames. bits of gas tank all over the lawn.... front of house on fire.

well house got put out quickly as fire service showed up....turned out the fuel tap had leaked or something and there was a psark somewhere....baboom whole tank went kablooey.

musta ruined his day.

Disco Dan
11th April 2008, 19:02
if u straddle and fuel comes into contact with hot engine then the woof you hear won't be Octane the friendly forecourt dog coming over to hump your leg that's for sure.


dont most bikes have an overflow anyway? so if you fill it to the brim then you just lose it out the side when you turn out of the driveway? :sherlock:

How do you make a cat go "woof" ? ...cover it it petrol and light it.. ..wooof

How do you make a dog go "meow" ...put it through a band saw.. ..meeeoow

MGST
11th April 2008, 19:47
I've only ever filled my bike while sitting on it, and then I put it on the centre stand and go in and pay for it. Also, I just roll up to the pump, take gloves off, and start filling with helmet still on. I go and pay with helmet still on, and I've never been jumped by anyone who thought I was going to do the joint over. My helmet must look honest.....

skidMark
11th April 2008, 20:34
I've only ever filled my bike while sitting on it, and then I put it on the centre stand and go in and pay for it. Also, I just roll up to the pump, take gloves off, and start filling with helmet still on. I go and pay with helmet still on, and I've never been jumped by anyone who thought I was going to do the joint over. My helmet must look honest.....


Was a guy on kb once who was told at the counter to take his helmet off...

Sir, take your helmet off.

I would rather not it's alot of hassle.

Sir, you have to.

No.

Take the helmet off.

Are you sure.

Yes.

**takes helmet off** , standing there in his balaclava... "there that better"

shafty
11th April 2008, 22:32
On the ST, when I pull up, I flick my side stand down in case I slip on a greasy surface getting off the bike, -- then put it on the centre stand to fill. I also have the side stand down while wheeling it out of the shed at home etc (If I've ridden straight in)

GOGAL once got "had on" about not taking her helmet off when going in to pay. They said they wouldn't serve her unless she did. As she said "It don't worry me, I've got the gas!" LOL :)

AllanB
11th April 2008, 22:52
Side stand. Honda forgot to fit the centre stand to the Hornet - its a 'extra' -apparently I need to fork out another $500 for a factory centre stand. Thats 273 l of fuel, or 14.4 full tanks of gas.

I like my side stand :Punk:

Henk
12th April 2008, 07:37
Never been told to take my helmet off. Was once told not to fill bike while straddling. When I asked the pump jock why, the response was the groin full of petrol argument. Having had a groin full of petrol once crashing a dirt bike I'm in no real hurry to do it again, no matter how unlikely it is to happen in a forecourt.

TimeOut
12th April 2008, 08:30
Side stand, when you got a 21 litre 440+ km tank you don't need to squeeze that last bit in.

discotex
12th April 2008, 18:31
+1 for sidestand - unless you always park with a centrestand (if your bike is slow enough to have one ;)) you'll lose the extra gas out the overflow anyway..

Less worried about gas in my crotch but I'm sure it can't be nice if it happens :doctor:

bully
12th April 2008, 18:40
first i tip the left over fuel from the last guy on the ground, to prevent it from going on my tank..
but yer side stand, iv slipped before too. (on the slippery concrete)

Fub@r
12th April 2008, 18:51
I wasn't straddled today when I filled up................only because I had pushed the bike on to the forecourt because I ran out of gas DOH!

Well at least I now know the true range of a tank of gas on my bike :)

Taz
12th April 2008, 18:52
first i tip the left over fuel from the last guy on the ground, to prevent it from going on my tank..
Why? (10 friggin chars!!!!!!)

CookMySock
12th April 2008, 18:52
nah thats a really dangerous thing to do. One mistake and it will fry your cock right off. and your long beard.

DB

puddytat
12th April 2008, 22:40
Filling up in Nelsun the other day sitting astride,pop the cap & stick the nozzle in & start filling.....get to about 10 litres in & it stops..WTF...hear this tinny noise thru my earplugs "blah,blah ...." Farkin shit wots going on I think wheres my farkin gas!! Try again, still no action,so try swearing....doesnt work either. "Blah,blah, blah..." I hear again,so I try listening & lo & behold a wee tinny voice from the pump informs me to "get off the bike & put it on the side stand, pump will not restart until I do so"
Aaaaparantly its shop policy there because " If you saw the cctv vids of burning, exploding forecourts...."

