Triumph Tiger Cub with E10 fuel in tank first attempt to start after 2 months.

Just a bit of an experiment, in view of this machine not having been started in 2 months. Having contacted my local filling station while composing this, it would seem they have been selling E10 fuel since it became a legal requirement to do so, which appears to be since summer 2021, as far as I can tell. This would mean there has been E10 fuel in this machine, as well as a couple of others of mine, for some time now and, so far, so good.

[@westho7314]

My favorite moto of all time, after over 60 years of daily and distance moto riding and 1.5 million miles in the saddle on everything from Harley's to Honda's to the almighty Hayabusa, The Triumph Cubs in all their different riding configurations is the super moto that's closest to my heart (if a mere machine can possibly fill that emotion) I had a stock 1967 (Trail Cub model i think) that i bought in 1969 off a used moto lot for $250/ USD with about 1100km/ 700 miles on the clock. As a teenager at the time & obsessed with all motorcycles i had quite a growing collection of $100-$400 vintage & affordable motorcycles at that time including HD Knucks & Panheads, an Indian Chief, Moto Guzzi & BMW r500 twin & r250 thumper, BSA A-10 non unit twin , a 500 goldstar, 441 victor, as well as a & Norton, Matchless & Royal Enfield thumpers( I had a thing for British bikes, especially thumpers), After buying the Triumph Cub i couldn't stay off the thing, Over a few years i converted or reinvented the Cub into an enduro/ flat tracker/ desert sled, & a trials bike, then a cafe/ road bike and then back into a Trail Cub again.Rarely ever riding my big 750 cc bikes, The only other small bike i really enjoyed as much as the Triumph Cub was the Honda Cub of that era, the Honda 50 step thru, the rare Honda Trail 55 step thru with manual clutch & 4 speed, Honda 65 standard, the passport 70, Step thru Trail 90 and the Trail 110 in later years.Those little bikes were under $200 brand new and could be had used for $50 or less all day long back in the day when a new full dressed Harley FLH Electra Glide with all the bells and whistles sold for $1600 out the door. The Triumph & Honda Cubs are still my all time favorites, despite all the tech upgrades and HP evolution bikes have received over the years. I sometimes wish i had kept all those vintage bikes i had accumulated as these days most are worth a small fortune compared to what i bought them for when the value of the $ was realistic.

[@grahamebradford1028]

Would love your little Tiger Cub. Same as my first bike in 1964. Happy days.

[@JamesWilson-ry7gw]

Lovely old bike! I’d never seen one before 👍

[@rover100bunson]

thanks paul, the exact bike my dad had and the first bike i went 9n the back of, maybe i was around 9 in 1973,i remember my legs only just touching the footrests, that was in cwmbran, i now own a new royal enfield gt650, bikes that remind you why you took up motorcycling, cheers, rich

[@rickconstant6106]

That's running better than mine ever did. I had one when I was 16 and still at school, so everything was done on a tight budget. It taught me the basics of stripping and rebuilding engines, and the tools I bought for it proved useful in my later career for working on vintage and classic cars. Mine suffered a big end failure, but when I rebuilt it, I didn't notice that the oil pump drive link was badly worn and the new big end failed after a few months. An important lesson learned. I've got a 1978 T140V now and it gets a lot better care, especially since I retired.

[@ianlawrie919]

Thanks for putting many minds at ease and dispelling many myths 👍👌

[@jeremyatkinson4976]

He hasn't.

[@roysmith4716]

In Florida we have separate pumps at gas stations for REC 90 ethanol free fuel, I use nothing but this for my bikes and have no fuel related problems no matter how long you let a bike stand, the AMA fought the EPA for years to get this option for recreational vehicles.

[@morrisminor56]

A happy little engine. You got a lump of something in the fuel line though.

[@thomaslusk7621]

Wow that's a great old bike.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks!

[@Recker_crx]

You're engine is knocking for sure

[@paulhenshaw4514]

It has sounded like that since 1977 and it sounds fine to me in real life, stood right by the thing or when riding it, so I am not going to worry or argue about it.

[@jd6549]

I wish my Ducati had started like that after a layup😂

[@noeldoran8884]

That sounds brilliant Paul thanks for the info...

[@TheYorkie1954]

sounds sweet that little cub Paul

[@wheelhousegarage]

Beautiful early example! Great Work!

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Thanks a lot!

[@daveco1270]

Certain people on the vintage bike forums freak out about ethanol. I didn't even realize it was a thing until I bought my first vintage motorcycle a few years ago. I started reading about ethanol and I got really worried.. I don't have ethanol free gas near me and.this was my first motorcycle so I didn't have experience with carbs and maintenance. It's been over 3 years now and the old Honda has run great on E10 and the carbs have been fine. (Even though the ethanol hasn't created any problems, I've since learned to work on carbs, which anyone who wants to ride old bikes should learn to do.)

[@gerrypowell2748]

Running nice Paul.

[@anthonydexter262]

Sounds lovely and crisp.... henshaws classic crisps E10 flavour 👍

[@philmuskett265]

Glad the little fella's in fine fettle.

[@roysmith4716]

Further to my previous comment Paul, in N America the ethanol has caused havoc with Recreational vehicles standing for the winter. Older carburetors in particular have gummed up passageway’s and rock hardened shrunk gas lines, sonic cleaning of carburetors is the only sure way of getting them clean. Pretty well all owners of any recreational vehicles buy gas stabilizer and run it through the system before leaving for any length of time in N America.

[@p.istaker8862]

Your fuel is different to UK fuel. Having re-commissioned vehicles from the US (including Florida) I can honestly say that when UK fuel goes stale, it is nowhere near as bad as US fuel.

[@hermangibbs8163]

Thanks Paul.

[@pedrothewise2584]

What a gem😊😊

[@thra5herxb12s]

E10 is fine it still burns and it only affects the naysayers bikes. The naysayers were spreading misinformation from the first day it appeared at the pumps and I've been using it ever since with no issues. It does seem to be better than Nitromoors for stripping the modern non Cellulose rattle can paint though. I filled a couple of jars with the stuff and some carb parts almost a year ago and left them on a shelf in my garage. It doesn't look good and it doesn't smell good either, but none of the parts have dissolved and there's not a bit of water in it at all. I'll post up the years results on September 16th.

[@davidmartin3080]

I have been using E10 in my 1992 Honda CB750 since the spring with now problems MPG is always about 55mpg

[@mariog4707]

E10 fuel is fine. Ethanol has a higher octane rating and contains more oxygen than petrol so doesn’t need octane or oxygen boosters added to it to make it run like zeroE petrol does. Ethanol free petrol contains a cocktail of other additives. The problem on older machines is their plastics were not designed for ethanol so things like fuel lines and carb components can fail. There are plenty of compatible replacements available so sort that out and engines will run fine on E10 fuel.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

The O rings have failed on my 05 Triumph and Cub and also the plastic tanks have bubbled on my last two bikes.

[@thra5herxb12s]

@@jonathanmellish4439 Probably coincidence O rings arent supposed to last forever. Have you been using E10 or E5.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

@@thra5herxb12s I am using E10 with an ethanol neutralising and octane boosting additive.

[@noonsight2010]

Tip: Esso and BP E5 supposedly contains no ethanol. I fill my Royal Enfield C5 EFI 500 Bullet with it and she runs well.

[@thinwelshman1]

I left E10 in my Norton in October and it started second kick beginning of March, also I don't use additives of any kind guess I'm just lucky.

[@UPTHETOWN]

Thing is, E5 can also mean Ezero. E5 is a Maximum of 5% ethanol content. All fuel has to be labelled E5 or E10 so ethanol free still has E5 on it I put E10 in my 1981 Yamaha last year, the fuel pipe from tank to carb rotted away in 2 weeks, using it every day Sweet Cub by the way

[@peterhodes6708]

Common consequence unfortunately, sold a TZR a few years back ,guy fitted a fuel filter in the system , a year on plastic inside the filter had rotted away causing blockage !!

[@iivaridark6850]

There has been a lot of debate about ethanol but lately it has been quite silent at least here - it came in use here in 2011... In the old days, we added in the winter time an anti-icing agent (partly ethanol) in the fuel (which of course also had anti-corrosion components), but it was not considered necessary (still sold, for those who want to add). I don't know but E10 gasoline (or petrol) might contain some anti-corrosion components too... Yes, if I was a product developing engineer, I would add something in the formula to prevent the rubber and plastic parts from vanishing... 😁

[@henryhyam5148]

Even if it was full-fat E10, I'm not sure that two months would be long enough for any negative effects to develop, which are medium/longer term and not instant. Over winter in an unheated garage might lead to phase separation, water dropping to the bottom of the tank and the possibility of seam rot. Ditto the deterioration of elements of rubber, plastics and metals that are not ethanol-resistant. Esso E5 seems to be the go to non/low-ethanol fuel in most of the country.

[@jeremyatkinson4976]

Esso E5, in southern Wales at least, is Ethanol free, according to Esso. Tesco sell Esso fuel. I'm told that Ethanol can eat aluminium and is far more polluting due to it's NOx emissions.

[@BilgemasterBill]

Ahhh...the return if my favorite knockabout Triumph! But I don't care what you say: Ethanol is the devil.

[@MrBillgiles]

Hi Paul on an unrelated topic I found an interesting channel on Enfield tuning. Search youtube for... not many people know change the cylinder head compression. It is an indian channel I think.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

Interesting to see this. I run the 85 Honda Cub on E5. Perhaps it’s not necessary. Curious about the orange item on the handlebars ?

