PREMIUM ONLY?

[racer]

I saw a sticker on a tank on another website. It said Premium gas only. This maybe a deal breaker. Considering opting out. My FJR burns regular gas, why would they make an Adventure bike the requires premium fuel (other than the EPA). What are we going to have to do to fix this problem?

 

[jajpko]

In my opinion this was a bad move by Yamaha, and there is not much that can be done about it, at least cheaply. I am going to burn the recommended octane and let it go at that. If the bike had knock sensors I would drop to a lower grade, but it doesn't.

I know the demo bikes that I rode were burning 87, so maybe it really does not matter?

 

[Yamaguy55]

I saw a sticker on a tank on another website. It said Premium gas only. This maybe a deal breaker. Considering opting out. My FJR burns regular gas, why would they make an Adventure bike the requires premium fuel (other than the EPA). What are we going to have to do to fix this problem?

Not much you can do about it. Both of my recent Yamahas need premium, but of those, the WRR seems a bit more forgiving. Interesting, as it has the larger bore, and about the same compression as the others. As for the XT1200Z: with that large a bore, at that compression ratio, it would be expected to require premium. But that doesn't mean you can't get away with some lower octane stuff from time to time. The twin spark plugs should help some. I'll run premium in mine anyway, as I keep several cans around for the bikes, and that is what is in them. Since I don't bother to keep different kinds of fuel in cans, my lucky lawn equipment also gets premium, although it certainly doesn't require it. A happy John Deere is good to have.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I suspect its more of an EPA and emissions deal..... The bike will more than likely work just fine on 86-87... I think they had to bump up the STOCK bike octane to off set the ECM timing for US emissions . I'm my case, im going to change the exhaust and probably a piggy back computer... IE. power commander or Tune-boy, Etc..... My FJR benefitted from the power commander after my mods.
There will prolly be a jumper mod to be done as well as well as messing with the CO settings on the dash to fix the "91" issue... It will ALL be hammered out by guys after we get our bikes..... Don't cancel your bike just cuz they say it needs it NOW... O0

 

[fjr1300]

I quess I always pull to the premium pump for the bikes and the snowmobiles. This is usually the non-ethanol pump. If I was filling a 25 gallon gas tank it sure would bite, but a 5 gallon purchase isn't going to matter to me.

 

[markjenn]

It is what it is. I don't think it has anything to do with emissions or the EPA. And its not likely to be fixable through tuning. A premium fuel requirement seems to be more common these days, whether cars or bikes.

The R1200GS and F800GS require premium too, although both have knock sensors. (I do think Yamaha should have fitted knock sensors - this strikes me as a cheezy cost-cutting move.) I don't know what the baby Tiger requires. The FJR was a bit of an exception to the trend, but four-cylinder motors, with their smaller bores, are more tolerant of lower-octane fuel.

There are folks who are going to say regular is fine, but for a bike without knock sensors, I think you should generally stick to the recommended fuel. I don't think you're likely to do the engine much harm if you are occasionally forced into using regular though, especially if you know what pinging sounds like and are willing to back out of the throttle if you hear it.

- Mark

 

[HoebSTer]

There is also a web site someplace online that lists the gas stations that sell corn free gas. I use that here in Seattle at a local station. I also run Premium in my Honda Ridgeline Truck. WHen getting 18mpg, paying an extra $.25 per gallon isn't a deal breaker. I know it runs better on premium corn free gas!!!

 

[racer]

I guess I'm opting out. I'll buy later if things work out.

 

[eemsreno]

Notice the state I live in Iowa It starts with the word " CORN" I run the 89 octane corn fuel in everything but 2 strokes. My sons FZ1 called for prem. and I told him to try 89 and he said his bike actualy ran better. I ride with a friend with a Venture just like mine and he will only run Premium, I always get better fuel milage than him. I seen in the owners manual of my Suzuki DL650 that they recommend ethanol fuel. " Run Ethanol help Iowa grow"

 

[bvail]

Been driving for 50 years and never ran 'premium' (or Ethyl) ever. Made it happen so far. I will be running regular octane. If the bike pings (only reason to increase octane), I will move up one step at a time. BTW, my Honda Ridgeline runs just fine on regular gas.

 

[markjenn]

BTW, my Honda Ridgeline runs just fine on regular gas.

I would hope so since that's what Honda recommends. And has little bearing on using regular in a vehicle that specs premium.

- Mark

 

[Venture]

Been driving for 50 years and never ran 'premium' (or Ethyl) ever. Made it happen so far. I will be running regular octane. If the bike pings (only reason to increase octane), I will move up one step at a time. BTW, my Honda Ridgeline runs just fine on regular gas.

