Hi all. Just wondered really. I've only ever put ordinary 95Ron unleaded in all my bikes. I have tried the more exotic 98s but have not really noticed any difference. Its all a minefield these days.....‘V-Power’ or ‘Bio e-Flex’ anybody? Not tried anything but good old 95 in the Multi yet. What's the general consensus out there. How many use the more expensive 98, do you find it makes a difference, or is the higher octane fuel basically a waste of money?
Tried most of the 98's and not really noticed any worthwhile improvement. I use 95 and spend the difference on beer and curry :biggrin:
On holiday recently put nothing but 98 in as always. Ended up with a bad tank probably old fuel. Ran like crap. Burned off and started using 95 for rest of holiday and on way home and I'm convinced doesn't rev as hard or as crisply from bottom end. Maybe placebo. Perhaps CJS could do a back to back???
I can't evidence it in any way other than feel, but I swear by the 'Super' stuff. It always feels like the bike runs better. From other bikes that I've had to have stripped, it apparently keeps everything nice and clean and in good shape. Worth the extra dosh IMHO
98ron placebo fuel lol bike mag done a test not so long ago and they noticed hardly any difference hard to read but you can make it out
Interesting reading. I guess it's a feel thing and I have to agree bike does feel crisper on 98 etc. can multi adjust for knock etc???
Ive tried both types and never really been able to tell any difference , in my younger days when i worked at a petrol station when it used to be 3star , 4 star and 5 star ratings (yes olden days ! ) the owner of the garage used to fill all the tanks with the 3 star and charge the extra at the pumps for the supposedly better rated stuff ....... do we really know what we are getting ??
I would of thought so , most stuff now have knock sensors for timing retard if knock is detected , engines run so lean nowadays to get them through the emmision criteria and with high compression ratios you would think you would get pinking more often but the timing map and good combustion design seems to keep it in check
They sell some gas in Germany with 102 Octane.... it smells lethal and nothing like petrol - but they don't half go well on it!!
I tried some v-power in my 848 about a year ago. It ran rubbish, and kept cutting out. I went back to 95ron and all went back to normal. Maybe it needed mapping for it correctly ? v-power and the others are a pain to find and more to buy. My last 3 cars all had to run on it and it did my head in.
Thanks Guys General consensus then is that the bike does run better on 98, even if its a placebo effect. Am riding to the Italian Lakes from next Saturday and will definitely try an extended run on the 98. Thanks all
Fuel is a complex thing and generally unless you optimise the engine for the higher octane, then you won't notice any difference. Anti-knock sensors generally have no ability to advance timing to take advantage of higher octane fuel. They are there to prevent damage from lower octane fuel. However, what the RON doesn't tell you is the calorific value of the fuel. Basically, the more calories in the fuel the more power and this is where some "better" fuels are useful. However, since this isn't generally published, then you have no idea what each one is likely to do.
Mine defernitly runs better on the 98ron But then I have had a custom CJS remap, so guess that's why.. Chris also did suggest I put a tank full of the higher octane stuff in when he did his dyno work
