Why 91 RON?

[HellFire]

Those **** oil companies (Amoco being the worst offender) with their commercials telling the dumb public to run premium in their "Taurus" was one of the most blatant screwing of the masses I've ever seen. It's one of the things that led to their record proffits in 2007-2008. It's **** difficult to convince Joe Blow that his new Accord runs better on regular after being brain washed by TV commercials telling them premium is better for their engine. All that unburned fuel is not only a waste of money, but it also causes catalytic converters to run at exessive and sometimes dangerous temps. I've seen brand new cars come back to the shop with the carpet melted, of course warranty covered the repair but when asked what kind of fuel they were using the answer was always "premium". Of course I have to run 93 in the MINI with the super charger being turned up to 17lbs and the heads done, but there is more explosive power in lower octane gas. All octane does is slow the burn, no extra power, just slows the rate of combustion. The oil companies have the public believing just the opposite, if you asked about anyone on the street that question they would answer that you get more power from premium. Hell, they typically think their civic runs faster when they have a tank full of premium instead of regular. I tell them it's all in their head, if you pay more ... you feel like you're getting more.

I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read the post where you explained it, I was "WOW, I'm not alone! There are others who know the truth".

The 10% ethanol bull **** is another rip off, it has less "bang" and actually hurts fuel economy. I used to be able to shop around and get straight gasoline, but anymore everything has ethanol.

 

[rainman]

i have a couple gas station by the house that still have real gas not ethenal but i say in another year or two you probaly wont find any left

 

[Sidecar Flip]

Me, if I wanted a performance car, I'd buy a Bugatti....and I'd get the red key too.

Just try to stay away from too much ethanol. Rockets don't like anything over 10%. Been there, did that. Runs like ****te.

 

[TriumPhil]

Having been nicely spoiled by my two VTX 1800s at the gaspump, because they are built to run on regular gas, it is a pleasant surprise to know that I'll only have to spring for mid-grade and not premium on the Rocket. Gas station attendants were always somewhat incredulous when I rolled in on the big Honda and requested to "fill it with regular."

 

[ksquared]

I also always used 87 in my Suzuki Boulevard C90; of course, it was 1/2 the power and torque of the Rocket.

At 8.7:1 CR, I think I'll try 87 - should run fine on it.

 

[warp9.9]

I believe the higher octane fuels are timed to fire earlier because the burn longer and then create more compression and downward thrust. With the lower octane fuel used and timing not advanced towards TDC you run a higher risk of detonation this can be catastophic on FA engines. It also can hurt NA engines. The fuel the burns faster 87 being burned up before the power can be applied on the down stroke which in a sense try's to fire the piston backwards this breaks rings and lands if compression is high enough. The big R3 motor is hard to hear detonation and if you read in the manual it will tell you if you hear this pinging/knock get your fuel somewhere else. I use a Vampire Individual Knock Control Unit on my FA R3 as I have had detonation at 140mph which can make for a bad day and soil your britches. If you can turn wrenchs and get a 25% dicount on parts and live it is only about 350.00 a hole when she screws up ( if you don't stand a chunk of the piston land up and pound the head or a valve). You can retune the bike for 87 octane (Timing changes) but you will loose some of the power which you may or may not notice it.

You can run what ever you want in a bike especially if you have money to repair ****. You may get away with it, but then if you buy a hooker you may not get aids or ******** either, myself I wouldn't take that chance
piston oops

cylinder

prior to pulling the pistons and liners and lower end for extensive cleaning
kind takes the cool look away for a while

of course there also is a lot of cleaning to do as antifreeze loves to eat babbit bearings


I had to rip the sump, main bearing ladder and baffels out just to clean the crank area.


Just my 2.5 cents worth.

 

[HellFire]

i have a couple gas station by the house that still have real gas not ethenal but i say in another year or two you probaly wont find any left

Another one of those things you say to your kids in a few years ... "back in the day, we could buy REAL gasoline".

 

[TriumPhil]

Oh, the humanity!!!YouTube - 1937 Newsreel Complete Report: The Hindenburg Burning

 

[RocketDaryl]

the manual for the R3 standard does read 89.

Well, I check the manual this morning and the R3T (model in question) indeed reads 87 as I thought, not 89. Therefore, the OP can do as I do and save from paying .10 cents more unnecessarily.

 

[HellFire]

I believe the higher octane fuels are timed to fire earlier because the burn longer and then create more compression and downward thrust.

You lost me with the "timed to fire earlier" thing. Are you refering to the engine being set up with the timing advanced in the expectation that a higher octane fuel will be used ... or that "premium", higher octane rated fuel is formulated to ignite quicker? I think you meant one thing, but it read like something else.