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bludragon
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« on: July 03, 2011, 02:38:29 PM » |
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I use regular unleaded fuel exclusively but my mileage is low It is metric and I run 225 kilometers on 15 liters of fuel. My bike seems to be getting worse. The plugs have been changed and the bike has been timed recently.
Do you guys and gals use regular 87 octane fuel
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DarkMeister
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« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2011, 03:01:31 PM » |
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I use Premium. Probably a waste of money, and I've never bothered to estimate my mileage.
Fell off the wagon for a while and used regular. May be totally unrelated, but I heard a knocking at idle. Reverted back, but the knock is still there (or tick, or thunk, or whatevz - a noise).
You'll get loads of varied opinions on this one, I suspect.
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Bobbo
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« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2011, 03:08:29 PM » |
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A stock or near stock bike is designed to use 87 octane. Premium is just throwing money away. Your km per liter sounds typical.
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RoadKill
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« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2011, 03:32:26 PM » |
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I use Premium. Probably a waste of money, and I've never bothered to estimate my mileage.
Fell off the wagon for a while and used regular. May be totally unrelated, but I heard a knocking at idle. Reverted back, but the knock is still there (or tick, or thunk, or whatevz - a noise).
You'll get loads of varied opinions on this one, I suspect.
you are most likely hearing valve lash. Some is normal,adjust valves and see if the noise lessens. |
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BigAl
Guest
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« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2011, 04:58:34 PM » |
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It says in the manual you can use Octane Levels that are measured at 86 Octane.
I find no stations that offer 86 Octane so I run 87 instead.
Can see no difference in performance, but I guarantee you the 87 Octane has not been at the station as long as
the higher priced premium.
It should be fresher than the Premium.
A friend of mine had his Interstate stall twice at Interstate Speeds on premium on the same tank.
Switched to regular and no more complaints.
He now runs regular at all times.
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Fudd
Member
Posts: 1733
MSF RiderCoach
Denham Springs, La.
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« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2011, 05:24:33 PM » |
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Unless you've hopped up the engine, raised the compression or changed the ignition timing, there is no reason to run anything but regular.
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 Save a horse, ride a Valkyrie |
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Fudd
Member
Posts: 1733
MSF RiderCoach
Denham Springs, La.
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« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2011, 07:29:39 PM » |
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I heard a knocking at idle. Reverted back, but the knock is still there (or tick, or thunk, or whatevz - a noise).
You'll get loads of varied opinions on this one, I suspect.
I'll bet the bike has never been desmogged. Sounds like it could be the "pare valve" ticking. |
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Save a horse, ride a Valkyrie |
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designer
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« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2011, 07:57:03 PM » |
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Your mid grades and high grade octanes only retard the detonation of the fuel for HIgh Output engines. They have the ability to reduce mileage and engine power in normal engines. It's not really "better" gas only engineered for better engines.
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2002 Valkyrie Std
K&N Filter, Audiovox Cruise, I/S bags and trunk, Cee Bailey shield +2, ECT mod, radiator pods, driving lights, rattlebars kick shifter ,I/S ICM
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olddog1946
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« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2011, 08:03:43 PM » |
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I run 87 octane, have put about 11000 miles on since last november, got 34.34 mpg on my trip to AZ and Back..3100 miles...NO Problems at all..My neighbor uses the high test in His 97, gets the same mileage (sometimes a bit less) and NO it doesn't run any stronger than my 01...save your coin, use the cheap stuff and buy more chrome..
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Moses Lake, Wa. 509-760-6382 if you need help
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Bobbo
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« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2011, 10:31:01 PM » |
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Your mid grades and high grade octanes only retard the detonation of the fuel for HIgh Output engines. They have the ability to reduce mileage and engine power in normal engines. It's not really "better" gas only engineered for better engines.
That's true. Many octane boosters actually reduce the overall energy in gasoline to increase the anti-knock qualities. At high altitude, I have used 85 octane with good results. |
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Brad
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« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2011, 10:38:00 PM » |
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When traveling through States that sell the 85 octane (Utah is one of them) I use it with no problem. Here in Nevada ours is 87 and works fine for me.
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designer
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« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2011, 06:21:23 AM » |
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Your mid grades and high grade octanes only retard the detonation of the fuel for HIgh Output engines. They have the ability to reduce mileage and engine power in normal engines. It's not really "better" gas only engineered for better engines.
When you retard the detonation in a standard engine it's like advancing the timing. For a fuel injection engine it can really cause problems as the computer starts messing with the timing per the O2 sensor and other things causing poor performance, poor idle and rough running. Using high octane in a valk depends if your already using timing advance. It could work good for some RPM ranges or might change your timing to cause performance and idle issues. That's true. Many octane boosters actually reduce the overall energy in gasoline to increase the anti-knock qualities. At high altitude, I have used 85 octane with good results. |
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2002 Valkyrie Std
K&N Filter, Audiovox Cruise, I/S bags and trunk, Cee Bailey shield +2, ECT mod, radiator pods, driving lights, rattlebars kick shifter ,I/S ICM
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Freep
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« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2011, 10:28:59 AM » |
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Two things. 1) I remember from Mr. Wilson, my high school auto shop teacher that when at high altitude--anything over 5000'--run regular as it has more energy. 2) As to poor mileage, I also got lousy mileage, about 25. Then after a ride to town with my boys they said, 'hey Dad, what about not breaking the speed limit?' (got tired of tickets) I said, "I was doing the speed limit." Them, "uh, uh, ten over all the way." "Hm." Says I. Checked the speedo and low and behold I running about 17% farther than the odometer says so rather than about 125 miles to reserve, I'm actually going about 146. Nearly 30 mpg, not stellar but better than my Dodge Cummins anyway. I've gotten better on the road when I'm not forced to hot-rod light to light.  In conclusion: Run regular, check your speedo. |
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Freep
Keep thine eye upon thine tach and thine ears upon thine engine lest thy whirlybits seek communion with the sun. John 4:50
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5227
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2011, 11:16:39 AM » |
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I use regular unleaded fuel exclusively but my mileage is low It is metric and I run 225 kilometers on 15 liters of fuel. My bike seems to be getting worse. The plugs have been changed and the bike has been timed recently.
Do you guys and gals use regular 87 octane fuel
Bludragon, your fuel usage is typical for me. If I've been doing mostly city driving and go past 225 without hitting reserve I start checking to see if I've put the fuel valve on reserve already. I get better mileage if on the highway at 110 km/h or less, and worse if over 110 km/h. I use regular gas (87 octane at my local pump). |
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