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[2harleys]

Just wondering what everyone thinks about the grade of fuel to use. I have ALWAYS used premium grade in every bike I have ever owned. With gas at the current price, it has me rethinking that practice. Would like input from fellow bikers on this subject. When the difference in fuel grades was only 10 cents a gallon, it was no big deal, but some of the stations I have filled up at recently have been 20 and 25 cents a gallon more for premium. When filling my bike and the wife's bike, I blow over $40.00 every 200 miles.  If fuel keeps going up at the rate it has gone up this year, I might have to try some kerosene.  Fuel at my local ConocoPhillips jumped 50 cents in one week. Ouch

[Twolanerider]

Just wondering what everyone thinks about the grade of fuel to use. I have ALWAYS used premium grade in every bike I have ever owned. With gas at the current price, it has me rethinking that practice. Would like input from fellow bikers on this subject. When the difference in fuel grades was only 10 cents a gallon, it was no big deal, but some of the stations I have filled up at recently have been 20 and 25 cents a gallon more for premium. When filling my bike and the wife's bike, I blow over $40.00 every 200 miles.  If fuel keeps going up at the rate it has gone up this year, I might have to try some kerosene.  Fuel at my local ConocoPhillips jumped 50 cents in one week. Ouch

If you've not retuned the bike you should use whatever octane rating fuel is recommended for your bike.  Remember that the octane rating is only a rating of of the fuel's ability to resist detonation.  All other things being the same "better" or "worse" fuel doesn't have more or less energy, won't make the bike run better or worse and won't help get you laid.  So using a lower octane fuel might make the engine more likely to "ping."

If you have a dyno tune in your future fill the bike up with lower octane fuel before the tune.  Then get it tuned with that fuel onboard.  If no pings in the tune you're then good to go with the cheaper fuel from then on. 

The bike might run with just a bit less snap than it would have if tuned for the higher octane fuel.  Though how much you'd notice the difference is debatable.  The difference wouldn't be, however, because the fuel is somehow less "powerful."  But becaust just a bit of timing might be out of the tune to avoid the detonation that would otherwise be compensated for by the higher octane fuel.

[Deep Blue Dives]

I run the standard premium, 93 Octane.  It is what my bike was tuned for, and was warned against going any lower than 91.  Stay away from Octane Boosters.  I have found a great website in Texas that tracks dealerships without Ethanol in them too - unfortunately the closest to my house doesn't make a cost justification for the trip.  When I am riding out that way - it's a pitstop!

I don't commute many miles to/from work, and have my kids many days going back/forth to work, so I have more cage time for the commutes.  If I was commuting longer distances with it, my bike gets about 15 more mpg than my car, so it's a savings.

I look at my pleasure riding time as my entertainment budget, and don't even think too much about the cost of filling up.  I am out on the road, enjoying my time.  After shelling out over $32K for a bike, adding all the mods, gas is least of my concerns.  I surely don't want to be a cheap ass, and run lower octane gas through my bike.

[Midnight Rider]

I would not run anything other than Premium in my bike, even if it is 10% ethanol (like most pump gas).  Fuel mileage on the bike is still better than most cages, even if the cost overall evens out.  Plus, it's a heck of a lot more fun, unless it's pouring down rain...

Octane Boosters are a waste of money.

Gas prices will come back down after the election is over, or whenever the oil companies decide to lower them.  Compared to most countries, our gas prices are still a bargain.

[Fired00d]

Premium only and wish I could fine premium w/o ethanol in it locally. I only look for cheap (regular grade) gas for my cage.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Jasray]

I go both ways (no pun intended).  Local driving, lots of stop and go, idling at lights, I prefer Premium.  When on long road trips, I slip in a little lower octane gas to help the old travel budget and never notice a lick of difference.

JB

[mjb765]

I only use premium...if I can find w/o ethanol that's a bonus.......

[Twolanerider]

I only use premium...if I can find w/o ethanol that's a bonus.......

I always try to ride with a tailwind too.  Every little bit helps .

[scttgr8]

I always use exactly what the manufacturer recommends  :nixweiss:and I followed every breakin process to the letter while breaking the bike in...
  seriously, I do use the recommended premium grade as the bike runs and performs better with the higher octane...but seriously you have 2 cvo bikes and your bitchin about gas prices?

[FLSTFI Dave]

I understand what your saying, I fill two bikes at every stop.  They call for premium and I use premium.  So while it would be less expensive for my wife and I to travel by car, 28 mpg verse two bike getting 45 mpg each.  However it sure is more fun on the bikes, and a lot more piecefull. 

[North Georgia Hawg]

In a Harley, use Premium. It's what the book recommends... 93 octane. If you've done anything to your engine, it will likely want even more. If it pings, retards the timing.

[dlaws01]

93 octane without ethanol 

[MadCVORG]

Twolane said it best. Back when I was a young pup and cars were mechanical, you could squeeze out a bit more power by advancing your ignition timing on the distributor, then running hi-oc to keep the pinging down. Electronic systems and fuel injetion took that variable out of play. Stock Harleys, at 9.X:1 compression, may not need Avgas on a daily basis, but if you run higher compression, or run in a hot climate, you should definitely listen to your motor. But I'd bet the MoCO would lean toward you being conservative (and spending more) even if you didn't need 93.

[Vyscera]

I run 92 octane, which is the best I can find in BFE TX.
I hate hearing people say that just because we bought a CVO we've got money to dump. Yes, even CVO, lifted truck, and sport car drivers care about how much gas costs. If it didnt matter, we'd be in Bentleys or some crap.

[2018_FLTRXSE]

92 here.... only 2 stations on the island have non-ethanol fuel....not even sure they have 92 octane in N/E...

incidentally.. premium was $4.45 yesterday at Costco... 15-20 cents higher outside.