Cruisers - What octane fuel do you use?

[Blue Thunder]

Recommended is 91 so that's what I us and it runs sweet as!

I thought M109's used Nitro-glycerine...

I run 91 with no problems, did consider a splash of AVgas to give a clean out. Thought?????

[Donor]

I run 91 with no problems, did consider a splash of AVgas to give a clean out. Thought?????

The lead could play merry hell with your catalytic convertor/exhaust emission gears... use a cheap octane booster, but avoid the avgas...

[Tank]

The lead could play merry hell with your catalytic convertor/exhaust emission gears... use a cheap octane booster, but avoid the avgas...

Thats a REALLY important point - you can play with octane ratings but playing with leaded fuel has more serious implications.

[jafar]

I run 91 with no problems, did consider a splash of AVgas to give a clean out. Thought?????

Try Wynns injector cleaner if you think she needs a clean out .

The lead could play merry hell with your catalytic convertor/exhaust emission gears... use a cheap octane booster, but avoid the avgas...

Fitting an aftermarket pipe fixes catalytic converter issue

[avgas]

I've found the less the cylinders+the bigger cc per cylinder = higher octane.
I test rode a metric cruiser (Vulcan) a while back - shook worse than a David Brown with no bearings. Gave it back to the guy and asked him what gas he uses (reply - 91), next week he tried 98 and told me he was no longer selling the bike due to it running better.
Do any Harley riders out there use Lead shots in the tank these days - as i remember that being a issue for some v8's a while back.

[Toaster]

Thanks to all who commented. I went back to the manufacturer to double check - 95 for mine (minimum for US built M109R). The canadians can get away with a lower rating for some reason.

bmz maybe yours is canadian bro? given I had a 95 sticker and yours has a 91????

[bmz2]

Thanks to all who commented. I went back to the manufacturer to double check - 95 for mine (minimum for US built M109R). The canadians can get away with a lower rating for some reason.

bmz maybe yours is canadian bro? given I had a 95 sticker and yours has a 91????

and mine is 1" longer

[lemure]

I went back to the manufacturer to double check - 95 for mine (minimum for US built M109R). The canadians can get away with a lower rating for some reason.

bmz maybe yours is canadian bro? given I had a 95 sticker and yours has a 91????

Mine has a 96 sticker, so I've only ever used 91 until last weekend. Why? The guy I bought it off told me to. Came home from Wellsford last weekend with a mixed tank - almost 50-50 mix - without noticing a difference. When unleaded petrol became the norm in NZ I used to run the same mix in an old car without noticing any dropoff in power. Interesting comments here, but what about an upper cylinder head lubricant - Moreys - on a twin carby engine?

[johnnyflash]

Mine has a 96 sticker, so I've only ever used 91 until last weekend. Why? The guy I bought it off told me to. Came home from Wellsford last weekend with a mixed tank - almost 50-50 mix - without noticing a difference. When unleaded petrol became the norm in NZ I used to run the same mix in an old car without noticing any dropoff in power. Interesting comments here, but what about an upper cylinder head lubricant - Moreys - on a twin carby engine?

Trouble is I think that octane ratings dont seem to be the same the world over( As they should) from what I read.. and also no doubt fuel injected versions (boulevards) and carbed versions (intruders) might get away with different fuels

[Headbanger]

A guy in America whose crap I read claims that the cheap way of increasing octane is by adding an additive, but when fuel with this treatment fires in the engine the additive burns off as heat without producing the expected power, resulting in an engine that runs worse.....

At least, I think thats what he said.

[johnnyflash]

heres what suzuki says re c90
Fuel.
Use unleaded gasoline with an octane ratting of 91 or higher (research method). Unleaded gasoline can extend spark plug life and exhaust component life.

(For Canada) your vehicle requires "regular unleaded gasoline" whenver possible, with a minimum rating of 87 (R+M)/2 method). In some areas the only fuels that are available are oxygenated fuels. Oxygenated fuels, which meet the minimum octane requirement and the requirements described below, may be used on your motorcycle without jeopardizing the new vehicle limited warranty or the emmision control system warranty.

Note; oxygenated fuels are fuels which contain oxygen-carrying additives such as MTBE or alcahol.

Galoline containing MTBE
Unleaded gasoline containing MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) may be used inyour motorcycle if the MTBE content is not greater than 15%. This oxygenated fuel does not contain alcohol.

Gasoline/Ethanol Blends
Blends of unleaded gasoline and ethanol (grain alaohol) also known as GASOHOL may be used if the ethonol content is not greater than 10%

Gasoline/Methonol Blends
Fuel cantaining 5% or less may be suitable, if they contain NO solvents or corrosion inhibitors. DO NOT use fuels containing more than 5% methonol under any circumstance...fuel,system damage or performance problems will not be covered by warranty..

GENERAL NOTE.
To help clean the air Suzuki recommends oxygenated fuels..be sure it has a rating over 87 (R+M)/2 method.
If you are not satisfied with the drivability or fuel economy whern using oxygenated fuel you should switch back to Unleaded gasoline.
If engine pinging is experienced substitute another brand of fuel as there are differences between brands..

[ukusa]

always used 95 in the Triumph coz that's what the shop recommended when buying it. Also use the same on the 2 dirt bikes at home (XR & DR). Have no reason to change or try lower (or higher) octane.

[Omega1]

When I got my 95 Evo the old owner was running it on 91 and it ran ok I called our HD Dealer who recommended 96 or higher so I usually use 98 because there's a local Mobil station handy that sells it.The bike runs fine.

[peg]

I only ever run 91 octane fuel in my Vulcan. If it pings, you know it's too low, and it doesn't, so it's good to go.

I'd be a little cautious over any owners manual recommendations though. Most of the manuals are aimed at the Northern American markets, and they have fuel of many different octanes, most of it quite a lot inferior to ours apparently. Vulcan 800 owners in the US have to take steps to prevent carbon build-up in the heads, which is a problem unknown down here.

Best thing to do is to get onto some of the very large international newsgroups or forums devoted specifically to your model bike, and ask around. It needs to be a bit like Goldilocks porridge... not too hot, and not too cold

[Toaster]

Thanks for all the comments - seems 95 as recommended runs well and my local station is a caltex so that will do! Didn't notice any problems with 98 but no sense in spending more cents on that if I don't really need it.

As for 91 - may have to try it sometime!