Selecting the right fuel octane for your motorcycle

Just dispelling some common misconceptions about gas octane and fuel selection... all you chemists and engineers out there please refrain from unnecessarily criticizing my misuse of industry nomenclature.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• suzuki
• honda
• kawasaki
• yamaha
• gas
• fuel
• octane
• heptane
• gasolene
• 87
• 89
• 91
• 93
• rating

[HighBoater]

Thanks for the clarity. I have tried to read some "Expert" octane evaluations for my 03 919, only to be MORE confused. Compression is 10.8:1 and my GF's FZ1 is 11.4:1(so of course I have to put Pre in her tank). Turns out that she is getting no real benefit from Prem. Go figure.

I am now on 87- no ethanol, but has to be from a clean source. It will take a while for me to convince her to switch.

[mrmaxstorey]

@HighBoater Right on sounds like a good decision. Really, whatever is recommended in the owners manual should be convincing enough...

[720moorhsum]

my compression ratio is only 7.6:1, but the owners manual specifies premium

[mrmaxstorey]

@720moorhsum Well there you go then. Im sure they have their reasons

[WordsofWisdom2010]

Hey Great Video! i just bought my first bike on saterday and i was thinking about this. but i have a question. Here in British Columbia, our lower octain fuel has 10% ethanol, is this something i should be avoiding or does it matter? im riding an 07 Honda rebel 250.

[mrmaxstorey]

@WordsofWisdom2010 Yeah we have the same ethanol down here, its my understanding that the same rules for selecting octane levers should apply, ethanol doesnt really damage anything, just robs a little horsepower. Consult your owners manual for what octane is suggested

[mrmaxstorey]

@walkerrog25 no prob dude

[walkerrog25]

brilliant stuff this max, thank you bud.

[mrmaxstorey]

@skinz1234 Sounds miserable! Over here, winter is already over!

[skinz1234]

Hey MAX just a quick update from Germany. Havent been working on bikes cause its -15 degrees we got a siberian front coming through!!!!!!! SCREW BEING OUTSIDE :) KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK WITH YOUR VIDS IM ALWAYS STOPPING BY :)