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Ethanol free gas

2K views 6 replies 2 participants last post by  lp636 
#1 ·
I've heard a lot about how running ethanol free gas makes your bike run better. So I filled up to see for myself and I didn't notice anything major, but what I did realize when I tried to get back on and ride two days later the bike was hesitant, when I would try and hit rev limiter it would stall at around 10,000 and just bog down somewhat... Anyways could this mean the gas is to rich or to lean???????? Adjusting the idle a little higher seemed to help, but is this a correct fix or should I look into something else?????


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#4 · (Edited)
There's your problem.

The high compression that modern sportbike engines have requires a high octane fuel at any appreciable load and rpm. Just meandering around town you might not notice a problem, but at high throttle openings and loads you're going to start detonating. That is a HUGE problem.

Octane rating is the fuel's resistance to knock. An 87 octane fuel cannot be compressed as much as an 89 or 91 octane fuel before it auto-ignites.

Fuel itself can also not be "too rich or too lean." Rich and lean are conditions of the air/fuel ratio, which is not altered by different fuel grades.
 
#6 ·
Just do yourself a favor and run 91+ pump gas.

Run a couple tanks of the proper fuel through it and you should be fine. Throw some injector cleaner or Marvel Mystery Oil in it if it will make you feel better. Try not to flog on it until you've run enough through it for it to be well and truly diluted with the higher octane.
 
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