Do you sit on the bike while you gas it up?

[socalrob]

Over on Advrider they have a thread going on this topic.

I have to admit that I sit on the bike while I gas it up. Seems that alot of folks think I am in dire risk of burning myself up should the gas nozzle stick on (worst case) or just dousing my "wedding tackle" with gas (worst case too?).

Then of course someone chimes in about vehicle grounding by putting the side stand down. If thats the case, are not cars / trucks just as "ungrounded" (I thought the battery took care of this).

Just curious what the general consensus is on this issue. I never gave it too much thought before.

[DJ Down Under]

I have never sat on the bike while filling up...and never will.

We even have signs at the pumps warning about it..a friend got told off for doing it once

I've heard many very funny stories about overflowing gas dripping down over the hot headers..not to mention the petrol around the crotch area..Yee-oww!

DJ

[Promethean]

I never gas up while seated on the bike.

[Wild Will]

I have 2 gas tanks to fill on my KTM, plus I use one of those aluminum clips that hold back the rubber boot on the Cal. filler nozzles (I hate those). I never thought about catching fire! I'm religious about not getting gas on my tank or anyplace except in the tank. I've seen lots of guys pour gas all over their bikes! Gotta be careful at filling stations, and the toll booth at the Golden Gate bridge, where there's slippery shiite everywhere...
So much to consider. That's part of the fun!

[Arby]

Rob

I think that is the potential problem.
If you have not gotten off the bike, then you may have build up static electricity that is just waiting to arc. Sorta like when you get outta your car and get "bit" sometimes.

I've even seen specials on TV about how dangerous it is to get back in your car while you let your car fill up with the nozzle on automatic, and then get back out to hang up the nozzle when it has clicked off. (Don't think you have that option in Calif)

Here in Florida the pumps have signs warning people to remove gas cans from the trunk, or the back of their trucks and sit them on the ground prior to filling them.

No, I don't sit on the bike while gassing up.

Why take a chance?


RB

[jamming]

Nope, I don't sit on the bike. A fire crotch can't be much fun...unless its Lindsay Lohan.

Roger

[JCsman]

A fire crotch can't be much fun...unless its Lindsay Lohan.


The "fire crotch" won't show up until about 3 days AFTER you are with Lindsay Lohan.

[pilesofmiles]

It was my post you saw on the ADV site-

When refueling-

I never sit on my bike for a couple of reasons;

First its just not a smart thing to do IMHO. If the pump handle should ever stick as they will once in a while you could risk a real gas soaking all over your legs and "wedding day" jewls, not good.

Second if an over flow happens, I doubt that I could get off the bike fast enough to avoid possibly avoid the dousing or worse a possible fire. The old saying you can't beat an action with a reaction applies here I think.

Third, most of the time riders that fill up when sitting on the bike have to pull up pretty close to the pump in order to do so. Reach pump handle, put in their debit card etc. Being so close to the pump if something does happen, the rider may have to egress off the bike to the right.

Last- how much time do you really save?

For me personally I use this time to just get off the bike, stretch, fill up, and take a short break. And I avoid the possibility of the above occuring to me or my co-rider.

Regards-

[Tassie Devil]

We have a requirement to pay for our petrol here in Tassie and they won't let you take the bike inside the shop.

Cheers,

JQ

[arkline]

I always put the bike up on the centerstand when gassing up, so I can get as much in there as will fit. So, I'm off the bike already since I don't have one of those electro-hydraulic KLTC centerstands.

[Road Dog]

I often fill the bike while sitting on it or really standing over it when I am trying to make time/miles. When you initialize the pump you have grounded off any charge, no different than filling a car. One thing I do check is that the filler mechanism is working correctly. I have had one handle that didn't want to stop the flow when I wanted to.

Generally the static problem occur rs when a big bottom woman in rubber pants gets back in the car scooting that big static charge generator across synthetic cloth seat covers and not grounding self before grabbing the nozzle.:(

[geechie]

This is an interesting thread, and it's clear from reading the posts so far that I'm in the minority... again. Here in the southeast, with our humidity, static is pretty much a non issue. Well maybe sometimes in the winter.

I pull up to the pump, turn off the bike, put the sidestand down, and fuel the bike while standing over it, holding it plumb with pressure from my legs. When it fills, I tilt the bike from side to side a few degrees (again with the legs) to get the last tenth of a gallon or so in. Like Will, I'm extremely careful of splash and so far have never had a problem. I do keep my riding glasses on, just in case.

Convince me I'm being really stupid, and I'll try to mend my ways. Lord knows, I'd hate to make an ash of myself.

George

[kocook]

Have done it both ways. Normally, get off the bike to fill it. The safety issue is real, though. I just don't always do the right thing.

[Deans BMW]

My $.02 worth, remember I was the origional BMW test rider just prior to the intro of their first Beemer.................................

I would never under any circumstance fuel a motorcycle while sitting on or standing while stradling the bike..never.

[Optimus Prime]

I put the BWM on the center stand and filled every time. So far, I've found it easier to fill the MZ while sitting/standing with the bike between my legs. First, it's small enough to do easily. Second, there is no centerstand and I feel (although, I'm pretty sure it's baseless) that I can get more gas in the tank.

[socalrob]

Well, I bought gas today & tried out the get off the bike thing to fill er up. Not so bad, I guess I'll mend my ways. I'm now safe from gas station combustion!

BTW, if static electricity is such a danger, is it safe to fill up my dirt bike while its sitting on a trailer. That seems to me to be no different than putting gas in a can in the back of a truck. Would it be ok if I touched the nozzel to an engine case first (to equal out the potential)?

[Deans BMW]

Never really thought about sparks, but an accidental spillage of gas, or any number of other things, besides it is good to stretch your legs.

[Wild Will]

I've found these Aerostich items really handy for holding back the annoying rubber cover on most Cal. gas fillers. Anybody else use one?
There is nothing as annoying as filling a KTM 950 dual gas tank system. First, you have to do it on the side stand because only Mighty Joe Young can get the bike on the centerstand (!). Then, you fill the right tank to an imaginary line (!), then move to the left tank, and fill all the way. I admit you get used to it, but it makes checking a BMW oil level akin to taking a toothpick from the dispenser at the cash register!

[fotomoto]

With the advent of pay at the pump: at the beginning of a ride, I sit on the bike like a true pit stop. If it's during a ride and I feel like stretching, then I dismount but....

I have a low fuel range bike so getting every drop of fuel in is a necessity and I need the bike as vertical as possible. So I usually get back on during the fillup. I don't have a centerstand.

[BobFV1]

I NEVER fuel while sitting on the bike. I think it looks gay - and where better to look cool than at a gas station with a cute girl at the next pump. (Pump - he he, he he). I don't like the fire danger idea, either. I do, however, have a good riding buddy who was a big city motorcop for 5 years - he always gasses up while on the bike. I guess the theory is that if there is some kind of emergency, he can pull out the nozzle, throw his donut and coffee down, and speed off to save the damsel in distress. At least that's the theory.

But, in general, to me, fueling while on the bike is a lot like wiping your ass from back to front. It's okay for women, because they don't have balls, and don't have to worry about getting dingleberries on their scrotums.

:peepwall::peepwall::peepwall:

[geechie]

O.K. O.K. I will NEVER fuel up while standing over the bike (which is very different from sitting on it). Well, at least not while in the presence of either Bob or Dean.

George

[BobFV1]

O.K. O.K. I will NEVER fuel up while standing over the bike (which is very different from sitting on it). Well, at least not while in the presence of either Bob or Dean.

George

George - as long as you wipe from front to back, you are okay in my book :biggrinbounce2:

[fnfalman]

On my BMW with the center stand, I put that mutha on the center stand and then gas up. On my aprilia with the side stand only, I have to sit on the bike to keep it straight up and down and gas up. It's sure as hell better than trying to keep the bike upright standing to one side, holding onto the nozzle and all that stuff. Either that or fill the bike up when it's on the side stand and lose a bunch of volume capacity.

[Gord]

I always get off the bike and fuel up. Why? At least on my R1150R, I was told that you will not get a full tank of gas filling up on the side stand or if the bike is not on its centre stand. So I always get off and centre stand the bike before fueling.

I had one gas station attendant ask me once if I was worried about overfilling the tank and having gasoline drip on the hot cyclinder heads and igniting. I looked at him dumfounded. I might have been a little snarky when I said "Do you think BMW would still stick cylinder heads out like this if that happened? It takes flame / spark / combustion to ignite gasoline. Not heat." But I'm no scientist.

[GOGRL]

But, in general, to me, fueling while on the bike is a lot like wiping your ass from back to front. It's okay for women, because they don't have balls, and don't have to worry about getting dingleberries on their scrotums.

:peepwall::peepwall::peepwall:

:rofl: Interesting theory....:Flush:

I can't get the BMW on the centerstand - I'm too short and the centerstand is too long since the bike's been lowered with a kouba link, but it gets great mileage so I'm not worried about it. But the MV doesn't have a centerstand and I've just started filling it to the lip to get as much gas in as possible. Does centering the bike really add that much more fuel?

[DJ Down Under]

Does centering the bike really add that much more fuel?
Yes..about one full teaspoon more.

DJ

[BobFV1]

Does centering the bike really add that much more fuel?

Depends on the bike. On my GS ADV I think it does, because the sidestand has the bike at a pretty good angle. With most sportbikes, out on the open road you want to stop at least every 100 miles or so anyway, so who really cares if you have an extra 250 ML of fuel in the tank or not. A lot of variables - shape and orientation of tank, location and function of overflows, etc, etc. I always fule mine on the center stand - force of habit - but I have toured on bikes without center stands and didn't really give much thought to the "loss" of available fuel from fueling while on the side stand.

I would never wipe the "other way", though after a long ride of 1000 miles in a day, with the right wrist awfully sore, I have considered it.

[Road Dog]

I paid attention this weekend. You know - there is not much difference in standing over and standing next to the bike. I'm sure if I spill gas and it ignites I'll fly over the pump regardless of where I start from.

I know, I know, the bike would drop and spill more fuel. But, I can't remember seeing a bike on fire since the two Harleys touched in Daytona turn 3. Oh yea, there was that time when Laura an I were going across the bay bridge.

Bill

[black6]

I have some friends that fuel while on the bike but I wont. Was in TN filling up while off the bike, had about 800 miles under my belt and was tired. I was standing there watching the meter 4 gallons 5 woah over it went on to a hot engine. I thought it was all over but no flames. The automatic shutoff didn't work. Even so gas was everywhere and I smelled like gas for the next two days- I am ususally so careful but it can happen. If i had been on the bike I would have had gas on my pants jacket glooves- big mess.

[Dirty Doug]

Don't know if I'm lazy or what but I must confess I fuel while standing over my K-1100. No real reason for doing so, but you all do make good points that I've never considered. It's funny that I dress for the crash all the time yet have never given much thought to the fuel-fire-crouch-wipe thing. Now that I've reflected on the subject I'll try to do the right thing and dismount before fueling. Now if I can just break that rear to front wipe thing I'm sure I'll be a better person.

The fuel on the engine/exhaust test might be a good one for the "Myth-busters" show. I would think , except for extreem heat, it would take a spark or flame but then again I've been married for 37 years and I've lost the ability to think for myself.

K-RIDER

DOUG