If there was going to be a pure ethanol fuel you certainly would need to have an ethanol carb, or injection system. I thought to run a holley carbed small chevy engine on E-85 and there is one place I know in MI (Pro Systems Racing Carburetors)that will build or modify carbs for such use. They may find a new market in bike carbs. Give them engine specs etc and there is no reason they couldn't map out what you would need. You might shoot them an email and see just what it would cost to do something like this or if they would even consider it.

IIRC (vaguely) optimal A/F ratio with E-85 is on the order of 6:1 or 7:1... something like that (those could be alky numbers). This would surely mean some huge jets. One thing cool about a fuel like E-85 is that it is about 105 octane and will easily support a 12.5:1 CR (yeah those high compression pistons would be great) One drawback is the Roadie fuel tank basically becomes a peanut tank due to the amount of fuel required.

artybuck wrote:
we've had 10% for a while, i used it a few years back and the bike ran rough after a couple of tanks. i avoid it where I can now but it's probably inevitable that it will become universal so we'll be in the same boat. i'll ask my mechanic mate and post his thoughts when i can.

Thanks, arty!

I'm doing the same here.

Thanks for that link, JD!

GNR10 wrote:
If there was going to be a pure ethanol fuel you certainly would need to have an ethanol carb, or injection system. I thought to run a holley carbed small chevy engine on E-85 and there is one place I know in MI (Pro Systems Racing Carburetors)that will build or modify carbs for such use. They may find a new market in bike carbs. Give them engine specs etc and there is no reason they couldn't map out what you would need. You might shoot them an email and see just what it would cost to do something like this or if they would even consider it.

IIRC (vaguely) optimal A/F ratio with E-85 is on the order of 6:1 or 7:1... something like that (those could be alky numbers). This would surely mean some huge jets. One thing cool about a fuel like E-85 is that it is about 105 octane and will easily support a 12.5:1 CR (yeah those high compression pistons would be great) One drawback is the Roadie fuel tank basically becomes a peanut tank due to the amount of fuel required.

Appreciate that insight and info, GNR10! That is definitely something to consider should the need arise.

+1 on the Startron. A few years ago I bought a bike that had sat for almost a year with 10% Ethanol in the tank and it wouldn't run right. I tried putting fresh fuel and still no luck. Tried Seafoam (several cans and the carb spray) and still no luck. A mc mechanic suggested Startron and by the end of that tankfull the sputtering had stopped, as did the backfiring. .02

StarSergeant wrote:
+1 on the Startron. A few years ago I bought a bike that had sat for almost a year with 10% Ethanol in the tank and it wouldn't run right. I tried putting fresh fuel and still no luck. Tried Seafoam (several cans and the carb spray) and still no luck. A mc mechanic suggested Startron and by the end of that tankfull the sputtering had stopped, as did the backfiring. .02

That's great to know, SS! I appreciate you sharing that fabulous result!



They don't have an international distributor in Asia. They may need one. Email is sent.

Seems to me one of the most idiotic things to do would be to run engines on food. There's many alternatives other than food for fuel. Around here you used to be able to buy a crate of corn less than $10. Now it averages $1 per ear of corn. Bought any cornflakes lately?
JMO




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NASCAR is running Ethanol now I am not sure the percentage but I am sure that they are the testing ground for future pump gas conversion. They are the testing for our tires, engines, and a ton of electronic things for our cars. Yes they were late getting into the FI stuff but they are running it now.

hrdbrgn wrote:
Seems to me one of the most idiotic things to do would be to run engines on food. There's many alternatives other than food for fuel. Around here you used to be able to buy a crate of corn less than $10. Now it averages $1 per ear of corn. Bought any cornflakes lately?
JMO

Yeah but think of the power. An alky motor makes some awesome power. It burns cooler too. Big compression big cams big power. May not be the economical or right thing to do, but just imagine. How about a biodiesel bike? Maybe in turbo.