Bike hasn't been run for more than 6 months

[620dark]

Got some fresh petrol in it yesterday, turned it over a few times..still no life.  I've added Techron to this weekends shopping list so fingers crossed by Monday she'll be signing again. 

[Howie]

If your bike has been using E10 (10% alcohol)  open the cap and look for bubbles in the fuel when the pump primes.  You might have loose or cracked  fuel hoses.  If so, you must replace with SAE 30R10 fuel hose.

[620dark]

I've never used E10, 91 was the minimum as I heard some bikes don't like 98 for some reason...

Im guessing that bubbles are a sign of dodgy fuel hoses regardless of the fuel used?  I'll get the fuel additive, check the fuses, look for bubbles and try again over the weekend.

Massively thankful for the hints and tips, I really want to get it started without the help of a mechanic.

[Slide Panda]

I've never used E10, 91 was the minimum as I heard some bikes don't like 98 for some reason...

Never used E10? How's that even possible in this age? I can't find a pump that doesn't have E10.

What's the 91 and 98 you're referring to?

[620dark]

Never used E10? How's that even possible in this age? I can't find a pump that doesn't have E10.

What's the 91 and 98 you're referring to?

The octane rating of gasoline is measured in a test engine, and is defined by comparison with the mixture of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (iso-octane) and heptane which would have the same anti-knocking capacity as the fuel under test: the percentage, by volume, of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane in that mixture is the octane number of the fuel. For example, petrol with the same knocking characteristics as a mixture of 90% iso-octane and 10% heptane would have an octane rating of 90.[1] This does not mean that the petrol contains just iso-octane and heptane in these proportions, but that it has the same detonation resistance properties. Because some fuels are more knock-resistant than iso-octane, the definition has been extended to allow for octane numbers higher than 100.

95/98 Ron fuels are basically a bit better quality than 91 Ron or E10 which has a 10% ethanol.

[Dellikose]

So, is it basically the "racing" fuel I see around here? I think it's called CAM 2.

[Slide Panda]

The ethanol blend and octane rating aren't directly attached. Withing a couple hundred miles of me (on the east coast of the US), every pump I've visited has a lovely sticker plastered to it saying that the gas is E10, regardless of the octane rating. So don't assume that a given octane rating correlates to the percentage of ethanol in the gas blend.

Do you live in an area where ethanol free gas is available? If so, lucky you. That's not an option here.

Also, higher octane doesn't mean better for all engines. Running high octane fuels in a lower temp lower compression engine, like a circa 2000 air cooled Ducati, can lead to increased tail-tipe hydrocarbons from unburnt fuel. For older bikes like yours or mine premium fuels for regular use are waste of cash

[620dark]

I'm in Oz, our pumps have a choice of 91, 95, 98 in some places or an E10 blend. I run my car (Audi s3) on 98 and the bike on 91/95 as I had heard similar stories that my bike isn't a fan of 95+.

[620dark]

IT LIVES!!!!

Just wanted to thank everyone for the assistance, running like a dream after new fuel, plugs, battery, oil and filter.

I think she could do with a tune so got it booked into the local garage once I've run all the bad fuel through all the lines.

Cheers