Best fuel for the Viffer??

Hi all- I know this question has already been asked but I have a '05 interceptor and was just wondering if hi test gas really is the best fuel for the bike. Some bikes require it, but the manual just says "pump octane of 86 or higher". I always figured if regular gas is good, then hi test is better-but I also know guys who burn regular or mid grade because they claim running premium fuel will screw things up. Is there an official word on what is the best gas for the viffer? I have always used shell V-power fuel, and performance is awesome, but maybe that is not the best choice or what?
thanks !

 

Don't waste you $

The only thing that using premium for your VFR is better profit for your gas supplier.

You engine is designed to run on 86 or better. Most regular is 87 or better.

 

I havused higher grade before but never noticed a difference, except in how much less money my bank account had in it.

 

So a lot of folks run regular gas, that's good to hear. I am going to put a lot of miles on this weekend so I think I'll fill with regular and go from there.... like you said, the difference between the two is pretty much imperceptible, I just wondered what the majority of folks used and if there were any noticeable gains/problems.....

 

It didnt seem to run any better or worse with the higher grade fuel. I have heard it said the higher grade is not god for it, but I find that hard to believe. It is made to run on regular unleaded. I think it would be like a car, one that is made to run on regular unleaded. it will run just fine on that, but the others don't show a noticable difference in performance, if any.

 

regular only. unless it says premium only, i use regular only.

I do try to stay away from the enthanol enhanced gas tho. that's getting harder and harder to do all the time.

 

Use regular unless you have problems with spark knock, Might happen at different elevations I guess. Why pay more money than necessary.

 

I've heard the same thing. Costs a little less money, takes you a little less distance! Wow!

I avoid it because of the negative effects its supposed to have on rubber bits. Drying/cracking/chafing/herpes... :wink:

 

Ha, know for a fact it runs better on super, in fact thinking of try this new additvie you can get at the paint store.. But then most of you have the newer VFR which has FI so..... just know what my baby likes to drink.. and for what it is worth read owners manaul find the section on fuel, mine says to run premium please. due in part to the comprssion ratio.. but then the newer one probably have some kind of spark control with knock sensors so you wouldn't know if it was running poorly or not. Vman try it, two tanks, you'll feel the differance and notice it has a slight beefier bark too.

 

I wonder if that's because you are in the North West? Just checked mine and it says it is designed to run on unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 86 or higher. I just have never noticed a diff with higher octane, except it did drink a little more fuel. MIne must be backwards from yours, RV. lol

 

I've got a VFR750F from Japan (it's probably a 1986 model). Anyone know what octane fuel does it use? Is it important at all for a motorcycle, or is it just a matter of riders prefference? Premium/Super, sais nothing to me since I'm in Russia, and we don't have such names here.

 

Premium and Super mean higher octane, like 89 and 91 octane.

Here's what I got;
My 88 Pathfinder (fuel injection) loves 91 octane and gets way better gas mileage and more power.
My 84 Nighthawk (carbs) likes 87 octane. It runs funny on 91.
My 86 CBR600 (fuel injection, I think) liked 91 octane. More power and ran better.
My 94 Sportster (carbed) HATED 91 octane. I would get knocking. The gas would fire before the sparkplugs ignited. The heat from the cylinders would set off the explosion.
My 06 VFR ran it's first 1900 miles on 91 octane and the last 200 miles on 87 octance. It likes the 87 much better. It runs smoother.

You also have to take into consideration fuel quality, additives, mixes, etc. Some states try to keep thier emissions down be demanding that the gas companies make 'designer' gas. It's funny that California demands it, but they got sued by Argentina under the NAFTA laws so they aren't allowed to enforce it. So you don't really know if you're getting crap Argentinian gas, 'designer' gas, or gas with special fuel system cleaner additives.

Anyway, test both for a number of tanks and stick with the one that makes your bike run smoother. Also, if you're really anal you'll notice a diffence between corporate 87 octane and joe shmoes 87 octane. Also, gas breaks down over time. The hydrocarbon chains get longer and 'bendier'. This makes it harder to burn and essencially lowers the octane. There are products on the market that are supposed to break down the hydrocarbons into short straight chains that are easy to burn.

I have the Fitch Fuel Catalyst in my Pathfinder and get better gas mileage now with 210,000 miles that it did when it came from the factory. (I have other mods than the catalyst, so I can't say for sure it's that product)

I'll be testing the catalyst in my 06 VFR and doing a write up here if anyone is interested.

 

I'd be interested in that write-up. Just out of curiosity than anything else. lol

 

Very good info been all over this topic thats why I'm entertaining the idea in mixing my own brew. yes, fuel acts different from who you got from, to what it is going in... see. I tolds ya.

 

Canib, Thanks a lot for the info.
I'm currently using 95 octane fuel, the next thing below this (in Russia) is 92, and after that 76. I'm happy with the way my VFR runs on 95, but I'm a complete nivice in this field, so I guess I'll be comaring that to 92 octane now.

 

The guy I bought my VFR from told me that if he filled it with anything other than regular gas (ie. higher octane) it would make pinging sounds (not good), and to only use reg. Could this be true?

 

Octane has to do with the compression ratio of your engine and nothing else. Any dyno would prove this. The only benefit you will gain by running premium if your bike only calls for regular is the extra additives and cleaners that the gas suppliers put into the premium blend fuels.I have been a mechanic all my adult life and used to think as some of you do..higher octane = more horsepower and it just doesn't work that way in our stock engines. If you had a race motor built to the hilt than higher octane would be beneficial to you power wise but I think all of you are talking stock motors here. It's kind of like when you put a pipe on your bike, you'd swear you just picked up 10-15 hp instead of the 2-3hp. Your mind can play trick on you.If you bike calls for regular octane but only runs well on premium then you have a timing problem in your engine and the higher octane, read harder to pre-ignite is helping to only hide the problem. I hope my ramblings have helped. Steve