1001!!! :d

 

87

In the really hot summer months i sometimes use 89. but that mostly because of my big bore and bumped compression. on stock bore 87 should be fine all the time.

 

Hey guys, we are a bit spoilt down here in oz. Our lowest octane gas is 91. From there we have 95,98 and even 100. I run on 98 with no problems. I tried the 100 once and the klx hated it, ran awful. Maybe bad fuel, but definitely ran bad.

 

Octane does nothing to boost performance. It deals with the flammability of gasoline under compression. The only improvement in performance will only be if you are experiencing detonation, where the fuel charge is igniting prematurely. That is usually caused by higher compression or by heavy carbon build up. If anyone gains mpg or performance it is because the lower octane is detonating. Them's the facts or a fairly decent facsimile of them.

The gas companies will tell you essentially the same thing. Any octane higher than the engine needs is wasted.

I ran 92 in my 650 when it was a 650 - detonation on 89 or 87. With the Vulcan piston I can run 87, but do 89 in the summer just to be sure. With the KLX I may run 89 in the summer again to play it safe.

 

Well then why is race gas 108 0r 110?

 

Race gas is for Race High Compression and ultra advanced timing AND running for hours at WOT with maximum engine temperatures... not req'd in klx.

 

I know what race gas is for, I never said it was required, the whole point of this discussion was is higher octane better for our bikes?, and I think it is. That also goes for any of my small engines at home and work. 87 just doesn't perform like the higher gas. That's been my experience.

 

91 octanes tend to be cleaner. Buy 87 and smell it and you'll want to puke. That stuff is crude. 91 has a gas smell, but not grotto like. Gasoline quality is more important than octane for performance

 

Octane rating table

EURO RON MON US: (R+M)/2
90 83 86.5
92 85 88.5
95 87 91
96 88 92
98 90 94
100 91.5. 95.75
105 95 100
110 99 104.5
*

Sorry the table will not paste very nice, tried to space it out. When I save it just bunches back up. You can get the idea though.

 

I agree with the "cleaner" comment as the only benefit for the KLX would be that premium tends to have more detergent additives that can reduce deposits.