Best fuel type

[RocketDaryl]

I'm thinking the specs must either be a little different on the bikes or the fuel in the different countries. The manual for my R3T clearly stated "Use only unleaded fuel with a minimum octane rating of 87". I'm in the USA.

 

[RocketDaryl]

It's frustrating trying to get a straight answer on some of this stuff. I remember when I first bought my R3T I spent a good month trying to get a straight answer on the size of the tank.

 

[Molinoman]

But Daryl, that is because you didn't believe me.

Dennis

82 dtg Dubai
83 dtg Home

 

[RocketDaryl]

In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Trust, but verify".

 

[HellFire]

You runnin' 87 or 89 octane, Hellfire?

I use the lowest octane available, typically thats 87. 8:1 compression ratio is not much better than a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower motor (I'd have to check, it might be higher than that ), the most power you can beg from a motor is when as much fuel as possible gets burned in the cylinders without pre-detonating. And since I can't make it knock even when I try, I use the lowest octane I can find.

 

[HellFire]

I'm thinking the specs must either be a little different on the bikes or the fuel in the different countries. The manual for my R3T clearly stated "Use only unleaded fuel with a minimum octane rating of 87". I'm in the USA.

Yes, they are using a slightly different scale than we use in the states (at least they are in their manuals). RON stands for "Research Octane Number", there is a long definition about Aromatic Hydrocarbons, testing severities etc., **** I don't pretend to understand. But the gist of the differences is that RON is typically a few points higher than our R+M/2 ratings scale. 90 RON should be comparable to 87 octane. The way I understand it is that RON simulates low severity engine conditions, MON (Motor Octane Number) simulates severe engine conditions like loads and high RPM. Our "Octane" rating is a combination of both, RON+MON and taking the average as the Octane. R+M/2
Since load and RPM is higher for the MON test, the RON number is higher than MON.
So you guys over seas shouldn't get confused over the RON value printed in the manual ... 91 RON is not 91 octane, it should actually be equivalent to 88 octane pump gas. Maybe your pumps do say RON rather than Octane, but be sure it's not just being confused. You should be running whatever is your lowest "grade" in the bike unless you have a turbo/supercharger or milled down cyl head.

 

[Power-Tripp]

Normally what I see in the R3 and R3T is the same as what I see in most bikes.
Higher octane adds 1-2% to the top end, but loses 2-3% at low rpm and is less responsive.

Somewhere on this site I have even posted a dyno graph of a R3T that was tested on 87, then again on 93 - with the same results mentioned above.



Since there seems to be a LOT of confusion as to fuel differences around the western world, I have put this list together with the help of a lot of others.

ron= Research octane Number (Chemical test) - European/UK/AUS/NZ pump octane number
MON= Motor octane Number (heated research motor test)
pon= Pump octane Number (AKI/anti-knock index - R+M/2) - US pump octane number


Europe/UK:
98 octane____________95 octane_______________Shell V-Power (typical analysis)
98.3 ron_____________95 ron__________________99.7 ron
86.9 MON____________85.5 MON________________87.9 MON
92.6 pon_____________90.25 pon_______________93.8 pon

AU/NZ:
Actual test data or info from suppliers is scarce to nonexistent, but this data comes from several suppliers.
Premium___________Regular
95 ron____________91 ron
85 MON___________82 MON
90.5 pon__________86.5 pon

98 ron premium is now more freely available in OZ.

US:
Premium 93 ___________________________________________Premium 91
(actual results from 25 stations)___________________________(Actual test results)
98.5 ron_______________________________________________ 96.3 ron
87.9 MON_______________________________________________87.9 MON
93.2 pon_______________________________________________ 92.1 pon

Regular 87 (absolute minimum US standard)
91 ron
83 MON
87 pon

I have a bit more info from Japan, but it tests close to the Euro Spec Shell 98RON premium listed above.

Lots more data on race fuels, alcohols, and mixed fuels, but kind of a waste on the R3.

I hope this clears up a few things.

 

[Scorp]

My handbook says 95ron, I have always run 98 premium, might try lesser one day.....

 

[HellFire]

You should try regular next tank .... bet you will be pleasantly suprised.

 

[UNCLE JESSE]

I use 87 But I do have a bit of valve chatter, around here most of the premium has been in the ground so long it has went dead nobody buys it.