Refueling while seated?

[orbframe]

I've never heard of fuel dripping onto the motor and catching on fire. But if it did, straddling the bike would make it 1000x worse, since the tank is gonna spill when you jump off. That would never happen right? What if your overflow tube was leaking or you fucked it up servicing the bike? Autoignition for gas occurs around 500 deg.

lol... nothing on the bike is going to be that hot, except for the headers immediately after shutdown... but they quickly shed their heat and equalize with the engine block within a few moments..

and a dribble of gas down the tank and onto the header is barely going to make a flame before it burns itself out...

 

[psychocandy]

^^^didnt' know the technical ignition point, but i was pretty sure most of the people grousing about potential fireballs (heh-heh) between their legs were overstating the case.

i'm wondering if the OP has a really low bike? i dunno about you, but i'm about 5'10" and i don't think i could sit on something like a rebel 250 or suzuki s40 (is that what the suzuki rebel copy is called) and fill up the tank. i imagine my legs would be too pretzeled up.

 

[DJNick]

Always fuel up while sitting down, got my wallet in my jacket pocket I only need to take one glove off. Fast and easy.

 

[orbframe]

i'm usually standing with the bike in between my legs, straddling the seat...

 

[reidconti]

I've never ever gotten off my bike to fill it up.

Anyone else notice that, while straddling it, the tank never gets quite full? Fuel goes up into the neck, and then it slowly settles back down just below the neck. Add a bit more, goes up to the neck, then settles back down below the neck. Wash, rinse, repeat. And yes, I've checked and it's not draining out onto the ground. But it seems like the tank always takes just a little bit more. Maybe I'm trying too hard to get it perfectly full.

Other notes:
How the hell would you scratch the tank (outside) unless you flat-out rammed the nozzle into it? You'd have to miss the filler by a mile! And why would this be more likely to happen when straddling the bike versus the sidestand method? Maybe my hand-eye coordination is better than most, but.. wtf. Do you ram your credit card into the keypad too?

How the FUCK would you scratch (?) the inside of the tank? I don't know about you, but there's no way any part of the filler nozzle could contact the inside of the tank.

Why are credit cards evil? Any business willing to absorb credit card transaction fees is doing me a favor, because I get cash back out of that shit. But maybe I'm biased because my bank (USAA) kicks ass.

Why would someone "not trust" using a credit card and prefer the cash method, with the reasoning that they're going to get ripped off? When I operate the pump + card reader myself, I see exactly what I'm being charged. If there's a ripoff happening, it's due to the pump over-reporting how much fuel I got, and cash versus CC will make no difference in that case.

 

[kurth83]

i'm usually standing with the bike in between my legs, straddling the seat...

this ^^^

 

[SlideSF]

Why would someone "not trust" using a credit card and prefer the cash method, with the reasoning that they're going to get ripped off? When I operate the pump + card reader myself, I see exactly what I'm being charged. If there's a ripoff happening, it's due to the pump over-reporting how much fuel I got, and cash versus CC will make no difference in that case.

Two times last summer, when I went on a trip with low cash and used my debit card, I was charged twice at a gas station. Once for my actual gas, and once for a larger amount. One was for $75, the other for $35. At two different gas stations over 100 miles apart. Fortunately, I got a call from my bank reporting suspicious activity. Otherwise I might not have caught it, as I am somewhat lax about reconciling my statement.

I don't know if the gas stations were messing with things, if it was an employee, or if there are people who know how to access the last customers information from the pump. I really doubt that a single person was following me around. In any case, it's enough to cast suspicion on the process, and just makes one more thing I have to be vigilant of. When I pay cash all I have to worry about is someone trying to rip me off in person.

 

[dabinche]

Anyone else notice that, while straddling it, the tank never gets quite full? Fuel goes up into the neck, and then it slowly settles back down just below the neck. Add a bit more, goes up to the neck, then settles back down below the neck. Wash, rinse, repeat. And yes, I've checked and it's not draining out onto the ground. But it seems like the tank always takes just a little bit more. Maybe I'm trying too hard to get it perfectly full.

That is gas going out the over flow and into the evap canister.

 

[Lovedoc]

Anyone else notice that, while straddling it, the tank never gets quite full? Fuel goes up into the neck, and then it slowly settles back down just below the neck. Add a bit more, goes up to the neck, then settles back down below the neck. Wash, rinse, repeat. And yes, I've checked and it's not draining out onto the ground. But it seems like the tank always takes just a little bit more

the overflow is supposed to go into the charcoal canister. You pretty much are wasting gas when it gets to the neck

 

[MrIncredible]

Why would someone "not trust" using a credit card and prefer the cash method, with the reasoning that they're going to get ripped off? When I operate the pump + card reader myself, I see exactly what I'm being charged. If there's a ripoff happening, it's due to the pump over-reporting how much fuel I got, and cash versus CC will make no difference in that case.

Because my cash has never been shut off for hitting ten gas stations in a day.

Card readers can be tampered with, which is how someone can charge stuff to your card even when you haven't lost it.

Some place don't take cards (hard to believe, but true).

Personally I carry both, just in case.

 

[fast4d]

if the seat is over 35" high then I have to get off the bike. otherwise I stay seated when I fuel up.

 

[Stormdragon]

I've been gassing up 'in the saddle' since 1977 or so. Haven't soaked myself with gas, or had a nozzle stick on me in all that time. So I have to conclude that those of you who have had such problems, are...

Doing It Wrong.

A lot of our traditions come from riding on horseback. Unless you are a cop you get off on the near side, that comes from horsemanship. Same thing with giving your steed some oats, you step off and put on the feed bag. It's part of the history and tradition, it shows respect to the traditions. I know that sounds weird and un-modern but tanking up while seated is sort of uncouth.

The reason you mount and dismount on the 'near' side (isn't any side the near side???) is so that you don't get tangled up with your sword when you get on or off.

Still wearing a sword are we?

I am NOT wearing any goddam assless chaps, I don't care WHAT you say

As already stated, all chaps are assless.

(But you are supposed to wear pants underneath! )

 

[MysterYvil]

Two times last summer, when I went on a trip with low cash and used my debit card, I was charged twice at a gas station. Once for my actual gas, and once for a larger amount. One was for $75, the other for $35. At two different gas stations over 100 miles apart. Fortunately, I got a call from my bank reporting suspicious activity. Otherwise I might not have caught it, as I am somewhat lax about reconciling my statement.

I don't know if the gas stations were messing with things, if it was an employee, or if there are people who know how to access the last customers information from the pump. I really doubt that a single person was following me around. In any case, it's enough to cast suspicion on the process, and just makes one more thing I have to be vigilant of. When I pay cash all I have to worry about is someone trying to rip me off in person.

If you don't select "debit" then the station's pump will treat it as "credit" and lock down a crazy portion of your account (in case you're refuelling an RV or something).

If the station's pumps don't discern between debit and credit, I don't fuel there. Selecting debit has never caused a problem for me, and I've refuelled all over the state.

 

[damnpoor]

^^^didnt' know the technical ignition point, but i was pretty sure most of the people grousing about potential fireballs (heh-heh) between their legs were overstating the case.

i'm wondering if the OP has a really low bike? i dunno about you, but i'm about 5'10" and i don't think i could sit on something like a rebel 250 or suzuki s40 (is that what the suzuki rebel copy is called) and fill up the tank. i imagine my legs would be too pretzeled up.

I don't have any problems reaching the ground or balancing the bike, I've just never even tried to do it while seated. The very first time I put gas in a bike I got off first and been doin it like that since. If nothing else I can stretch out my knees a bit. I don't have any steadfast reason for either method. Wanted to see what everyone else thought.

 

[ST Guy]

Easy enough to do. But all it takes is one crotch soaking and you'll never, ever, not in a million years do it again.

 

[Hooli]

I do it all the time. I haven't figured out why I should get off the bike to put gas in it.

+1

This.

 

[Chato]

Oh and if you're super lazy AND don't want to risk slipping as some have said, just put the kickstand down and just sit while the bike is on the kick stand.

bet you a lot of people are scratching their head thinking how come they did not thought of that

 

[Buloong]

People who get off bike for fuel are either midget or not able to steer their bike properly to stop close enough to the pump

 

[Kornholio]

I always fill up while sitting on the bike.

 

[reidconti]

thx for the charcol canister info. I'll have to just fill to the top once, and see if I get better mileage (I track every tankful)