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Brooklyn

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Anyone know of these engines failing for no apparent reason. The bike I have just bought did, apparently, in France doing 85 on the motorway.

It has been suggested that French fuel is not the best?

Thanks :)
 
I was about to say the same. What kind of 'engine failure'? What's gone wrong?


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The French sell a lot of low octane fuel that's alleged to be safe in engines designed for 95 RON. I personally would not use it without an octane booster fuel additive.

But as others say - what went wrong? piston seized? con-rod snapped? valve dropped? etc?
 
Bendy toy said:
The French sell a lot of low octane fuel that's alleged to be safe in engines designed for 95 RON. I personally would not use it without an octane booster fuel additive.

But as others say - what went wrong? piston seized? con-rod snapped? valve dropped? etc?
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It has defo holed a piston, one way or another, smoke and oil out of the exhaust at 80 mph. Total power loss. I have tried to turn the engine, it is solid. Oil has issued from both pots, worse on one side.
 
You may find the speed matches a lean-spot in the bikes fuelling and long spells at constant speed are causing localised overheating and failure.

Remap at Hilltop will remove the lean-spots.
 
Steptoe said:
Mmmh. A job i had in Last week, from france...

All parts have now arrived so i will be putting it all back together later this week.
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A number of people have suggested that as it is seized a secondhand engine is the solution. Including, Ian at Church Stretton Motorcycles.

What do you suggest? :augie
 
Bendy toy said:
The French sell a lot of low octane fuel that's alleged to be safe in engines designed for 95 RON. I personally would not use it without an octane booster fuel additive.

But as others say - what went wrong? piston seized? con-rod snapped? valve dropped? etc?
Click to expand...

What?????
I live in France and brought my bike with me from British Columbia, Canada. Never heard of french gas being lower grade than elsewhere. I often ran 87 octane in my GS, i.e. going up to Alaska and other places far from civilization, that's why they have knock sensors!
 
I did not say French fuel is lower octane than advertised.
By any measure 87 octane will not deliver the power or mpg of 95 and nowhere close to the benefits of 99 or better.
The engine ECU and knock sensors will retard the sparks to avoid detonation. All very good but power and mpg drop significantly and exhaust gas temperatures soar.
If you value your exhaust valves avoid the stuff or use an octane booster.
If you ride a bike devoid of knock sensor don't say nobody warned you.
This http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motoring/high-octane-equals-better-mpg says that 99 RON gives a 14% better mpg than 95 so 85 is likely to be pretty crummy stuff.
 
The problem with French fuel (though probably not the cause of the blown engine) is not octane, but ethanol. Google "E10 petrol"

When I toured France a couple of years ago, I noticed the bike was down on power and seemed to be delivering about 20-30 miles less per tank. When I changed to the "super" grade of petrol, performance and mpg returned to normal. Dearer per litre, but cheaper per mile.
 
I'm home tomorrow after 2,500 miles all over France, the French fuel I've been using has been fine on my bike, either 95 or 98 when available, I would never use the E10, ever. Tried it once years ago and my bike ran shite until I filled it up again, (not the gsa mind you)
I have been mostly on D roads the whole time, cruising between 60-85 mph, oh and my bike has been hilltopped.
 
I got caught out with cheap French petrol on an MZ 250. It ran so shite I ran out of fuel long before normal. It was less rough running flat out but well down on power. Once back home with 95-RON it ran fine again Ditto in Italy where decent fuel is easily available.
 
I'm in France for a couple of weeks in September going down to Corsica (first big trip on my new to me TC) - I think I'll stick to posh petrol while I'm there. I got caught out once on my 1100 in France a couple of years ago - filled up with (supposed) 95 at a little independent supermarket and it ran like a dog and pinked as soon as it loaded up - had to keep topping up with super at every opportunity...
 
Worse fuel than that about in the states, done miles on itnever a prob. Sounds like the old prob of dropping a valve that happens in uk as well.
 
I've always put the highest octane available in mine when in France & never had a single issue.....:D

Hope you get sorted.
 
Bounce said:
I've always put the highest octane available in mine when in France & never had a single issue.....:D
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I've always put the lowest octane available in mine when in France (which is pretty much always) & never had a single issue.....:D

Mind you it is an 1150.
 
French fuel is thinly disguised Cognac, with the good bits taken out. Never, ever use it. It will kill you and your children.
 
I put 100 octane in my LC today in Germany and got all the way to France without a single problem.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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