[happykat]

I run 87 in my '08 GSX650F, and have had no pinging, even though it's 12.5:1 compression ratio engine.

Happy riding,
Kirk

[Chuckqc]

few things on ethanol..

hi there ! i'm new (and by the way i'm working in chemistry)

there's a few things a can say about ethanol,

the good:
-ethanol is more environmentally friendly
-ethanol is CH3-CH2-OH, you can see there's oxygen in molecule, it can bring "liquid" oxygen to the combustion chamber and that can "raise" the octane level by few point (or decimal" like a little turbo
-ethanol can merge with water and keep the tank free of water residu

the bad:
-ethanol evaporate really fast, if you leave your bike without running it for 2 or 3 weeks, the water "merged" with ethanol is released in carburetor, and the varnish build-up is faster.
-i'm not sure.. but ethanol can sometimes dry-up more faster rubber and plastic parts that are in contact with the gas
-more power = more heating.. idle speed can run a little faster than supposed
-can dissolve fiberglass tank, i'm thinking more of boating activity, but for the bodyshopper that can read this message..

so good or bad ? dunno.. make your choice. and don't store your bike with a tank full of ethanol !

[astevens54]

Anything more than 87 on a stock engine is a waste of money.

[DClark]

I usually use 91 because :
1) It will be ping when it is over 90 degrees outside and I am running it hard. I blame this on the stock CA spec ignition box and 5 degree ignition advancer.
2) Gas will lose octane as it sits. In the winter time, the bike might get ridden once a week or once every two months, depending on the weather. So, it gets 91 octane along with Startron.

However, I recently started running 87 octane. From what I have read, some of the things that are used to make 91 gas can have less energy than the 87 stuff, which means a little less power and mpg.
I know that racers use the lowest octane required and that is what I try to do.

[cintidude04]

Why was this thread brought back to life.... really....

[REDKAT98]

I have a 1998 GSX600f and put 91 and it runs great. I did put 89 but it seems to run differently in a negative way so I went back to 91.

[Nut-Nut]

I used to use the $1.00 a gallon a really long time ago, then subsequently moved up to $2, 3$, and now a little over $4.00 a gallon, oh yeah, but the Octane has always been 87...

[numus]

I run 89... it is 50ish cents more a fillup than 87 so figured.... what the hell

[scottynoface]

100 octane, because more octane equals more powah.

[Kreylyn]

If your bike doesn't run the best on 87 octane... you really should fix your bike.

Jus sayn...


Krey

[9L1V3$]

no less than rocket fuel will do the trick for my kat!

[Doppleganger3814]

^^^ CRAZY!!!


Question for you all. Recently bought my 06' Kat600 and I haven't filled up yet (wich is awesome ) as I've been riding less than a month and it has rained a ton here. The prev owner said that he only used premium gas. Now would it be wise to swich to 89'? I would think that the bike would run a little different at first, and don't want to do anything potentially harmful.

[05RedKat600]

^^^ CRAZY!!!


Question for you all. Recently bought my 06' Kat600 and I haven't filled up yet (wich is awesome ) as I've been riding less than a month and it has rained a ton here. The prev owner said that he only used premium gas. Now would it be wise to swich to 89'? I would think that the bike would run a little different at first, and don't want to do anything potentially harmful.

They are tuned to run on 87 octane. Any more than that is really wasting money unless you get it tuned to run the higher stuff. It may actually run a little better on the regular 87.

[Doppleganger3814]

^^^ Thanks! I'll fill up and see if there is anything drastically noticable in performance, because like you said, there's no point in wasting the money.