Dirty Fuel

Did I mention I like bikes? I do... Of any kind; pedal bikes, motorbikes, and the like... Two wheels are always a delight. Deny it and we might get in a fight. Alright?

Years ago, I joined a friend on a what turned out to be a 500 mile long motorcycle day trip that would prove to be unforgettable for a myriad of reasons. Not least of which was its dubious start.

We met up early, with the crisp morning dew caressing the shiny surfaces of our bikes as we headed out of town for the first fill-up of the day. Seconds after leaving the gas station, the sweet sound of our big bore v-twins was cut in half, as my ride choked and gasped to a halt. I coasted to the side of the road, while running a mental checklist of possible causes, and trying to flag down my eager friend, now a quarter mile up the road.

One press of the push start, and the racebred rumble returned as if it never missed a beat. By now, my partner had made a u-turn and was pulling up alongside me, gesturing impatiently.

"She died on me..." I said, scanning the engine area, looking to poke something back into place. We both knew that unexpected engine malfunctions while on a "spirited" ride could kill more than just our fun.

"Bad fuel maybe?...", offered my friend. "Probably..." I said, now scowling at the somewhat decrepit gas station behind us.

Bad fuel usually means water contamination, which will cause an engine to sputter, spit, cough and miss, every time it ingests the undesirable fluid. Water does not mix with gasoline and tends to sit at the bottom of the tank, sloshing around, waiting for the worst possible time to be sucked into the fuel system, wrecking havoc with the performance and reliability of an engine.

The disconcerting behaviour would repeat itself for several miles. How ironic that state-of-the-art machinery, capable of hair raising performance could be quenched by a few drops of unwanted water.

On a modern bike, troubleshooting a problem, especially an intermittent one, can be a frustrating and time consuming exercise, with too many variables to rule out. But given the abrupt and curious timing of the malfunction, as well as our eagerness to resume the journey, the diagnosis seemed to fit. As did the prescribed treatment plan - ride it until (E)mpty.

Our day long ride was interrupted several times by the contaminant within my fuel tank, and were it not for the availability of clean fuel, I might have wasted my time attempting to fix the wrong components, or worse, I may have become accustomed to a tainted fuel source.

Recently, a popular idol from the world of two wheels was brought low by a confession that shocked many. A confession of a tank that had been filled with dirty fuel. As fans, pundits and haters rushed to label the undoubtedly inexcusable actions of a man worshipped beyond reason, I found myself appreciating him, and the barren land where he has parked his proverbial bike.

No, I won't excuse any of it, nor do I see a very public apology at the end of a long and hostile defence, as a truly voluntary admission. It had the feel of a marlin saying to its catcher; "I give up." from the hull of the fishing boat, after an hours long duel. His words can never serve us the way we might have hoped. But they can serve him, who now has as clear a mirror to stare at as he ever has.

We have all done things that if scrutinized, would deeply shame us. I know I have. Not many of us have the good looks, the fame, the money, and the victory over probable death with half a world cheering us on, like this man did. If our fuel is this impure in our state of anonymity, how deplorable would it be under that kind of adulation?

The proclivity, even insistence on dirty fuel is common to all. Using episodes like this recent one to point a finger at someone whose fuel is worse than ours, or simply more visible, in order to feel exonerated, is choosing to look the other way of truth. It is choosing to call dirty fuel - clean, and opting to return to its source rather that seek out a new one.

There is fuel available, made by the manufacturer, which more than exceeds the specifications of our machinery. Fuel so incredibly clean that there will never be need of another. All we need to do is face the state of our condition and ask for a fill-up of the good stuff. That is why running on empty is a good thing.

The tragedy isn't that one person found himself running on dirty fuel. The real tragedy is that so many never do.