any practical experience out there with persons who were by circumstances and/or availablity had to use regular gas for a fill up (i.e other than premium).

 

Carry some octane boost with you and if have to just add some.

 

i have always put in the premium. i have been told, never experienced, that it could cause pinging. i figured, if i had to go with regular, i would put in enough to get me to the next station and fill up with the good stuff. but i cant see how one tank could do much harm. i feel if im going to spend 20k on a bike, put into it another 20k of chrome and bolt ons, why be cheap on the gas...

my 2 cents

 

I think the question was more geared to if you don't have a choice for premium, not trying to cheap out.

Run it, but just listen for ping as the chances of that increases as the octane drops even though the ecm has knock sensors. Just pay attention.

 

I have never come upon a gas station that was out of super, so I wouldnt see why I would have the need to use regular. If its the price difference, at the most youre getting 5 Gallons, how much more would that cost you, maybe a buck and half?

 

On a road trip to Alaska I took along octane boost and needed it. Occasionally in remote areas premium's unavailable.

 

Did a fly and ride program two years ago and it seems that all 3 bikes that we rented ran real rough at first, as soon as we filled up with premium gas the next day they smoothed out. I am sure that they all had regular gas.

 

After a storm knocked out power only way to work was my bike only gas was regular. Took almost two weeks to get premium ran 4 or five tanks of the regular no problems no ping.

 

I had a problem buying premium gas that was not up to par with a cross country trip. I'd get some HD fuel additive if I did it over again. You never know when your off the beaten path how long that gas has been sitting there and was told it could be worse than a lower octane to your engine. I wound up with excessive carbon build up on my pistons due to the bad gas.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...5&default=none

 

My friend runs nothing but regular in his '05 road king. Says it never pings. I've tried it and had some pinging, but if it meant regular gas or push, Id take the regular. Prolonged pinging can cause problems if you have it all the time, but every once in a while won't kill the motor.,,