[ROBB]

Just having a think...
I was just reading the manual where it states the "use of unleaded gasoline or oxygenated fuel
containing no more than 10% ethanol or methanol or both. The gasoline used must have a
minimum octane number of 92 RON"
As we have a great selection to choose from
Unleaded RON range 91-93
Premium Unleaded RON 95
Ultra Unleaded RON 98
Ethanol mixes E5% and E10% ( not sure of RON ratings )
Has anyone tried the different mixes in their Spyder and if so I would be interested in their
experiences/observations/comments on preference,running,economy etc..re the use of these fuel types
Cheers
ROBB

[RedBack]

I have been using our local United Plus which has up to 10% ethanol and a RON of 95. At this stage I have just over 5,000km on the bike, most of which has been commuting to and from work. And virtually all of that has been using this fuel.

I have had no trouble with the bike so far and it seems to have plenty of power.

However, the consumption seems a little high. I average around 7.0l/100km going to and from work when the same trip in our Ford Territory averages between 8.9 and 9.5, depending on the traffic.

The trip is a mixture of 110kmh highway, very stop start 60kmh suburban and 100kmh freeway. I think it is the first two of these that does the damage, but I haven't had enough experience on other roads to be sure.

I have heard some reports (referring to cars) that 91 unleaded will return better economy than a 95 ethanol blend, but my experience in the Territory does not seem to support this.

[ROBB]

Thanks RedBack for your input..
Even gets more confusing for me now.
Just lifted the seat - On the fuel filler side is a sticker re Vehicle Emission Controls etc
and on this it indicates fuel as 87 Octane (m&r)/2.
Wonder if the Australian models have been changed somehow to be acceptable
to comply with Australian standard for vehicle emissions ??
I have no problem with this - just inquisitive..
Cheers
ROBB

[dicko]

It's all confusing. I finally got all the octane and/or ethanol under control and then find that in NSW it's different. In Vic we get 91, 95 and 98 octane. I think that's pretty normal across all states (or at least larger stations). However, some petrol chains in Vic have replaced (or are in the process of replacing) their 95 with 95 E10 (as United have long done). Then pulling into a servo in NSW (Penrith) they had 91, 91 E10 and 98.

I'm finding the 95 E10 causes the Spyder to cough, burp and fart until it warms up after about 5km or so but once warmed up it's OK. The E10 costs less but is a little thirstier. Haven't really costed it. The 95 E10 certainly works better in a turbo XR6 and a Territory and the economy is the same as normal 91 but some mornings starting the Territory is a bit iffy. The higher the ethanol, the harder it is to start. In Brazil where I think it's E85, a secondary small tank of petrol is required to actually start the vehicle (or at least that's what used to happen).

There are also 2 octane rating systems. The US has one, the rest of the world has another. We use the RON method, the US uses some averaging system.

[Trumpybob]

RedBack, on Mar 20 2009, 03:56 PM, said:

I have been using our local United Plus which has up to 10% ethanol and a RON of 95. At this stage I have just over 5,000km on the bike, most of which has been commuting to and from work. And virtually all of that has been using this fuel.

I have had no trouble with the bike so far and it seems to have plenty of power.

However, the consumption seems a little high. I average around 7.0l/100km going to and from work when the same trip in our Ford Territory averages between 8.9 and 9.5, depending on the traffic.

The trip is a mixture of 110kmh highway, very stop start 60kmh suburban and 100kmh freeway. I think it is the first two of these that does the damage, but I haven't had enough experience on other roads to be sure.

I have heard some reports (referring to cars) that 91 unleaded will return better economy than a 95 ethanol blend, but my experience in the Territory does not seem to support this.

In case your interested, I have just completed a 2867 Km trip where I logged all my mileages and fuel.
This is what I got. 2867 Kms, 213.5 Litres averages out to 7.45 Lts./100Kms This is as near as damnit the same as I get from my Ford Focus. My two Triumphs (900 Trident and 1200 Trophy) used to return figures of about 9 litrse/100kms
Bob

[ROBB]

Thanks Bob - that is interesting
Reading some of the US reports, the Spyder can be a thirsty little sucker.
On your trip what fuel did you use - did you go for the Unleaded or an Ethanol mix..
Did you have any warmup problems as experienced by Dicko.
Must admit I have been running on the 98 RON fuel for a time and have now switched
to the 95 RON Unleaded. It runs OK but seems a little 'rougher' in feel to me..
Maybe I'm just imagining it , but if the engine preset is to a lower octane fuel ??
I'll run on this for a time to compare..
Thanks for your input
Regards
ROBB

[Trumpybob]

ROBB, on Mar 29 2009, 05:38 AM, said:

Thanks Bob - that is interesting
Reading some of the US reports, the Spyder can be a thirsty little sucker.
On your trip what fuel did you use - did you go for the Unleaded or an Ethanol mix..
Did you have any warmup problems as experienced by Dicko.
Must admit I have been running on the 98 RON fuel for a time and have now switched
to the 95 RON Unleaded. It runs OK but seems a little 'rougher' in feel to me..
Maybe I'm just imagining it , but if the engine preset is to a lower octane fuel ??
I'll run on this for a time to compare..
Thanks for your input
Regards
ROBB

