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  1. #1
    Registered Users retiredsquid's Avatar
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    Default Fuel Requirements

    My owners manual indicates you can run anything between 87 and 91 octane fuel, but premium is recommended for optimum performance.

    I suspect I will likely run either 89 or 91 octane since I can actually find those two without ethanol added to it.

    What are ya'll using and do you notice any difference in performance and fuel economy using the various octane ratings?

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by retiredsquid View Post
    My owners manual indicates you can run anything between 87 and 91 octane fuel, but premium is recommended for optimum performance.

    I suspect I will likely run either 89 or 91 octane since I can actually find those two without ethanol added to it.

    What are ya'll using and do you notice any difference in performance and fuel economy using the various octane ratings?

    I use 91 or 93 08 Gs M5 [stock], My highway MPGs range from 34 to 37, The rare times that i can't find any gas but 87,
    After 75 miles or so on that tank i can feel a slight loss of performance.

  3. #3
    Registered Users retiredsquid's Avatar
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    Thanks, that was what I wanted to know. Similar to what happens with the Corvette.

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    Quote Originally Posted by boborgera View Post

    I use 91 or 93 08 Gs M5 [stock], My highway MPGs range from 34 to 37, The rare times that i can't find any gas but 87,
    After 75 miles or so on that tank i can feel a slight loss of performance.
    The same results with my RT...
    2010 RT A&C, RT-L, RT-L , Orbital Blue, Cognac, Jet Black

  5. #5
    Senile Member M2Wild's Avatar
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    I switched over from 87 to 91 last year. Couldn't feel any difference. Going back to 87 and staying there. O2 mod did kill my gas milage. Might switch back this season.
    Silver SM5 PE# 1274, Hindle Exhaust, Touring Windshield, Caliper Trim, B.E.S.T. 3 Year Ext, Nuvi 255 GPS, Fog Lights, Sport Rack, Back Rest, 12V Outlet, Talon 3300p Alarm, NMN Mud Flap and TipZ LEDs, SpyderLovers Emblems, Kuryakyn Widow Pegs and Axel Trim, Luimoto seat skin, Evo Air Filter and O2 Mod, Cranker Tank Bag, Blue Sea fuse block, MAD/AMS/MBG, Oddyssey battery, IPS.

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  6. #6
    Registered Users retiredsquid's Avatar
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    We used to be able to get 93 octane here until the tree huggers forced ethanol on us. Now it is 87, 89, or 91 octane. A few and that is very few gas stations sell real gas without ethanol, but most of those are 91 octane only.

  7. #7
    Alignment Specialist bone crusher's Avatar
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    I've tried all three...no real difference...at least not enough to justify 20 cents or more per gallon.

    Then someone pointed out that it's only like a dollar difference per tank load...and that's a good point....however, I really don't see any difference and that is the overriding issue for me...so, 87 I go...
    Bone Crusher
    If you work to make money, you'll never be happy, as there's never enough money...if you work to take good care of people, the money will always be there....Sean O'Connell, 1999

  8. #8
    Alignment Specialist bone crusher's Avatar
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    funny...this just out on yahoo....

    http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/fina...waad=ad0035&nc
    Bone Crusher
    If you work to make money, you'll never be happy, as there's never enough money...if you work to take good care of people, the money will always be there....Sean O'Connell, 1999

  9. #9
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    100% agree with that article...

    With one comment. They says premium doesn't help unless you own a premium vehicle with a high output motor. While the Rotax isn't low compression low output like some certain bikes, I don't think it's really high output for it's size/configuration either. I think BRP's recommendation of 87 octane means it shouldn't need to do any timing changes to prevent detonation at that octane level baring unusual circumstances (poor air conditions, pressure, very high ambient temps etc.)

    So that said... I still run premium. Just paranoid I guess
    tHe SmOkEr YoU dRiNk ThE pLaYeR yOu GeT!

  10. #10
    Very Active Member Pandy's Avatar
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    Default Octane

    Just completed a three day run on the Blue Ridge and ran regular 87 all the time. With but 3100 miles on the RT, we turned in a steady 33mpg. Speaking with our local Spyder guru, he said try running all three grades over a period of time to see which works best. Made some comment that no two engine/ ECM combinations are alike and we might find that we get better performance out of premium, or just plain old regular. No more than the cost difference is right now, the experiment is on. Oh, he did mention a Power Commander mod. I dunno 'bout that.

