What happened?

[DonTom]

Spark plug tips burn off when exposed to excessive combustion temperatures, usually caused by a too-lean air/fuel mixture, over-advanced ignition timing, or using the wrong heat range of spark plug...

Can it be from using old gasoline? Did I hear somewhere that octane lowers with age?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[augustiron]

I'll pick it up in Reno, I'm in Truckee

 

[DonTom]

I'll pick it up in Reno, I'm in Truckee

I am already obligated with donating it away, sorry.

BTW, I often stop at the Truckee/Tahoe Airport when I ride between my two houses. They have EV charge stations there and it's a very nice place to stop.


-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Das MotorRad]

I see the use case of electric, perfect for the bikes that get ridden a few times a year and then left to sit. For me, that would be my track bike and dirt bike. Hard to justify the cost of electric when I have a paid for solution in place, but when the time comes to replace them I will look closely at electric offerings. I look forward to track days on an electric bike without all the gas fumes and noise.

 

[Escape pod]

Can it be from using old gasoline? Did I hear somewhere that octane lowers with age?

-Don- Reno, NV

Yes, pre-ignition detonation can happen from old fuel. Gasoline vapors evaporate if they’re not in a sealed container.

 

[CDONA]

Fuel tanks are vented.
Always a good idea to add new gas to an older suspect load of fuel, and ride easy to see if it runs ok.
I never pin my throttle to max twist, I always back off to the point where I can feel acceleration, not lugging, making heat.

 

[DonTom]

I never pin my throttle to max twist,

That's why I want larger than 200CCs. Only need WOT when running a gutless engine on a highway. But electric takes care of that issue too. My Zero DS feels juts like my DR200SE when I sit on it. But there is a major difference in power & torque. The DR200 seems very gutless after getting off my little Zero DS

On my electrics, I do NOT ever use the sport modes. No reason to, so they all have a lot more power and torque than I ever need on the normal street modes.

BTW, did Zero discontinue the smaller batteries, such as the 7.2 KWH? When I look at their website, it looks like they no longer mention the half sized battery.

But I will consider the larger battery. If Reno Eurocycycles still had their used Zero Black Forest that they had in there last year, I would have purchased it on the spot yesterday.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[CDONA]

I would like a bit more cc too, 55 mph, short wheelbase, light weight, is nice. Just a bit twitchy @ speed.
Something like a 360 DT smoker, with a release.
Have yet to try electric.

 

[DonTom]

Have yet to try electric.

It's a totally different trip. Electrics have their issues too and can be a hassle for some people, but try one in the sport mode. You will be shocked by the way they perform.

My first EV was my 2017 Zero DS. I thought it was just a toy--I was wrong. Every vehicle I purchased since then (many) have been electric except for my 2022 Class A motorhome, purchased new in 2021.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

I just asked on AI, Zero discontinued the small batteries as of a couple of years ago.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

Well, I couldn't resist. I bought my replacement bike today. See here.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Busy Little Shop]

Can it be from using old gasoline? Did I hear somewhere that octane lowers with age?

-Don- Reno, NV

Knocking is defined as an explosive combustion of part of the fuel/air
cylinder charge, after burning begins... What the ear hears are the
shock waves of the normal flame pattern colliding with the detonated
fuel/air mixture...

Our internal combustion engines speak in their own language as to
the correct octane... the ping or knock is their cry for the next
higher octane... no ping means engine satisfied...

If you did not you hear any knocking or pinging then the old gas wasn't the problem...

 

[DonTom]

If you did not you hear any knocking or pinging then the old gas wasn't the problem...

But sometimes we cannot hear pinging, especially on a motorcycle--and my bad hearing.

I assume straining a small engine had a lot to do with it. Such is unlikely to happen with a larger engine as it will not be at WOT to keep up with traffic.

And even less likely if EFI and water cooled, etc.

The nice thing about EV motors--no pistons to burn a hole in and they are very difficult to overload.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[CDONA]

My TW needs high octane, it has always rattled in the slow stuff.
I did't splurge for the extra $$ back then, I DO now.

The weight of your new E bike, 400 lbs ? That is road bike weight, 450 for my scrambler, not light weight.
This got me thinking, looked up the weight of my mini, I did know max weight allowed to ride it, just three pounds less than the bike, @ 231 lbs. I could settle for 300 or so, for 300 cc power.
My mini rides as a solid chunk of compact weight, does have heft, Like HD says, road holding weight.

 

[DonTom]

The weight of your new E bike, 400 lbs ? That is road bike weight,

My 1,000 lbs. Harley (in my avatar here) is what I call road bike weight.

True that my new E-bike is a bit on the heavy side for a DS, but I do not ride off road, just many rough unpaved roads. And I will increase the weight a bit with crash bars and a travel trunk and more. Still weights a lot less than my Zero DSR/X.

My 300 LBs Zero DS is nice, but I always keep it at my other house for my RV trips. It has the 7 KWH battery, that they no longer have available, but should, IMAO. for their DS.

Like any other motorcycles, there are many trade-offs. I like many of the features of the Can-Am Origin, even at the cost of the extra weight. Such as the 6.6 KW charging, the water cooled battery/charger/inverter (it will charge when it is above 100°F, unlike my Zeros) the enclosed drive chain that is in gear oil .

I also like many of the features that do not add weight that my Zero DS does not have, such as a reverse.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

My TW needs high octane, it has always rattled in the slow stuff.

I had the non-ethanol clear stuff in this bike which was my least used bike. The bike is designed for 87 octane, but the clear stuff is only 86. Do you think that one octane lower could be enough to cause damage at WOT where the 87 will not?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[CDONA]

I do have straight gas available and have tried it in the TW.
Pretty much the same for the rattle, little better milage.
WOT aka WFO, preignition IS a widely varying set of circumstances, every time it happens,
Air density, humidity, temps, and wind are four of these players, with nothing to do with the mechanicals.
,
until they enter the engine, as it breathes, , ,

 

[DonTom]

I do have straight gas available and have tried it in the TW.
Pretty much the same for the rattle, little better milage.
WOT aka WFO, preignition IS a widely varying set of circumstances, every time it happens,
Air density, humidity, temps, and wind are four of these players, with nothing to do with the mechanicals.
,
until they enter the engine, as it breathes, , ,

I assume we should never be at WOT on any gas bike. IOW, a larger engine is the only decent answer. Especially on a carb bike. I assume an EFI bike will handle WOT a lot better and safer.

Better yet is electric bikes. No pistons, no fuel mixture to be concerned with.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[augustiron]

Proper jetting is fine WOT and shouldn't melt a well tuned engine.
Wear and tear of extended high RPM is another issue that is unavoidable for any ICE.

I do remember talking to desert racers with two stroke dirt bikes who said they would momentarily hit the kill switch when WOT across a long stretch to allow a bit more lubrication so as not to melt the engine tho

 

[NATEWA]

The CRF450L is a serious dirt bike and needs a lot more maintenance than any of the other CRF models. It is in the same league as the KTM 500 EXC. Something to be aware of.

Thanks for the heads up! I was looking at motorcycles in the 300lb range to put on a hitch carrier and take some road trips. The crf450 was in the top three. Not anymore.