Has life gotten so busy that you don’t have time to ride?

[trevor]

So at my Friday afternoon safety meeting yesterday....most of my friends have multi bikes...some just a few and others with dozens...we started having this very conversation about thinning the heard....we talked about just wanting to simplify our lives and just wanting to ride more and not have to worry about wrenching. And we talked about ethanol now even being in Chevron 94 that used to our fuel of choice for winter storage....I rebuilt two sets of carbs this spring because of it...
One buddy talked about his recent sale of two classic bikes...a 1984 750 Nighthawk and a 70 XS650 Yamaha ...he said he just got tired of the maintenance....so he used that money to buy a new Triumph 400 to ride around town (he has a new Moto Guzzi for touring)....I just don't know what to do....now that my son is riding that adds an extra crinkle because we just got him a 83 gs750 that needs some work....carbs...surprise surprise....also I would like the space in my garage...it's pretty cramped.
Anyway, talk about first world problems I guess...

[Rob S.]

Anyway, talk about first world problems I guess...

Ha! Good for us!

Sunoco was always the highest octane around here (NY City) back in the day, can't even remember the #...90 something. But it's the first world, so the most expensive is the best. Right?

There's always one guy in the herd who says the lower octane is better because it requires less energy to ignite. We just figured he was cheap.

In the summer of '87 I was pumping gas in Brooklyn. Tanker pulls up, dumps a load of premium and one of cheapo. Then looks up across the intersection at another major brand station. "Oh, shyte," he says, "I'm at the wrong station!"

Sunoco & Mobil came to an agreement. The cheapo could stay and they'll pay for it. But the premium had to be pumped out, back into it's brand's tanker. "Our premium has our additives and it must be in our tank." Seemed like a lot of trouble to me, what with the gravity thing we have here in the Big Apple. Open a valve, and the gas just falls out the truck into the below ground tank. I found out that day there is no reverse switch. Can't just reverse the polarity and get it back up into the truck.

Purpose of story is to ellicit your opinions on premium vs. regular. Is highest octane always the best?

'nother story: Summer of '84, girlfriend, her daughter (5-year-old?) and I are in my '82 Pace Car Z28 on the way to her parent's house in East Hampton. I saw a KZ1000 turbo that Kawasaki used to sell (modified by another firm). Then I saw another. (Never before seen one in person.) Then I saw Sunoco 110 octane gas (and signs for a local track. Southampton, Westhampton?) "Wow!" says I. "Gonna bring back a big 'ole can of that gas when we come back through here Sunday night!"
"Not with my daughter in the car," says girlfriend. Would I have noticed any difference in my '73 903 Z1?

[DaveR]

That is highly accurate and one of the best opinion pieces on this subject I have read at any time..

Thank you for taking the time to write it all.

Agreed Ron. Ive long expected such thoughtful posts from the award winning bard.

[Grimly]

Purpose of story is to ellicit your opinions on premium vs. regular. Is highest octane always the best?

Only if the engine can make use of it. Waste of money otherwise.
However, there's a very high probability the higher octane (and more expensive ) fuel has a better additive package which will be cleaner burning and even clean up the engine a bit. Long term use, though.

[Brendan W]

We ride together mostly. The hug you get when both of you are in the groove is priceless.
Long may it continue.