Yesterday's Little Adventure

[FalcoJock]

Picked up the Falco yesterday after a major service (thought I aught to get a professional to look at it). It had done 130 miles since the last fuel stop so pulled in to fill it up. Don't know what I did wrong, but as soon as I squeezed the trigger there was a huge spray-back of petrol in my face, over my jacket and the bike (aka Ewan McGregor).

My first thought was the bike's hot, I'm about to go up in flames! Then my eyes - I couldn't see. Fumbled my way into the garage and asked for help and she just said "the toilets are in the corner there. Next please". So spent ages washing my face and eyes. Back to the counter - have you got any first aid eye wash? "Nah sorry" she said. "Terrible smell of petrol in here" said a customer. "That's me" I said, "I'm covered in the stuff". "Bloody hell mate, you need to wash your eyes thoroughly. They look sore".

"Next please" said the assistant.

After about 30 to 40 minutes of washing me and wiping the bike down, I got filled up and left for the nearest chemists. The assistant at the petrol station didn't even ask if I was OK.

Got some advise, an eye bath and some eyewash at the chemist (oh and some sympathy at last). Eyes are OK today. The bike has been thoroughly washed and polished but the jacket smells a little (can you wash Hein Gericke jacket in the machine?)

In 40+ years of riding and driving, I've never had that happen before. I can't think why the petrol would blow back like that. It's going to make me nervous for a while.

[yellowasp]

Picked up the Falco yesterday after a major service (thought I aught to get a professional to look at it). It had done 130 miles since the last fuel stop so pulled in to fill it up. Don't know what I did wrong, but as soon as I squeezed the trigger there was a huge spray-back of petrol in my face, over my jacket and the bike (aka Ewan McGregor).

My first thought was the bike's hot, I'm about to go up in flames! Then my eyes - I couldn't see. Fumbled my way into the garage and asked for help and she just said "the toilets are in the corner there. Next please". So spent ages washing my face and eyes. Back to the counter - have you got any first aid eye wash? "Nah sorry" she said. "Terrible smell of petrol in here" said a customer. "That's me" I said, "I'm covered in the stuff". "Bloody hell mate, you need to wash your eyes thoroughly. They look sore".

"Next please" said the assistant.

After about 30 to 40 minutes of washing me and wiping the bike down, I got filled up and left for the nearest chemists. The assistant at the petrol station didn't even ask if I was OK.

Got some advise, an eye bath and some eyewash at the chemist (oh and some sympathy at last). Eyes are OK today. The bike has been thoroughly washed and polished but the jacket smells a little (can you wash Hein Gericke jacket in the machine?)

In 40+ years of riding and driving, I've never had that happen before. I can't think why the petrol would blow back like that. It's going to make me nervous for a while.

I had exactly the same coming back from the meet at " The Barge" last year near Nottingham. The response from the cashier was exactly the same. No eye wash, toilet over there.

Very poor in my opinion , these places should have eye wash for this reason. Stings like feck for ages too !

[AJFalco]

About 20 odd years ago, i had my turbo in the workshop with the tank off to do some work. Thought it was a good idea to turn on the ignition and copped a face full of petrol thanks to the fuel injection pump! My simpathy to you, it fekin hurts and makes you look like a twat running round in panic (hang on, that was me ) Don't want to do it again thats for sure What happened to costomer service? Maybe you needed to phone India for help

[Crispy]

The same thing happened to me last November - petrol station cashier eventually gave me a mug of water to rinse my eye out then found a small (100ml) eye wash capsule as well. The customer service problem came when I'd riden the mile to the local casualty departement to get it cleaned out and checked properly. Having taken my name and address etc they left me for an hour clutching a sore , red eye. When I eventually lost patience and asked how long the wait was they told me it'd be another 3 hours! - or I could go and use their eye wash station myself which was just down the corridor and wasn't being used - could have told me earlier. Twenty minutes of self service casualty treatment later I was on my way.

I've not had this happen with any of my other bikes - perhaps there's something about the shape of the Falcos tank internals that make this more likely.

[Falcopops]

Never had the misfortune, hope all's well.

I never use full trigger on the Falco, there's just not enough gap round the nozzle to let the air escape without spraying some fuel, it's been known to make the screen develop milky spots so keep an eye (no pun intended) on yours.

[IsleFalco]

I have had the exact same experience in the Total station here in Ramsey. I was sitting on the bike filling her up and without any notice, huge back splash of petrol into my face, eyes, clothes etc. I managed to put get off the bike and get into the petrol station and ask for the toilet to be told that it was staff only and that is against the rules to allow any customer to use it. I was directed to a tap outside. I had to use this to wash my face and eyes, which by this time were stinging like feck.

I did go back in to say that there should be a better sense of customer service and some first aid equipment, particularly to deal with petrol splash into the eyes. However the thick woman behind the counter just looked blankly at me. Apparently you don't have to have any brains/personality/capacity to give a fuck to work in a petrol station.

[Syltiz]

I did the same in 2006 but I was still wearing my helmet which saved my face but the helmet did not survive. The side pods, visor and all rubber/plastic bits began to fall off within 10 minutes.

[Renevator]

Good to hear your eyes are ok and no lasting damage - sounds painful. Also I don't blame you for feeling a bit nervous from now on - I'm beginning to feel a bit apprehensive myself when I get my Falco as it seems from a few comments here its a bit of a Falco issue . Never had anything like that happen to me either, and hope it never happens to you again squire.

[D-Rider]

I have had it blow back at me - fortunately not in my eyes

[Nooj]

Perhaps a call to your local HSE may be in order? Sounds like it's a common problem. Or would that be too 'nanny state'?

[MartDude]

Similar experience, though less serious, last year - but it wrecked the anti-fog coating on the Schuberth C2 visor - - could perhaps damage some spectacle coatings? Hein Gericke kindly organised a replacement visor under warranty.

[FalcoJock]

So, I'm not alone!

Since this is the first occurrence in 7+ years ownership, I'm sure it's not a fault with the bike. I think I must have pulled the nozzle out until the fuel bounced back off the lip of the filler. And that probably happened because I was distracted (no excuse).

So I'm not going to blame the Falco - I'm old enough and ugly enough to admit I probably screwed up (again), but I still think the attendant's attitude was somewhat sub-human.

[Willopotomas]

Had a splash back from the old mans BMW R100.. There's a big ridge at the top of the tank so ye need 'aim' the nozzle to one side or the other.. I know this now of course.. A friend of mine has also been having trouble with his new Hinckley 'Bonnie'. There's a small hole just big enough for the nozzle at the bottom of the filler tube.. He stuck the nozzle in as normal and whoosh.. petrol all over the him and the bike.. not good. Thankfully not in his eyes.

I've found that people working in petrol stations are either waaaaaay too over excited about their work (ye know the type!) and those that really don't want to be there, and will take it out on you because you happen to be standing in front of them. Not yet found a happy medium.