06-27-2018, 10:27 PM
(06-27-2018, 07:01 AM)PowerDubs_imp Wrote: I wouldn't think octane would make any difference whatsoever on this bike unless the ECU is flashed and ign advanced. Very low CR, very mild tune.
Agree 100%. I think there is a "placebo effect" when people run high octane gas in an engine designed for the lowest octane.
I have bikes that specify three different octane levels. The Harleys require the highest (93 pump octane here). I don't know about my newer ones, but the 2007 and 2009 Harleys I had would ping slightly on 93 octane if the throttles were rapped open on a warm day. So they really needed all the octane they could get. The newer ones I have use actual knock sensors, so I think they adjust timing and fuel to prevent pinging.
My two old BMWs specify mid-grade (89 octane here). I can run my K75RT (the winter bike) on regular (87 octane here) when it's cold, say 50°F or lower. Warm weather, it pings occasionally on 87 octane. The K75 is a warm-weather rain bike, and will ping in hot weather on 87 octane.
The two Japanese bikes (KLR 650 and the Honda) specify the lowest octane (generally 87 octane here). They run just fine and never ping under any weather conditions.
If a bike does not ping, yet runs better with different gasoline, then something other than octane is making the difference.