Modern cars are more forgiving on fuel requirements because they have knock sensors. They are able to detect predetonation (pinging) and adjust fuel and/or timing as necessary to compensate, usually with reduced performance. Bikes have no such abilities, so if you're going to try the lower octane route you may want to carry some octane booster with you until you're sure things are ok. You wouldn't want the bike pinging away for an entire tank of gas.

 

[Yamaguy55]

Most autos, while having knock sensors, also don't have compression ratios like motorcycles, and aren't anywhere near the same "state" of tune. If my pickup made the same ratio of HP to displacement that my road bike does, it would make 760 HP. I sincerely wished it did. It makes 300, maybe. So comparisons between cars/trucks and motorcycles isn't very useful. The S10 isn't a very high output engine for the displacement, but it still is in a vastly higher state of tune than most passenger cars/trucks. So if I used my above ratio with the S10 engine as the baseline, my truck would have 432 HP This is still more than it has now, and it not only uses regular gas, but has lower compression and smaller diameter pistons than the S10. Plus the knock sensor. And, in the winter time when the air is dense and dry, you can hear it pinging on regular, so I use either 89 for a fill up, or 93 for a half tank, so I don't have to replace my engine. Detonation doesn't do any engine, any good, ever. I don't plan to replace the truck anytime soon, so I try and treat it well. It isn't a daily driver, so I don't care about the fuel costs. If I cared about fuel costs, I wouldn't have it, I'd buy something little. I don't expect low fuel costs in something that weighs 5800 pounds, empty. My point here is if you feel the need to run the lowest cost fuel and oil in, you should probably buy something like a scooter, not a 14K motorcycle. I have an associate that thinks I'm crazy for running synthetic oil in my motorcycles. He has a FJR and runs the cheapest thing he can find. I don't get it. The bike's initial cost alone suggests quality care, no Yugo-level care. Gas and oil are cheap compared to engine internals. Of course, this is why my stuff lasts me for years, and others often don't. I'm not suggesting that my way is the only/best way, but it is hard to argue with success.

Sure is good that we have all this time to discuss the non-tangibles, isn't it? Personally, I'd rather be out riding. T storms coming here, complete with hail, so I think I'll pass for today.

 

[bvail]

I would hope so since that's what Honda recommends. And has little bearing on using regular in a vehicle that specs premium.

- Mark

I realize that. One poster claimed their Ridgeline ran better on premium.

 

[Kidder]

I realize that. One poster claimed their Ridgeline ran better on premium.

And, they are throwing money away. I buy the fact that it runs better on non-ethanol gas. But, if it requires regular unleaded and they use premium, they're throwing money away.

 

[markjenn]

I realize that. One poster claimed their Ridgeline ran better on premium.

Missed the other poster. I see the context now.

- Mark

 

[doctorj]

OK, I know this is an old thread, but since we have now had the Super Tenere in the USA for over a month now, has anyone tried 87 or 89 octane fuel as opposed to premium (91 in my neck of the woods) either by choice or necessity? Did anyone pose that to Nick Sanders on his ride? I doubt he would have access to premium in some of his locations. I'm still using premium. I use plus in my ST1300 but has knock sensor. It runs fine on it but still hesitant to try with the XTZ.

doctorj

 

[20valves]

What are we going to have to do to fix this problem?

What problem? And what's this "we" crap. It's a problem for you, not me.

One thing I noticed while in CO is that the premium grade of fuel was the only alcohol-free grade in some towns. That's reason enough there for Y to recommend premium. I'm not too worried about the extra $0.50 per fill-up it will cost. Good grief, the things people choose to worry about..... :

 

[dcstrom]

What problem? And what's this "we" crap. It's a problem for you, not me.

One thing I noticed while in CO is that the premium grade of fuel was the only alcohol-free grade in some towns. That's reason enough there for Y to recommend premium. I'm not too worried about the extra $0.50 per fill-up it will cost. Good grief, the things people choose to worry about..... :

It's not so much about the money - for me anyway - but I'd love to know in advance if I'm going to have any fuel issues in Sth America (say). I've run 89 without issues - I think I got it to ping one time when I let out the clutch out too fast with revs too low. But apart from that, no problem and didn't notice a change in fuel economy.

Oh, and if you want to ask Nick about fuel or anything else, go here ;D
http://supertenere1200.com/2011/09/15/nick-sanders-answers-your-questions/

 

[eemsreno]

I have run 89 a lot and can't tell any diff. from premium.