Do you fill up at gas station or jerry can?

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Totally impressed with the ratio of respectful responses versus flame posts. Well played everyone.

I didn't see this written but someone might have, Apparently there is some concern with spark and ignition from a rider sitting on the bike and filing. For the same reason they tell people not to get in and out of their car while filling up. No I aint no fancy scientist type so I can't explain the physics or the legitimacy of the claim, but I do know that some attendants won't authorize the pump for safety reasons not for fear of theft.
 
imnothng said:
If you are going to get premium, shell is definitely the place to get it, no ethanol (at most stations, check the pump).

Now how much money are actually saving by getting it 'at the best price'? If you get gas when it's 2 cents cheaper, you're saving 20 cents if you get 20L. Gas doesn't fluctuate THAT much, like you're not saving 20$ or something per fill up. Do you fill up you're car from Jerry cans? Probably not, but you mention the best price as one of the reasons for Jerry cans, but it's a bike (maybe 15L tank) vs. A car (probably at least 50L tank). It just seems silly.

To each their own, but thanks for making me chuckle this morning.
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I would need to fill up 3 times a week at the gas station. That makes gas stations an irritant to my time. I guarantee, I fill my tank from a jerry can faster than you can wait for a pump, pull out your wallet, pump the gas, wait for your receipt and so on. I have a garage. Having a jerry can to fill up with is no big deal and is fast. Also, when I fill up, I use that as an opportunity to oil my chain. Gas from costco is actually 4 cents lower than elsewhere. I put 22 l in my 20 litre tank. That amounts to an 88 cent savings. Not huge but savings is savings. I will visit a gas station once a week That's my limit with any vehicle, car or bike. If that doesn't get me enough gas I will use jerry cans regardless for my bike or car.
 
unL33T said:
Well my tank holds 15L but that only gets me just over 200 km. That's pretty much one or two rides so I'd be refilling a 20L jerry can a lot. Harder to track fuel economy as well filling with jerry cans. I haven't personally noticed enough difference in gas brand as far as price or quality goes other than that I often fill up at a Huskey near my work because it's cheap but a couple of cents difference doesn't make much difference in the long run so I don't really bother being picky about it. I've never experienced "bad gas" from any station so I don't worry about it. Although back when I had a diesel it ran way better (smoother) on Shell, Sunoco, and 5% biodiesel than it did on Esso or cheaper brands' fuel.

If it works for you though, to each his own. Still seems like extra work for no gain. It still takes less effort to refill one tank than it takes to fill one and pour it into another (not to mention the extra travel to take the can there and back).
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200 km is not much of a range. I easily get 200 km to a tank. If I had your bike I would be filling 3 times a week. 45 l x 4 cents would equal to 1.80 in savings. Over 52 weeks that's $93. Money, better in my pocket.
 
Kenzie said:
Totally impressed with the ratio of respectful responses versus flame posts. Well played everyone.

I didn't see this written but someone might have, Apparently there is some concern with spark and ignition from a rider sitting on the bike and filing. For the same reason they tell people not to get in and out of their car while filling up. No I aint no fancy scientist type so I can't explain the physics or the legitimacy of the claim, but I do know that some attendants won't authorize the pump for safety reasons not for fear of theft.
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I never get off my bike when filling, never have. Never been told to get off either. I open up the gas cap, but the key back and pump away. Maybe its a GTA thing?

I get 500 + kms on a full tank of gas with city riding, and the skies the limit on highway, so a jerry can is not something I worry about. I would however keep a jerry can when really getting away from it all, or heading up to Alaska, though I dont think there are any stretches that are out of my range, but its always nice to have a little security blanket.
 
Kenzie said:
Totally impressed with the ratio of respectful responses versus flame posts. Well played everyone.

I didn't see this written but someone might have, Apparently there is some concern with spark and ignition from a rider sitting on the bike and filing. For the same reason they tell people not to get in and out of their car while filling up. No I aint no fancy scientist type so I can't explain the physics or the legitimacy of the claim, but I do know that some attendants won't authorize the pump for safety reasons not for fear of theft.
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WTF :lmao:... the fancy scientist type says: this makes no effing sense at all.
Also, do none of you have credit cards?! PRE PAY FTW. card, fill, start, leave.. why is this difficult.
 
