When you fill your bike with fuel...

[Maki]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Always, but I take off my helmet and gloves so it's pretty obvious i'm not going anywhere in a hurry.

[Usarka]

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?

[onearmedbandit]

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]

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?

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

[Maki]

Wow, thanks. Im impressed by the quick and helpful replies.

[Usarka]

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!)

[firefighter]

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!)

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

[Gwinch]

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]

Side stand. Maybe I should start using the centre stand. Might improve my 170km range.

[nodrog:Me]

i straddle, but only if i have put my smoke out first.