• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

Gas Octane

Not going to ask how you grounded it to shut it down....
Been there done that wiped out once on my Rupp mini bike hand went under tank throttle wide open hand stuck between tank spark plug the burn did not hurt at all compared to the shock treatment I got :2thumbs:
 
I use regular. I put premium in once, engine just sounded like it was running way to rich. I have not put anything but regular in it since. I have added a fuel injector cleaner once and some dry gas (did not like the feel after i filled up at one station, but it ran better after). I haven't had any problems with using regular, and I was riding to work when we had 15 degrees (windchill) here (wonder how cold that was while riding?).
 
so cheap I squeak usin 87 and luvin it nojoke

So, I'll chime in too.

Just dumped a can of Seafoam into the tank on Saturday, ran :spyder: to operating temp... no sputter, no coughing, no hesitation, and the Hindle growls like a monster... so, the question is, how bad does our gas s--k here in CT???

Geez!
 
Anything higher than 87 octane is a total waste of money. It will not run 'better' in the Spyder, nor will you get better MPG. It may run 'okay', but many have found it runs worse (including myself).

Only an engine that specifically requires the higher octane will benefit from running it. Period.

Another thing to consider is your 'higher octane' fuel is almost always older - as in not as fresh - as the lower octane. It sits much longer without being turned over because it doesn't sell as much - thus it picks up moisture and loses octane - thus becomes stale.

If you want the rotax to perk up - expensive gas isn't the way.

Add Ken's O2 mod, an aftermarket exhaust, Race Airflow setup and fuel pressure mod - it WILL awaken the beast that has been sleeping in your Spyder!


:agree:
Studies on this over and over again...better octane DOESN'T make your bike run better...the bike is made for 87 octane...that's all you need!
 
I run nothing but Shell V-Power at 99 RON octane here in the UK. This is a highly filtered fuel designed with the Ferrari F1 team and is available at pump. It's about 10% more expensive than regular. Contrary to some of the BS written in this thread a higher octane helps keep engine temps down. Not a problem here in the UK at the moment though! :yikes:
 
As far as I know, we still aren't certain if the Spyder ECU utilizes any form of knock control.

And this is the question that we should be asking (answering) here. Facts are facts as far as octane, what it does and does not do. Wives tales, seat-of-the-pants, long practiced habbits and your best buddies opinions are not of much practical use (though they seem to be quite popular).

However, the unknown variable that I think we can all agree on (can't we all just get along?) is whether or not our Spyders have the ablility to sense knock, adjust timing, etc., for octane value, and thus take advantage of Premium fuel.

From what I understand it takes at least a few (if not several) miles for the computer to sort all of this out completely. So just switching from regular to premium for 1 tank may indeed cause a reduction in performance because the system may need more time to make 100% of the necessary changes.

I have tried premium fuel and did not notice any improvement in cold starts, backfiring, throttle response, fuel mileage or any other function. I didn't see any reduction in any of these areas either. But I do not think this is necessarily a conclusive finding.

So, I'd like to know, does the Spyder have the capability to utilze the potential of Premium fuel or not? If it does I will certainly take another shot at Premium fuel for a longer period of time before I make a final call on this one.
 
The Spyder does NOT have a knock sensor.....this has been discussed previously.:spyder:

Oops! Must have missed that one...My bad!

Well, that puts the stake in the heart on this one for me then. Maybe Nitrogen in my tires will make me go faster!
 
Yes, it's been discussed, and no, it doesn't have a stand alone knock sensor. But as we have no end user or dealer access to the actual tables in the ECU, we don't know for certain that there isn't a knock sensing system in the ignition circuitry similar to what Harley has been using since 2002. I find it hard to believe that for all the advanced electronics on the Spyder, there is no knock control system being used, unless the ignition timing is severely retarded from the get go. Look at the parameters- the Rotax is almost 11:1 compression, it has to operate from sea level to 10,000 ft elevation or more, from 1500 to 10,00 rpm, from 0 to 100% throttle positions, unloaded or heavily laden, stock exhaust or performance, and I don't recall hearing anyone complain about detonation. Sorry guys, but I don't believe that a fixed ignition map from the factory is that versatile. If ignition timing is really that retarded to cover all those bases, imagine the performance and fuel mileage gains that are being compromised. I have a sneaking suspicion there's more to it than what you think you see(or don't see) on the surface....

Well, that explains 25-30 mpg. :D :yikes:
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