Who's running Regular
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,395
Likes: 266
From: Southern California
Unsubscribed . . . this is like an Oil Thread, only with even less accuracy. If someone said that running a (pick a number) octane fuel would improve the lubrication of the muffler bearings . . . there would be a bunch of folks who would agree and they'd cite all manner of non-existent sources of expertise to support their opinions and another group who would claim (from personal experience) that this was not happening on their machines.
Here are a few links, written by folks, who actually know what they're writing about, that the pseudo-scientists on this thread might want to read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part1/
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-e...question90.htm
Here are a few links, written by folks, who actually know what they're writing about, that the pseudo-scientists on this thread might want to read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part1/
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-e...question90.htm
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 6
From: South Dakota
Out the door on my new 2010 SG with no mods my bike pinged like mad over 80-85 degrees. Couldn't figure it out. Realized I needed premium. Pinging went away.
A month or two later, tuner, cams, pipes intake. I CAN run regular but I have to be nice to it. NO hotrodding etc.. Or it will ping. If It gets hot Premium is a must. So I just run premium unless I can't find any. Which is getting to be more and more common.
My .02 cents. At 8000 miles last year on the bike in 5 months I would have saved ~50 bucks. I spend more on that in beer in 2 weeks. :P Then again I don't drink yellow fizzy water.
I also have a beefed up motor in a '75 bronco that will knock like hell if I don't get premium. It gets 8mpg on a good day. It has been parked for 2 years. Premium isn't a joke and isn't a marketing ploy like some like to suggest.
A month or two later, tuner, cams, pipes intake. I CAN run regular but I have to be nice to it. NO hotrodding etc.. Or it will ping. If It gets hot Premium is a must. So I just run premium unless I can't find any. Which is getting to be more and more common.
My .02 cents. At 8000 miles last year on the bike in 5 months I would have saved ~50 bucks. I spend more on that in beer in 2 weeks. :P Then again I don't drink yellow fizzy water.
I also have a beefed up motor in a '75 bronco that will knock like hell if I don't get premium. It gets 8mpg on a good day. It has been parked for 2 years. Premium isn't a joke and isn't a marketing ploy like some like to suggest.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: Northern Colorado
I think it's funny how some people spend big bucks on their vehicles but when it comes time to fill up, not only do they use the cheapest **** there is, but they will go out of their way to get it. The lengths some people will go to to save a buck... LITERALLY. I don't live on junk food and neither do my vehicles.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 62
From: Port St. Lucie, FL
BTW 80-85 degrees down here is a cool summer. I've been running my '09 FXDC 103" Stage lll last summer using regular gas in temps from 95- 105 degrees without a hiccup. Maybe all V-twins aren't factory tuned the same. My only suggestion is to experiment. Since you have already, then it sounds like you're stuck using premium.
Here's a thought. I wonder if those that tried using 87 octane and experienced pinging or knock if their EMS module is working correctly. If under warranty I would bring this issue up with my dealership. From what I understand there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to use 87 octane even if it's for a short term without pinging or knocking. This may be the culprit, (EMS Module).
Last edited by cptdenny; May 24, 2011 at 09:36 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 2
From: SO Cal
I still have not heard a valid theory on:
1) Why would Harley spec out High octane fuel if it is not needed?
2 )What do they have to gain by doing so?
3) Don't you think that with gas at $4 plus per gallon, it would be a great selling point if they could say that their bikes run on Regular Fuel?
Automotive Marketing is what I do, and I'm sure that if Harley could make this statement they would.
I'm sure that in certain conditions regular would be OK. But I ride my bike in all conditions (that change throughout the day)so why would I take a chance that in some conditions my bike would not perform at it's peak or even worst abnormal wear or damage might occur for $1.50 per tank full. And I'm in So Cal where gas is as high as it gets.
1) Why would Harley spec out High octane fuel if it is not needed?
2 )What do they have to gain by doing so?
3) Don't you think that with gas at $4 plus per gallon, it would be a great selling point if they could say that their bikes run on Regular Fuel?
Automotive Marketing is what I do, and I'm sure that if Harley could make this statement they would.
I'm sure that in certain conditions regular would be OK. But I ride my bike in all conditions (that change throughout the day)so why would I take a chance that in some conditions my bike would not perform at it's peak or even worst abnormal wear or damage might occur for $1.50 per tank full. And I'm in So Cal where gas is as high as it gets.
My bike was tuned with 91 octane/100% gas. When the need arises I can/do switch between 93/89. Never an issue....
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 6
From: South Dakota
No, I rode it home 250 miles from the dealer. From then on I was using regular until I realized what was going on. Only time i've ever had it kick into parade mode too. One cylinder.
Again, If i'm nice to it, probably even in stock form, it wouldn't knock. Blipping the throttle in either form. Stock or modified I could hear the ping. Not with Premium.
Like said before at 1.50 / tank extra, if it completely eliminates the issue and gives me peace of mind. Sold.
I just spent 3+ bucks on a damn coffee this morning. Well north of 20k on a bike. I know what octane fuel i'm going to be running in mine.
there's actually two stations here that sell 93 octane with no ethanol. It's more but that's what I usually run. In the corn belt everything has ethanol in it around here.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 5
From: In the north
I think it's funny how some people spend big bucks on their vehicles but when it comes time to fill up, not only do they use the cheapest **** there is, but they will go out of their way to get it. The lengths some people will go to to save a buck... LITERALLY. I don't live on junk food and neither do my vehicles.
Just like my body, I don't need ribeye to survive. I could live off of hot dogs etc if needed.
It is what it is, I call it waste. It is a waste to drive around searching for that premium stuff and it is a waste to burn it when it is not needed.
Now not saying it is never needed. Some things need it but a stock H-D twin cam is not one of them. Even a mildly tuned one. Push the tunign to the limit with other perfromance goodies and then it may be needed.
Harley does it for the same reasons Polaris did it with their snowmobiles etc and the same reason Arctic Cat does it and the same reason the metrics do it with some of their products. It just makes for a bigger cushion against possibly warrently claims. They will send an adjuster over that has no clue and he will tell the dealer it was because of fuel. They will take a sample back to make it look good but that is it.
So it is just another way for them to cover their asses.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 2
From: St. Augustine Florida
I can only run regular...to many stops when irregular and bathroom lines suck!
All BS aside. I have been running 93 for years. On a few occasions, I will put in mid grade because of no other choice. I have never observed a noticeable difference
All BS aside. I have been running 93 for years. On a few occasions, I will put in mid grade because of no other choice. I have never observed a noticeable difference