AMA: Proposed ethanol-fuel blends put motorcycle, ATV engines at risk

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) said on Wednesday that the Environmental Protection Agency’s newest Renewable Fuel Standard proposals would present risks for motorcycle and all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) owners, which are built to run on lower-ethanol fuel blends.

"The federal government is moving in the wrong direction on this issue and against the interests of the motoring public," AMA Vice President for Government Relations Wayne Allard said. "Motorcycles and ATVs are not built to handle ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, or E10. Mandating the increased production and sale of higher-ethanol blends and subsidizing more blender pumps significantly increases the likelihood that motorcycle and ATV riders will inadvertently pump unsafe fuel into their tanks."

In 2014, the fuel standard had set higher-ethanol fuel blends according to current renewable-fuel production and use levels, but has increased the requirements by approximately 370 million gallons for 2015 and a further billion gallons in 2016. The EPA is also seeking to make higher-blend renewable fuel pumps more ubiquitous through subsidies. Critics fear both of the efforts make it more likely for motorcycle and ATV owners to inadvertently fuel their vehicles with the higher-ethanol blends, which can damage their engines and fuel systems, and void their warranties.

“Access to safe fuels for motorcycles remains an AMA priority, and we continue to be a watchdog for our members on this issue," Allard said.