Motorcycle Myths

[Sully]

To my way of thinking, myths are among our worst enemies. At best, buying into them can make you look foolish and, at worst, get you seriously hurt or dead. Accordingly, I like to do a little periodic "myth busting" just to keep everyone on their toes. If you accept any of the following as gospel, feel free to make your case, but be forewarned: Your words may come back to haunt you in a future issue.

• "Loud pipes save lives." I'm not going to say this is the silliest thing I've ever heard, but it's up there. Supporters of this myth tend to use anecdotal evidence to prop it up, usually of the "a truck was about to cut me off when he heard my pipes and veered back into his own lane" type. You can argue this one all you want, but I don't buy it. Maybe your loud pipes startled some poor schlep as you blasted past, causing him to swerve, but if he heard you, why was he about to cut you off in the first place? Since I've never seen any empirical evidence to support the loud-pipes theory, I'll go on record as saying if anyone can make a case based on scientific results, I'll be happy to run it in the next issue with a full apology.
  
• "You can't use synthetic oil in a motorcycle engine; it'll make the bearings skid and wipe out the motor." The theory here is that synthetic oil is so slippery that it prevents the rolling elements of ball and roller bearings from turning. It's an interesting idea, but like most myths, it's just a lot of smoke. The fact is that synthetic oil is no more "slippery" than any other oil, and using it in a roller-bearing engine won't cause the least bit of harm.
  
• "Don't use the front brake—it'll toss you over the handlebars." This is the oldest one on the books, and I seriously doubt anyone still believes it, but I had to include it for old time's sake. My guess is this tale got started back in the days of dirt roads, when a good squeeze on the front brake lever could lock the front wheel and cause a slide. Why it persisted as long as it did says a lot about people's willingness to believe a good story despite evidence to the contrary.
  
• "Always burn high-octane gas—your bike will make more power." This one certainly sounds plausible, but here's why it isn't: From an energy-producing standpoint, there's not much difference between high- and low-octane gas. However, high-octane fuel is formulated to resist detonation, and as such it's less volatile, meaning it's harder to ignite and burns slower than low-octane fuel. When an engine is designed to run on regular, the anti-detonation characteristics of high-test gas can work against it to cause hard starting, poor idling and, in some cases, reduced power. The truth is that burning high-test gas in an engine that doesn't require it is a waste of money and may actually reduce power.
  
  5. "Never use anti-seize (or grease) on a nut or bolt—it'll make the threads slick, and they'll come loose." Like most myths, this one illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding of certain realities.
  
  Think of a bolt as a spring; when it’s tightened, it stretches slightly and applies a predetermined clamping force to whatever you’re trying to hold together. To do its job prop*erly, the bolt must be properly torqued to a predetermined value. When hardware is assembled dry, some torque is used up overcoming friction between the threads. This generally leads to an undertorqued—read that as loose—bolt. Lubricating a fastener will reduce friction as the bolt is tightened and provide the proper torque setting. So unless the manufacturer states otherwise (and there are instances where they will), always lightly oil a threaded fastener before installing it.
  
  
  
  As you can see, most myths appear to have some basis in reality, and that’s what makes them dangerous. They’re also a way to explain the unexplainable without doing a whole lot of research. Since our ancestors had no way of knowing what actually caused thunder, they accepted that it was formed by Thor riding through the heavens in a cart pulled by fire-snorting goats.
  
  
  
  The problem is that accepting a myth at face value often has unpleasant repercussions. In the past, it sometimes meant sacrificing a virgin or two to appease the gods, while in modern times, it may mean spending the rest of your life hooked to a feeding tube ’cause you bought into a really dumb myth like “helmets kill more riders than they save.” Which, I suppose, is a form of human sacrifice after all, isn’t it?
  
  
  

[Phu Cat]

Interesting read Sully and I agree with everything except: and as such it's less volatile, meaning it's harder to ignite and burns slower than low-octane fuel. When an engine is designed to run on regular, the anti-detonation characteristics of high-test gas can work against it to cause hard starting, poor idling and, in some cases, reduced power. The truth is that burning high-test gas in an engine that doesn't require it is a waste of money and may actually reduce power.

