Is our Valkyrie 1832cc motor different?

[thork86]

Is the motor in our Valkyrie any differently any way (besides external finish/color) from the motor found in the F6B or regular Goldwing?

I've been spoiling my new Valk' with premium fuel but seems like most Goldwing forums recommend using regular as premium (91/92/93) does nothing extra/special/better than regular (86/87) gas for the 1800 engine.

So... Just wondering if the Valkyrie engine is hot-rodded at all? My Valk-specific owners manual says 86 or greater octane for the Valk, I just want what's best for the motor in the long run...  

Thanks!

[specialdose]

   Me and my Gurl are just Jr members here only being together for 2 yrs. I feel no difference in performance from 87-92 octane. I try when possible to run corn free. Even with that I get the same performance ( with the butt dyno ) and same mileage on any of it so I run regular.

[thork86]

   Me and my Gurl are just Jr members here only being together for 2 yrs. I feel no difference in performance from 87-92 octane. I try when possible to run corn free. Even with that I get the same performance ( with the butt dyno ) and same mileage on any of it so I run regular.

You're a seasoned vet compared to my time!  

Wow that's good info to know. You actually dyno'd using both kinds of fuel?!

So the Valkyrie motor is technically identical to the standard Goldwing motor, then?

Thanks!

[brew1brew]

the only difference is they slightly opened up the air intake and exhaust and it's 150lb lighter. I would search wing forums but running higher octane will not improve anything, making it a waste of $$.

[mrtappan]

Octane is a rating of how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites.  In a low compression engine like the Valkyrie, it is pointless to use higher octane fuel.  All you are doing is putting in gas the engine can't fully burn.  As with any other vehicle, unless it specifically says "premium only" then run regular. 

[thork86]

Got it, thanks fellas.

Didn't want to start a debate about gas, I guess I was more wondering if our Valk motor was in some way hot-rodded from the standard 1800 that would warrant premium gas.

Seems like it is not, so the gas will be regular from now on.

Thanks again!  

[Big Tom 10628]

It would have been nice if Honda had added 30 HP to the new Valk like they did to the Old Valk, but sadly they did not...

As far as Fuel goes, even the old Valk used 87 Octane. Been using it in my Interstate for 16 years.

[Jess from VA]

Just following along in this, I have read however that 10% polluted-with-ethanol premium has less of a tendency to attract water (and gum up carbs) than 10% ethanol regular, so in my carbureted valks, I fill with premium in winter months (along with fuel treatments).  They get run and ridden some, but only as weather and roads allow.  Certainly the premium does not hurt anything.

Since the 1800s are all FI, maybe ethanol is not an issue, but if the bike is to sit all or most of the winter, maybe premium would be the better choice, if you cannot get non-polluted gas. 

[thork86]

As a follow-on, I nearly ran out of (93 octane) gas on a few hour ride this weekend. Coasted into the gas station with the gas light blinking at me for a few miles and filled her up (little less than 5gal according to the pump) with plain Jane east-coast 87 regular.

I haven't noticed any difference yet, but hopefully this tank is a little better mileage!