Harley Davidson Forums

Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

octane choice?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 1, 2007 | 09:11 PM
Share
  #1  
ST Deuce's Avatar
ST Deuce
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Bone Gap, Il.
Default octane choice?
what octane gas does everyone use? i was using the 94 until my buddy said try the 87 because he was getting better fuel mileage on his heritage. tried the cheap stuff and low and behold i have run 130 miles and still have a quarter tank left.
no lie i only got about 120 miles ona tank ofhigher octane. anybody else have better fuel mileage like this? does harley recommend a certain octane level?
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 09:22 PM
Share
  #2  
emshelimedic's Avatar
emshelimedic
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: octane choice?
I believe HD recommends 91 octane or higher for fuel.
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 09:55 PM
Share
  #3  
In Memoriam Citoriplus's Avatar
In Memoriam Citoriplus
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
Default RE: octane choice?
I just use the best I can get, usually 93. I figure its better because I tend to use the lower end of the power band more often than the upper, and higher manifold pressures with low RPM's is an invitaion to preignition or detination problems with lower grade fuels.
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 09:58 PM
Share
  #4  
billvaughn's Avatar
billvaughn
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: octane choice?
Since I get 40 plus MPG I use nothing but the best....For me it's Chevron hightest

[IMG]local://upfiles/2670/26084DE6A55B462982134801919E504E.jpg[/IMG]
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 10:03 PM
Share
  #5  
Clammy's Avatar
Clammy
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
Default RE: octane choice?
Always the highest I can find. 94 or 91 usually.

Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 10:06 PM
Share
  #6  
bogie's Avatar
bogie
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: North Central Massachusetts
Default RE: octane choice?
Higher the better
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 10:08 PM
Share
  #7  
xxxflhrci's Avatar
xxxflhrci
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Default RE: octane choice?
Running higher than needed octane is a waste of $$. It doesn't burn cleaner, make more power, or do anything special. Lots of guys running stock compressionuse lower grades and report better mileage and a smidge more power.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old May 1, 2007 | 10:18 PM
Share
  #8  
NW FXSTS's Avatar
NW FXSTS
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 546
Likes: 0
From: Blaine, WA
Default RE: octane choice?
Harley does recomend 92 or higher
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 1, 2007 | 10:59 PM
Share
  #9  
MikeyB's Avatar
MikeyB
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: octane choice?
My Evo runs just fine on 87 octane.

MikeyB
 
Reply
0
Old May 1, 2007 | 11:30 PM
Share
  #10  
monkyman's Avatar
monkyman
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,925
Likes: 5
From:
Default RE: octane choice?
I use super, for the extra .20 per gallon, I can aford the extra buck it may cost to fill it.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:48 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE