[Y-me]

Hello all, I'm sure this has been a topic before but searching keyword "octane" revealed little.
I did see that someone was asking if racing gas will work with the Spyder but I would think you would need the performance mods to take advantage of that kind of petrol.
In the manual BRP-CA says that 87 octane is fine in the states but wondered if others have experienced better mileage/performance by using premium?

When I take delivery on the 15th, I was thinking of feeding it the good stuff if it will help keep it happy.

Best,

"," (me)

[deolson]

The fuel system is designed to work on 87. I would not run any other octane than that unless you have a tune specifically designed for a higher octane

[Roadkill]

Y-me said:

... the manual BRP-CA says... (but) I was thinking of feeding it the good stuff if it will help keep it happy.

+The manual tells you 87 octane, and that will consistently keep your bike quite happy. Don't waste your cash.

Ride on.
Roadkill

[Trickie Dick]

Roadkill, on 05 April 2011 - 08:27 PM, said:

+The manual tells you 87 octane, and that will consistently keep your bike quite happy. Don't waste your cash.

Ride on.
Roadkill

[graydond]

that makes me think.....
after some hiway miles at 70mph+ and i head to town doing 30 or so
it runs fine. after about 5 miles or so it starts skipping and sputtering
on even throttle settings. when i give it throttle it runs fine!
could this be a gas problem?
i have a 2009 SM and a two brother's dual exhaust
with the juice box set at the default settings for this exhaust.
it seems like fouled plugs almost and cranking on it cleans them off
for a bit.

[ulflyer]

Don't have my manual here in front of me, but pretty sure it says 91 octane Ron + Mon/2. Does this work out to US 81 octane?
Even dealer said run 91 or 93 whichever was avail.

[Y-me]

Hello all,

Here is a link with some information on RON to octane: http://www.btinterne.../RONMONPON.html
Seems that they are saying RON 91 is approx. 87 octane.

That being said I have tried all grades with my tryke and so far it likes most brands of 87, some 89 and hates high test.
It was on it's worst behavior and gave the worst mileage on the hot stuff.
This was soon after break in so my try it again and will post here.

Y

ulflyer, on 26 June 2011 - 07:29 PM, said:

Don't have my manual here in front of me, but pretty sure it says 91 octane Ron + Mon/2. Does this work out to US 81 octane?
Even dealer said run 91 or 93 whichever was avail.

[Merritt]

I use all three US grades and find little if any difference but I was having cold start and poping that I finally traced to the ethanol that is added. Our 76 stations do not any alchol, the rest do. I usually fill up a the 76 station close to my home but I changed to Safeway gas by chance for a couple tanks. While still on the Safeyway tank the cold start issues came on. I would get trouble lights and stalling and when locked on cruise at low speeds I felt a slight buck that I put down to a miss. I bought a can of Star Bright "Star Tron" additive as I heard it was great at helping with alcohol problems. By the time the tank was near empty the problem went away so I now keep 'Star Tron with me and try to use 76 fuel when possible. My milage also went up notably and I found out this is to be expected since blend fuels will always get lower mpg.

Good luck,

Randy

[blackbeauty]

I'm new to the spyder and to this form so any comment I make should be taken with a pound of salt. I'm coming off of two BMW M.C., both 1200's. This topic of octane is always a lively one (as are oil threads) on the BMW forums. My spyder (2011 RT-S e5) manual states premium fuel (91 Octane) is recommended and that no lower than 87 octane should be used. Octane really has more to do with anti-knock/pre-ignition than anything else. I'm going to alternate between 91 and 89 and monitor mileage, performance and such. On my BMW bikes, it stated I should use minimum 91 octane, but that lower grades could be used in a pinch. I tried 91 & 89 without any noticeable decline in performance or mileage. 87 did drop both. It seems the computer retards the spark to accomodate the lower octane and that did affect mileage and performance ( as in power and snap). Don't know how that will sort out with the Spyder, but I suspect they use a similar concept for mapping of fuel- ignition to prevent pre-ignition. I know somebody out there will set me straight, as I'm new to the three wheeled demon - but the computer knows and adjusts within parameters. How much is adjusts varies. And how that adjustment plays out in mileage and performance remains to be seen.