Fuel grade?

[yim4]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, what octane fuel are you guys using on the R1200R? Has anyone experimenting with low octane fuel?

[celticus]

I have never experimented. What would be the reason? To save a buck or two?
MarK

[Radar in oz]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, what octane fuel are you guys using on the R1200R? Has anyone experimenting with low octane fuel?

I usually use 98, but have used 95 when nothing else was available. I did not notice any difference in performance or economy. Perhaps I just don't care enough to notice because I have never been able to discern a difference between various octane ratings of fuels used in my F650 or cars either for that matter.

[mogu83]

I usually put premium (High Test) in all my bikes (and lawnmower) the car gets regular (27 gal tank).
Same reason as Mark, it's only a few cents more and IMHO it can't hurt. Although I'm sure someone will explain octane requirements and the effects of varying RONs and/or AKIs on the ONR of your engine.
If your really really interested (or paralyzed from the neck down) you might want to check out this site:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline ... ion-1.html

As for me -- I'll just throw in high test.

[AllanCook]

Always the highest grade. Since I'm putting in at most four gallons, the difference between the lowest/cheapest and the highest/most expensive is less than a buck.

[deilenberger]

ALWAYS premium.

You won't save anything going lower octane. The engine is 12:1 compression. It has dual knock sensors and dual O2 sensors with a high-speed ECU controlling both timing and mixture.

The higher the octane - the more power and more efficiently the engine runs. Lower octane, the timing will be retarded to avoid knocking, the mixture will go richer to keep the cylinders cooler and you'll loose power and MPG.

No win there..

I've never quite understood people who dump $15,000 into a toy - which for the majority of the people buying it a bike is - and then try to save $50 a year on fuel by using less than the manufacturers recommended rating fuel. It simply baffles me.. The manufacturer was smart enough to design and produce a bike you'll buy - but not smart enough to know what fuel to put in it? Color my gaster flabbered.

[Acpantera]

I was forced to buy regular once in a remote part of PA (with the fuel light glowing bright) at a mom & pop store that only had regular gas. I put only 2 gallons in, figuring that I would for sure see another station within 100 miles. The engine ran fine, I didn't notice any decrease in perfomance or any odd noises in the next 60 miles that I rode till I filled it up at a name brand store with high test.

[deilenberger]

I was forced to buy regular once in a remote part of PA (with the fuel light glowing bright) at a mom & pop store that only had regular gas. I put only 2 gallons in, figuring that I would for sure see another station within 100 miles. The engine ran fine, I didn't notice any decrease in perfomance or any odd noises in the next 60 miles that I rode till I filled it up at a name brand store with high test.

As you shouldn't - the power difference probably isn't noticeable unless you're using the power. And the engine retuned itself to work with the gas you filled it with - at less than optimal power and efficiency. You didn't go far enough to see any effect on MPG..

[Acpantera]

got great mpg on that trip...moral of the story is ........no engine damage......

[Dauntless]

I always use premium, preferably from BP/Amoco or Chevron.

[PhilSB]

A lot of filling stations in the UK only have 95 octane petrol. So my bike often runs on it and it seems OK.

Phil