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09-19-2009, 02:34 PM | #1 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 742
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I bought my 2008 Nomad new in March, up until a few weeks ago I only ran premium unleaded in it. there was a disscussion on the delphi forum and allot guys were saying only run the 87 octane / regular unleaded in the bike. For the last couple of weeks I've been running the midgrade (about 89 octane) but I saw in my owners manual where it says don't run anything under 90.
what do you guys with the FI 1600's run?
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2012 Vaquero Special edition Candy Lime Green / Ebony Cobra slip on exhaust, Kuryakyn Alley Cat intake, Cobra FI2000 Fuel Processor, Quick release trunk, Front & rear crashbars powdercoated black, Paul Yaffee stealth 3 tag frame, Arlen Ness grips, Corbin seat, Custom pinstripping, Rear LED strip turn signals, Stock rear turnsignals / tagframe assembly removed Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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09-19-2009, 03:25 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Burnsville, NC
Posts: 1,589
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I run the 93 octane premium i have tried to run 87 but it pinged extremely bad. my bike is completely stock
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David "BigDave" Hall Burnsville NC VBA #477 2007 Red and Silver Nomad (traded 4/10/2014) 2013 Blue and Black Voyager |
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09-19-2009, 03:42 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Västerås <sweden
Posts: 123
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I run with the lowest octane available over here,
witch is 95. We only have 95,96 and 98 octane. ;) |
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09-19-2009, 03:51 PM | #4 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sardis Mississippi
Posts: 3,513
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I run 87 octane in my 95 and always have even before I put the TFI on it.
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Jim Hardin Sardis MS Kawanow # 453 Proud PGR member |
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09-19-2009, 05:19 PM | #5 |
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia
Posts: 905
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I use the best grade available when I fill up. It really doesn't cost that much extra per tank full.
So usually 90+ octane. Hank
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Hank Brote W1HCB 2008 Diablo Black Nomad Lawrenceville, GA VBA # 1234 VROC # 32837 Patriot Guard Riders Naval Advisory Group Vietnam 69-70 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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09-19-2009, 05:33 PM | #6 |
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Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 742
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What octane fuel do you burn?
ok thanks for the responses, i think I'm going back to running the premium.
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2012 Vaquero Special edition Candy Lime Green / Ebony Cobra slip on exhaust, Kuryakyn Alley Cat intake, Cobra FI2000 Fuel Processor, Quick release trunk, Front & rear crashbars powdercoated black, Paul Yaffee stealth 3 tag frame, Arlen Ness grips, Corbin seat, Custom pinstripping, Rear LED strip turn signals, Stock rear turnsignals / tagframe assembly removed |
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09-19-2009, 06:03 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada
Posts: 35,387
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I use 87 and it runs well with it, using a higher octane fuel is of no benefit unless the motor requires it. If it doesn't ping and knock on 87, there is no reason to go to a higher grade. Here in Ontario premium gas is priced about 10-12 cents a litre higher ( approx 50 cents a gallon )more.
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2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 |
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09-19-2009, 06:33 PM | #8 |
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Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever!
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What octane fuel do you burn?
It's safe to run the lowest octane you can without pinging. I usually use 89 octane but in the colder months can get away with 87. Unless you have a pinging problem, buying premium gas only benefits the shareholders of Exxon and Chevron. 87, 89 and 91 are what is sold here.
The reason the manual recommends premium is because these bikes come so lean from the factory, they will ping like hell if you don't - under most conditions.
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
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09-19-2009, 08:05 PM | #9 | |
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Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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What octane fuel do you burn?
Quote:
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2012 Vaquero Special edition Candy Lime Green / Ebony Cobra slip on exhaust, Kuryakyn Alley Cat intake, Cobra FI2000 Fuel Processor, Quick release trunk, Front & rear crashbars powdercoated black, Paul Yaffee stealth 3 tag frame, Arlen Ness grips, Corbin seat, Custom pinstripping, Rear LED strip turn signals, Stock rear turnsignals / tagframe assembly removed |
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09-19-2009, 09:04 PM | #10 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAKEWOOD, CO
Posts: 227
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What octane fuel do you burn?
I run BP Gold 93 Octane whenever I can get it. I prefer BP over the other brands. Just a personal preference that I have. I have no issues with binnging and on the highway the bike runs great.
Eagleman
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Eagleman Chaplain CMA Chapter - Riders in the Light # 946 Lakewood, CO VBA# - 01172 2006 Vulcan Nomad Green/Silver But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles: they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint - Isaiah 40:31 |
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09-19-2009, 09:10 PM | #11 | ||
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What octane fuel do you burn?
Quote:
In the case of our Nomads, Kawasaki engineered the fuel system to be way too lean in order to meet US EPA specs. This lean condition is conducive to pinging. If you have a fuel processor, you can "cheat the factory" and run a richer mixture, and this negates the need for higher octane because it eliminates or greatly reduces pinging.
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
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09-19-2009, 10:08 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Yazoo City, Ms
Posts: 965
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What octane fuel do you burn?
premium, pings down here in this heat. only a dollar more a tank. why not use the best? plus that little warning on the tank about potential engine damage, i'll pay thay extra buck. slower burning fuel sounds a lot better to me, anyway.
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09-19-2009, 11:38 PM | #13 |
Sr. Contributor
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What octane fuel do you burn?
The sticker on the engine says minimum 90 octane. What we can get locally here in north Alabama is 87, 89 and 93. I don't really want to go below the 90 so since I added the fuel processor I run 93 then fill with 89 then 93. This keeps the gas in the tank above 90 octane. I with you Jamie about the sticker. I don't want to chance any damage and if someone can prove to me that running higher octane will damage my engine then I will definitely switch to 87 octane.
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Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181 |
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09-20-2009, 12:50 AM | #14 |
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Location: Selma, Alabama
Posts: 878
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What octane fuel do you burn?
87 octane
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2002 1500 VBA #00077 _____________________ 2013 Ultra Classic (Pearl White) |
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09-20-2009, 12:57 AM | #15 |
Jr. Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 41
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What octane fuel do you burn?
Our choice over here, 91, 95, and 98%. I run 98 whenever its available, or 95 if not. I have only ever had to run 91 once.
Cheers Bundy |
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