Anyone Run 87 Octane Instead Of The "Recommended" 91?

Aufgeblassen · 10-09-2021, 09:01 AM

Most all of the many bikes I owned "recommended" 87 octane or regular, since my 1st bike in 1975.

1st bike I got that required premium, was a BMW K1200, so I tried 87 octane, it ran GREAT, with absolutely NO pinging, even under HARD acceleration(when meant octane was suitable), and MPG was exactly the same. No noticeable decrease in power either.

Next bike/trike I tried doing that was a Polaris Slingshot, then a Can-Am Ryker 600, then currently a Harley Street 500. They all had same exact results; regular was absolutely suitable

I think after I reach 600 miles I'll try the Tao TBR7 too.

Mudflap · 10-09-2021, 09:45 AM

87 octane will work fine. What you're reading in the owners manual is the European octane rating which is different than the US rating.

Badluck · 10-09-2021, 11:01 AM

The only reason I'm running 91 is because the 91 sold locally doesn't have ethanol added. As it's getting colder I don't expect to be riding as often and would like as few fuel problems as possible.

Magician16 · 10-09-2021, 11:46 AM

All 87 here has ethanol in it, and I refuse to use it. I have occasionally found 89 without ethanol and it's fine.

Boatguy · 10-09-2021, 11:51 AM

I run whatever. I’ve put in the highest supreme octane, 87, ethanol, non ethanol.

No difference whatsoever. It runs exactly the same. No pinging, nothing.

I have fuel injection though, so that is probably why.

Aufgeblassen · 10-09-2021, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badluck

The only reason I'm running 91 is because the 91 sold locally doesn't have ethanol added. As it's getting colder I don't expect to be riding as often and would like as few fuel problems as possible.

If you simply run the engine for 5-10 minutes up to full operating temperature w/o actually riding ever few weeks, it should be fine. This is what I do with our 5 cylinder Powerstroke diesel Transit chassis small RV which rarely ever gets taken on the road, and it works great.

J4Fun · 10-09-2021, 01:46 PM

On my Hawk DLX the manual says Octane 87 or above.

Aufgeblassen · 10-09-2021, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J4Fun

On my Hawk DLX the manual says Octane 87 or above.

That is good to know, as EXACT same engine in my bike.

duck9191 · 10-09-2021, 03:00 PM

The 91 rating in the manual is the RON rating, which is not used in the united states and is equivalent to 87. We use an average between the RON and MON called R+m/2 or AKI.

Aufgeblassen · 10-09-2021, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magician16

All 87 here has ethanol in it, and I refuse to use it.

Reason?

franque · 10-09-2021, 04:52 PM

If you let ethanol-containing gas sit for too long, it eats up/corrodes different things. The solution is to just drain the carb if you're storing it for several months, or just run it regularly, and don't let it sit. As long as you're not a "fair weather" rider that only uses your bike one or two weekends a month (and only if the weather's perfect to do a 30 mile ride), ethanol isn't really a problem if you ride it.

duck9191 · 10-09-2021, 04:58 PM

I'm not riding when it's -20f lol. That crap last for months here.

Ethanol doesn't store for crap. Phase separation and moisture absorption are issues among it eating some types of rubber.

Magician16 · 10-10-2021, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aufgeblassen

Reason?

I'm a snowbird. I drive my Magician pretty regularly in North Dakota, but then it sits for 6 months. If you leave ethanol fuel sitting for 6 months, it will gum up everything. I leave the fuel tank full with stabilized non ethanol, but I completely drain the carburetor. This process is the same as I used to do with snowmobiles, and I hardly ever had to clean a carb.

jmich · 10-10-2021, 02:24 PM

87 octane, "stable" gets added for the winter storage

buzz · 10-10-2021, 09:22 PM

Klotz 119 in both bikes,2021 Toa Tao TBR7 and 2006 Honda 750 Shadow, They run way better plus love the smell.

10-09-2021, 09:01 AM	#1
Aufgeblassen Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 85	Anyone Run 87 Octane Instead Of The "Recommended" 91? Most all of the many bikes I owned "recommended" 87 octane or regular, since my 1st bike in 1975. 1st bike I got that required premium, was a BMW K1200, so I tried 87 octane, it ran GREAT, with absolutely NO pinging, even under HARD acceleration(when meant octane was suitable), and MPG was exactly the same. No noticeable decrease in power either. Next bike/trike I tried doing that was a Polaris Slingshot, then a Can-Am Ryker 600, then currently a Harley Street 500. They all had same exact results; regular was absolutely suitable I think after I reach 600 miles I'll try the Tao TBR7 too.
	0

10-09-2021, 11:46 AM	#4
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 468	All 87 here has ethanol in it, and I refuse to use it. I have occasionally found 89 without ethanol and it's fine. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
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10-09-2021, 11:51 AM	#5
Boatguy Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Northeast Posts: 929	I run whatever. I’ve put in the highest supreme octane, 87, ethanol, non ethanol. No difference whatsoever. It runs exactly the same. No pinging, nothing. I have fuel injection though, so that is probably why. __________________ 2020 Lifan x-pect
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10-09-2021, 03:00 PM	#9
duck9191 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Port Huron, Michigan Posts: 637	The 91 rating in the manual is the RON rating, which is not used in the united states and is equivalent to 87. We use an average between the RON and MON called R+m/2 or AKI. __________________ 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 rally. 2018 Bashan Storm 250. pz30b, digital cluster + gear indicator, unifilter and car customs full exhaust. 2019 Taotao 110b boulder atv. The "arm breaker" lol 2007 Honda VTX 1300R. 1974 Suzuki tm125, work in progress 2001 Suzuki Drz 400s.
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10-09-2021, 04:58 PM	#12
duck9191 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Port Huron, Michigan Posts: 637	I'm not riding when it's -20f lol. That crap last for months here. Ethanol doesn't store for crap. Phase separation and moisture absorption are issues among it eating some types of rubber. __________________ 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 rally. 2018 Bashan Storm 250. pz30b, digital cluster + gear indicator, unifilter and car customs full exhaust. 2019 Taotao 110b boulder atv. The "arm breaker" lol 2007 Honda VTX 1300R. 1974 Suzuki tm125, work in progress 2001 Suzuki Drz 400s.
	0

10-09-2021, 09:45 AM	#2
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,870	87 octane will work fine. What you're reading in the owners manual is the European octane rating which is different than the US rating.
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10-09-2021, 11:01 AM	#3
Badluck Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 80	The only reason I'm running 91 is because the 91 sold locally doesn't have ethanol added. As it's getting colder I don't expect to be riding as often and would like as few fuel problems as possible.
	0

10-09-2021, 01:46 PM	#7
J4Fun Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 278	On my Hawk DLX the manual says Octane 87 or above.
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10-09-2021, 04:52 PM	#11
franque Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Marseille, France -> Conakry, Guinea Posts: 1,481	If you let ethanol-containing gas sit for too long, it eats up/corrodes different things. The solution is to just drain the carb if you're storing it for several months, or just run it regularly, and don't let it sit. As long as you're not a "fair weather" rider that only uses your bike one or two weekends a month (and only if the weather's perfect to do a 30 mile ride), ethanol isn't really a problem if you ride it.
	0

10-10-2021, 02:24 PM	#14
jmich Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 19	87 octane, "stable" gets added for the winter storage
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10-10-2021, 09:22 PM	#15
buzz Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Dayton Pa. Posts: 861	Klotz 119 in both bikes,2021 Toa Tao TBR7 and 2006 Honda 750 Shadow, They run way better plus love the smell.
	0