Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

What is the general concensus on fuel for your road/track bike and why?

Cheers.

Oh dear.... whatever you do don't mention the war

I've always used the "best" available ie 98 Octane because I figure for the relatively small price differential in a tank of fuel for a bike I'd prefer not to take the chance. From running my WR426 years ago I know the thing would run like a dog on regular unleaded (had to use it once in desperation). On the roady when I've had to use lesser fuels I've never really noticed much difference.

In terms of brand I typically use either Caltex or BP, because there's two servo's near my place. I've heard bad stories about Shell Optimax but when I used to ride my roady at Ride Days at the Creek I always used it there and never had a problem.

The worst I've used is Trafagura (the imported stuff you get in Burma servo's etc) We put this in Chris YZ250F and my WR426 once and both wouldn't run due to fouled plugs.

I use Caltex Vortex 95, and don't seem to have any issues at all. Unsure whether Vortex 98 will give me anything extra....just thought I'd ask.

Cheers Glen.

I reckon on any newish bike I'd run the 98 just to be safe. Pinging is your mortal enemy

I use 98 octane, because the price differential between 95 and 98 is miniscule. I like to think in my head its good for my bike

I use whatever never had issues with using all the major brands. I tend to use the higher octane only due to the cleaning additivies. I am a weekend warrior so the bike can sit still for a couple of weeks at a time without turning over and I heard that the higher octane won't go stale as fast, could be complete BS but for the $2 I don't worry.

Note the higher octane is generally speaking for high compression motors (I said generally speaking) and you are not getting any performance gain unless your bike is tuned for it

Nick

Price isn't the issue, it's just I've kept using 95. Might go to 98 and see if I notice any change....

I run my Subaru on 95 so the jerry can at home has 95 in it.

That reminds me, I must switch the ride on lawn mower to 95 and see how she runs!!!!!

I use only 95 and up as if i dont then warranty is void.....

My bikes manuals read that its tuned to 95 so thats what goes in it and occasionally 98 goes in, when I get the autotune o2 sensor put in the 10R I imagine it could benifit from 98 although it's thicker in viscosity and harder to ignite (or so I am told) in any case I wont bother running 98 unless my tuner guy says so.

A few of us did a comparison many years ago for a few months running 98 then 95, from memory no noticable power difference but it used a bit more 98 than 95 so IMO there is no point running a grade above thinking it is better when I cant see any advantage, in fact there probably are disadvantages, maybe a few but not worth worrying about.

Some people swear by 98 and have had the "at the pump conversation" a few times with others convinced that 98 is better. Whatever.

95 here on the ninja120, zx6r, yz and liberty

98 for me. Guy who dyno'd my track bike, 98 only, and he stressed that. Reason he said, engine's running full advace,ie no retard that the factory built into them,neen 98 to stop pinging. So i run 98
been using caltex vortex most times, if not BP

If your bike is CARBURETTED run the lowest octane fuel that doesn't ping. Injected bikes can adjust to octane to some degree and some improvement in performance can be had. I run all my vehicles on 7-11 91 octane fuel (which is Shell fuel actually) with no problems. I have 10 bikes and two cars running on it and all is well. One way of checking fuel quality is plug wear. Changed the plugs on the ZRX recently after 20000km and they still looked like new. Didn't really have to change them at all.

91 in the ZR7 with no problems but it is a carburetted engine

i use 91-95 as its cheaper and does the job , havent had a prob with in 5 years , however if i'm a country area with a no name servo i will use their 98 premium.

My Rex Pings on 91 horribly, a little on 95 and not at all on 98. So I run 98!

I also did the comparison on economy and 91 uses more, so the value almost equals out on the Rex.

With the old MR2, it pings it's head off till the knock sensor kicks in on 91 and 95, so I use 98 where possible. It also uses a lot more fuel on 91 than it does on 98. Like 80klms per 50 litres more.