I used just the plain old unleaded fuel at whatever Ron it was at the service station I stopped at. I cant seem to be able to bring myself to use the Ethanol blends. I cant use them on the Triumph, in fact Triumph tell you not to use it, bu there again it is an old bike. The other thing , I forgot to mention that I was pretty well loaded (with luggage, that is), Both Givi side cases, top box, front storage compartment and my wife on the pillion. So it was probably quite heavy.
Bob

[jagman2020]

Trumpybob, on Mar 30 2009, 08:05 PM, said:

I used just the plain old unleaded fuel at whatever Ron it was at the service station I stopped at. I cant seem to be able to bring myself to use the Ethanol blends. I cant use them on the Triumph, in fact Triumph tell you not to use it, bu there again it is an old bike. The other thing , I forgot to mention that I was pretty well loaded (with luggage, that is), Both Givi side cases, top box, front storage compartment and my wife on the pillion. So it was probably quite heavy.
Bob

Hi Guys,
I am very picky with my fuels as are Canberra Motorcycle Centre who service my spydy.
I will only use Caltex Vortex 98. It keeps the engine cleaner than any of the other top rated fuels like optimax. Optimax seems to have something in it that clogs the spark plugs..

I am getting (with a heavy right wrist) around 230Km's before the fuel light comes on.. I have managed 310 just before it sputtered and died.
I then managed to get 23 litres in it from bone dry... Wish I could get 27 Litres.. It would give a decent range and I would be really happy with it.

JAGMAN.

[rrman01]

jagman2020, on 03 April 2009 - 02:27 PM, said:

Hi Guys,
I am very picky with my fuels as are Canberra Motorcycle Centre who service my spydy.
I will only use Caltex Vortex 98. It keeps the engine cleaner than any of the other top rated fuels like optimax. Optimax seems to have something in it that clogs the spark plugs..

I am getting (with a heavy right wrist) around 230Km's before the fuel light comes on.. I have managed 310 just before it sputtered and died.
I then managed to get 23 litres in it from bone dry... Wish I could get 27 Litres.. It would give a decent range and I would be really happy with it.

JAGMAN.

hey all about the type of fuel you are all using do any of the bikes have any mods on them like a pipe airfilter juice box or any other mods i havnt filled my sp1dy up yet and when i do ill be useing 98 as my xr6 seems to run great on it but ill try the different types to c as ive got some mods to my bike filter pipe and jbox any way happy spydering

[Trumpybob]

rrman01, on 24 May 2010 - 07:26 PM, said:

hey all about the type of fuel you are all using do any of the bikes have any mods on them like a pipe airfilter juice box or any other mods i havnt filled my sp1dy up yet and when i do ill be useing 98 as my xr6 seems to run great on it but ill try the different types to c as ive got some mods to my bike filter pipe and jbox any way happy spydering

Just for your interest, I've just completed another trip, this time 6500 Kms. I only kept a partial log of this trip, but here is the rundown:- Total Kms 5207.1, Total fuel 399.18 litres, averages out at 7.67L/100kms or 13.04Kms/litre, 37.05 MPG(imp), 30.65 MPG(USA). Fully loaded, as per last trip, and only used standard unleaded fuel. The only engine mod I have is the NMN Green Air Filer.
Bob

[knife-guy]

ROBB, on 17 March 2009 - 02:03 AM, said:

Just having a think...
I was just reading the manual where it states the "use of unleaded gasoline or oxygenated fuel
containing no more than 10% ethanol or methanol or both. The gasoline used must have a
minimum octane number of 92 RON"
As we have a great selection to choose from
Unleaded RON range 91-93
Premium Unleaded RON 95
Ultra Unleaded RON 98
Ethanol mixes E5% and E10% ( not sure of RON ratings )
Has anyone tried the different mixes in their Spyder and if so I would be interested in their
experiences/observations/comments on preference,running,economy etc..re the use of these fuel types
Cheers
ROBB

Hi All
I am glad to see a couple of aussie spyder ryders online in a forum... I have just installed tbr j box k n Filter and a Hindle and I use 98 and on these cold mornings it starts and idles well when I use 93 it is a bit farty and I just on principle will not use ethanol, if I use the 93 it seems to have a rougher throttle response so regardless of cost I will only use the 98 rated fuels by [ocean fallout] bees pee, shell or caltex suppliers are my only place of purchase.

[knife-guy]

rrman01, on 24 May 2010 - 07:26 PM, said:

hey all about the type of fuel you are all using do any of the bikes have any mods on them like a pipe airfilter juice box or any other mods i havnt filled my sp1dy up yet and when i do ill be useing 98 as my xr6 seems to run great on it but ill try the different types to c as ive got some mods to my bike filter pipe and jbox any way happy spydering

Hi rrman01 I notice you now have a jb! How are you finding the difference? I am still happy with the way mine is going.