87 octane users?
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
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87 octane users?
I live in Alberta, the gas and oil capital of Canada. Owing to weather related damage to a refinery or two, there has been a gasoline shortage for a couple of weeks now. Today when I went to fill up, I found that one gas station in town had no gas at all and the other two only had regular (87 octane). It was either use regular or forget the ride. Needless to say, I filled up.
My ride took me through the highest paved highway in Canada, the Highwood Pass at 7710 feet, and I had no issues whatsoever. I've always used 91 octane or better, as per Harley's recommendation, for my Stage 1 88TC but it doesn't seem to mind regular at all.
Anyone out there having the same success?
My ride took me through the highest paved highway in Canada, the Highwood Pass at 7710 feet, and I had no issues whatsoever. I've always used 91 octane or better, as per Harley's recommendation, for my Stage 1 88TC but it doesn't seem to mind regular at all.
Anyone out there having the same success?
Last edited by Exprof; Aug 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
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From: Haslet, Texas
Back last year gas premium became short here in NC for a few weeks and I used regular in my '03 Superglide with stage1 and screaming eagle pipes. Ran completely normal with no problems. I probably ran 2 or 3 tanks of reg in it. A buddy of mine has a '05 RG and he has generally only put regular in it since it was new and he has had no problems.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,892
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From: DUNDALK,MARYLAND
I run regular (87 octane) all the time with out any problems. I have use it for years in both of my bikes. Now if I would put a big cam in the bike regular (87 octane) would not work well it those bikes.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
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From: louisiana
octane requirements for harleys
I have harleys and jap. sport bikes and hot rod cars. raced two stroke out board motored powered drag boats and many other things . wooo hooo for me ha ha what I never could buy was that low performance and low compression eng. the likes of a harley needed high oct. fuel. which it does not. high compression fuel slow burns which does not contribute to engine cooling IMHO I think harley likes to entice people to spend more money on things they do not necessarily need
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,271
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From: Green Country,Oklahoma
The compression in the stock big twins is not very high,you can get away with it.Saturday I had to put 87 in my 05,it was okay except for the hardest of pulls,then I would get a little ping.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
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For maybe .75 cents a fillup is it really a big deal? I can see it if its all the station has but otherwise I'll run hi test.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 143
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From: Glen Cove NY
I accidentally put 87 in once and my 07 96 Pinged with any decent load on it. I didn't realize what was happining, then it dawned on me I pushed the green button on the pump. I'll stick with 93 from now on.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
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From: Blairsville GA
I think the 88" tolerates it a lot better than a 96". I first put regular in my '03 at the Harley 100th Anniversary because I refused to pay $2.00 a gallon for gas (LOL). It has stayed on regular since then without pinging and with a slight increase in fuel mileage. My '08 Crossbones on the other hand demands premium and runs poorly without it.
On my recent trip to Sturgis I found the '03 ran MUCH, MUCH better on the "expensive" regular, and like hammered dog crap on the supposedly hi-test corn gas. I'm all for alternatives to Arab oil, but corn gas isn't the answer in my opinion.
On my recent trip to Sturgis I found the '03 ran MUCH, MUCH better on the "expensive" regular, and like hammered dog crap on the supposedly hi-test corn gas. I'm all for alternatives to Arab oil, but corn gas isn't the answer in my opinion.