What brand of fuel do you use for your touring bike?

[kinger]

Tried the same mileage check when I was working in Auckland and coming home to Taupo every weekend.
Contrary to all reports thus, Gull gave me best economy. That was in a 98 2.7 petrol Hilux Surf though.
The bike gets 91 whatever is nearest when I need to fill up. Don't think my 1250cc 1996 Yamaha engine is running too high a compression, and cruising at 100-120 doesn't get me into the "cruise ecomomy" range when it's only just over 4k with a 9.5 red line.
If TPTB would just increase the limit to about 150, I'd save a few bucks.

[Flip]

The old harley works great on all fuels.

Just thinking about my fuel consumption adds about 10% to my fuel economy. I have never noticed any diference other than at very hot, relatively high and heavly loaded conditions the bike seems to produce more HP on 96. I attribute this to the ignition retarding to prevent knocking which I suppose is a function of the fuel but also the set up of the fuel injection and ignition system.

[Theantidote]

my wee 91'1100 seems to run better on the 91 fuel than on 95 - 97...which suits me wallet and keeps the missus happy...
what i find remarkably intriguing is that when petrol comes down below 2bucks a litre we all seem to get really excited and think we're getting a bargain...bollocks remember when filling the tank was lose change and lasted all friggin week...???
and i concur with what someone else said it's about the quality of your ride...me i like to measure economy in miles per smile/or vice versa...as long as i'm smiling it's all that counts at the end of the ride...
ride safe folks...

[cruza]

I have kept a good record of my fuel use on all of my bikes. I have found a distinct difference in fuel distance over the various brands with Shell (now Z) consistantly giving the best results. I have also found a big diffence in the Octane ratings with 91 octane giving better performance (fuel wise) than the higher octanes. Overall Z is best, BP and Caltex next, then Challenge and Mobil last of all.

For the GSX (all in km/l):
Z91 18.4
Z95 17.7
BP 91 17.8
BP 95 17.0
Challenge 91 17.3
Mobil 91 17.2
Mobil 95 17.5
Caltex 91 17.0
Caltex 95 17.6

To be fair to Caltex, that is the one that has been used the most when commuting. If I take the commuting data out then it improves to 18.1 km/l.

For the VStrom (all in km/l):
Z91 17.4
Z95 15.9
Caltex 91 16.9
Caltex 95 16.5
BP 91 16.5
BP 98 16.0
Challenge 91 15.9
Challenge 95 15.7
Mobil 91 15.1

On the DR650 I have found no difference between brands or octanes as yet.

Interesting....Guess when a Z truck loads out of a Caltex gantry, or a bp truck loads out of a Z gantry or when a challenge truck loads out of a mobil gantry it would stuff up all your comparisions eh ......
Tis interesting comparing the different octanes thru , most of my bikes have done the best on 91, noticed on long trips my triumph does better milage on 95 thru .

[Jantar]

Interesting....Guess when a Z truck loads out of a Caltex gantry, or a bp truck loads out of a Z gantry or when a challenge truck loads out of a mobil gantry it would stuff up all your comparisions eh ......
Tis interesting comparing the different octanes thru , most of my bikes have done the best on 91, noticed on long trips my triumph does better milage on 95 thru .

I believe the additives are added in the truck after it has loaded. This information was given earlier in the thread .

[caspernz]

I believe the additives are added in the truck after it has loaded. This information was given earlier in the thread .

Bollocks to that... In theory the tanker yanker is supposed to additive up prior to loading the competitors' fuel, but in practice it's not that simple.

Additive is automatically added at the loading gantry normally, when one is loading out of their own terminal.

Let's just say that not all oil co drivers follow the additive regime when loading at competitor facilities...at least if the past 15 years of personal observation is anything to go by

[Ocean1]

Let's just say that not all oil co drivers follow the additive regime when loading at competitor facilities...at least if the past 15 years of personal observation is anything to go by

An industry chemist I worked with is of the opinion that the functional difference in additives between the various suppliers is so insignificant as to make it extremely likely that their main function is to provide a marketing point-of-difference.


From my own experience in handling rather a lot of it, (including lab tests required for custody transfer) there's far more difference between different bulk deliveries to the depots than there will ever be between the product retailed by the major suppliers.

[caspernz]

An industry chemist I worked with is of the opinion that the functional difference in additives between the various suppliers is so insignificant as to make it extremely likely that their main function is to provide a marketing point-of-difference.


From my own experience in handling rather a lot of it, (including lab tests required for custody transfer) there's far more difference between different bulk deliveries to the depots than there will ever be between the product retailed by the major suppliers.

We should probably stop sharing the insider info then?

Suffice to say I've found 95 and 98 to be value for money for my own vehicles, so that's what I use.

[kinger]

Rode to Hamilton for work last week.
Monday. Caltex 95. 18.2 litres.
Tuesday. BP 91. 19.0 litres.
This on pretty much a bang on 300 km trip. The price difference between the two of 13c/litre makes the 91 the cheaper option......I think.

[ruaphu]

I ride an injected 2000cc cruiser, typical fuel usage is around 17Km/L (5.6 L/100km) when run on 95.

Haven't tried 98 yet. Avoid gull and mobil due to the ethanol uncertainty.

Use 91 now and then but only if i have to. The bike ran ok but i did find one issue. The bike tended to be harder to start first thing in the morning. Just took longer winding over before the bike would fire up. Would give the odd pop and then settle down to the usual constant Vee twin rhythmic thump thump thump.
Cheers Ando


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mechubs]

What a good little question. My wife and I have done some touring on our own, and in groups plus plenty of over 600km days. And we will always choose premium fuel grade and Z by choice as well. Because Z stations seem to be pretty active so I assume the petrol is fairly fresh. with touring it is important to have a good range and all of the bikes we have operated ( gsf600, gsx650f, gts1000, k1200rs and xjr1300 ) have suffered range with 91 in the tanks, with the BMW suffering worst. I guess at least the grade is a no-brainer to me, considering our oil remains clean and levels virtually unchanged between services.

[Jantar]

..... I have only done 6,000 km on the DR so that is far too early to make any claims.

I have now put sufficient fuel through the DR650 to be able to compare brands and octanes. There appears to be absolutely no difference between brands, and 95 octane gives exactly the same mileage as 91.
So this result is totally different to that achieved on the fuel injected bikes.

[Ocean1]

I have now put sufficient fuel through the DR650 to be able to compare brands and octanes. There appears to be absolutely no difference between brands, and 95 octane gives exactly the same mileage as 91.
So this result is totally different to that achieved on the fuel injected bikes.

Why would it be otherwise? A closed control system compared with an open one, the carb delivers fuel with zero feedback from the result, FI systems are addressing several output variables and varying delivery accordingly.

The only variable that may affect consumption with a carb is your right hand, in response to a perceived need for more revs. And that perception is not only nowhere close to the sort of controlled variable you could rely on for analysis but it’s common to both.

[Pedrostt500]

I run 95 in my FJR, just stop at the most coveniant station to my needs.

[cowpoos]

Up until recently I would have thought that it didn't matter what brand you put in at the pump.

it doesn't...put 91 in it. your wasting your money otherwise. Its not a race tuned engine. It was designed to do high miles in any country, with any type of petrol. put cheap gas in it and enjoy riding, your thinking to much or listening to idiots to often.