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France: Motorcycles Running Out Of Gas |
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File under Ecology France
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
Via: FFMC
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Being ecological is good, our planet needs a bit more attention. But changing a system without any thought of the real consequences is plain stupid. And when you mention stupid, you know we're talking about politicians.
In France, like most European countries, fuel is being supplemented with ethanol and called E10  . So basically you get 90% normal gasoline and about 10% ethanol. Allegedly, the E10 is more ecological than lead-free 95 RON fuel. The "experts" aren't really in agreement that E10 is more ecological since it takes a lot of energy to produce the E10, more than RON 95, and on top of that, farmers are now growing the products that are required to make ethanol, meaning that they are not growing food. So somewhere down the line, we'll not have food, but plenty of non-ecological fuel.
So far only 3 motorcycle manufacturers (BMW, Triumph and Honda) have published a policy that most (but not all) of their new motorcycles can use the new E10 fuel. Older types can NOT use E10 and vintage motorcycle will be condemned to a fast death if they use E10.
Most gasoline stations are now converted to E10 fuel. If you have a motorcycle that's not one of the three, or not one of the models of the three that can use E10, the only alternative is using 98 RON fuel. 98 is more expensive, and not always the best fuel to use either in your motorcycle.
So this means that more and more bikers find themselves stranded with no fuel, pushing their motorcycle from station to station trying to find normal fuel.
The French Angry Biker Association( FFMCFederation Francaise des Motards en Colere - Angry French Biker Association, an association of bikers fighting for the rights of motorcycle riders) is charting all stations that still have 95 RON fuel. But once they've all converted, you can only do one of two things: buy a new motorcycle that can use E10, or stop riding motorcycles (which is what the governments want you to do).
... or you bring a lot more fuel with you....
And all that for ecological reasons... so they say.
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