My octane test
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
Like I said, this was MY test results on MY bike. That is why I dated it and gave the history I did. The fact that the bike had never before had less than premium gas in it until this experiment has convinced me that IT likes high octane. I agree that water got into the intake but as I also stated this had never happened before in worse rains and often times without the rain sock. I should have also mentioned that just prior to this trip I thoroughly cleaned and oiled my HB.
YOUR bike may like regular gas, vinegar or kerosene for that matter but mine likes 93 octane. Maybe one day I will be able to afford a new bike and will be able to perform an up to date test but I doubt HD is going to change its stance on the suggested minimum octane. I still shake my head when there are the select few people who spend 20 and upwards of 30K on a bike but squabble over less than a dollars difference in the price of a fill up.
And the tire scenario? Geez.....
YOUR bike may like regular gas, vinegar or kerosene for that matter but mine likes 93 octane. Maybe one day I will be able to afford a new bike and will be able to perform an up to date test but I doubt HD is going to change its stance on the suggested minimum octane. I still shake my head when there are the select few people who spend 20 and upwards of 30K on a bike but squabble over less than a dollars difference in the price of a fill up.
And the tire scenario? Geez.....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
Jump Frog Jump
One day after sleeping badly, an anatomist went to his frog laboratory and removed from a cage one frog with white spots on its back. He placed it on a table and drew a line just in front of the frog. "Jump frog, jump!" he shouted. The little critter jumped two feet forward. In his lab book, the anatomist scribbled, "Frog with four legs jumps two feet."
Then, he surgically removed one leg of the frog and repeated the experiment. "Jump, jump!" To which, the frog leaped forward 1.5 feet. He wrote down, "Frog with three legs jumps 1.5 feet."
Next, he removed a second leg. "Jump frog, jump!" The frog managed to jump a foot. He scribbled in his lab book, "Frog with two legs jumps one foot."
Not stopping there, the anatomist removed yet another leg. "Jump, jump!" The poor frog somehow managed to move 0.5 feet forward. The scientist wrote, "Frog with one leg jumps 0.5 feet."
Finally, he eliminated the last leg. "Jump, jump!" he shouted, encouraging forward progress for the frog. But despite all its efforts, the frog could not budge. "Jump frog, jump!" he cried again. It was no use; the frog would not respond. The anatomist thought for a while and then wrote in his lab book, "Frog with no legs goes deaf."
Sometimes if you don't analyze the data correctly, you can make the wrong conclusion. Just sayin'. I am with OP on sticking with Premium.
Then, he surgically removed one leg of the frog and repeated the experiment. "Jump, jump!" To which, the frog leaped forward 1.5 feet. He wrote down, "Frog with three legs jumps 1.5 feet."
Next, he removed a second leg. "Jump frog, jump!" The frog managed to jump a foot. He scribbled in his lab book, "Frog with two legs jumps one foot."
Not stopping there, the anatomist removed yet another leg. "Jump, jump!" The poor frog somehow managed to move 0.5 feet forward. The scientist wrote, "Frog with one leg jumps 0.5 feet."
Finally, he eliminated the last leg. "Jump, jump!" he shouted, encouraging forward progress for the frog. But despite all its efforts, the frog could not budge. "Jump frog, jump!" he cried again. It was no use; the frog would not respond. The anatomist thought for a while and then wrote in his lab book, "Frog with no legs goes deaf."
Sometimes if you don't analyze the data correctly, you can make the wrong conclusion. Just sayin'. I am with OP on sticking with Premium.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
Very amusing analogy. Thanks for the laugh!!!!!
One day after sleeping badly, an anatomist went to his frog laboratory and removed from a cage one frog with white spots on its back. He placed it on a table and drew a line just in front of the frog. "Jump frog, jump!" he shouted. The little critter jumped two feet forward. In his lab book, the anatomist scribbled, "Frog with four legs jumps two feet."
Then, he surgically removed one leg of the frog and repeated the experiment. "Jump, jump!" To which, the frog leaped forward 1.5 feet. He wrote down, "Frog with three legs jumps 1.5 feet."
Next, he removed a second leg. "Jump frog, jump!" The frog managed to jump a foot. He scribbled in his lab book, "Frog with two legs jumps one foot."
Not stopping there, the anatomist removed yet another leg. "Jump, jump!" The poor frog somehow managed to move 0.5 feet forward. The scientist wrote, "Frog with one leg jumps 0.5 feet."
Finally, he eliminated the last leg. "Jump, jump!" he shouted, encouraging forward progress for the frog. But despite all its efforts, the frog could not budge. "Jump frog, jump!" he cried again. It was no use; the frog would not respond. The anatomist thought for a while and then wrote in his lab book, "Frog with no legs goes deaf."
Sometimes if you don't analyze the data correctly, you can make the wrong conclusion. Just sayin'. I am with OP on sticking with Premium.
Then, he surgically removed one leg of the frog and repeated the experiment. "Jump, jump!" To which, the frog leaped forward 1.5 feet. He wrote down, "Frog with three legs jumps 1.5 feet."
Next, he removed a second leg. "Jump frog, jump!" The frog managed to jump a foot. He scribbled in his lab book, "Frog with two legs jumps one foot."
Not stopping there, the anatomist removed yet another leg. "Jump, jump!" The poor frog somehow managed to move 0.5 feet forward. The scientist wrote, "Frog with one leg jumps 0.5 feet."
Finally, he eliminated the last leg. "Jump, jump!" he shouted, encouraging forward progress for the frog. But despite all its efforts, the frog could not budge. "Jump frog, jump!" he cried again. It was no use; the frog would not respond. The anatomist thought for a while and then wrote in his lab book, "Frog with no legs goes deaf."
Sometimes if you don't analyze the data correctly, you can make the wrong conclusion. Just sayin'. I am with OP on sticking with Premium.
I always run the highest octane available. The manual states to run 91 or better so I honor that. However, when I was on a trip out west, I encountered several places where the highest octane available was 86! Yes, you read that correctly, 86 octane. Not sure what was up with that but I felt horrible putting that crap in my bike. But, I didn't notice any difference in performance. I attribute this mostly to the fact we spent a lot of our time riding at a consistent speed on an open road. If I was stopping and starting in that heat with the way my bike was loaded down, I would have expected to see varying results (possible pinging, etc...). Lesson for me was that if I travel out west to remote locales, I carry a small bottle of octane boost in my saddle bag. When I come across 86 octane again, I just pour a little octane boost in and away I go. Otherwise, it's 93 or better for my baby...
octane ?
Altitude is the reason for the lower octane. . . .
Remember ALL of our Military personel on this Memorial Day 2011
Remember ALL of our Military personel on this Memorial Day 2011
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
I'm convinced it had to be your choice in oil. I mean, EVERYONE knows the wrong oil will cause sputtering during torrential downpours.
I've also heard that a sputtering issue (raining only) can also be dealt with by simply changing to hydrogen in your tires.
Sorry 'bout the flames but arrow, you built the bonfire.
I've also heard that a sputtering issue (raining only) can also be dealt with by simply changing to hydrogen in your tires.
Sorry 'bout the flames but arrow, you built the bonfire.
Last edited by Leftcoaster; May 31, 2011 at 10:28 AM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 5
From: In the north
My 05 with cams, intake and slip ons runs no worse on 87 ovt then it does on 91+ oct. Actually it runs slightly better on the 87 oct.
For this reason, I don't worry about fuel in the bike, I don't go out of my way making sure I find 91 or better oct for it. I pull up to a pump, fill it up and go on my marry way. On the plus side, I am saving a little coin in the process so it is a win win for me. Better performance, better milage and less coin at the pump and not having to drive around looking for "premuim" fuel.
For this reason, I don't worry about fuel in the bike, I don't go out of my way making sure I find 91 or better oct for it. I pull up to a pump, fill it up and go on my marry way. On the plus side, I am saving a little coin in the process so it is a win win for me. Better performance, better milage and less coin at the pump and not having to drive around looking for "premuim" fuel.