​Actually regular gasoline and high octane have the exact same "flash temperature" thus making their ignitability the same as required to be sold as gasoline. It is true that running high octane in an engine that won't benefit from it is wasting money, but low octane gaso. has shown to make SLIGHTLY more horsepower than high octane, everything else being the same. The burn rate, the speed at which the gaso. flame front travels, and burning 'cleaner', etc is the same for all gasolines. Octane only decreases its likelihood to detonate.

To make gasoline burn cleaner I'm guessing the 'powers that be' eventually decreased the high end distillation numbers in distillation tests. I say "I'm guessing" about the above as a lot of this changed since the refinery I worked in was bought out then shut down (July 3rd, 1986)as we could only run "sweet crude".

On occasion I run a couple of tanks of high octane gaso. thru our Triglide only because it has more detergents in it and will clean the injectors. Other than that there's no benefit to running high octane in an engine that doesn't need it.

Sure miss that job, I loved it.

PC

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Maybe I've missed something ... certainly wouldn't be the first time.

My understanding was the higher octane fuels were predominately for higher compression engines?

[Jack Klarich]

Maybe I've missed something ... certainly wouldn't be the first time.

My understanding was the higher octane fuels were predominately for higher compression engines?

Higher compression engines tend to run hotter, spark knock and detonation

Higher octane fuel will help

The M8 with knock sensors can tolerate lower octane fuels by changing the spark thru the ECM

[paws]

Don’t grab the front brake!

Ha, Ha, Ha....

When I first was riding - my CB350, then Honda Silverwing Interstate GL500 - EVERY SINGLE PERSON told me to NEVER grab the front brake...just use the back brake!

So...I secretly, very gingerly tested it a few times, then combined it with the back brake with very desireable results...yeah..I never told anyone or I would have been kicked out of the club.

A few years later when they offered the MSF class at the local community college I participated. Low and behold, they said to use the brakes together! Have done that ever since my early tests. Not one other member in that club would take the MSF course ‘cause they already knew how to ride a motorcycle...I wonder how many times they had an unnecessary “butt-pucker” moment because they knew it allllll....

[hogcowboy]

Sad part is, there are still many that think the rear brake is the only way to go.

They never noticed the rear brake has a small single disc and the front has two

huge suckers. Wonder why? Looks I guess. It surely isn't because that's where

most of the stopping occurs.

I'm glad I do it the wrong way as far as they are concerned. And will continue

doing it that way. Front brake that is.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Higher compression engines tend to run hotter, spark knock and detonation

Higher octane fuel will help

The M8 with knock sensors can tolerate lower octane fuels by changing the spark thru the ECM

Maybe that's why the Fat Bottom Girl runs cooler???? Or it could be the hours of auto tuning, love jugs, decatting, yada yada yada ...

[MikeyTX]

Maybe I've missed something ... certainly wouldn't be the first time.

My understanding was the higher octane fuels were predominately for higher compression engines?

93 has better cleaning agents, anti knock compounds, better burn in the cylinder just to mention a few. 87 simply meets the govt mandated bare bones standards.

Also, the oBd2 sensors will retard the timing when using 87 oct to prevent or reduce knocking.

[rhino 2]

93 has better cleaning agents, anti knock compounds, better burn in the cylinder just to mention a few. 87 simply meets the govt mandated bare bones standards.

Also, the oBd2 sensors will retard the timing when using 87 oct to prevent or reduce knocking.

AKA.......De-Tuning the engine/horsepower.....

[jjvw]

Running high test in a low test engine may actually be worse. My Road Star will get svs "sticky valve syndrome" if running higher than the required 87 octane. It leaves a residue on the valves that won't burn off. I had a Honda Civc that had hard globs on the spark plugs from hi test. When I was racing sport cars, a lady driver had a high compression race engine in her MGB. After blowing the engine, we put a stock bottom end under her still good high performance cyl head. It ran good in Saturday practice but it would not start the next morning. A bunch of male drivers and mechanics (did I mention she was cute)worked for hours getting the valves unstuck. She had left the high octane gas in the gas tank and the lower compression would not burn the gas completely.

It is never worth running higher octane in an engine that doesn't require it.

[hogcowboy]

It is never worth running higher octane in an engine that doesn't require it.

There are those that will swear it's the best thing to do and you'll never get them to change that worthless practice. Then later they wonder why they are having trouble. And still they will not get the message.

Thanks for trying again. I see someone post a similar thread at least yearly. Maybe not this forum but all the ones I might look at anyway. Maybe those are the ones that finally get it because tey ruined another good engine.

[Phu Cat]

Mikey, I'm wondering where you got this: 93 has better cleaning agents, anti knock compounds, better burn in the cylinder

​I put the additives in the gasoline, and the container they came out of didn't list the contents as they were trade secret, so even I didn't know what's was it. The anti knock compounds you refer to were high octane gaso. streams, not an additive. The "burn" you mentioned is the same for every gaso, not just high octane. Once the flame front starts across the cylinder it continues unless there is not enough oxygen to sustain it.

PC

[rhino 2]

Mikey, I'm wondering where you got this: 93 has better cleaning agents, anti knock compounds, better burn in the cylinder

​I put the additives in the gasoline, and the container they came out of didn't list the contents as they were trade secret, so even I didn't know what's was it. The anti knock compounds you refer to were high octane gaso. streams, not an additive. The "burn" you mentioned is the same for every gaso, not just high octane. Once the flame front starts across the cylinder it continues unless there is not enough oxygen to sustain it.

PC

Ok........What is Hi-Test.........87 Is regular .....89 Is Midrange.....Then there is 91 and 93....So is 91 Hi-test......As is 93.......

[1dn5up]

Just remember before that 91-93 stuff gets to your tank , you will get 1/2 gallon of the crap the guy before you got

[jjvw]

Ok........What is Hi-Test.........87 Is regular .....89 Is Midrange.....Then there is 91 and 93....So is 91 Hi-test......As is 93.......

If you were old enough you would know that term

Except for Sunoco, your choices were regular or Hi Test(premium). The fancy numbers wern't invented yet.

[CrystalPistol]

Used to have a buddy that said he rode a HD (I only knew him from his work (welder), I never saw him out riding or what he rode), so I was telling him one day (in mid - later 1990s) of an experience I had recently had on my Gold Wing, how the triple disc saved my bacon even if it was a near 1,000 pound ride with me on it. He stated that he never used the front brake, that he just stomped on the rear brake … "old school" he said it was, said it was how he learned. I told him that I never went to that old school, I was CE and a Trooper, I tried to get him to understand the need to be good with the front brake too, explained what he was giving away.

Less than a month later I got called to work a fatal, he had come down off the interstate exit ramp at 65-70 into a 45 zone (well marked too, and familiar to locals) with businesses (restaurants, motels, gas stations) … was a car coming out of a motel parking lot, he left a couple hundred feet of rear skid, hit car, brain bucket 1/2 helmet went another couple hundred feet past the car, bike had straight pipes, his post mortem blood test was high too. Beers on remains of ice in saddle bag. Recalling the recent conversation, I tried the front brake lever …. no resistance there, no fluid in res, nothing. Bike had straight pipes too. Loud pipes & "old school" didn't save him. He knew I'd have not overlooked the faulty brake and no mufflers, and for sure the 65+ in a 45 & the DUI. Was his choices that killed him.

Octane? Octane is just a measure of how resistant a fuel is to spontaneous or premature ignition due to heat & compression pressure. Higher octane fuel is more resistant, but once ignited it is the exact same as lower octane blends of the same fuel. Designers take into account intended fuel when setting compression ratios, timing, etc. Dirty gas is dirty gas, etc.

[rhino 2]

If you were old enough you would know that term

Except for Sunoco, your choices were regular or Hi Test(premium). The fancy numbers wern't invented yet.

Reglar or Ethyl..........Or Amoco, AKA; White Gas, No added Ethyl..

[Jack Klarich]

Reglar or Ethyl..........Or Amoco, AKA; White Gas, No added Ethyl..

