Which fuel do you use

[Grumpy old man]

Pandora's box subject I know

According to the owners manual it states 91 octane fuel (RON ) is fine
BUT page 14 of the workshop manual supplemental states 95 Octane or Higher is recommended

And since my bike had sat for a while and needed some love and a heap of servicing despite being serviced by a Dealer just before I bought it I have been using 98 BP Ultimate for the last 3 tanks and the bike seems to be getting smoother and generally more willing to run harder and seems just happier if that makes sense

Now I have worked in the fuel industry as a Tanker Driver for quite a few years and have seen what does and does not go into different fuels here in New Zealand

Mostly Here in NZ all the base fuel is exactly the same product I.E 91,95 ,Diesel for the main four players BP, Z(Shell), Mobil, Challenge with the main exception being Gull fuels with a different supply

The biggest difference in the fuels is their own additive which gets injected into the fuel at the supply point when being loaded from the base product tanks being either 91 or 95

BP 98 is imported into NZ and distributed from a couple of supply depots based around the country

So which is correct the owners manual or the workshop supplemental

Usually a cleaner type of fuel will take 2 tanks to see any type of difference

[Kiwifruit]

Generally use Gull 91, but when I feel like it I treat it to a drink of 98.

[KiwiCol]

From what I understand,  it's a low compression engine and does not require 95 or 98.
However,  I too throw the odd tank of 95 (or 100 even) through it if it's been nice or I'm feeling generous.

[Grumpy old man]

Generally use Gull 91, but when I feel like it I treat it to a drink of 98.

Just out of interest what sort of range do you get from Gull

I am curious if you get more or less to a tank on Gull due it being ethanol blend fuel

In my car/cage I get nearly 700 kms out of a tank of BP 98 and struggle to get 600km's on BP 95 octane which is the minimum you can put in the car

On Gull 98 I can only get 550 to a tank same driving same driver

Car is a Dinosaur 2005 Subaru Legacy with a 3.0 ltr 6 cylinder 5speed Auto

Currently getting 280 ish km's to a tank on the 1400 with BP 98

[T 24]

Generally I use 98 or 99 , but sometimes when I can't find 98 or 99, I have to take a drop of 95 to get forward

[KiwiCol]

@Kiwifruit That's what the odd behaviour your has occasionally, it'll be the Gull Ethanol blend, betcha.  Would be a real eyeopener if it was eh!?

[gsxbarmy]

As has been said 95 (that being the minimum in the U.K.) is fine. However I used to run my 14 exclusively on 98 octane fuel and - as you have already said @Grumpy old man it does run smoother and is a little more crisper. I used it more for the additives to keep the inside of the engine cleaner and it did seem to work for doing that.
I now run all my vehicles on the higher octane fuel exactly for the detergents and other cleaners added to the fuels whether they need the higher octane as standard or not.

[grog]

Not at all sure i do correct thing but my way is, 91 most of the time. A tank of 95 or 98 every so often. Both have cleaners. I dose twice a year with Wynns cleaner, only available at workshops, brilliant product. My other trick is 5 litres of E10, use it all in one ride. Ethanol mixes with any water in tank, just burnt thru motor. My tank is spotless inside. Thats my way. I always fill with premium after E10.

[Hooli]

I avoid E10 as my 14 runs slower, rougher & uses a lot more fuel on it. I can feel if I've put the wrong stuff in when abroad every time. I don't bother with premium 98/99 though, so having never tried I can't say if it runs better on it.

Of course just to muddy the waters further, if you've got an ignition advancer it might be worth using premium to prevent pre-ignition as you'll be running 4 degrees advance over the design setting in higher gears.

[grog]

Only the first 4 with Healtech Hooli.

[Hooli]

True, I was thinking of the mechanical ones that do all six gears.

[Kiwifruit]

@Grumpy. With spike modded 24lt tank am happy to run to 330-340. Be interesting to run it right out. Use Gull as they are at the bottom of the road and they send me a bit of work. Don't  know anything about fuel brands. Was told BP98 was the best fuel but l cannot tell the difference.

Don't think its the issue Col as l can park it up overnight after having a sense of humour failure and it will start and run faultless on the same tank of gas the next morning.

[1AW022]

Mine was on 98 when I got it...did that for a couple of tanks
Now back to 91... no loss of power...slightly better economy

My concern is the gauge...I don't know when to panic
When the symbol flashes?...or does the last bar flash ? (haven't driven far enough to know)

[grog]

Mate, think bar flashing is around 100ks, both flashing gets me to work. 18k. Have done that a few times.

[Hooli]

Mine was on 98 when I got it...did that for a couple of tanks
Now back to 91... no loss of power...slightly better economy

My concern is the gauge...I don't know when to panic
When the symbol flashes?...or does the last bar flash ? (haven't driven far enough to know)

Symbol flashing is 1 1/2 gallon left.
Symbol & bar flashing is 1/2 gallon left.

Book figures, I've managed 40-50mile with both flashing once as every petrol station had gone into hiding.