Ok, So Do You Use E10 Or E5?

Can’t find it now (of course) but sure many moons ago when the differences between 95 RON and 97 RON Super were the topic of conversation, someone posted that Ducatis (and probably most bikes) aren’t engineered to tell the difference in octane. From my own experience, makes no difference to my Multistrada but the Diavel did return marginally better consumption. Andy

 

Interesting piece on this in MCN this week (sorry if someones already posted, I haven't read all of this thread)

 

What does it say?

 

Better power and mileage from E5. Works out as better value than E10.

 

Where in Scotland were you if you don't mind me asking.

 

That agrees with my limited arithmetic too. Slightly increased mileage with E5 (Esso Supreme where possible) works out at break even or better for current V4s and most other bikes I’ve had.

 

The monkey always gets super unleaded. Gotta get the additional power from wherever I can find it.

 

Ethanol has a less calorific value per kilo so your consumption will drop a bit as you have to put more fuel in to get the same power out of the engine. Maybe a couple of percent increase?
Cars with active knock sensors will run better on e5 as the engine will try and adjust the timing to suit. Not sure if any bikes do that yet.

 

Running around Moffat, back down into England via Dumfries and all the way down into Cumbria the scenic route. This was last September, but we could not even see any E5, let alone buy any I was on the M60 before I saw any E5 again.

 

Don’t recall seeing any E10.

 

Ah Dumfries and Galloway. Lovely area but not the most up to date. You'd probably need to head north from Moffat to Abington services to get E5.

 

I read this article as well, quite an interesting test from MCN. I noted the cost per mile for E5 in their test was lower. I always run E5 in the motorcycles in any case, typically Esso or Shell. I'm primarily concerned with using a 'quality' fuel (e.g. higher octane, detergents) and wanting to avoid ethanol related issues such as moisture absorption. I don't commute many miles so the cost per litre is not yet a big factor; maybe in future with the current trend in fuel prices!

 

My 1098 does just over 30mpg, so the better value I can get the happier I am. That said I’ll probably only do 2k ish miles this year.

I noted my local Esso was 1.64 per litre yesterday but local prices (including said Esso) are down to 1.53.

Based on MCN, I’ll only use decent E5 now.

 

Fair point but I live South of there and we were heading homewards Even finding fuel was a challenge, two of us were on fumes.

 

Paid £2.01 a litre for E5 at a South London Esso last week!

 

I don’t even look at the prices now. No point.

 

Probably best not to

 

Same in SE Essex mate. Effin criminal. £25 to fill vs abt £17 a few months ago.

 

That’s it now. Won’t be coming down any time soon. All part of the electric push.

 

E10 in the 900SSie from 2001, burning around 2 to 3 full tanks per week, I'll make sure that is replaced by E5 when the bike goes into the winter stop.