Fuel smell

[JetDriver]

For several days, only when I was actually riding, I could smell gas as I was moving.  First thought it was the car in front of me, but when about 30 cars all had a fuel problem it dawned on me that it might BE me!   Looked under the petcock, bases of carbs, line from the tank, on the block, all for any sign of a leak or stain and found none.  Then the smell went away for probably a week.  Out for a ride today with no smell, then leaving from a stop sign, I had to grab a handful of front brake as another guy decided it was actually his turn to go.  I went from no smell for a week, to a good fork dive and instant, strong fuel smell.  It was gone within a mile.  Why would a good fork dive bring up a gas smell?  Think it's related to my previous gas smell?  Had 3/4s tank when it happened.

[fordmano]

Gas cap seal maybe? Or maybe lock itself?

[Ricky-D]

I get that often enough and have never worried about it because I think it is related to the driving condition:

A good hot sun shining on the gas tank making the inside surface very hot,

And when the gasoline sloshes around inside the tank and hits the top of the tank which is so hot that it causes the gasoline to want to generate a lot of vapor,

Which then vents out of the tank any way it can.

As long as I do not see liquid gasoline running out from anywhere around the gas fill I do not worry.

I think it is perfectly normal, in this case, for the Valkyrie.

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[Toledo Mark]

Several years ago I had that problem and it was the gas cap.  I carefully peeled the rubber gasket off and added a thin cork gasket behind it.  I think it is time to replace the cork as I smell gas again sometimes.  When doing this make sure you don't drop anything in your tank.