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Hi Jonathan, that orange item [was a blue one in some earlier vids] is a digital timer to tell me when 29 minutes is approaching because my camera will only film 29 minutes at a time and has to be restarted after that time has passed.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

Thank you for the reply Paul.

[@guysmith3146]

To be honest I try and use non ethanol petrol if I can, otherwise E5. E10 will have a lower calorific value so less MPG. It's crazy to think now but in the early sixties you could pick up used Cubs for around £10/15 .

[@ccboss490]

Alcohol reaction with aluminum alloy are corrosive. Special in old vehicles do to the casting process.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

I have yet to see it.

[@ccboss490]

@@paulhenshaw4514 also can contaminates the oil do to water condensation.

[@amelierenoncule]

'Neat', monsieur. Speaking of 'politics & such',, after getting my A65, here in France, the local motor vehicle licensing authority forbade my having, on the front mud-gard, that type of license # display-panel. They said that it was "TOO BRITISH" !

[@derekcollins1972]

Did that actually happen or were they just joking? That's crazy

[@amelierenoncule]

@@derekcollins1972 I've always believed it to be a personal attempt of intimidation, on the part of that official, as is also believed by others I've spoken with. Many, here in France, still very much dislike the English.

[@beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles]

You got lucky, try 4 months, 6 months and when it will only run on choke because the pilot jet is either partially or fully clogged with the gel that E 10 becomes with age. Ethanol is a small engine and carburetor killer, it degrades quickly, attracts water, corrodes aluminum, turns to a gel and after it completely dries up it turns to a white powder, it degrades the rubber fuel line and swells O rings and eats gaskets. If you run the stuff out, and keep fresh fuel you can usually get by for a while, but it will get you in the long run, see it first hand to many times.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

This bike has done the best part of a year on it now with no problems.

[@beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Cool, but are you saying you have left the E10 fuel in the tank and carburetor for a year and had no issues, if you burn up the fuel before it starts to degrade to much and replenish with fresh you can do it for a long time, but the effects of the ethanol will eventually catch up. Modern EFI cars and motorcycles are made to run the stuff, its the older carburetors that get the blunt end of the deal. Oh by the way you have a very nice Cub, I have loved those bikes since the sixties, a gem of a small displacement motorcycle for sure.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles Thanks, Beau - the Cub is used sporadically and uses very little fuel when being ridden, but I have done a good few hundred miles on it over the last year. The E10 fuel has been in the tank all that time and there is no drain on the carb float bowl, so it just gets switched off and put away, sometimes for a month or two before it is next run and so far, it has been fine. The following video might be of interest you, if you haven't already seen it ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppfNlIKhlLmLf7M

[@beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles]

@@paulhenshaw4514 Sounds good Paul, All I can say is the E10 we are mandated to use here in California since the early 2000"s in 2 months will gel and start to plug jets. Over in the UK you guys must be getting the better stuff than what we get, just kidding, IF it is working for you cool.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

@@beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles Thanks, I don't know what you have, but our E10 uses the number as a maximum, i.e. up to 10 percent, but apparently it can be anywhere between 2 and 10 percent ethanol content, according to some sources.

[@mrdbaker2ubaker182]

Disapointed you didn't jab the tickler...

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Ah - the Zenith carb has a tickler, but doesn't need it, thanks to a 2 stage plunger choke / enrichener, which gives easy cold starting.

[@p.istaker8862]

I remember the introduction of Un-leaded and all the engines that were going to need replacement valve seats.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

Yes, there were some scary full page ads from one lot who must have made a fortune out of it - made you feel like removing your cylinder head in the next layby, sending it off and sleeping rough until the head came back 'sorted'.

[@stephenhepburn6374]

see a lump of shit in the fuel pipe there mate, nice little bike that.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Edward Turner did not consider anything under a 350 to be a proper motorcycle. He did not want to make the Triumph cub. He had an aversion Two Strokes so he caved into pressure and he designed the Triumph cub. Of course if you run it flat out all the time in 6 months you'll be replacing the bearings ask Clements salvadori about that. When they discontinued the Triumph cub Ruckus was raised but nobody was buying them and by discontinuing producing the Cubs they were able to produce more 500 and 650 twins which people did want. The bike was replaced by the BSA 250 single which was in my opinion a much better by considering it could cruise at 90 miles an hour provided you were skinny enough. Any of my 250s two up will cruise at 60 miles an hour with plenty of throttle left over. Of Two Strokes Edward Turner is quoted as saying two strokes the realm of vile v i l l e r s, gray porridge and such.

[@paulhenshaw4514]

A BSA 250 which could cruise at 90 mph? Blimey, I haven't come across one of those myself as of yet ...

[@eweunkettles8207]

must have been a super c15 that kilometers per hr maybe a standard c15 was a dissapointment with not alot going for it at least the cub variants had style and character i pased my test on a sports /trials cub with a dragging clutch of course

[@p.istaker8862]

I thought something called a Triumph Terrier came first ?