Interesting---EPA and GOV at work

http://motorcycling.speedtv.com/article/bikes-federal-action-to-allow-more-ethanol-in-gasoline-could-damage-motorcy/

http://motorcycling.speedtv.com/article/bikes-federal-action-to-allow-more-ethanol-in-gasoline-could-damage-motorcy/

This has been the subject of heated debates on other bike forums I frequent (both street and dirt).
My suggestion would be, if the ZX14 requires premium (91 octane) fuel (does it?), look for a station in your area that advertises "no alchohol in the premium". Shell is one such brand of gas that has a no alchy premium. There are a couple of others around my area that have this too, but Shell happens to be the easiest for me to get to, so I use it in my dirt bike. Gen 1 Hayabusa is quite happy with 87 octane, so I'm using E10 in it.
I'd say, if they go to E15, there will still be E10 in a seperate pump/hose, just like the E85 is now.

I'm not surprised the EPA has done this crap. They've moved away from doing actual science (as they have been mandated under NEPA), and have become a bunch of administrative government tree-huggers.

look for a station in your area that advertises "no alchohol in the premium". Shell is one such brand of gas that has a no alchy premium.

Super America an BP both have premium without ethanol. The lower grades have the ethanol. The pumps are labeled.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/22/2010 @ 9:59 PM *

Rook; Just gassed up the car yesterday at a BP, and it said "10% ethanol" on the pump above all 3 octanes. I don't know if it's dependant on location. I always used Shell because of no ethanol, but the last couple years it seems like BP gas has been more stable.

Alg8er, yes, it's very dependant on where you live. Check out: Pure-gas.org for ethanol free fuels.

Guess i was wrong. Was to BP tonight and yep, all three grades have 10% ethanol. It is not posted on the individual grades but the nozzle hanger has a sign above it which I'm sure pertains to all 3 grades.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/23/2010 @ 10:20 PM *

Rook Wrote:

Guess i was wrong. Was to BP tonight and yep, all three grades have 10% ethanol. It is not posted on the individual grades but the nozzle hanger has a sign above it which I'm sure pertains to all 3 grades.

Rook, HERE is an EPA map of RFG (reformulated gas) areas. It is a few years out of date, so there are obviously more areas that have been added that require RFG. It does illustrate some of the mandated areas (2007). All areas shaded in red are mandatory counties which sell ALL RFG (usually with ethanol) and with no exceptions to grades. Wisconsin for example has had ethanol mandated in six southeastern counties. This has been implemented by the EPA in SE Wisconsin since I believe January 1, 1996. Problem is, even when driving outside of the "non attainment zone", it is still getting harder to find good old fashion pure gasoline. The EPA has been forcing gasoline companies to distribute more & more ethanol, whether it's in a non attainment zone or not. Good thing for me...I drive west on most of my rides and fill up at a few of my favorite "pure stations" before coming home into the nasty EPA restricted counties.

* Last updated by: CoolWhip on 10/24/2010 @ 5:35 PM *

...also, if I remember correctly, I think the *entire* state of Minnesota is now E-10. I read somewhere that Minnesota will go to (yikes)...E-20 in 2013 or thereabouts. South Dakota, I believe is another state that is ALL RFG. So RFG fuels are growing large. I am sure there are several more that are not on that map that should be updated.

I will have to check some pumps, but I guess one benefit of living in the sticks (western Maryland) is we are not mandated for RFG here, while all of eastern Maryland is.

Thanks for that map Coolwhip, I thought it was just my imagination that my bikes were running better when I refueled out on my rides away from the D-FW metroplex. Now I know why!