Poll
Question: What octane rating does your primary bike require?
I only use jet fuel, bitches - 0 (0%)
I like 94+ - 4 (1.9%)
91-93 Premium - 75 (35%)
89-90 Mid-Grade - 34 (15.9%)
87 Regular - 99 (46.3%)
I don't know, I live by intuition - 2 (0.9%)
Total Voters: 191

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Topic: What's your Octane?  (Read 3208 times)
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Rincewind
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« on: July 15, 2010, 08:52:07 AM »
Some bikes require premium, some get by on regular or mid-grade.  What does your primary bike require?  If you have more than one primary bike, and it has different needs, you can vote up to 3x.

Mine takes regular, but I use higher grades now and then to clean things up in there.
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« on: July 15, 2010, 08:52:07 AM »
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« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2010, 09:03:13 AM »
My Triumph thrives on mid-grade (except when it gets 95 degrees +, ,when it'll ping occasionally)

But my Tuber Buell refuses to arise in the morning without Hi-Test (premium)
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KLRchickie
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« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2010, 10:18:17 AM »
KLR will run on practically anything with fuel value (it doesn't like a tank with water in it though Lol imagine that, no fuel value in water!).  XT only needs regular but is a little more picky than the KLR.

Monster & WRX want premium - and not the ethanol blended crap (Mohawk gas makes them run like sh*t).
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« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2010, 10:28:02 AM »
The BMW likes super but the StFU will burn anything that will stay lit.
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« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2010, 02:42:11 PM »
One of the many things to like about the Strom is that it sips Reg-uu-lahr... to think of the $$ I've saved over 89k miles!

Torquemada (the Buell S1) has been getting by on mid-grade and hasn't imploded yet, but I may be playing with fire.  I put a bit of Sea Foam in every tankful.
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« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2010, 02:45:47 PM »
Quote from: stromgal on July 15, 2010, 02:42:11 PM

One of the many things to like about the Strom is that it sips Reg-uu-lahr... to think of the $$ I've saved over 89k miles!

Torquemada (the Buell S1) has been getting by on mid-grade and hasn't imploded yet, but I may be playing with fire.  I put a bit of Sea Foam in every tankful.


Sea foam will certainly help, according to all reports -- youll know when your TUber isn't happy with the fuel you give it -- can you say dried peas in a coffee can?
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« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2010, 05:56:47 PM »
87 on the 919's.
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« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2010, 05:56:47 PM »

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WBill
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« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2010, 08:59:03 PM »
Quote from: Rincewind on July 15, 2010, 08:52:07 AM

Some bikes require premium, some get by on regular or mid-grade.  What does your primary bike require?  If you have more than one primary bike, and it has different needs, you can vote up to 3x.

Mine takes regular, but I use higher grades now and then to clean things up in there.


Um, just fyi, octane is  neither a fuel system nor a combustion chamber cleaner.  

Octane is a catalyst that slows the fuel combustion rate for more complete combustion in high compression engines.  You need higher octane if whatever fuel you are using detonates ("pings") on ignition.  If you don't need it, using it is just a waste.  One might argue convincingly that higher octane fuels don't burn completely in low(er) compression engines, thus contributing to a little bit of fouling in the chamber.  

Even that won't hurt anything, though, and the big oil companies sure could use the extra money.  So we can use high octane fuel whenever it makes us feel better.  

It never makes me feel better with the equipment I am currently running.  I use 87 (ros x ron/2) in my FJR, but 85 will do, especially if there's some higher octane residual in the tank, and the ambient temperature isn't too high.  I've noticed reduced performance on hot days when the fuel is laced with that ethanol stuff, too.

If I want to clean things out a little, I use Chevron or something with a fuel system cleaner in it, still with 87 octane.

FWIW, WBill
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JReazor
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« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2010, 09:12:28 PM »
Quote from: Rincewind on July 15, 2010, 08:52:07 AM

Some bikes require premium, some get by on regular or mid-grade.  What does your primary bike require?  If you have more than one primary bike, and it has different needs, you can vote up to 3x.

Mine takes regular, but I use higher grades now and then to clean things up in there.


The SV runs just fine on 87 so that's what it gets.

A higher octane fuel isn't going to clean anything out. You're more likely to end up with incomplete combustion in a low(er) compression engine due to the slower burn rate of higher octane gas. You may get some benefit if the premium grades carry detergents that the lower grades don't have but a little Sea Foam would probably be more effective.

Edit: Listen to WBill.
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« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2010, 02:15:27 AM »
Don't get those low grade fuels over here.  Bigsmile
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squeezer
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« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2010, 05:35:00 AM »
Regular is recommended for the FJR. Never had a ping.
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Rincewind
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« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2010, 06:00:09 AM »
Thanks for the clarification regarding cleaning detergents being dependent on gas brand instead of added per octane rating, WBill.  
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maddjack
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« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2010, 06:25:53 AM »
I have two machines, one is 87 , one is 89, I run what they call for
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« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2010, 07:16:32 AM »
My "primary bike" I guess is my GL-1200, as I use it for work.

So I voted for 87 regular.

The Triumphs all get 91 or whatever is premium any more.
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« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2010, 07:16:32 AM »

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chornbe

« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2010, 07:19:30 AM »
I run basic low-octane in the cooler months. The Guzzi must have hot spots because once it gets above 85, it pings like a mo'fo' on the low-octane stuff, so I step up to 91 and it's fine.
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Papa Lazarou
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« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2010, 12:52:00 PM »
Quote from: JustCallMeChris on July 20, 2010, 07:19:30 AM

I run basic low-octane in the cooler months. The Guzzi must have hot spots because once it gets above 85, it pings like a mo'fo' on the low-octane stuff, so I step up to 91 and it's fine.


Would you like me to send you some decent BP petrol?
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chornbe

« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2010, 12:53:26 PM »
Quote from: Papa Lazarou on July 20, 2010, 12:52:00 PM



Would you like me to send you some decent BP petrol?


Oh, my brother is going to New Orleans soon. I'll ask him to walk the beach and snag some for me. Thanks, though.  Thumbsup
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Papa Lazarou
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« Reply #17 on: July 20, 2010, 12:57:11 PM »
Quote from: JustCallMeChris on July 20, 2010, 12:53:26 PM



Oh, my brother is going to New Orleans soon. I'll ask him to walk the beach and snag some for me. Thanks, though.  Thumbsup


Ah, that would be the 40% of BP oil owned by the USA..
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chornbe

« Reply #18 on: July 20, 2010, 01:00:53 PM »
Quote from: Papa Lazarou on July 20, 2010, 12:57:11 PM



Ah, that would be the 40% of BP oil owned by the USA..


Right. I mean, as long as we own some of it, we might as well use it, right?
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Papa Lazarou
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« Reply #19 on: July 20, 2010, 01:33:49 PM »
Quote from: JustCallMeChris on July 20, 2010, 01:00:53 PM



Right. I mean, as long as we own some of it, we might as well use it, right?


Good. You may. I allow you to. Scrape some pelicans for me.



What a disgraceful episode this has been.
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