No 91 available around here so I fill up at half intervals. 3 gal of 89 and the next time 3 gals of 93 to make an average 91 and keeps me in compliance with the HD Gods.






Just kiddin, I use the highest grade available everytime. If I'm down to just 87 then I only get enough to get to the next station or none at all.

 

I can run 89 when on long trip at constant high speeds with no problem, 98 flhtci. Around town it will tend to ping so I put the 93 in her. Also with this junk ethanol you need to add a fuel treatment . I use Lucas upper cylinder lubricant. It will help lube the cylinders that the ethanol washes away. Also does help the milage somewhat, every little bit helps, especialy on the indian s performance. The manuals for my 03 indian and flhtci say don't do not use any ehanol products. Go figure, the gov. screwing us again.

 

Octane is important, but so is fuel quality. I not only use 93 octane, high quality fuel, but I also use a good octane booster. It really helps especially during the heat of summer and riding 2 up. Spark knock, ping, whatever you wish to call it is the igniting of fuel without or before the presence of spark. This not only damages your engine, but it also creates a huge amount of heat. Octane raises the fuels flash point, or makes it harder to burn, therefore keeping it from igniting before the spark plug lights it off. I think that most anyone can see a difference when using higher octane in the average engine. Too much octane?, oh yeah, you can get too much, but it's unlikely in an air-cooled engine.

 

Ive run regilar in my 06 glide classic with very little pinging if any at all but I try to run premium all the time no mid grade for me.. There really isnt that much difference in price on a fill up.....

 

Group follower----high octane if all possible.

 

Premium all the time.

 

I'm not in those gears until at least 10-15 mph faster. I'd run your rpms up to at least 3k before shifting and see how that goes for you.[/QUOTE]

+1 and get 'er done. That would be the first thing I'd try and leave the '99 out of this.

 

91 or better.

 

Shell V power. Bikes, car and truck seems to run better and I do get better mileage. Apparently Harley Davidson likes it too since they have partnered with Shell. Guess I shouldn't catch any sh*t from them if I have a warranty issue with fuel eh?

 

90, because that's all I can get where I live. I do use a octane booster. Oh yeah, your're lugging the engine dude.