[3OFAKIND]

Guys,
I just received a lot of good feedback on my downshifting questions. Thank you,
So today I changed my oil and went for a quick ride. On that ride, I refueled with the GOOD STUFF!

I regularly use 91 octane gas, but today I was near the 76 station in town that offers 101 octane race fuel. Is it a problem to run this gas in the FZ-09 once in a while, all the time, or is it pointless??
Funny thing is, while riding later the same day I stalled multiple times... would this high octane gas make my first gear starts any different? ...I could have just been having an off day as well.

I would think higher octane would simply burn better, perhaps cleaner, and/or give better performance. Maybe the bike firing harder made the first gear shift a little more jumpy or something??

Anyway, at twice the price i'm wondering if there are any advantages to race gas, or just stick to premium.
Looking forward to hearing more educated input on this subject.

Thanks in advance,
-Ben 3OFAKIND

 

[zloikish]

I usually stay with the recommended octane with an engine. Why? because some engineer set up the engine for that type of octane, a higher octane will give you more horsepower, but that is usually minimal unless you have a new map for that type of fuel.

You run richer and increase the chances of backfires too.

 

[rhettmania]

I would say you are wasting your money. 91-93 would be just fine for this bike.

 

[threesvts]

The higher octane does nothing for performance unless you actually need it. In fact your bike will make less power with higher than needed octane due to the higher octane fuel actually burning slower. We use high octane because it's more resistant to detonation. Unless you're using nitrous, a turbo, or very high compression, the added octane will only hinder performance rather than improve it.

 

[triplethreat]

^^^^ Exactly what Threesvts said. More octane will hinder performance unless the engine has been designed for it....normally a higher compression.

 

[buck]

No advantage to running that high of an octane. As already stated, unless your motor is built for it (high compression or high boost), you're just burning money.

Running factory recommended octane is all you need.

My e-pinion

 

[3OFAKIND]

Perfect, thanks guys. To the layman the fuel sticker says you must run a minimum of 91 octane. It should really say that you should run only 91 octane. But I'm glad I asked. and really very glad we have this forum. I was planning on putting a gallon of this fire into my ZUMA125 and see what it would do! but since it's unnecessary, i'll save my money.

THANKS GUYS...
About the fact that I was stalling later on the same day. I remember showing a motocross buddy the bike and I now remember him twisting the clutch adjuster wheel on the lever. I assume that lever there changes the feel of the clutch; if i'm correct that could easily explain the stalling??

Does anyone know what it was set on from the factory? (1, I think.)

 

[ktk_ace]

^^^^ Exactly what Threesvts said. More octane will hinder performance unless the engine has been designed for it....normally a higher compression.

or extremely high rpm AND for prolong periods .

low rpm + short trips = waste of money and worse performance if you fuel up on hi octane stuff

I rather invest on fuel conditioners (i use redline SI-1 on my other yamaha 4V bikes )

 

[tinygiant]

Any issues with continuous use of 93? Should I start using some kind of add-in/conditioner? They don't offer 91 in my neck of the woods, and it's getting tougher to find stations that use multi-hose setups on their pumps.

 

[JustWantToRide]

Perfect, thanks guys. To the layman the fuel sticker says you must run a minimum of 91 octane. It should really say that you should run only 91 octane. But I'm glad I asked. and really very glad we have this forum. I was planning on putting a gallon of this fire into my ZUMA125 and see what it would do! but since it's unnecessary, i'll save my money.

THANKS GUYS...
About the fact that I was stalling later on the same day. I remember showing a motocross buddy the bike and I now remember him twisting the clutch adjuster wheel on the lever. I assume that lever there changes the feel of the clutch; if i'm correct that could easily explain the stalling??

Does anyone know what it was set on from the factory? (1, I think.)

101 octane fuel would cause the stalling because it burns too slowly. The adjustment of the clutch lever is a personal thing. In general You want to be able to fully disengage the clutch before the lever hits the handgrip, and you want the clutch to be fully engaged before the lever is all the way out. Anything in between there is ok. The only way the clutch adjustment would cause a stall is if you can't disengage the clutch when you stop and the engine is trying to roll the bike forward.

 

[JustWantToRide]

Any issues with continuous use of 93? Should I start using some kind of add-in/conditioner? They don't offer 91 in my neck of the woods, and it's getting tougher to find stations that use multi-hose setups on their pumps.

The Owners manual says 91 or higher so I would think 93 would be fine. Most people have it backwards and think that higher octane fuel has more power in it - but it only means it burns slower. You'll get the best performance and mileage using 91.

 

[3OFAKIND]

101 octane fuel would cause the stalling because it burns too slowly. The adjustment of the clutch lever is a personal thing. In general You want to be able to fully disengage the clutch before the lever hits the handgrip, and you want the clutch to be fully engaged before the lever is all the way out. Anything in between there is ok. The only way the clutch adjustment would cause a stall is if you can't disengage the clutch when you stop and the engine is trying to roll the bike forward.

Thanks. I get it now... 101 actually burns slower in my engine. I would have never guessed that! Looks like I'm going to have to go for a long, high-powered ride to burn this stuff out (very willingly) and replenish with standard 91 octane.

 

[marthy]

Agree with everyone. Unless you increase the CR pass 13:1, no need to. Won't hurt anything but your wallet to do so. Some of the "race fuel" might have additive (more to gas than just octane #) But if you love your CAT, make sure it's unleaded.

 

[Yoyodyne]

This thread exemplifies why I like this forum so much. Almost anywhere else you'd have all sorts of people perpetuating the myth that higher octane gas is "better" regardless of the bike it's used in. There's so much BS on the Internet, it's nice to find a little respite from it.

 

[Harry Balzak]

I run 87 octane, but it's ethanol free. I feel I'm better off running 87 ethanol free than I am running 93 with up to 10% ethanol. I think ethanol is the devil.

 

[triplethreat]

This thread exemplifies why I like this forum so much. Almost anywhere else you'd have all sorts of people perpetuating the myth that higher octane gas is "better" regardless of the bike it's used in. There's so much BS on the Internet, it's nice to find a little respite from it.

I made up this quote years ago, as it applies to me so much...........

"You can B.S. some of the people some of the time...
You can B.S. some of the people all of the time...
But, You can't B.S. an old B.S.er like me."

 

[Harry Balzak]

I made up this quote years ago, as it applies to me so much...........

"You can B.S. some of the people some of the time...
You can B.S. some of the people all of the time...
But, You can't B.S. an old B.S.er like me."

You made up that quote? Sure ya did. I call b.s.

 

[buck]

I run 87 octane, but it's ethanol free. I feel I'm better off running 87 ethanol free than I am running 93 with up to 10% ethanol. I think ethanol is the devil.

I agree on the ethanol. I've never seen ethanol free at my pumps. Too bad.

 

[Harry Balzak]

I had a station 7 miles from my house selling it and didn't even know it.
I used this:
Find ethanol-free E0 gas stations
to find this:
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

Which allowed me to find some good gas in my area. It's tough when I go out of town but I try.

 

[threesvts]

I run 87 octane, but it's ethanol free. I feel I'm better off running 87 ethanol free than I am running 93 with up to 10% ethanol. I think ethanol is the devil.

The damage done from 10% Ethanol fuel won't even remotely come close to the damage that can happen in the blink on an eye by using low octane fuel. Ever see a piston with a hole in it from pre ignition? I believe most modern engines and fuel systems are built to accept up to E10 fuel, If you're using the fuel up 10% Ethanol is fine. If the bike is sitting for long periods of time you should add Sea Foam or something like that to counteract the Hygroscopic properties Ethanol fuel has.