As many of you will cross over to the mainland at some stage, this might be interesting for you....
The powers that be over in Europe are once again making changes that will affect bikers over here in the UK. Under an EU directive a much more diluted petrol will be released in the country along side normal petrol. The E10 strand is 10% ethanol compared to the 5% it stands at the moment.
This is where the problems arise for bikers. Motorcycle manufacturers have warned that this diluted petrol is not compatible with many older machines and even motorbikes a mere two years old. Components that could be damaged are petrol pipes, carburettor innards and petrol tank sealants, as well as affecting the running of the bike.
As long as 'normal' petrol is still available at the pumps for now bikers will be safe. But if things change and this E10 strand becomes the only petrol available, many motorcycles could be left destroyed or un-usable because of it.
This will never happen as the fuel company's will be liable for the the damage to your bike if thay don't clearly mark the pumps with.
Using this fuel could damage your vehicle.
And I dont think that will happen .
The aim of the EU and our government is to get bikes off the road altogether. Bikers are treated as second class citizens. You only have to look at how many car drivers get away with killing bikers. When I changed the address on my licence, recently, I was surprised to see that I am no longer licensed to ride "any motorcycle" it now has a power to weight ratio.When did they sneak that one in? I also do not believe that the number of people getting their licences back without the motorcycle qualification, is an error on the part of the DVLA. I hink they were just hoping that many of them were not currently riding and would not notice.
E10 is already in on the autoroutes in France and it does seem that they are labeling the pumps with a warning now as they were not doing it last year, so thanks to the french attendant that ran out to warn me before I filled up. I've been told that the super unlead is fine to use at the moment and the standard sans plomb was ok off the autoroutes last time I was there.
Thank god for MAG is all i can say
i know i keep saying it... but if you can... please join MAG... without them we bikers would be and could be well and truly scarpered
they do loads of work.. it is thanks to MAG that Humber Bridge no longer charges bikes to cross...... it is MAG that is currently lobbying against teh new super MOT... it is MAG that does loads of stuff you are probably not even aware of.....
look up their website.... http://www.mag-uk.org/en/index/a6296
also can buy a patch celebrating 40 years of their work....