• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Rdy 2 Ride

Always 93. I don't like knock, it's not good for engines.

That being said, older bikes are probably less sensitive than the newer FI lean burning motors, so they may be fine on a lower octane.
 
Knewz said:
I got an age old question no one seems to answer......89 or 93?
Click to expand...

That's because we don't need to answer it, it's already been answered in your owners manual. What does the manufacturer recommend you use? Use that. I use 87 octane regular in mine.
 
My manual said to use 93 or higher, so I use 93 or 94 everytime without fail.

Thought I'd be able to make a top speed run today, but the weather wasn't cooperating. Wind kicked up and it was about to rain by the end so I had to ride her home. Here's the footage...

YouTube - Kawasaki ZX-10R Intro to my high speed run...

YouTube - Kawasaki ZX-10R high speed TEST RUN...

YouTube - Kawasaki ZX-10R high speed run, 2nd pass...

YouTube - Kawasaki ZX-10R high speed run #3... almost sideways!

YouTube - Kawasaki ZX-10R high speed run, last pass - too windy and getting ready to rain :(
 
Knewz said:
My shop guys told me never to use 87 if i want my engine to last
Click to expand...

You can't generalize like that. Do you know what octane is? It's the gasolines resistance to detonation (knock). So if you aren't having a problem with knock, then higher octane isn't needed. It also comes down to the engine. A 2005 Ducati engine is going to be a lot more high-strung than my 1984 Honda Magnas engine, and it very well may require 93, but it still comes down to preventing knock, and a high-compression engine that spins to 15k probably does need higher octane fuel. My bike has a big engine that redlines at 9k, and it runs fine on 87 with no knock. Running 93 in my bike would only cost me more, and could possibly hurt performance because higher resistance to detonation also means it doesn't burn as easily, and if the engine is made for lower octane, then you can lose power from higher octane fuel. Heck, I can't even get 93 here in Oregon, we have 87, 89 and 91. Might be a few stations around with 93, but I have no idea where.
 
He's right. Running an octane higher than your engine needs to run efficiently is nothing more than a waste of money, and in fact can be detrimental to your engine. For instance, my bike is supposed to run 93/94 octane fuel... now some sportbikers I know like to fill up with 100+ racing fuel from time to time because they think it adds hp to their bikes. But in reality, if their compression ratio isn't set to handle the higher octane fuel, they're basically just going to end up running their engines a lot hotter than is good for them, and if they do it too often they'll burn their cylinders right up.

Stick to whatever octane your bike is supposed to run on. Higher does not necessarily mean better by any means.
 
Been over this subject a LOT on the Subaru board I frequent, lots of people think higher octane = better performance, when the opposite can actually be true. I run 91 in my car even though the factory says 87, but I have to run higher because I added an aftermarket turbo kit, and 87 could detonate under boost and blow a hole in a piston. No es bueno.
 
I never used 87. Always 89 or higher. But i have a lot of after market parts and have been afraid of lower octanes in fear of blowing something.
 
Nice stretch of road Outlaw! We have a few long straightaways around here where you can top end the bike.

This happened a few miles from my house, they claim the guy was going fast I don't think he was.

It was at 8:30 at night you would have to be an idiot to run triple digits at night on a road next to the river with all the wildlife crossing to drink from the river.

RIP to the rider..24 years old.

Man killed in motorcycle crash, recovered from river | illinois, state, motorcycle - The Telegraph
 
Very sad. I always hate hearing about motorcycle accidents, expecially those involving young men and high rates of speed that result in death.

I realize there really are no 'safe' public roads to top end your bike on, the road in my video is about the only road I ever test the top speed of mine out on. Like I eluded to in the opening clip, that road is about 2 and a half miles from the stop sign, to the crest of the hill where I slow it back down. In that 2 and a half mile strip there are 5 farms, an all of their drives are about a half mile long. So from now until their crops start to grow, everything is visible.

If there is a deer or other animal anywhere near the road, I can see it long before it had a chance to jump out in front of me. Likewise any car pulling out of a driveway would be clearly visible. And best of all, there is very little traffic most of the time. I was actually getting a little frusterated that day because everytime I started my run, a car would be coming down the other way... that's unusual. And as you could tell by the videos, I keep it well under 100 mph when there's a car coming the other way. I'm not going to put anyone else at risk of wind blowing me into the other lane or anything like that.

So yeah, you gotta pick your spots carefully. Obviously these machines are not meant to just putt around at 55 mph all day. And while 98% of my riding is just that, every now and then I get the itch to push the ceiling a bit. And when I do, I head out there. A few runs down that road gets my blood pumping pretty damn good!
 
My car runs sooo much better since using 93... won't ever go back to 87.

But my car asks for 90+ so that could be why.

Engine doesn't knock anymore.
 
jamor said:
My car runs sooo much better since using 93... won't ever go back to 87.

But my car asks for 90+ so that could be why.

Engine doesn't knock anymore.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't have been running 87 if it requires 90+, that's why you had knock. Are you turbo? Hope you didn't damage anything!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom