So, after many years of metric bikes, I did what I should have done in the first place and got what I really wanted, an HD (a 2008 Superglide). I still haven't figured out how to create an icon image, perhaps someone can enlighten me on how that's done. Purchased my first tank of fuel last week (not knowing any better - regular). It ran fine, didn't notice any pinging, but after reading the fuel threads in this forum, I went with premium on tank two.

Well, the bike started sputtering within the first 25 miles (popping, losing power - the speedometer would go to zero then back up to the correct speed. I was cursing the fuel until it got really bad an the bike just died (thankfully in my subdivision). I was thinking, "yep, I'm a Harley owner now as I pushed it the final quarter mile (up hill) to my house (praying to God that none of my neighbors were out - they weren't). I had no ignition, nothing.

Getting back into my garage, I took the advice of a good mechanic I know and started with the simple, stupid stuff first and yep, the negative terminal on the battery had jimmied loose. That was the problem and not the fuel.

So back to fuel. If regular runs fine, will using it hurt the engine? Sorry for the long post. I think I'm going to enjoy this bike and look forward to making it mine with upgrades.

 

If your going to own a Dyna you need to periodically check things and make sure they are snug. Dynas shake at idle and it's just part of routine maintanence. It can be either fun or a headache depending on how you look at it. Going over the bike is fun to me.

I've ran regular in mine with no ill effects. But I had no choice when premium pump was out of order at the time. Don't cheap out of fuel put the best you can in there and ride.

 

at least run 89 in it, manual says 91.. I hate it when 93 is 60 cents more a gallon than 87 but using the wrong fuel could cause engine damage so better safe than sorry.

 

That's fine Johnny. I like to tinker. I'll keep this bike a few years. Hopefully I'll learn a lot from it and from others who have them.

 

What's the difference between 87 octane and 91? About 10 cents per gallon. If your too cheap to spend another 45 cents to fill your tank up then maybe you shouldn't own a Harley!

 

IMO, always put in the highest octane you can find. These engines are tuned to the edge of detonation as it is, and they will ping under load and you might not even hear it if you have a loud exhaust. You wanna do everything you can to minimize detonation. Even running 93 octane and being tuned properly, my FB still gets light knocks when I get on it.

 

60 cents times 5 gallons is a whole $3. If you can't afford that you don't need a motorcycle in the first place. Run what the manufacture says.

 

I always use 93 octane!

 

I too, believe in using the highest octane possible. However there are times you can't find 93 or 91. I've even been to a place that had 87 as premium and 85 as regular. A couple gallons of 87 octane every now and then wont hurt, just don't run it every fill up

 

Nice start to the Harley world! You may want to get a wrench and start at one end of the bike and keep going until you reach the other. Who ever your mechanic was, keep using him. KISS (keep it simple stupid), an acronym I live by! I'm glad your repair was simple. There are lots of opinions on octane ratings and gas grades. Use what you are comfortable with.


When you figure it out, post some pictures, because as we all know -