Gasoline - understanding it for better performance

According to madehow.com "Gasoline is primarily a mixture of two volatile liquids, heptane and isooctane. Pure heptane, a lighter fuel, burns so quickly that it produces a great amount of knocking in an engine. Pure isooctane evaporates slowly and produces virtually no knocking. The ratio of heptane to isooctane is measured by the octane rating. The greater the percentage of isooctane, the less knocking is produced and the higher the octane rating. For example, an octane rating of 87 is comparable to a mixture of 87% isooctane and 13% heptane."

Octane then, is basically a measure of how much compression a fuel can withstand before it spontaneously ignites. When gas ignites by compression instead of from the spark of the spark plug, it causes engine knock.

91 octane fuel is less volatile and burns more efficiently than 87 octane fuel. (87, 89 and 91 are the three most common octane levels available)

Gasoline has a shelf life of approximately 30-60 days, after that period of time, it begins to break down and becomes gummy (resin) and produces a varnish that coats everything that the fuel touched.

Because I live in the north, during the course of my riding season, I come across a lot of places that only have regular (87 octane) fuel.  I also find myself at a lot of pumps that offer three levels of octane from one hose.

According to an article in the Globe and Mail "The hose and dispensing nozzle are always full of fuel,” Shell says, adding that the residual volume in the hose from the last use depends on the diameter and length of the hose but is commonly about half a litre. 

The only time such a small quantity would be of concern would be when filling a very small tank, such as a motorcycle. 

Shell says that, as long as the premium purchase is more than 10 litres, the total sale will be “on-spec for octane and meet the 91 AKI standard.” It added that Weights and Measures Canada, which monitors and inspects pumps and controls the related regulations, approved the use of “single hose blender pumps” many years ago."

I have been asked by other riders at these one hose, three grade pumps, why I will use regular gas with Amsoil's Motorcycle Octane Boost instead of filling up with high test.  They are curious as to performance differences and the expense.

Well, part of the reason I use octane boost is sited in the above snippet from the Globe and Mail article.

If you are on a motorcycle, you are literally being hosed at those pumps that offer three grades of gasoline from one hose.  About a half litre or more (depending on the diameter and length of the hose), of whatever gas was purchased before stays in that hose. It's only by pennies, but those pennies add up and YOU AREN'T really getting what you paid for.

Instead of getting 91 Octane your fuel might now be at 90 or less.  

Not only that, as prices get higher, fewer and fewer people use the high octane fuels, which means that you can get "bad" or degraded high test fuel. If you're looking for a new wheel and tyre package for your ride, we managed to get a 10% coupon
that you can use at the AutoCraze rim shop. Use coupon: SAVE10 to get 10% your entire cart.

I always carry Amsoil's Motorcycle Octane Boost with me because there are many places where I live and ride here in Northern Alberta and even farther north that do not carry anything but 87 octane - regular gas. Because gas evaporates and degrades over 30-60 days, it is not practical for most gas stations in the North to carry a fuel that is seldom used.

Is using Octane Boost going to improve circumstances for your pocketbook or hurt it?

Let's do some math...

If I purchase 12 litres of regular gas at $1.169 (2.64 gallons) I am going to pay: $14.04 

If I purchase 12 litres of premium at $1.309 (2.64 gallons) I am going to pay $15.71

(There are 4.546 litres to a gallon.)

The difference in price is $1.67 *based on todays fuel prices in (Whitecourt AB from GasBuddy)

A bottle of Amsoil Motorcycle Octane Boost is going to run you about $5.00

I am going to use 1/2 a bottle in the scenario above at a cost of $2.50

They recommend 1.3 ounces of Octane Boost per gallon and say that one 4 ounce bottle will treat 4-6 gallons of gas. (The tank on my bike is rated as a 5 gallon tank - 22.73 litres)

Am I saving any money using Motorcycle Octane Boost? No I am not.

The reasons I use Amsoil Motorcycle Octane Boost:

Less wear and tear on my engine and fuel system; I am getting a more consistent octane level, which means better low rpm performance and better start up. 

It means less engine knock/pinging that can cause all kinds of internal damage and I am keeping my fuel system cleaner because of the detergents that are in the product. 

The other benefit is a less degraded fuel if I happen not to ride for a week or two.

You have to be careful with any Octane Boost because if you spill it and don't wipe it up immediately you will end up with stained paint.

For me as a rider in the North, carrying Amsoil's Motorcycle Octane Boost just makes sense and if you plan on riding in the North, I recommend you pack a few bottles in your saddlebags!

I also began using Amsoil's 20W50 Synthetic Oil for my bike, I'll discuss that transition and my findings in a future write up! 

Suffice it to say that I am still using Amsoil products...

A lot of repair shops carry Amsoil Motorcycle Octane Boost, our you can get it from the great people at KAT Enterprises out of Red Deer - they are members of our Rider Friendly Business Association!

And, if you do any amount of long distance riding, KAT Enterprises offers a really great ship ahead service!

They can arrange to have your oils, filters etc. sent ahead to your dealer or repair shop of choice.

I used their ship ahead service during my 2013 Bikers United in Remembrance Conga - I let Kelly know which repair shop to ship my oils, filters and octane boost to and I had the piece of mind knowing that my bike would have consistency in it's services and the products that were used!

It was a fantastic experience!

They can do the same for you!

Contact:



Kelly Soule: (403) 350-6274
Or 

Arlene Peterson at: (403) 318-7595

Have a great day..

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

If you'll give me a blood sample and oral swab - I'll give you $65 - the price of freedom in the USA.

Sometimes the chair I sit in can be a very disturbing place.

I had been doing some research yesterday for an article I am working on when I came across several articles regarding roadside "surveys" in Texas where they were taking blood samples, mouth swabs and using passive breathalyzer machines on randomly selected drivers.  

Upon further reading and investigation, I read about 2 Alabama counties that had also run the roadside surveys back in June.  In the back of my mind I thought - no way, this has to be a hoax, I ran the information through snopes.com  and no fraudulent articles came up so I thought maybe I am not asking to search the right terms.

I posted two of the articles on Facebook and asked for people's opinions and was told by a friend from Texas that yes, in fact these roadside surveys had been conducted in Fort Worth.  I went to bed last night feeling disturbed. How could this kind of thing be going on in the USA and there be no real public outcry or anger at civil liberties being abused? 

Google search: 
Oral Swabs and blood tests NHTSA 
Oral Swabs and blood tests NHTSA Fort Worth
Oral swabs and blood tests NHTSA Alabama

for yourself and read the multitude of articles that come up.

I started my morning reading emails, running through the news feeds and doing research with my morning coffee in hand and as I came across a 2007 report from PIRE, my coffee ended up all over my computer screen and keyboard.

What caused me to spit my coffee out in absolute bewilderment and disgust?   

Pilot Test of New Roadside Survey Methodology for Impaired Driving

Lacey, John H.; Kelley-Baker, Tara; Furr-Holden, Debra; Brainard, Katharine; and Moore, Christine 

Report   (2007)

This study developed and tested procedures to enhance roadside survey procedures to include collecting and analyzing oral fluid and blood samples from the nighttime weekend driving population. Roadside surveys involve collecting information from a random sample of drivers. In the past, they have been used to measure the extent of alcohol use in the nighttime driving population in order to establish regular measures of that activity, which is a measure of progress in reducing impaired driving. This study developed and tested techniques to extend the scope of that measurement to drugs other than alcohol. Breath and oral fluid samples were successfully collected from over 600 drivers at 6 locations across the United States. Blood samples were obtained from approximately half of those subjects. Laboratory analyses for alcohol and other drugs were conducted on the oral fluid and blood samples. Procedures and results are described in this report. The findings indicate that this form of expanded roadside survey is practicable in the United States. The intent of this Pilot Test was to develop and test procedures that would be used in the next full-scale national roadside survey. It was not designed to yield a nationally-representative sample of the nighttime weekend driving population; thus the results are not representative of the United States as a whole.

The news that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US had in fact contracted PIRE to do a PILOT  Study on "Voluntary" Roadside Surveys made what was reported out of Texas in the last few days and Alabama back in June to be highly believable. 

If you'd like to read the 2007 Survey you can find it here: http://www.nhtsa.gov/search?q=Pilot+test+new+roadside+survey&x=-1075&y=-12

What people in the two states, Texas and Alabama, reported is similar to the information reflected in the 2007 report: off duty police officers work with PIRE to take blood samples, mouth swabs and use passive breathalyzer machines to collect data on drug and or alcohol impairment and what drugs drivers may be using.

What stuns me beyond belief is how many Americans gave up their rights and freedoms for a reward of approximately $65.  
I guess that is the price of freedom in the United States these days.

Just to confirm the information I have read, the news articles out of Texas and Alabama that I came across, and the 2007 report on the pilot test I found, I did Email the NHTSA and asked questions regarding the recently reported roadside "surveys". 

I'll let you know if I get any answer, but with the time and distance between the survey stops that have been conducted so far and the fact that there is no confirmation on a currently running program on either the NHTSA or the PIRE web sites I highly doubt that this organization will come across with any information. What I did learn through the various articles I read is that some 30 cities are to be targeted this time and the program is costing some 7.9 million dollars. 

In doing further research I came across some connections to MADD that had me my eyebrow raised:

MADD in the US is partnered with PIRE as a sponsor and Kathryn Stewart - a sociologist and PIRE team member is on the board of directors for MADD.

In Canada MADD is attempting to push legislation via a private members bill introduced by the NDP's Tarik Brahmi, that would lead Canada down the same slippery slope the US appears to be on.

If you want your voice heard on this topic here in Canada, write to the good people below:

Canadian Constitution Foundation
Chris Schafer
1830 – 52 Street SE
Suite 240
Calgary, AB T2B 1N1

Phone: 1.888.695.9105x. 101

Email: cschafer@theccf.ca

Tarik Brahmi - NDP
Saint-Jean Member of Parliament
Constituency Office:
315 Macdonald Street, Suite 117
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec J3B 8J3
Telephone: 450-357-9100
Fax: 450-357-9109

Parliament Hill Office:
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-5296
Fax: 613-992-9849
E-mail: Tarik.Brahmi@parl.gc.ca

MADD Canada
Angeliki Souranis
2010 Winston Park Drive, Suite 500
Oakville, Ontario L6H 5R7
Phone: 905-829-8805 or Toll Free: 1-800-665-6233
Fax: 905-829-8860
Email: info@madd.ca

And then sign and share our petition to Remove Police Chief John Hagarty - discrimination of our community and the stripping of people's rights and freedoms needs to be curbed and only a united community will see that happen.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A violation of rights in the name of protection

Queensland Australia has become a battle ground and the collateral damage is mounting.

The government there has decided to crack down on the bikies with some of the most extreme of laws including banning members of bikie gangs from owning Tattoo parlours and tow trucks.
Visit the United Motorcycle Council Web Site to read up on these laws: http://www.umcinc.com.au/index.php?page=anti-biker-laws-human-rights

I have shared with you stories about motorcycle events in Australia being threatened, about riders being stopped 11 days in a row and about riders going to a funeral being stopped and searched even after phoning into the police to make their involvement in a funeral cortege known.

Now I bring you a story about a young private, currently serving in the military, with a department of Defence ID card, is searched in front of his own home at 1:30 in the morning, lights flashing, so all of his new neighbours could see.

He's a member of the Patriots Australia riding club, a non 1 % club with a clear constitution that states they do not accept criminal behaviour and is NOT on the criminal bikie list.

According to the article, the police officers who searched him were not interested in his department of Defence ID Card, they had never heard of his club and they did not charge him with anything.

He's 22, heavily tattooed, rides a Harley and wears a riding club patch.

Private Noah Schefe was strip-searched outside his home.

Do YOU think he was profiled?

Do YOU think his rights were violated?

I want your thoughts on this topic.

There are a ton of wonderful, wonderful Toy Run articles in the news feeds today - I hope they offer some balance to the sad news out of Australia.

News  - Lifestyles - Motorcycle Events International


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The Motorcycle community - being fleeced by other riders?

Is the biker community being fleeced by other riders?

Read about these two groups and then decide for yourself...

Bikers Against Drunk Drivers in the US has been under investigation regarding how it spends the money people donate.

Cyril Huze did a piece on this rather dubious appearing group - How does BADD Spend your Money? An On Going Investigation

There is no crime in being paid an industry/regional standard amount to do a job for a non profit.
Not many can devote 40 hours a week for free to a charity or non profit. People need to eat.

But when you read this article, you will see that there are a number of things that have transpired that make the people investigating BADD have some very legitimate questions to ask:

"According to state records, in 2012 BADD took in about $879,000, but gave less than one percent — about $8,700 — to victims. Instead, the organization spent about $200,000 on rent, nearly $32,000 on bank charges, about $28,000 on a prize display, nearly $7,000 on supplies, about $6,600 on postage and shipping and approximately $13,000 on advertising, state records show. The year before, BADD reported revenue of nearly a million dollars but gave only about $9,200 to victims, while spending nearly half a million on professional fund raisers."

"While state filings do indicate that outreach is part of their mission, so is helping victims, which is where experts say BADD is falling short. Perkins would not reveal how much money he’s making from BADD. On state returns, he lists his address as a UPS mailbox in Ormond Beach, Florida but it turns out he actually lives a little farther south. Towering above the Miami Beach skyline, in the shadow of South Beach is the Portofino Tower. Records show Perkins lives in this “ultra luxury” high rise with a woman named Wahida Benferhat, who coincidentally is listed as the charity’s director. Records show Benferhat bought the condo worth about $950,000 in March. According to the property appraiser, there is no mortgage, which suggests the nearly $1 million condo was paid for in cash.

Records show Perkins also owns a 27-foot pleasure boat similar to one that, according to the state, is registered under the charity’s name. Despite traveling to Miami to speak with Perkins, he declined WESH 2′s interview requests… I am not sure that the BADD’s Sponsors are aware of BADD’s official record regarding the very poor amount provided to those who are hurt by drunken drivers."

Here in Canada we are not immune to those who appear to be rather dubious either.

Ray Sasseville and his crew are attempting a comeback event at the old Merritt Music Mountain Fest Site - dubbed as Sturgis Canada 2014 the "New" event is filled with American entertainers and Celebs from the American Motorcycle Community.

Under the header of Sturgis South Dakota Friends and Attendees on the home page they list:
Jasmine Cain - Headliner act
Kimmy Cruz - HOST of the 1st Sturgis Canada
Jack Schit - EMCEE
Their security head is even from the US - Keith DeNinno.

They are apparently counting on people who want to meet the "Stars" of the real Sturgis OR perhaps they have had to go that far a field to find people willing to work with them.

To my way of thinking, I believe they are hoping that the American Biker Celebs will give the event some credibility. In fact, they appear to use the name Sturgis SD as often as they can in their write ups about their American Celebs.

Kimmy Cruz is coming back for a third time, this time as the HOST - a message I am sure the promoters want people to absorb.

From the "Sturgis South DakotaFriends and Attendees information on the home page:
"I have been fortunate to be part of the first two festivals and feel honored to be asked to host the historic, first ever Sturgis Canada. See you all there.

I guess a paid endorsement like that is supposed to make the facts look less unfavourable?

The organizers appear to KNOW they have a credibility issue, I am sure of it, because if you look on their web site - they even have a link called PROOF...and on that page, they offer up a page 2 where they have Babes & Bikes but guess what - at least 5 of those pictures are from the Internet and not their event.

They are using a blend of photos from the Hay days of the Merritt Music Mountain Fest and from the failed Sturgis 2011 and 2012 events to prove they are legit and attempt to give themselves the appearance of people who know how to do a good job.

Under the Charity link - they are using old 2011 and 2012 letters from ministers of the government, to lend credibility to who they are (If the secretary who typed this was mine, I'd fire her.)

When the entertainers who are paid to perform and the celebrities who are paid to endorse this event go home, I wonder, will the 2014 event leave as much financial destruction as it has in the past?
I wonder if people will leave feeling like their pockets were raped and hoovered clean?

Yes, Canada needs a great national motorcycle event. It would be a wonderful thing - however, in my personal humble opinion, anything run by Ray Sasseville and his team is suspect based on their track record.

The fact that they feel the need to associate themselves with the most prolific and prestigious of all biker events in Sturgis SD by hiring so many of the people who are connected to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in SD makes me ask the question...is there not an original bone in their collective bodies?

For those of you who don't know and those who need a reminder - here is a link to a blog post I did on who the man behind this event is: Sturgis North 2013 Will you support it?
In the above linked article, I chronicle the information about this man and his financial dealings from public records, pulling it all together in one spot so you can educate yourself.

For those in my circle who have attended Sturgis North in the past, I urge you to share the information here with anyone you find out might be supporting or attending this event - help them make an informed choice about who they are dealing with.

If you choose to support this event, remember their track record and if things don't turn out well - at least you won't be able to say that you weren't warned.

Have a great Sunday

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider



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