What if your bike doesn't have sensors & it doesn't ping with regular gas?

 

As someone stated earlier, just because it "seems" to be running good on regular doesn't mean nothing is going on. Just because you can't hear pinging doesn't mean there isn't any. You could be doing damage to your engine and not know it. The extra cost to run premium isn't that much, so its better to run what Harley says, in my opinion.

 

HD has had sensors for at least 10 years if not longer. They detect ion changes in the combustion chamber. They know when the engine is "pinging" and adjust for it.

They are not microphones listening to the sound.

I will try one last time. By US regulations HD and other vehicle manufacturer must have engines that run on 87 octane to be allowed to use US roads. That is why they have sensors. It is not for the owner it is for HD to be able to sell the bikes.

My 16 Road Glide Ultra CVO runs perfect on 87 octane. The 110 motor is 9.2 to 1 compression. No way does it need 91 or more octane.

In the past 10 years I have put 400,000 miles on HD bikes with out a single issue. Now which of you experts can tell me why none has ever had an issue?

Have any one of you ever heard of an HD actually confirmed that the valves, lands, piston or other component failed because of pinging. This forum would be loaded with whiners if it were happening.

I have not nor has my dealer who sells about 500 HDs every year.

The most control over pining is the operator. Try taking off in third with 94 octane and see what happens.

 

HD does have a bike that runs on 87 octane, its called the 883 sportster and probably now includes the street 500 and 750. That is their loophole. If you look in the owners manual of the 1200 sportsters, the dynas and all the touring Harleys, they says 91 octane or higher. Last time I checked, HD is the ones that made the bike and not you. So unless you are an expert yourself and have a engineering degree from Harley, I am not going to believe anything you say and I am going to go by what HD says since they are the ones that actually made the bikes. It doesn't cost that much more to run premium vs regular.

 

Should I feed my dogs dry dog food or canned dog food? They like dry food, but.....

 

So if th lower octaves produce more power, why do tuners want you to use 91?

 

I am not a gasoline expert but I run Shell V-Power in my Low Rider. It seems to work well. I will stick with it.

 

Please post a link to this regulation, I can't find it...I believe there are several higher end cars that require high octane for the warranty.


http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money...mium-gas_N.htm