When I picked my new 2018 bike up, my local dealer asked me to stay away from the Shell gas station. 

I’ve had 2 experiences with shit fuel from shell, I try to avoid when I can and know other blokes that say the same

I have been told that too, but have run Shell 95, runs ok but I have a low comp carb, on my high comp ( 230 pound cranking pressure ) carb I try to stick to BP 98. what compression are the new 2018 motors running at?

I don’t know about there unleaded but I always got my diesel from BP because it’s supposed to be better quality than the imported stuff that Shell etc use. Seems legit to me. 

I heard that rumour when i bought my brand new 2014 dyna. but years of working around the corner from a shell servo the convenience got the better of me. Honestly if there is a difference in performance or economy from bp or caltex it is subtle enough for me not to notice at all. The bike is filled up with shell 98 2 out of 3 times and now has 92k on the odometer. the engine never missed a beat. So cant be too bad i guess.

many years back Shell V Power / Optimax used to get a bad rap especially in the dirtbike scene with carbied bikes

I put fuel in when I need it. Any brand anywhere including Opal, I've never had any fuel issues with cars or motorcycles. Maybe I'm lucky or maybe all the fuel we get sold meets the minimum standard needed for our internal combustion engines.

at the end of the day,.... if your a long way out and running low on fuel, and was only a Shell in sight. you would use it!! I've been in that position many times.

Interesting Topic!

I've avoided Shell for two reasons:

a) Remember reading an article some years back on Formula 1 fuel, and how Shell fuel via additives an dyes can be manipulated more than others.

b) My dealer rep didn't recommend them when I purchased the bike. [my first Harley].

I stick with Caltex Vortex 98.......when I use BP 98 on the odd occasion I get a yellow/brown tinge at the end of the pipes!

Did 445klm's on Sunday...had to use BP and sure enough...on the wipe down yellow/brown again...only ever get Black/Grey from Caltex...maybe its that engine clean they sprout?

Or I Imagine things? Whats that voice?

Cheers S

I use BP first and Caltex if I can't find a BP always 98

Mainly because when I had a fairly modified Ducati it wouldn't run properly on Shell.

My gas is never in my tank long enough to cause problems....Ride more often and faster would be the answer.

I like BP98 as have looked in a few motors that only run that fuel & they were clean. but it won't make you motor any faster, my stock old carb open chamber sporty had a slower trap speed at drags on BP 98, next time I went I used shell 95 and saw a 5mph increase in trap speed. I could probably go faster with 91 as only 9.0:1 comp I think.

My old man used to work at BP refinery in Brissie, they supplied Caltex mostly.

About seven years ago when I had my Sporty it started misfiring and was generally running shit. Took it to the dealers to be checked out and one of the first things they asked was who I bought my fuel from. Well I have a Shell servo one the end of the street so it was an obvious one. He said the higher grade fuels are known to cause waxing issues on the injectors. He got the bike running good and I have avoided Shell fuel where possible ever since and never had a repeat of the problem

I understand what you're saying & it makes sense to me, but that doesn't explain why Shell servos keeps getting the bad rap. Why would it be only franchise owners representing Shell that get it wrong?