How long does it take for fuel to go off?

[Goblin]

I have recently got my ZXR400 back together and would like to know whether I should dump the fuel and drain the carbs? The tank is nearly full and has been that way since 1st April. Would it still be ok to run it on the old petrol?

Thanks in advance.

[Kiwifire72]

being a complete novice my self bike wise
but an engineer by trade who saw the light and became a fire fighter as I don't like hard work lol
anyway I would recommend a fresh brew of gas and clean it all out
like coffee would you rather reheat an old brew or in about the same time brew a piping hot new one

[Paul in NZ]

How long does it take for fuel to go off? About a nano second if you drop a lighted match into the tank...

Should be OK if it's been in a garage but as a standard precaution I'd recommend running the fuel in the mower and putting fresh in the bike! If you are up to it - clean the carbs....

[ManDownUnder]

I'd fire the bastard up and give it a go. It's not going to hurt.

Drain the carbs if it fails to fire... but it doesn't go off too fast. I buy petrol for the lawn mower in a container every.. 6 months? It goes fine.

And I do a 2 stroke mix for the chainsaw every 12 months - again - fine!

[kiwifruit]

don't throw it away!
i'll put it in the ten

[Coldrider]

Dump it as aged fuel is derated in octane, 3 months in AV circles.
Will work fine in mowers etc, the additives to allow for easier starting breakdown also.

[merv]

I leave my bikes sitting around a while and anything over about a month always drain the carbs, but never bother draining the tanks even for much longer periods like 6 months. Its about the volume and evaporation - the small amounts in the carbs go yuck quickly, the big amount in the tanks don't.

[Goblin]

Thanks for the replies people. I might just drain the carbs then see if she'll fire up.

[FROSTY:Me]

sorry I diddn't reply earlier goblin--dump the gas into ya cage ad put fresh stuff in.
It will have lost octane for sure and at #$80 for a set of plugs if you foul em up you do the math

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Put fresh stuff in - I was finally able to ride my bike last weekend after 3.5 months of it sitting - and it had old petrol and it was a fn male to start. Then like a male farted and spluttered until tank was empty - went fine once I put fresh petrol in it. LOL

[Goblin]

Cheers FROSTY and BMW, I started the bike and it runs ok on choke. Didnt take it out anywhere. I will however put the old petrol into my car and give if fresh stuff. Was glad I did leave it in there as it has prevented the tank rusting anymore.

[manwithav8]

what if the bike has been started twice a week but not riden anywhere. The fuel is still cycled out of the carbs and fresh fuel then sits for a couple of days and so on... Is it ok to do this?
My bike hasn't left the shed in a montha nd a half but started every couple of days.

[FROSTY:Me]

the fuel is going off in the tank not just in the carbies.