E20, E85

[FZeedom]

I just curious if anyone has run either E20 or E85 in your motorcycle for a while now and what you think of it. Or, have you mixed E20 or E85 with the typical up to 10% E pump gas. All the info I've found relates to car engine performance which is somecases for the E85 they say a 3.5% performance reduction. The rumor mill says up to 15% loss of power - the key here is rumor mill.

...anyway

What have you experienced with your motorcycle.

[Fat Boy]

I have experienced that I can't find 100% gas anymore, and it pisses me off.  

[Jetpilot5]

Don't run E85 in anything not specifically designed for it, normally a flex fuel vehicle.  I've never run across E20 and I don't know of any bike engines that are approved to run more than 10% ethanol.

[JimWilliamson]

Iowa, the land of corn, I was able to find 100% gas at more than one station. I thought it rather odd.

E85 - not unless the vehicle is designed for it
E20 - never heard of it

[chornbe]

Maybe Iowans are the only ones smart enough to realize that it still costs more to use corn for ethanol blending than is recouped.

[motoguy128]

Maybe Iowans are the only ones smart enough to realize that it still costs more to use corn for ethanol blending than is recouped.

Yup.  The 10-15% reduction in mileage is based on the fact that E85 contains 10-15% less enery per unit of volume.  If you're managing the same or only a 3% reducton in mileage it's because youre not driving the same as you were before or you are mixing E85 at high percentages with 100% gasoline.

Studies have shown that after you factor in reduced mileage, and all the energy required for producing ethanol, there is only a 20% yield on the eriginal energy content of corn.  It's like eating lettuce.  It may have 10 calories or energy, but you use 15 calories digesting it, so it's NET caloric content is actually negative.

So in reality, the $5% savings on fuel prices, results in food prices increasing by 10-20% or more.  That's not good economics.  I only spend $150/mo on gasoline (I live near my work... why don't more people?), but spend $300/mo on food.  So the $7 I'm saving in gas when if I buy E10, is costing me $30 at the grocery store.  

The government needs to end the Ethanol subsidies and put that money into other alternative energies, or credits for buying hybrids or more fuel effecient cars.  How about a $1000 credit for trading in a gas guzzeling car that's more than 5 years old, on a more economical model?  Conservation is far more effective than trying to use alternative fuels.

[cyclopathic]

I just curious if anyone has run either E20 or E85 in your motorcycle for a while now and what you think of it. Or, have you mixed E20 or E85 with the typical up to 10% E pump gas. All the info I've found relates to car engine performance which is somecases for the E85 they say a 3.5% performance reduction. The rumor mill says up to 15% loss of power - the key here is rumor mill.

...anyway

What have you experienced with your motorcycle.

God no don't do it.

you can probably add E20 in summer to carbed bike but not to EFIed. US EFI bikes are open loop without O2 sensor the mixture will be too lean, cause excessive heat and potentially damage engine.

at the $4+ height of gas prices many shabby stations mid-west found an easy way to make extra money by mixing in $3 E85. At 80-90mph I had to slow down and pull off the interstate to avoid overheating engine, and that was only with the gas from some stations, others were fine.

[RCook]

The government needs to end the Ethanol subsidies and put that money into other alternative energies, or credits for buying hybrids or more fuel effecient cars.  How about a $1000 credit for trading in a gas guzzeling car that's more than 5 years old, on a more economical model?  Conservation is far more effective than trying to use alternative fuels.

As a fellow Iowan I also agree with your comment on the Government subsidizing ethanol, it's all about pleasing the lobbyists and lobbyists in this case aren't very smart (are they ever?) we need to move away from corn ethanol and toward cellulosic ethanol. Anyway to your credit for buying a hybrid, take a look here.

[thatguy]

Gasoline (straight) is still the easiest,cheapest way to get yer azz down the road.And yep we'll run out but until then let's ride!

[cyclopathic]

The government needs to end the Ethanol subsidies and put that money into other alternative energies, or credits for buying hybrids or more fuel effecient cars.  How about a $1000 credit for trading in a gas guzzeling car that's more than 5 years old, on a more economical model?  Conservation is far more effective than trying to use alternative fuels.

As a fellow Iowan I also agree with your comment on the Government subsidizing ethanol, it's all about pleasing the lobbyists and lobbyists in this case aren't very smart (are they ever?) we need to move away from corn ethanol and toward cellulosic ethanol. Anyway to your credit for buying a hybrid, take a look here.

perhaps they should also finish subsidizing oil companies? they've been doing it for ages..

problem is there isn't many economic cars out there, this is not Europe after all.

[motoguy128]

problem is there isn't many economic cars out there, this is not Europe after all.

You're not kidding.  The big joke right now are crossovers.  Most of which only manage 2-3mpg better than the body on frame SUV's they replace.  So basically you're getting a 5 door hatchback version ofa misdsized or fll sized car with 600-800 extra lbs, optional AWD that 3 inches more ride hight... oh and don't forget option 19" or 20" wheels.  What 99% of the public really needs are wagon version of midseized and compact cars which give up only 1mpg and add only 100-200lbs.  

I waiting for the return of the wagon.  Give me a Honda Accord 4-cylinder Wagon or maybe even a Honda Civic Wagon.  I know they have the Honda Fit, but it's too small and has the driving dynamics of a sub-compact wiht it's ultrashort wheelbase equally narrow track.