Octane ? for 883 owners

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May 19, 2008 | 07:52 AM

#21

Hitechluddite

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 1,672

Likes: 2

From: Indianapolis

RE: Octane ? for 883 owners

I'm running 93 octane in my 2000 883 now, after a couple tanks I'm going togo to 87 and see if the MPG drops. Higher octane gas is HARDER to burn but gives more power under combustion so if you've got hot spark and the timing is right 93 should be more efficient. When I ran my Ironhead Sportster in Japan they still had 98 octane leaded gas, SWEET STUFF! I sometimes got 70MPG and after 30k miles the engine was still tight.....

May 19, 2008 | 09:43 AM

#22

Kanzig

Tourer

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 321

Likes: 0

From: Oswego, IL

RE: Octane ? for 883 owners

I run 87 octane in my 2006 883C. The funny part is the dealer told me to put premium gas in the cycle and then I had to explain to him the owners manual says to run 87 octane. Alot of the salesman just presume every Harley needs premium gas.

My cycle runs fine on 87 octane as far as I can tell.

Kanzig

May 19, 2008 | 10:28 AM

#23

HDXXX

Road Captain

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 646

Likes: 1

From: Central,Wisconsin

RE: Octane ? for 883 owners

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Kanzig

I run 87 octane in my 2006 883C. The funny part is the dealer told me to put premium gas in the cycle and then I had to explain to him the owners manual says to run 87 octane. Alot of the salesman just presume every Harley needs premium gas.

My cycle runs fine on 87 octane as far as I can tell.

Kanzig

May 19, 2008 | 10:35 AM

#24

RMT

Cruiser

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 201

Likes: 0

From: Arlington, Tx

RE: Octane ? for 883 owners

I have an 07 883C and was also told by the dealer to run 91+. I normally run 93 since I can't find 91 around here. Also if I remember right the higher octane rating allowsthe engine to run lean.

May 19, 2008 | 03:55 PM

#25

OldFenderGuy

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 8,641

Likes: 26

From: Ozark Country

RE: Octane ? for 883 owners

Quote:

ORIGINAL: SportyPig

Oh, and I did do about 1,100 miles last week...But then none of them were in Nebraska. 5 or 6 other states, but not Nebraska.

I hear ya', and judging from some of the replies in this thread some folks don't realize how easy it is to put 1,000+ miles a week on a bike.

I've ridden over 750 miles since Friday, and none of those miles were what I would considered 'riding just for pleasure and fun'.

I realize many people have obligations that keep them from riding as often as they would like (jobs, wife, family, etc.), but some of us don't have those restrictions.

But there are also those thatprobably spend more hours a week in front of a computer screen than they do on their bike,with a postcount that is higher each year than the number of miles they ride.

Many (like myself) don't have a wife or family obligations, and I guess you could say that I'm "self employed" so I'm not required to put in 40+ hours each week for The Man...

I'm more or less free to ride 24/7 if I want, and because of that it's very easy to put 25,000+ miles on bikes each year. As you stated, 1,000+ miles a week is nothing.

May 19, 2008 | 04:43 PM

#26

Mark g

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 2,139

Likes: 0

From: PA.

RE: Octane ? for 883 owners

my 1200 is supose to run 91 or higher. we only have 92 around here and the bike pings and knocks alittle running on that . I started mixing VP MS103.I mix 3 gallons of 91 with 2 gallons of the VP and the bike runs sweet!!! I also have been adding 2oz. of fuel oil to 5 gallons, a product called blendzall. it mix's with the fuel to lube the top end. really helps quiet the sporty motor.