87 Octane A.K.A., Unleaded Regular
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 173
Likes: 3
87 Octane A.K.A., Unleaded Regular
I've got a rather rich tune on my bike, so while riding yesterday I decided to try some "regular" fuel rather than "premium".
It ran fine. No loss in performance, fuel mileage, percieved increase in heat, or pinging. Riding 2 up with my wife in the mountains of Arizona it pulled well. Guess I'll save a few cents a gallon. I always try to run Shell or Chevron fuel.
Thats all, just kinda surprised at the results.
It ran fine. No loss in performance, fuel mileage, percieved increase in heat, or pinging. Riding 2 up with my wife in the mountains of Arizona it pulled well. Guess I'll save a few cents a gallon. I always try to run Shell or Chevron fuel.
Thats all, just kinda surprised at the results.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 173
Likes: 3
Whatever compression is in a stock 96" engine, mods in my sig., but no head work. The bike did ping when it was in all stock trim, even with premium fuel. It also got pretty hot.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Mines a stock 96".
pipes, air cleaner, xieds
our fuel is 10% ethanol in most of AZ
mike
pipes, air cleaner, xieds
our fuel is 10% ethanol in most of AZ
mike
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
This topic comes up quite often. I will throw my two cents in. Yes, higher octane is often un-needed, but there is so much more to premium fuel, than just OCTANE! I run premium fuel for all the benefits that many fail to acknowledge. Not the least bit of which is the added detergents that help keep fuel injectors clean. But since most of these threads turn into a battle over the benefits, or unnecessary reasons for use, of octane, I will leave it as this. There are many reasons that people use premium fuel, that have NOTHING AT ALL to do with the octane rating or ping. Please, run whatever fuel you are comfortable with. I would never put anything in my motorcycle other than premium. But that's just me.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,618
Likes: 290
From: Johnstown, PA
Owners manual recommends 91 or higher, but Used all grades, and find my bike seems to run the best on 89. Not sure why, but since it seems to run better that what it gets 95% of the time.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 8
From: Western Canada
I just did a 3 week experiment with 86 oct
It's been quite warm around here and was unsure of outcome when I started running 86. (city and highway) Turns out, to my surprise, is there was no 'noticeable' difference in the performance. My bike has 51000 miles and is stock except for the PCV and Autotuner and exhaust. I do run a rich map for cooling so I suspect this is why the bike still ran so well with the lower grade gas. If the map was lean then I'm pretty sure the bike would have shown its displeasure.
I figure the recommended 91 min is due to the lean maps these bikes come with from the factory. 8.5 to 1 is not a very high compression and seldom needs the high octane. What I find myself forced to do is run the higher octane in the fall as it's the only way to run with no methanol.
I figure the recommended 91 min is due to the lean maps these bikes come with from the factory. 8.5 to 1 is not a very high compression and seldom needs the high octane. What I find myself forced to do is run the higher octane in the fall as it's the only way to run with no methanol.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 1
From: billings,montana
91 octane?
yeah, i try to run premium gas! but i get in the middle of nowhere nevada or northern arizona, and all the town has is rat regular, and i use it! the fuel mileage goes down a little and i go back to premium at the next stop! no problems! cheers from montana