    Patrick
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  11. #11
    Very Active Member ARtraveler's Avatar
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    My experience: Tried 87 octane for the first 3 tanks this year on RTS--the bike did not seem to run as "peppy," also noticed less fuel mileage per gallon. I'm back to 91 octane untill I can't afford it any more. Also drive a Subaru Tribca (V6 and recommended 90+octane)--exactly the same results. Back to premium.
    2020 F3L , Magma Red

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    Local 87 is 10% ethanol and BR1 seems to run very well on it. I prefer no ethanol but that is what it will get most of the time in the local area. I got 30.1 on a fill today. Gotta live with it...


    I traded my 2014 RT for a 2017 Mr. White RT-S. I am George Lewis. I live two miles from Boerne, TX. I am 89, retired USAF and Sony Corp. I also have a GW MotorTrike. My email: scoot62@aol.com

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  13. #13
    Alignment Specialist bone crusher's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by akspyderman View Post
    My experience: Tried 87 octane for the first 3 tanks this year on RTS--the bike did not seem to run as "peppy," also noticed less fuel mileage per gallon. I'm back to 91 octane untill I can't afford it any more. Also drive a Subaru Tribca (V6 and recommended 90+octane)--exactly the same results. Back to premium.
    Careful, there is a break-in period regardless of what fuel you are running and your mileage will get better over the first 1000 miles...
    Bone Crusher
    If you work to make money, you'll never be happy, as there's never enough money...if you work to take good care of people, the money will always be there....Sean O'Connell, 1999

  14. #14
    Very Active Member Star Cruiser's Avatar
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    I had always stayed true to only using premium if the engine called for it because of compression requirements. I read here that the timing changed to stop knock. I tried a tank of premium, mid- grade & regular. I didn't notice a difference between mid-grade (89) and premium (91), but they both performed better than regular (87). No milage difference between any of them for me. It took about 100 km to see the difference. Premium is 60 cents more a gallon here in Canada, mid-grade is 40 cents more. I use regular if I am just cruising on the highway but go to 89 if I am looking at any performance riding (my usual fill-ups). I don't bother with 91 Octane.
    Last edited by Star Cruiser; 04-25-2011 at 12:07 AM.

  15. #15
    Very Active Member ARtraveler's Avatar
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    Hi Bone Crusher: My RTS has over 14,000 miles on it. I went through the break-in period last summer.
    2020 F3L , Magma Red

  16. #16
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    run 87 most of the time get 33 to 35 mpg. tried higher grades couldn't tell any differance

  17. #17
    Alignment Specialist bone crusher's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by akspyderman View Post
    Hi Bone Crusher: My RTS has over 14,000 miles on it. I went through the break-in period last summer.
    Did you see a change in mileage to the upside after a thousand or two miles?
    Bone Crusher
    If you work to make money, you'll never be happy, as there's never enough money...if you work to take good care of people, the money will always be there....Sean O'Connell, 1999

  18. #18
    Very Active Member ARtraveler's Avatar
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    Bone crusher--mileage did seem to improve after the initial 3000 miles or so. I started in the high 20's (27) and most tanks average (31) now. I am not an agressive driver, drive with the windscreen at its lowest point most of the time, and keep the revs mostly around 4500.
    2020 F3L , Magma Red

  19. #19
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    87-91 for me. Bike runs very smooth at lower rpms on hight test.

  20. #20
    Very Active Member Raptor's Avatar
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    Yup, definitely saw an improvement in mileage per tank as the miles were put on the engine. I pretty much stick to 89 and every so often 91 octane now. I do feel at least "the perception" of better performance with the 89-91 octane. I cannot really confirm improved MPG, but the machine does seem to run better with the better grades of fuel. I do not put in any additives either.
    "Life must be understood backward. But it must be lived forward."

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  21. #21
    Alignment Specialist bone crusher's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Raptor View Post
    Yup, definitely saw an improvement in mileage per tank as the miles were put on the engine. I pretty much stick to 89 and every so often 91 octane now. I do feel at least "the perception" of better performance with the 89-91 octane. I cannot really confirm improved MPG, but the machine does seem to run better with the better grades of fuel. I do not put in any additives either.
    Yeah...I think most sources will say that it's a psychological effect more than a true mechanical one...

    I use 87 and my bike is fine with it...when running 93, I really didn't see a change, except for an additional 20+ cents/gallon.

    I do have numbers on my old BMW...I get about 2mpg higher with 89, even though the old '92 only 'needed' 87...funny thing is that with 93, it runs the same as with the 87....odd...I guess with age, it gets a little pickier. Who knows...
    Bone Crusher
    If you work to make money, you'll never be happy, as there's never enough money...if you work to take good care of people, the money will always be there....Sean O'Connell, 1999

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