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Post by mauiboy on May 1, 2011 18:24:59 GMT -6
My understanding is that the octane rating refers to the fuels ability to avoid detonation (knocking). I believe it works on the basis of the higher the compression ratio the higher the octane needed. So if you have a moderate to high compression engine you could need a higher octane rating and lose power and mpg and potentially damage your engine if you went too low or too high, a low compression engine should in theory lose power and mpg with a high rated fuel and in theory you could blow your legs off using 87 fuel in an 18:1 compression racing engine. The compression ratio is basically a measure of the difference in volume within the cylinder with the piston at the limits of its travel. Higher compression = less energy required for detonation so a fuel more resistant to detonation is required. I believe this is right, please anyone chime in if I have misunderstood! The issue is a little complicated by various factors 1- in some markets lower octane rated fuels are sold without some of the detergents etc that are added to higher octane fuels to make them a premium product. This creates an impression that a higher octane fuel = a 'better product'. In some respects this can be true, in others it is not so. 2- different markets use different methods of measurement such as RON, AKI (anti knocking index?), MON etc. So you can walk up to a pump in one country that has 93 written on it and the same pump in a different country and the fuels would not be equal. 3- different markets are tolerant of different qualities of fuel. Sometimes the economy and general engine development is a factor in this. Put basically, in the middle of the jungle where everyone uses 40 year old honda engines with wide tolerance everything from guiness up comes out of the pump (and wider specifications on the fuel keep it cheaper) but in a more modern environment where engines with tight tolerances and where an extra cent or two per liter won't starve anyone the fuel will likely have tighter specifications. Personally I run 3 or 4 tanks of plus and 3 or 4 of premium then switch back, I'm going to see after a few thousand miles if theres much of a difference. Sino scoot engines are fairly rugged and tolerant. Precision isn't a word that comes to mind. 'Good enough' seems to be the philosophy, along with not overcomplicating things. You possibly could run 87 in the scoot. The first few times I would carry a bottle of octane additive incase I head knocking. Again, if any of this sounds like bubbles to anyone chime in, I could be wrong and I don't mind being told  This is also all for octane rating / gas engines, although some similar thinking can be applied to cetane / diesel. In the UK higher octane fuels are marketed on giving you more MPG per tank which in some ways is counter intuitive to traditional thinking but I believe this is due to the extra detergents and additives added which help a cleaner ignition in more modern engines. It doesn't help trying to understand the situation however |
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Top speed
by: mauiboy - May 1, 2011 17:30:02 GMT -6
Post by mauiboy on May 1, 2011 17:30:02 GMT -6
My 'junker'  rocket A 150 will hit an indicated high 60's so around 60mph downhill. In reality (all indicated speeds, subtract 10% for real) on the flat it will hit 55mph, uphill into a headwind it will hit mid 40's depending on the gradient. Uphill without a headwind it will hit 50. Temperature plays a part and I have about 40 lbs on you and I'm 6 2 so probably act as a sail. This is on 13 inch wheels on possibly the worst 'roads' known to man or beast. If you haven't ridden on a scoot much before be very careful with higher speed cornering. As the engine and CVT is effectively adding to unsprung weight dealt with by the back wheel. On a 50cc scoot it isnt a huge issue, on a more 'powerful' 150 you can have some moments in the corners. I was acting like a 6 year old last week and took a corner at around 45mph indicated and as it was night and scoots have virtually no lights i missed spotting a palm branch on the roads and ran over it. Basically the suspension is worthless and I had a seesaw moment where I got lateral squirming on both wheels but mostly the rear. It was possible to hold the bike on line and complete the corner but it could have been worse. 150cc is just enough to get you in trouble |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 9, 2011 21:53:56 GMT -6
Thanks folks |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 8, 2011 4:49:58 GMT -6
Just actually checked and shell is at 4.36 a wonky gallon for 92  Starting to see expeditions etc for sale a lot more. |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 8, 2011 4:46:56 GMT -6
Rats, sorry if I offended anyone. Moving from Europe to the USA has highlighted quite a few ingrained cultural differences. Both have freedom of speech (both limited to a degree, just try posting diplomatic cables and you'll see ) but implemented in a different manner. I was curious as to peoples thoughts on how free speech is and should be Again apologies if I overstepped the line. We can get back to bemoaning fuel prices |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 8, 2011 1:02:21 GMT -6
Ditto, although I'm losing the junk sat on the seat, not under it I figure theres a good 50lbs to be lost there lol. We are about $4.30 a wonky gallon for the good juice, depending on where you buy. On the cable front here I think our speeds are doubling for 'free' this year sometime. Always nice to know. We are going from message in a bottle to carrier pigeon. Sorry to hear of your woes Mcalli, hopefully it will be fixed soon and you will have learned more about your new scoot! (as monty python sang, always look on the bright side of life). |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 7, 2011 21:27:50 GMT -6
Theres been a few stories lately in the press about extreme cases involving freedom of speech with two different outcomes. 1- www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-126643462- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_ChurchThis isn't intended to be a discussion about Islam which is no better or worse a faith than any other (Albanian Muslims rescued and safeguarded Jews in WW2, like any religion it has a few loonies at the fringe). There are loonies of all flavors out there It is rather sad that the folks in #1 didn't pay attention in school and learn about the number of Muslims that lost their lives fighting for the allied forces in WW1&2. So in both countries there is a protected right to free speech which I applaud. However, rights come with responsibilities. There are precedents for free speech not being universal. If I threatened someone I would be charged with terroristic threats, if I said something untrue I would be charged with slander. If I insulted your wife on the street I expect to be hit (and there are legal provisions that would diminish your accountability due to my provocation). It does not cover discriminatory remarks against religions, races, genders or sexualities. Leaving aside how grating it is that the guy in #1 is being subsidized heavily by the very state he is attacking , there has to be some recourse against those that abuse their right to free speech. I truly respect the right to free speech, it is extremely important in protecting us from tyranny, but there has to be some kind of provision for ensuring that it is not used as a cover for something more sinister. It cannot be right that on the one hand you can be charged for inciting hatred against a religion, but extremists (their specific flavor aside, Baptist , Muslim, whatever) can incite hatred themselves and hide behind free speech? Protesting funerals of soldiers who were doing as they were told is wrong IMHO. They should be protesting the government who gave the orders. Protesting the funerals is about hatred not making a statement. Just how to define that in law without degrading the right to genuine protest I'm curious as to how you yankees think given the different approaches to free speech between Europe and the USA |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 5, 2011 20:54:22 GMT -6
great find! have to grab some of those myself. thanks!
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 5, 2011 4:45:03 GMT -6
HI has a course for $200 which allows you to ride and insure a >50cc but you really still need to get the licence I think? It just allows you to buy a bike and ride it during the day only without a passenger for up to a year (the dmv test removes these restrictions). I just took the test for $10 and skipped the course. I do intend to go back and do the shorter experienced rider course for those that like to do things arse backwards and take the test first as I am sure I will learn plenty. The test here was pretty easy, a 90 degree corner and stop in a box. A cone weave and a U turn, an emergency stop and a weave I think. I managed it after being awake for 22 hours on an unfamiliar loaner I got 3 points for skidding on my controlled stop, rode though a small lake on my way to the stop and forgot the loaner didnt have abs The tests really aren't that hard but the safety course is a great idea! Amazing to see states doing them free. If only the driving test was tougher and could somehow weed out muppets. |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 5, 2011 3:04:39 GMT -6
I was just checking my crystal ball and saw PJ hard at work... M/C Ah an OS2 warp user |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 3, 2011 8:10:36 GMT -6
oh god don't I know it lol although 4.167% gst is better than 20%vat in europe! Sales only tax (tx has this at a state level right) is a decent idea if it could be implemented, fairly, however I think that it would make saving a fortune rather than spending it more attractive to the rich. Hawaii's state tax has far too many bands at close intervals and the same crazy hodepodge of deductions etc. If the whole thing were simplified the govt would collect more money, the volcano would be full of cheats, we would all pay less tax and a whole load of bean counters could be redeployed to useful work. On the whole it would have to make the country more competitive right? The bands would probably be closer to 7, 15 and 25% with maybe 7500 tax free per household member (technically dogs are dependants for tax reasons right? how about fish, theyre pretty dependant on me). It did make me chuckle, someone wrote to the paper suggesting the state simply not pay tax refunds to help the budget crisis. If that were the case I would set my witholding to 30/30 and pay no tax until year end, watch the states cash flow then |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 3, 2011 7:11:39 GMT -6