Interesting thread.
I fill up at gas stations all the time.
the floe rate thing to me isnt so much the brand but the station itself.
Credit card....gotta have one esp. if your going to the states.
if your nervous about filling up at a station get a fellow biker friend to go with you
Hell I live in Waterloo and even i would go if needed
 
Kenzie said:
Totally impressed with the ratio of respectful responses versus flame posts. Well played everyone.

I didn't see this written but someone might have, Apparently there is some concern with spark and ignition from a rider sitting on the bike and filing. For the same reason they tell people not to get in and out of their car while filling up. No I aint no fancy scientist type so I can't explain the physics or the legitimacy of the claim, but I do know that some attendants won't authorize the pump for safety reasons not for fear of theft.
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The spark concern is due to static build up and the potential for a discharge. It does happen but it is EXTREMELY rare for a static spark to cause ignition at a gas station. Also, it's argualbly more likely to occur if you're standing beside the bike as opposed to sitting on it. I sit on my bike to fill and my hand is in contact with the tank and therefore grounded to it and therefore no possibility of a static spark. Not that I'm worried about that anyways.

To the OP, I fill at the gas station almost entirely. Pull up, swipe card, open tank and fill while standing and stretching legs, watch nozzle at all times, replace nozzle and hit the road (I don't usually need to take my gloves off). Total stop time is maybe 2 minutes for a typically 14 l fill up. That may be why you don't see a lot of bikes at stations - there aren't many bikes in Canada and they don't take long to fill.
 
Griffin said:
That may be why you don't see a lot of bikes at stations - there aren't many bikes in Canada and they don't take long to fill.
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I actually see bikes at gas stations all the time. Considering how uncommon bike owners actually are compared to the general public, I probably see them more often than I would think I should.
 
I was actually at the pump today. Filled up for 8.99$ and the guy next to me went for 89$, it was amusing. You wont get that amusement using a Jerry can.
 
What's with gas prices. The dollar drops and gas prices have as well. I filled my jerry can for $3.00 less this week. What the hell, I filled my car to.
 
Thanks for this thread.It got me wondering how far i could go on the Couchrocket after the "low fuel" light came on.So last week i had a 10l jerry can in the trunk when it came on at approx 310km.I got another 80km before the motor went pffft.
Now i gotta put a smaller jug in my backpack and find out how far i can go after the Hyper's light comes on at 170km.
 
Haven't seen this posted yet.... A little trick with getting the nozzle to stop dripping faster and not get any drips on your tank after pulling it out is to hold it for a few seconds up wards.

It works for me at every gas station with every type of nozzle I've used since I started doing that. Saves me from having to get off my bike to find paper towels.
 
rafiki911 said:
Haven't seen this posted yet.... A little trick with getting the nozzle to stop dripping faster and not get any drips on your tank after pulling it out is to hold it for a few seconds up wards.

It works for me at every gas station with every type of nozzle I've used since I started doing that. Saves me from having to get off my bike to find paper towels.
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I can't believe any man would tinkle on the seat...errrr, gas tank. Seriously, shake it before pulling it out and you wont have an issue. As an added precaution turn it upside right before you pull it out as rafiki said.
 
I get off of the bike to fill up - for two reasons:

1) my bike fills better when on the centre stand, and
2) in the unlikely even that I spill gas, I don't want a flammable, carcinogenic mess all over my lap.
 
Griffin said:
The spark concern is due to static build up and the potential for a discharge. It does happen but it is EXTREMELY rare for a static spark to cause ignition at a gas station. Also, it's argualbly more likely to occur if you're standing beside the bike as opposed to sitting on it. I sit on my bike to fill and my hand is in contact with the tank and therefore grounded to it and therefore no possibility of a static spark. Not that I'm worried about that anyways
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If your hand is on the tank's painted surface then it is highly unlikely that you are grounded. You need your skin (bare hand) to be touching a clean bare metal surface on the bike to be grounded.


As to the static build up potential the same applies to filling a jerry can while it is in the back (box) area of a pickup truck. Especially if the truck has a plastic box liner. It is safer to remove the jerry can from the truck and place it onto the ground while filling it. I know it can be a pain to have to lift it back into the truck box.
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