I have a ground floor apt. My bike is parked along side the sidewalk (on my side) that I share with my direct neighbor. Well, he just bought this huge bbq. He's planning on putting it, maybe 5 - 8 ft away from my bike, on his side of "our" sidewalk. I don't like it, but he says it won't hurt my bike. I must confess that I'm a bit ignorant about this type of thing. The bike has a cover on it, so I have to hope it will be fine. Sometimes there are gas fumes around the bike, especially on hot days when it's been sitting in the sun. Is my bike at risk? Is there a risk of gas fumes igniting? He and our other men neighbors seem to think I'm over reacting.
How close can you have a bbq to parked motorcycle?
- Thread starter Lorgayle
- Start date
Thanks rmemedic, glad to know. He's actually an old rider from years ago. Health issues have caused him to give it up. He's quite protective over my bike, so I know he'll not let anything happen to it. He doesn't have many people over at any given time. I just hate the thought of it so close. Just being anal.... lol As long as I know the bike is safe, that's all I care about.
Your bike will be fine.. nothing to worry about with fumes etc.
That said.. IF it was an issue.. I would say your neighbor has more of a right to have his BBQ on the patio then you have to park there.. That`s pretty much the place for a BBQ, the bike on the other hand should be out in the parking lot. I know security is an issue for bikes in Toronto.. I get it. I`m just saying I wouldn't start complaining about his BBQ, lest he start complaining about your parking.. chances are he would win with your condo board / landlord / whatever the case may be.
That said.. IF it was an issue.. I would say your neighbor has more of a right to have his BBQ on the patio then you have to park there.. That`s pretty much the place for a BBQ, the bike on the other hand should be out in the parking lot. I know security is an issue for bikes in Toronto.. I get it. I`m just saying I wouldn't start complaining about his BBQ, lest he start complaining about your parking.. chances are he would win with your condo board / landlord / whatever the case may be.
LOL. Whatever the reason.. I don`t judge... but my point remains the same. If it`s a fight between the bike and the bbq being by the door.. I would think the bbq would win.. and rightfully so.
That said.. if the neighbor isn't complaining.. don`t fight him on the bbq and all is good. It won`t hurt anything.
You're not worried about the propane tank igniting?
rmemedic
Well-known member
Propane is actually pretty safe to deal with once you know the physics behind it. If it were possible to drop a match in liquid propane, all that would happen is the match would go out.
Tanks exploding is rare. They basically need to be put under too much pressure and burst, but the safety valve is supposed to vent the pressure and safely release the gas, which will most likely be burned off fairly safely.
Propane needs to be between 3 to 9% propane to air for it to burn, a fairly narrow margin.
If anyone has to deal with a propane tank venting, and the gas is on fire, just leave it, let it burn itself off (the flame will not be able to enter the tank, since closer to the tank there is too much propane and not enough air to ignite). Unless you can safely and permanently stop the flow of the gas... If you stop the flow and let the flame burn out, and then it starts to leak again, you will then have a mass amount of propane in the area waiting for that one single spark, and then you get your big flash.
Propane will also "cycle" in a mass relief of pressure. It will blow off so fast that the hole will ice over and plug itself, but once it's stable, that ice will melt and it will leak again and continue to the cycle over and over.
Worked for a few years installing and repairing large tanks and doing transfers of gas.
Thanks for all the input. Oh, I'm not fighting with him about it at all. My bike is parked on a patio I made specifically for it, to keep it off the parking lot and out of everyone's way. We have only one parking spot per unit. This same neighbour suggested I park it on the actual sidewalk that he and I share. I was only asking about the potential danger that maybe he might not have been aware of.
Griffin
Well-known member
Propane is similar to gasoline in its explosive range - how much propane in air is ignitable; it's about 7% - 14% for both. The vapours of both are heavier than air so they will roll along the ground and will puddle in a hollow spot. One of the primary reasons why you don't want to store either indoors. The vapours can roll across the floor and be ignited by any arcs or sparks.
I'd be more worried about the motorcycle gas tank leaking then the propane tank and therefore more worried about accidental ignition of the gasoline than the propane. That's partially because the odorrant added to the propane makes a very small leak easy to detect with your nose and partially because propane tanks have a very good record of not leaking. But I wouldn't be worried about either one.
If you consider how many barbecues have been used on apartment balconies within a metre or two of doorways and windows for decades and that the incidence of fires or explosiions is virtually nil, your risks are damn good.
I'd be more worried about the motorcycle gas tank leaking then the propane tank and therefore more worried about accidental ignition of the gasoline than the propane. That's partially because the odorrant added to the propane makes a very small leak easy to detect with your nose and partially because propane tanks have a very good record of not leaking. But I wouldn't be worried about either one.
If you consider how many barbecues have been used on apartment balconies within a metre or two of doorways and windows for decades and that the incidence of fires or explosiions is virtually nil, your risks are damn good.
Very interesting, rmemedic! I knew about the relative safety of liquid fuels (from a combustion standpoint), but not much about propane tanks themselves. There are some pretty neat fiberglass tanks on the market now, but I'm not sure why we haven't seen them here yet.
^^^ this
if you're a clean freak...keep the cover on the bike.....cause if the BBQ guy does a load of burgers, your bike will be covered in grease
been to endless showNshines with my toys and the rule of thumb is as far away from the BBQ as possible.....you get these giant grills cooking for 100s and especially on a windy day your stuff will get covered in crap even when it's a fair distance away