Wading through the minefield that is the US tax code is soul destroying! In the past (in another country) tax was subtracted from wages and it was always right (no idea how they managed that when the couldn't organise a tickle in a brothel). Now it seems like by default I am paying more for less but also have to engage in some complicated ballet of mathematics to get money back. Given the IRS costs 12.5bn a year to run, I think there would be some savings to be made by grossly simplifying the tax code. 3 tax brackets (low earner, comfortable and filthy rich), a simple flat tax free allowance per member of the household. No deductions allowed (if its business related, the company can pay) any any fiddling gets you thrown in the volcano. No capital gains low rates for main income. No fancy offshore trusts (see the volcano again). With respect to targetting specific groups with assistance, make it an application and payout system rather than tax breaks. Potentially more expensive upfront but easier to track entitlement fraud. The sad thing is the system could be far simpler and fairer AND we would probably end up paying less. Whilst my suggested scheme is probably far from perfect it's mean to be illustrative I don't mind paying taxes but it shouldn't take an army of accountants for it to be fair. Neither should it take an army on the other end to stop folks fiddling. Apparently the IRS brings in something like 120bn a year in underpayments (genuine mistakes and outright dodgyness) , thats a huge chunk of cheating! |
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Post by mauiboy on Mar 1, 2011 10:37:37 GMT -6
Isn't it something to do with a certain number of degrees off tdc for the spark firing?
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Post by mauiboy on Feb 27, 2011 1:06:49 GMT -6
And the really aggravating thing is most of our oil actually comes from Canada. Yeah whats that aboot? Fuel prices could double over the next year and the world would keep turning. People would just need to get over the need for insanely sized vehicles to make up for tiny tonkas. Us poor buggers in the pacific would find it tough to use ac so much as we tend to rely on diesel generator power stations, but as power becomes more expensive alternatives like wind and wave become more attractive. High oil prices are the best thing that could happen to the environment. There are folks here who feel the need for a f350 for no other reason than to take their boards to the beach and attract bar flies, and there are those that mod their scoots to take a board (the smaller the board the bigger the kahoonies). My biggest worry is that the oil companies have been quietly been buying all the patents for important renewable technologies (its what I would do if i was them and with billions in profits and a dwindling supply of resources) so we will end up paying no matter what. The USA is without a doubt a great country, but when I read the constitution and the amendments and listen to the anthem, then I look around me, there is a gulf between the aspirations and the reality (to be fair this is common in many countries). A disconnect has emerged between work and reward. Money begets money, work begets work. Sic semper tyrannis. |
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Post by mauiboy on Feb 26, 2011 9:22:30 GMT -6
It's not quite that bad, their gallons are bigger and their car engines are smaller and return higher mpg (at least anything in the last 10 years) on average. We has a small turbo diesel that would return 65+mpg (real world) and had no problem returning over a ton and was awesome for passing at any speed due to the torque.
The real gotcha in the UK is its not one tax, its 2. Theres fuel duty which is per litre AND sales tax which is a percentage of the cost, so when the fuel price rises duty to the oil price the sales tax makes more money AND because the duty is a fix cost they govt gets to say in real terms the tax is lower this week than last week. So basically, they get it all ways. When fuel drops they often find a need to escalate the duty.
The 'upside' is as a % compared to the states a fuel crisis doesnt push the cost as high because its only affecting maybe 30% of the cost and not 80% of the cost.
Gas is going to keep going up, I dont doubt that soon we will see who really needs their f150 and for whom it is a tonka embellishment device. Once they are off the road theres more room for scoots!
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This is also all for octane rating / gas engines, although some similar thinking can be applied to cetane / diesel.
rocket A 150 will hit an indicated high 60's so around 60mph downhill. In reality (all indicated speeds, subtract 10% for real) on the flat it will hit 55mph, uphill into a headwind it will hit mid 40's depending on the gradient. Uphill without a headwind it will hit 50. Temperature plays a part and I have about 40 lbs on you and I'm 6 2 so probably act as a sail. This is on 13 inch wheels on possibly the worst 'roads' known to man or beast. 
Starting to see expeditions etc for sale a lot more.