Marknz
12th April 2008, 22:44
on the side-stand only.

klingon
12th April 2008, 22:54
nah thats a really dangerous thing to do. One mistake and it will fry your cock right off. and your long beard.

DB

Oh that's what happened to my cock and long beard. I was wondering where they got to.

Jantar
12th April 2008, 23:03
I've only ever filled my bike while sitting on it, and then I put it on the centre stand and go in and pay for it. ......
So why not put it on the center stand first? Safer, and you'll get more in it.

KoroJ
12th April 2008, 23:21
I always fill with the bike on it's side stand.

I tried it on the centre stand once and when I put it back on the side stand, the fuel was at the same level as normal, so I figured 'What's the point'.

I guess a few extra mls would make much difference to a 500+Km range anyway and as far as straddling the bike to fill.....for me, Murphy's law dictates that I won't do it.

breakaway
12th April 2008, 23:29
Ive heard stories

Uh huh

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NZsarge
13th April 2008, 06:24
Main stand now I have a bike with one.
On the last bike I used the side stand and gave a wiggle or to to squeeze in a little extra.

MGST
13th April 2008, 09:39
So why not put it on the center stand first? Safer, and you'll get more in it.


The only time I ever did that, some impaitent fuck decided he couldn't wait 30 seconds and tried to move my bike, and nearly dropped it ( full tank up high, launches it off stand and not ready to catch it etc ). So now I ride in, fill it while on it, and if there are other dickheads around ( there are, I live in Auckland ), I move it to a safe place before diembarking and going to pay.

CookMySock
13th April 2008, 09:57
Oh that's what happened to my cock and long beard. I was wondering where they got to.LOL. Tempted, soooorely tempted. Typed it up and edited it back.. :spanking: /me remembers to behave.

DB

Shadows
13th April 2008, 10:23
How do you make a dog go "meow" ...put it through a band saw.. ..meeeoow

You have to freeze the sucker first

Shadows
13th April 2008, 10:29
I've completely covered my (hot, having just emptied a tank full on the open road) bike and myself with petrol in a forecourt before and I didn't burst into flames.
Petrol doesn't burn so well, the concentrated vapours do.

Zookey
13th April 2008, 16:36
actually,Its an OSH law regarding service station forcourts and seated motorcyclists.But i for one fill up seated except for BP Danniverke where the pump wouldnt work and the voice told me to remove my helmet so road off and fuelled up at Woodville.That was the only time its ever happened.:Playnice:

Capinure
13th April 2008, 18:50
u gonna have to get off to pay for gas anyways might as well be off when u fill up.

Subike
13th April 2008, 19:54
Having experiance petrol burns, from my wrist to my elbow, from petrol soaked overalls, that were ignited from a hot exhaust, I never will put myself in that risk area again.
I dont care if the tank will take 1 liter more, or if its easier to straddle fill a bike.....having being burnt once, never again.
I know it is personal choice and reasons can be given for it to be OK.
But the pain, days of work, hospital visits, etc are not worth the risk.
And I would say that if you are wearing a synthetic material jacket!!!
melted synthetics do not stop burning till it hardens.
Plastic watches become permanent wrist fittings!
Sorry not a choice I will take ever.

Badger8
13th April 2008, 23:13
Always on the sidestand for me.
First time i filled her up i did so on the sidestand, then remembered all the wank about getting extra in if it's upright, so pushed her up off the sidestand and upright. Lo-and-behold, the level was still in the filler pipe, so never bothered since. (may be different with different shaped tanks, who knows).

Stayed straddled one day after a long rough ride when i wanted to rest for a moment before getting off, and the guy wouldnt turn the pump on till i got off. Despite having my gloves and helmet on the ground next to me, the tank bag on the handlebars and the keys stuck in the removed cap sitting in my crotch, he sighted the old 'gas-n-run' as the reason for making bikers get off.
Only takes a second to straddle her mate, takes at least a minute to put all my gear back on. He didnt seem to understand... Muppet...

Waxxa
14th April 2008, 15:47
The amount of extra fuel you can put in the tank from bike on the stand v straddling the bike is so small, how much mileage would you get?

Fill the tank to the first click of the fuel pump and be done with it.

Candle
17th April 2008, 21:18
Yea i always fill up with her in the stand that way i can just go pay and get riding to much on again and off again takes to long and means i cant get riding again. Besides if you get hit by a strong gust of wind or are having 1 of those days and the bikes falls over your really bugard, but if your beside it theres less chance of anything going wrong. Also the guys at the stations don't like it they all reckon im gonna do a runner which has crossed my mind a couple of times :whistle: