oldbikerehab Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I'm reading David Blume's "Alcohol Can Be A Gas: Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century" and the chapters on small utility engines, two-strokes, and motorcycle engines got me thinking. What are the major performance differences? (For starters. . .) It seems like someone with a good understanding of jetting and tuning could adjust for the octane differences, etc. and go off the grid with their fuel AND their WHISKEY! I'll try to put up a few of Blume's findings from some experiments a little later, but for now, I just thought I'd see if anyone had any good stories or experiences running their bikes on alcohol or other biofuels. Anybody ever have to get home on a pint of moonshine? rum? The Macallan? You can actually read some of the chapters with the amazon look inside feature at this link if you are curious. The small engine and motorcycle section I'm talking about starts on page 421. The pages that are blocked show an alcohol modded Puch moped and some small utility engine mods. http://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Can-Be-Gas-Revolution/dp/0979043778/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371597950&sr=8-1&keywords=david+blume+alcohol+can+be+a+gas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slice Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I always find that when I run my bike on alcohol I fall OFF!! Or is that just me? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE0 Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Speedway bikes run on pure Methanol (a simple alcohol not drinking alcohol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbikerehab Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 (knock on wood) I've never fallen off, slice, but it sure can be a tough ride home when everything looks like I'm going at light speed in the Millenium Falcon! Must be the fumes. Thanks for the note on Methanol, NE0. I'd wondered what to do with it, besides throw it out, if I have my own still some day. Blume mentions that alcohol fueled engines run cooler and that alcohol racers, dirt track racers, particularly, have been known to remove most or all of their heat fins, since they never idle during a race. . . For efficient running in street cycles, he recommends covering the leading edge of the fins to deflect most of the air and retain some heat in the block and head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewElvisFan Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I always find that when I run my bike on alcohol I fall OFF!! Or is that just me? Beat me to it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild foamy Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 There was a Triumph on TV that ran on fermented/distilled apples not too long ago, iirc it was putting out more power than the petrol-fueled bike but due to th eamount of distilling it used a stupendous amount of apples to even make a tankfull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Airhead Posted June 19, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 19, 2013 when I was a kid and used to mingle with the MX'ers, some of those guys ran their bikes on methanol It's incredible how cool those engines ran I remember that much, also they ran with much larger jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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