I ran 87 this year once and it just happened to be on one of the hottest days and longest rides of the year and there was deffinately some pinging going on under load (up-hill and some stop light ). We were out in the middle of farm country and had no choice on where to fill up. But if you had to run 87 because of inavailability of 92, I would then add octane booster to your gas, this should raise it a couple of points. I would guess that a botlle of octane booster should last for a little while because it does not take much per gallon to raise just a few points.

 

A lot of my stuff requires high octane per manufactures recommendation or what I have done to it with modifications. Some of it is loud and it is hard to hear pinging over the noise with hearing protection. Instruments don't tell me there is a detonation problem till there is a real problem. I will run the recommended fuel when possible. If I could only get low octane fuel then I would run octane boost. JMO

 

Over 100k on my two bike with reg octante and only time I have problems is with gas from the ocean city gas stations. I use the hell out of those bikes and never get any ping from them.

 

My 2007 Road King Classic Operators Manual recommends 91 octane. It doesn't say that you can use lesser or higher octane.....talking about stock engines here. I am surprised that the recommendation is for a engine with 9.2:1 compression ratio but I don't know anything about air cooled engines. Generally, higher octane fuels are for engine with higher compression ratios as most of you probably know. With the newer fuel management systems and timing of the newer engines, things have changed. I know this subject has been beat to death but higher octane fuels will not make your bike have more power, contrary to some beliefs. In fact, it can hurt your engine. Higher octane fuels actually has a lower flash point than lower octane's because of the difference in compression ratio. Some of you that are using 87 octane may only think that your engine is running fine. Not using factory recommendations usually will show up in the long haul (high mileage) engines. Having said all of that, there are some variations between fuel brands and additives and some will have different results.

 

MY EFI Heritage ran like **** on low test the 1 time i was forced to use it. Even my buddy behind me could hear it and said something about the pinging and cracking.

We didnt have a choice out in the middle of nowhere. His Valkerie( SP?) ran fine. But thats a greedy greedy bike and will just accept anything i think!! LOL

 

My high compression 95" doesn't like 87. I guess I've spoiled her. On long trips I carry a bottle of octane boost just to be safe.

 

I have a '96 evo. I started out with 87 octaine but had poor mileage and performance. I swithche back to 93 and evrything's good. If I can't get 93, I'll use regular but add some octane booster thats available almost any gas station.

 

My Road King runs great on 87 octane. Gets a consistent 45 MPG with it.

 

When hi test hit $4.00 a gal I switched to reg (87 octane) in my EG and saw no difference in performance or gas mileage.

 

My RK does fine with 87 octane. The UG, 'cuz of hi compression big bore wants at least 92 octane; I get some minor pinging under load on that machine with 91.