Steve G.

Around here ethanol has been an option since the '70's, common since around 2000 (as I recall), and required since about 2005. And it is the primary fuel in Brazil. Do they sell Guzzi's or Ducati's there? I do read, and I keep an open but skeptical mind when I do so. Because someone on the internet says something happened to them and this is why, I don't automatically believe them. Especially when my own experience says otherwise. As mentioned, I have been running my bikes on a gas ethanol blend for a while. I do not know what part, if any, ethanol plays in the fuel tank issue. But it does seem stupid to blame the ethanol when most if not all of the bikes affected were supposed to be able to run on up to 10% ethanol. Even if it was the ethanol eating the tanks the fault would seem to be with the tank, not the ethanol. I don't see what political views has to do with this either. My bikes are all non voters. They have no political affiliations. I'm a fence sitter politically, and don't want to bring politics into this. Politics is for ametuers, facts are for grownups. I was simply bringing to note the original reason ethanol was brought in as a widely used additive, and the high profile person who promoted it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332231/Al-Gores-U-turn-corn-ethanol-I-mistake.html I simply and without any agenda bring forth caution to using 10% ethanol blended fuels in vehicles with plastic or fibreglass fuel tanks. As the thread title asks for thoughts on this subject, I simply bring forth what I think is pretty strong evidence that there is a concern. It seems obvious from the feedback I'm in the minority, and I'm ok with that. You guys can use 100% ethanol and it will not cost me any worry, in fact it might be a good test subject to see what happens, I'd be very interested to see the results. I've done my part to at least bring to light evidence for my thoughts. Personal skepticism is a healthy thing, but don't you think it would be wise to at least offer the thought of a possibility of this problem, rather than throw it all out and say just use anything? Steve

sigh,,,,,,,,

I guess you can use what you want, i really don't care. If you want to call all this "just a lot of assumptions and spexculations", it's a free world. When you say ethanol has been the standard for ages, how long do you define ages? If you read, you will understand that ethanol was partially a stop gap measure to replace the additive mtbe, which was seriously affecting ground drinking water everywhere. Enter the all powerfull corn farmer lobbyists in Washington, and that nutbar Al Gore, a here we are. Steve

http://www.kindgirls.com/

Well, heads up guys. It is an issue, and info like these sites are the result: http://pure-gas.org/ http://www.ashonbikes.com/content/ducati-facing-us-lawsuit http://www.stayontheblack.com/ducati-in-class-action-lawsuit-for-gas-tank-issues/ http://www.ducati.ms/forums/77-sport-classic/97926-tank-spreading-europe-germany.html Steve

Just as well you got rid of the Ducati. the engines really are just a pile of shite! I borrowed an ST2 in New Zealand last February, nice handling, fairly comfortable, but after a $1000 tuneup, I was told that the belts could not be changed, the covers couldn't be removed as the nuts inside the plastic were spinning. So after being told to nurse it for next 3 weeks, running 3500-6500rpm, the engine literally physically exploded, yes, the engine cases blew apart!!!! in the middle of nowhere! Never, NEVER will I EVER buy a belt drive Ducati EVER!!! BTW, the Aprilia will be a great bike, well done. Steve To be fair to Ducati's any badly maintained belt drive engine is going to let go in a big way eventually !! It sounds like that particular ST had been seriously mistreated, as the ST2 is basically a 2 valve 851/888 motor it is pretty tough and if maintained correctly reliable. Yes, maintaning a machine is important. In this case, the belts did not fail. I was pampering the bike because they could not be changed at the time. actually, there was a catastrauphic gearbox failure that blew the engine cases apart, the bike was singing along at 110km in 6th, go figure.

Just as well you got rid of the Ducati. the engines really are just a pile of shite! I borrowed an ST2 in New Zealand last February, nice handling, fairly comfortable, but after a $1000 tuneup, I was told that the belts could not be changed, the covers couldn't be removed as the nuts inside the plastic were spinning. So after being told to nurse it for next 3 weeks, running 3500-6500rpm, the engine literally physically exploded, yes, the engine cases blew apart!!!! in the middle of nowhere! Never, NEVER will I EVER buy a belt drive Ducati EVER!!! BTW, the Aprilia will be a great bike, well done. Steve

I'll assume that this German E10 is 10% ethanol. This fuel does and had effected the plastic/nylon fuel tanks of ALL V11 Sports/Lemans' models. The same company that made these, Acerbis Italy, also makes the tanks for Ducati, [monster, Classic series, 1098/1198] of which there is a class action lawsuit with problems of expanding/warping tanks, bubbling paint, etc. In my opinion, ethanol enriched fuels are not even good enough for my Honda lawnmower, absolute shite!!! Steve

Well,,,,,the Scura, like the Tenni, and the Rosso Mandello have the dreaded single plate clutch system with the scatter prone alumimium flywheel. Steve

That muffler looks alarmingly like the one on my Ford pickup. I admire the fact that you have donated your bike to hybrid technology and recreational pharmacy therapy. Steve

Capt Nemo, we missed you!!!!

Good info, many thanks!! Steve

I've decided to be pro-active and look for any possible electrical issues before a decent sized ride I'm doing next month. The two I've always read about on this forum which can prevent a button start up are 1] the side stand kill switch, and 2] the clutch switch. I took the clutch switch off yesterday, and found the thing is essentially sealed, with no serviceable parts to fix, bond, or otherwise renew. I'm wanting to know if the fix to this thing is to simply permanantly join the two incoming wires, or am I missing something? Steve

I saw that bike in person a few yrs back, at a vintage bike rally in Seattle. He is a bike customizer on crack, not literally, but artistically. steve

I've been reading reports about these flywheels breaking for yrs now. I have to say, if this happened to me, I'd be so pissed at MG, I'd sell the bike. The engineering dept at Moto Guzzi should have been fired for this @#!#$# up. Rosso, Tenni, and Scura models are definitely off my wish list. Steve

I saw one a couple yrs ago painted navy blue, with gold lettering, polished silver wheels, gosh it looked good! Steve

Well, 2 1/2 months of complete venting/airing out has caused the tank to return to it's original shap with no permanent damage. This was a sigificant lesson for me. luckily there's easy access to ethanol free gasolines where I reside. Travelling in the USA will be tougher, but I shall try to map out stations that offer it before I head out. Steve

The SV650 Suzuki is the best middle weight bike available, especially at your target price. Steve

Yup, that's pretty expensive!! Vancouver, 94 Chevron right now is about $1.48/litre cdn, so 16litres is about $23/US. I'm not complaining. Steve

Not sure if you are commenting on the fuel economy of your bike, or the cost of fuel these days. As a resident of the area with the highest gasoline prices in North America, I understand your situation,,,,and know that the prices we pay in NA are just a % of the prices you have to deal with in Scotland. If you are refering to your mileage per tankfull, I think your bike is in the average that can be expected with the spine frame V11's. Steve

I've always been curious to know how to move to such a lovely place? I'm assuming you live in the EU, so living there is not a legal issue,,,,,and are financially 'stable'?? Steve

Last month I was riding one of these ST2's in New Zealand, my buddy's, planning on 3 weeks. Well,,,,,,,10 days into it, it had what can best be described as a "terminal catastrauphic failure". Part of the deal was to rent the bike by giving it a complete front to back tuneup, everything!!! including wheels bearings, chain/sprockets, I mean everything! While riding at the back of a gang of 7, we were in the south Isle heading north out of Queenstown, near the village of Tarras. Long story short, shifted down to 5th gear to take a turn, a huge explosion quickly followed by mass amounts of smoke. Turned out that the right engine case split open, not 100% sure why, whether a gearbox failure, or wrong torque on the engine bolt holding the engine into the frame at the back. An 'interesting' result of this case opening up to the atmosphere, the crankcase ventilation system sucked over a litre of oil up into the gearbox, in maybe 10 seconds, so almost all the smoke, a James Bond style smoke screen, came out of the tailpipe, not from being spilled onto the outside of the exhaust. So,,,,look for hairline cracks around the rear retaining bolt. Sounds like it's not uncommon to happen. I've owned Ducatis before, so had a bit of trepidation when this riding opportunity came along, and, as a result treated the bike VERY carefully. As it turned out, it blew up anyways. This has confirmed the thoughts never to have a Ducati, NEVER! Steve

Oh, that's sad news. I've dropped in there at least 5 times in the last 10 yrs. Was last in there last October, chatted with him at least an hour, just chatting about everything. Super nice old fellow! He actually remembered me from when I bought a tank bag off him for my V11 in 2002!! Thanks for telling me. I'll be thinking about him. Steve

Mine has done the same. Got challenging getting it on and off. I have read that leaving it drained and off will not correct the situation. This was my solution..................... Built by John Williams - The Tank Shop Bob Very cool!! Tell me, are you planning on eventually painting the tank, or keeping it as polished aluminium? Can you see any issues with haveing it painted, or would it need proper block sanding to smooth the surface for a nice mar free paint coat? Steve