Octane level

**Jared** · 03-31-2009, 06:50 PM

What grade of octane do you use in your Nomad?

**Cajunrider** · 03-31-2009, 06:55 PM

Occasionally I'll mix 89 or 91 with the 93 but that usually contributes to pinging. There aren't many places down here more than 20' above sea level.

**ringadingh** · 03-31-2009, 06:58 PM

My bike has always run just as well on regular as it does on premium. Ive never had a pinging problem that some others have had.

**Jared** · 03-31-2009, 06:59 PM

It might be good to mention your altitude. It makes a difference.

ells · 03-31-2009, 07:07 PM

For me, it varies with temperature, mid grade when cooler, high-grade above about 80F. Have gotten away with regular, 85 octane in Denver area, when in the sub-forties. Not sure how some get away with regular all the time and others can't seem to get rid of the ping not matter what. Lots of differences between bikes, same model and year, and discussed here a lot in the past but always a worthwhile topic to bring up once in a while.

cactusjack · 03-31-2009, 07:25 PM

I use 89 octane, which is mid-grade here. I am at approx 1100' above sea level.

cheech · 03-31-2009, 07:48 PM

I live in sunny Florida and since I did the Caddman intake mod, the BD bafflectomy and added TFI module, I have absolutely no ping on regular at any temp and the bike runs much cooler.
Cheech

pirate · 03-31-2009, 07:49 PM

Was tempted to vote for diesel, but I didn't ;) I usually put in 91 octane, which is considered mid-grade up here. It has 10% ethanol in it. I've never had a pinging problem no matter what grade I put in, but obviously here in North Dakota, we really don't have any elevation! An escalator at the mall is about the biggest elevation change we have

strobe · 03-31-2009, 07:54 PM

I have been running premium here (91), only because I was told that is what I had to run, but was thinking of trying mid grade (89) this spring and see if it generates any pinging.

rflnomad · 03-31-2009, 07:59 PM

I use 91. I drive it pretty easy so pinging is pretty rare.

bosko · 03-31-2009, 08:08 PM

Only ran one tank of premium, since then I've run regular (87) with no problems on my stock bike. I have de-baffled but that was just before putting the bike away for the winter.

Elevation here is about 800-900m

dabull · 03-31-2009, 08:36 PM

91 to 93....i think i may have put lower in her recently as i twisted the throttle and got a few pings :(

**Jared** · 03-31-2009, 08:43 PM

I'm assuming that pinging very noticeable? Is it hard not to hear?

I ask because I have run all grades of gas offered here to see if there was any difference in mpg. I didn't notice ANY difference between them.

**Jared** · 03-31-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie cruiser

Was tempted to vote for diesel, but I didn't ;) I usually put in 91 octane, which is considered mid-grade up here. It has 10% ethanol in it. I've never had a pinging problem no matter what grade I put in, but obviously here in North Dakota, we really don't have any elevation! An escalator at the mall is about the biggest elevation change we have

No one puts diesel in their bikes? ::) You ought to try it, it performs incredibly! ;)

dogdoc · 03-31-2009, 08:47 PM

the bike will run like a scaled dog on 87 IF you add a TFI....

03-31-2009, 06:50 PM	#1
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Octane level What grade of octane do you use in your Nomad? __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President) Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-31-2009, 06:55 PM	#2
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Octane level Occasionally I'll mix 89 or 91 with the 93 but that usually contributes to pinging. There aren't many places down here more than 20' above sea level. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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03-31-2009, 06:58 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Octane level My bike has always run just as well on regular as it does on premium. Ive never had a pinging problem that some others have had. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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03-31-2009, 06:59 PM	#4
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Octane level It might be good to mention your altitude. It makes a difference. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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03-31-2009, 07:07 PM	#5
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Octane level For me, it varies with temperature, mid grade when cooler, high-grade above about 80F. Have gotten away with regular, 85 octane in Denver area, when in the sub-forties. Not sure how some get away with regular all the time and others can't seem to get rid of the ping not matter what. Lots of differences between bikes, same model and year, and discussed here a lot in the past but always a worthwhile topic to bring up once in a while. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-31-2009, 07:25 PM	#6
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Octane level I use 89 octane, which is mid-grade here. I am at approx 1100' above sea level. __________________ 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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03-31-2009, 07:48 PM	#7
cheech Jr. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa, Florida, USA Posts: 14	Octane level I live in sunny Florida and since I did the Caddman intake mod, the BD bafflectomy and added TFI module, I have absolutely no ping on regular at any temp and the bike runs much cooler. Cheech
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03-31-2009, 07:49 PM	#8
pirate Sr. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,865	Octane level Was tempted to vote for diesel, but I didn't ;) I usually put in 91 octane, which is considered mid-grade up here. It has 10% ethanol in it. I've never had a pinging problem no matter what grade I put in, but obviously here in North Dakota, we really don't have any elevation! An escalator at the mall is about the biggest elevation change we have
	0

03-31-2009, 07:54 PM	#9
strobe Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,200	Octane level I have been running premium here (91), only because I was told that is what I had to run, but was thinking of trying mid grade (89) this spring and see if it generates any pinging. __________________ Cory 2013 Honda GL1800 Goldwing 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 (for sale) 2007 Honda ST1300 (sold) 2005 Kawasaki Nomad (sold) 2004 Suzuki Hayabusa (sold) http://www.strobel.ws VBA #01021 VROC #29389
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03-31-2009, 07:59 PM	#10
rflnomad Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: PSL, Fla; Posts: 596	Octane level I use 91. I drive it pretty easy so pinging is pretty rare. __________________ 2005 Kawasaki Nomad, Black & Silver. 2006 Kawasaki KLR650, Lime Green! 2006 Ford F150 SuperCrew, 2WD, 4.6L; white & gold 1965 Pontiac GTO, 389 4 Speed. Bluemist Slate Cruising the back roads, that is living! Member #000033.
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03-31-2009, 08:08 PM	#11
bosko Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 818	Octane level Only ran one tank of premium, since then I've run regular (87) with no problems on my stock bike. I have de-baffled but that was just before putting the bike away for the winter. Elevation here is about 800-900m
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03-31-2009, 08:36 PM	#12
dabull Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,409	Octane level 91 to 93....i think i may have put lower in her recently as i twisted the throttle and got a few pings :(
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03-31-2009, 08:43 PM	#13
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Octane level I'm assuming that pinging very noticeable? Is it hard not to hear? I ask because I have run all grades of gas offered here to see if there was any difference in mpg. I didn't notice ANY difference between them. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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03-31-2009, 08:47 PM	#15
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Octane level the bike will run like a scaled dog on 87 IF you add a TFI....
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