I live in the Raleigh/Durham area, and ran in to the same problem last Friday afternoon. Took me 3 gas stations to find one that had 93.

 

I had the same problem this weekend on the way to Maggie Valley. I could only get 87 octane in Charlotte.. at the 3rd station I found. Rode that tank through 74-A by Chimney rock to Ashville. I had no problems with pinging. Same thing in the Maggie Valley area, only a few stations had premium. Most of my tanks were 87 and I rode the dragon, cherohalla and the BRP from cherokee to 74-A with no problems.

 

I couldn't find high octane anywhere yesterday. Put in regular unleaded and added octane boost. Shouldn't hurt while its cooler and I am easy on the wick. I wouldn't run regular without octane boost. I don't make a habit of this but it beats pushing .

 

Arrrgh! No gas in Asheville at all.

 

I had to run 87 octane in my 08 superglide a few weeks ago and she ran just fine with no problems whatsoever. No big hills in my area, and i only ride solo for now. I have a set of xieds installed, not sure if these helped or not? I certainly use the premium gas 99% of the time, but could not get any premium one day and had no other choice but the 87 octane.

 

And to what are they attributing this fuel "shortage"?

Andre Ming
Eastern OK

 

More than any other part of the US, the Southeast is dependent upon the pipelines which run from the Gulf area to the main trans-shipment point in Atlanta. Those pipelines were severely affected by Ike. I've heard estimates of this weekend before things are back to normal.

Our Governor took two steps yesterday to ease the problem. First, he sought and obtained EPA approval to sell gasoline with higher sulfur content for a short time until supplies are back up. Second, he approved a temporary increase in the amount of time tanker drivers can spend on the road each day, as long as they are delivering gasoline to retailers.

 

I understand the official reason, but it sure seems like a bizarre coincidence to me that as soon as oil prices start to go down there is something that interrupts the supply so gas prices go even higher. Especially when the report that came out the Monday after Ike (that sent oil prices even lower) was that there was no real damage from Ike that would affect the supply. Maybe I'm just crazy.

 

Not to worry went through this in the seventies!! As sonn as they get the price up there will be plenty!!!

 

I have run 87 octane in both of my bikes for the past two years. I have put 40 k on the bikes and not a ping as of yet. But the dealers service bike will not run good on 87 octane without pinging. It's all on how your bikes timing has been set.