Prior to the infamous Unleaded, the oil companies added lead not only as an octane booster, but it being a soft metal it cushioned the valves against their seats

[CrystalPistol]

And Sunoco 260 was not 260 octane as Kent (another buddy) thought. One day (in 1969) when he had just got his license and I didn't yet have mine, his older sister let him take her car and fill it up once, he asked if I wanted to go along. I thought it was neat how you could "dial your own" on their pumps if they let you do it, but his sister's Nova with 250 I6 sure didn't need it. I had a '69 Dart 340 Swinger later on that run real good on Mobil or Exxon HI-test, but it did seem to like that Sunoco 260.

Was working at a Kayo gas station one night in 1970s, guy come in late with two girls in his daddy's brand new Chrysler with 440, guessing '72 or '73 …. low compression, he was bragging on the car, wanted me to fill it with diesel, I refused and he said it would burn water according to his dad. Girls were sisters, I recognized them, they lived not far up the road. I let him fill it though, about an hour later he come back, car limping, smoking, rattling, was a wonder it even run. It'd die, he'd crank it until some cylinder fired, jerked into drive, it would move a foot or three then die, repeat. Took forever to just pull into the lot it seemed. No sisters in sight either. Seems he made it a quarter mile, almost to their home ... and it took him that long to get back to station. He wanted me to pump the diesel out, like I put it in, yeah, right, you idiot. His dad was at the station next day furious at me until I told him details. Car had to be towed to dealership.

Saw that kid one other time that I'll never forget. Late at night again. We had a small booth like room at the Kayo then. He pulled in and was parked right beside the little patio where drink machines were plugged in, my booth door was open, his date was one of the sisters. He got out, came in, started muttering something. Her window was rolled down and she was close enough to hear us I guess 'cause when I leaned in and heard he was saying "rubbers", I said out loud "Oh, you want rubbers?". She jumped, her sister in back seat with another boy slapped her date and the boy asking me for rubbers said "Well, not now".

Those sisters were cute, never saw much of that boy again but the sisters came in often.

Yeah, I like to reminisce.

[rhino 2]

And Sunoco 260 was not 260 octane as Kent (another buddy) thought. One day (in 1969) when he had just got his license and I didn't yet have mine, his older sister let him take her car and fill it up once, he asked if I wanted to go along. I thought it was neat how you could "dial your own" on their pumps if they let you do it, but his sister's Nova with 250 I6 sure didn't need it. I had a '69 Dart 340 Swinger later on that run real good on Mobil or Exxon HI-test, but it did seem to like that Sunoco 260.

Was working at a Kayo gas station one night in 1970s, guy come in late with two girls in his daddy's brand new Chrysler with 440, guessing '72 or '73 …. low compression, he was bragging on the car, wanted me to fill it with diesel, I refused and he said it would burn water according to his dad. Girls were sisters, I recognized them, they lived not far up the road. I let him fill it though, about an hour later he come back, car limping, smoking, rattling, was a wonder it even run. It'd die, he'd crank it until some cylinder fired, jerked into drive, it would move a foot or three then die, repeat. Took forever to just pull into the lot it seemed. No sisters in sight either. Seems he made it a quarter mile, almost to their home ... and it took him that long to get back to station. He wanted me to pump the diesel out, like I put it in, yeah, right, you idiot. His dad was at the station next day furious at me until I told him details. Car had to be towed to dealership.

Saw that kid one other time that I'll never forget. Late at night again. We had a small booth like room at the Kayo then. He pulled in and was parked right beside the little patio where drink machines were plugged in, my booth door was open, his date was one of the sisters. He got out, came in, started muttering something. Her window was rolled down and she was close enough to hear us I guess 'cause when I leaned in and heard he was saying "rubbers", I said out loud "Oh, you want rubbers?". She jumped, her sister in back seat with another boy slapped her date and the boy asking me for rubbers said "Well, not now".

Those sisters were cute, never saw much of that boy again but the sisters came in often.

Yeah, I like to reminisce.

When i was racing my 68 Charger [440] With milled heads SS Cams and lifters...I would add a quart of specal fuel to five gallons of 260, I got the fuel from a friend who ran top fuel dragsters he called it POP?... ....Set 3 class records in 68/69.....