07-16-2015, 08:30 AM
It's more of a clicking sound that you'll most likely hear under hard acceleration at lower speeds (before the wind noise blocks it out). I was concerned about it when I originally got my '13, as I'd never had a fuel injected bike before. I even upped the fuel octane for a tank, just to be sure it wasn't actual detonation. It wasn't.
Coincidentally, I had my first experience with actual detonation on the CB11 a few weeks ago. I filled up with regular grade in a town that was at 7,000 ft. At those altitudes, regular grade is 85 octane. Two points lower than typical regular near sea level. When I rode from there to Phoenix (about 1,200 ft elevation) I got definite pinging when I goosed the throttle on the freeway. It was immediately recognizable and definitely a different sound than the FI clicking sound. I quickly made my way to the nearest gas station and mixed what was left of the 85 octane with some 91 octane premium. Problem solved.
Coincidentally, I had my first experience with actual detonation on the CB11 a few weeks ago. I filled up with regular grade in a town that was at 7,000 ft. At those altitudes, regular grade is 85 octane. Two points lower than typical regular near sea level. When I rode from there to Phoenix (about 1,200 ft elevation) I got definite pinging when I goosed the throttle on the freeway. It was immediately recognizable and definitely a different sound than the FI clicking sound. I quickly made my way to the nearest gas station and mixed what was left of the 85 octane with some 91 octane premium. Problem solved.