Another fuel station refusal to serve

[weasley]

Last weekend I pulled into my local fuel station - it is a Texaco station with a Co-op shop attached and is in Pangbourne, Berkshire.

As usual I pull up to the pump, stop the bike, put the side-stand down b ut stay on it, then open the tank, lift the nozzle and wait for the pump to be activated. After a brief wait a guy comes out of the shop and it goes a bit like this:

"You have to get off your bike before filling it"

"Why?"

"Company policy"

"Since when?"

"For as long as we have operated this site" (around 2-3 years I would guess)

"I've filled up here loads of times whilst sat on my bike and have never been asked to get off my bike, here or at any other filling station"

"I obviously wasn't on duty those times. It's for your safety"

"Do you make all passengers get out of their cars?"

"No, but you could splash petrol on yourself"

"What, like I could if I was stood next to the fuel filler of a car?"

"It's company policy"

At this point he was already walking back to the shop and I could see I wasn't getting anywhere. I was literally on vapour and there isn't another station for miles, otherwise I would have placed the nozzle carefully on the ground and ridden away.

Can anyone think of a genuinely good reason why filling the bike whilst sat on it is significantly more risky than whilst off it, or filling a car?
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Hockeystorm65]

Try this.....

https://www.megarider.com/Articles/refueling.html

All about risk and party to a 'negligent act' so duty of care stuff applies.

Go back next time and get off the bike and re-fuel as they have asked but strap a large box to the pillion and mark it SEMTEX RDX.....

...they should also refuse to serve you then as well.
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Good judgement comes from experience.....experience comes from bad judgement!

[Benson_JV]

It boils down to idiots that are in the petrol station going on a power trip.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[Nexus Icon]

I know you can squeeze another 50p of fuel in but, that aside, why would anyone want to risk petroleum-scented nuts anyway?
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[dogbot]

How much hassle is it to get off your sodding bike?

[Marcg868]

Just pull the bike straight towards you to get that little bit extra in if it really bothers you that much.

I agree its a stupid policy, but for the sake of it its not worth the hassle. Same with Helmet off. Infact I'd rather take my helmet off and make the grumpy tossers in their boxes wait.

The one thing that does infuriate me tho is, the tossers who have to have the pump on the same side as the filler cap, and therefore make a massive tail back to get into the fucking petrol station.

It will stretch round the twatting car, unless you have bought one of them stupid SUV's for the school run.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[doggone]

The link says you might spill fuel on hot engine, and it might ignite.
Have to say, sitting on a petrol tank, with fuel nozzle in one hand would not be a good position at this point.

[Daimo]

[Rogerborg]

[Frost]

This is why i like bikes with a center stand. On bikes without i usually just hold it upright with one hand and do the fuel and cap with the other.

[Dilyan]

[Knot600RR]

Really....I thought people moaning about taking helmets off was bad enough! If this wasn't a pay at pump, then what is your issue, you've got to get off to go in anyway?

[Irn-Bru]

Only time I stay on the bike is if you can pay by card at the pump, otherwise you have to get off the bike at some point anyway.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[weasley]

You'll note I was after information and opinion. If there's a good reason to get off, I'll bear it in mind when I next fill up. "It's policy" is not a good reason if it can't be defended or explained by the operative.

I was on a ride-out this weekend too - around 25 bikes. We all filled up at various filling stations over the course of the weekend and to a (wo)man all did it from the seat.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[salty21]

never understood staying on the bike, especially if its not pay at pump. The extra fuel you would get in would only get you 1 or 2 miles and you look like a twonk doing it
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[Philious]

I always sit on my bike and keep it upright when filling up, never had any problems down this way with the petrol stations.

I always take off my lid though first so it doesn't look like I'm gonna ride off as soon as i've filled up.
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Previously; Honda XR125 - Yamaha DT125r - Aprilia Rs125 - Suzuki GS500e, Currently; Kawasaki ZX6R + ZX10R
Theory : Passed 28/7/09 Module 1: Passed 21/09/09 Module 2: Passed 23/09/09

[dogbot]

[Angel Girl]

The first reason that springs to mind = ride off without paying.

Being a new rider I never thought about the safety issue
I will now though, but personally I dont stay on the bike, always get off and take kit off, ready to go in and pay.
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Rides Honda CB500S aka "The Orange Peril"

[herulach]

I always get off, but leave lid on. I've never been challenged, except randomly at a pay at pump place after I'd paid and was locking the tank up, to be told over the tannoy to take my lid off. Just got on & set off.
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YBR 125>FZS600

[andyscooter]

i have to get off

my fuel tanks under my seat
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[MinhDinh]

Meeting bikers in real life is good, bikers are cool, but reading these forums do give an impression that we moan about so many things.

Taking a helmet off is not hard, and nor is getting off a bike. If you're not happy then there are plenty of other petrol stations around, it's not as if you paid for the fuel first (most cases)
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Hit the G spot.

[JP7]

I did actually watch an episode of The Real A&E or similar featuring a guy who set fire to his groin and the insides of his legs when his bike caught fire while he was fuelling it. Before watching that I thought it was about as likely as blowing yourself up using a mobile phone at the pump.

Having watched that, I get off my bike.

[KingKong]

Alright. Foolish of me to admit, but I shall.

Accidents happen. Even the wittiest of people err, because we are all human.

I enjoyed filling up whilst seated on my bike; it gave me some warped sense of healthy intimacy with my machine. However, on one occasion I foolishly sploshed fuel over my clocks and fork. It was a silly moment, where in trying to position it not deeply into the tank so I could get a full reading on my fuel gauge, the nozzle did not twist in as co-operatively. IN trying to regain control I tightened my grip, unaware that I consequently pulled on the trigger, pouring fuel onto my bike.

I know - there are some idiots out there at filling stations, and unfortunately for me I was one of them. Nevertheless, ever since I get off my bike to fill up, and I find I have more control over the nozzle and I get a full tank too.

I wouldn't get so irate by being asked to get off my bike to fill it with fuel; there are more infuriating things out there to moan about, such as [lack of] parking for motorcycles and the charges levied for parking them, when once upon a time motorcycles parked for free in central London. Sigh.
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Kwak 636 (2005)

Past - 2016 Ninja 300 (dark grey); K4 GSXR 600 (sexy yellow); 2002 CBR600FS; 2004 GSXR 1000; 2006 Kwak 636; 2005 Yamaha XVS 1100 Dragstar (facepalm); 2005 Kwak 636; 2011 Yamaha R125.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Germ]