SR 50 - What type of gas should I use? The manual is confusing...

[CaliSR50zooooom]

Please US replies only.

Is Unleaded 87 okay? I'm not sure what DIN 51 607/N.O.R.M/M.O.N mean as what the manual is spewing.

The manual states: "Use super unleaded fuel as per DIN 51 607, minimum octante number 95 (NORM) and 92 (MON)."

So is that a no on unleaded 87? Which is better 95 or 92?!?!

Confusing!

[phidauex]

There are a lot of different ways to measure Octane, and different countries use different methods. This will either help, or confuse you more: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating"]Octane rating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Gas_Station_Pump_Five_Octane_Ratings.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Gas_Station_Pump_Five_Octane_Ratings.jpg/280px-Gas_Station_Pump_Five_Octane_Ratings.jpg"@@AMEPARA M@@commons/thumb/0/0f/Gas_Station_Pump_Five_Octane_Ratings.jpg/280px-Gas_Station_Pump_Five_Octane_Ratings.jpg[/ame]

In the US, we use the (R+M)/2 method, or AKI (Anti-knock index). MON is Motor Octane Number. The average of that and the RON Research Octane Number (aka PON, Pump Octane Number), is what is labeled on US pumps. I have a guess that the NORM is equivalent to the RON, meaning the minimum RON is 95, minimum MON is 92, meaning in the US you should be pumping 93 octane (as labeled in the US).

Now that said, 93 isn't available everywhere in the US. I run fine on 91 in Colorado.

-Sam

[ABBYrider]

CANADIAN RESPONSE HEHE



I put in unleaded 87 by accident one day, and it ran like a snail I would put in the best octane thats available to you up to 95. I use 94 with great results, a little extra pep.

[Lorenzo]

When I bought mine in 2004, the dealer told me to always use high-octane of the highest rating available at any station.

[Grenadiers]

Yeah, I'm using 91 Octane now until I get some more VP race fuel... DAMNED expensive thou, like $12 per gallon!!!! But, it's 112 Octane and it is a leaded fuel (the only way to get leaded fuel these days is in race fuel if I'm not mistaken). I usually get myself 5 gallons worth at a time.

Last year I ran with it many times and she seemed to like it a lot!! I did find it more useful during the colder days of spring and fall, but she ran like a trooper in the summer too. That's when I hit my top speed of 106kPh. I am looking forward to see just how well she works now with the 26mm BING TBA assembly...

[High-Gain SR50]

Fuel is another one of the items that will have a great effect on the way your single cylinder, single spark plug engine runs but varies extremely. My fuel knowledge is advanced as we had what we called a fuel farm at our GM Desert proving grounds in Mesa Arizona with fuel from not only all around the US but from around the world that we tested in our vehicles during hot climate testing.

In one of my drivability training classes I would have my class of usually 12-15 GM technicians go out and bring back a fuel sample from different stations and record what they purchased. In the summer RVP (reid vapor pressure) inconsistencies cause major hot weather drivability issues amongst carbureted vehicles and EFI vehicles that run lower pressures than PFI does. In a nut shell and without pointing fingers at certain stations, rarely did we receive what we paid for. We also tested for alcohol content and found stations diluting their fuel with high amounts of E-85 to gain higher profits at the result of poor fuel economy for the customer.

I will point the finger at the only station that consistently gave us what we paid for and worked best in our vehicles and that is Chevron. When my field office was at the GM Training Center in Tigard Oregon I had access to Chevron stations and the best fuels we could find were from them.

The DiTech recommends high octane because the fuels available in most countries are not as refined as what we get in the US. IT IS NOT NECESSARY to put high octane in your DiTech here in the US. You will pay more and generally have poorer results as high octane fuels burn slower and on an engine that turns 9000 you don't want a slower burning fuel. Anyone that dyno's engines will also tell you lower octane fuels produce higher dyno numbers than high octane pump gas fuels. High octane Race fuel is different than high octane pump gas. I run 108 pre-mix in both my scoots.

[gh0strider]

Fuel is another one of the items that will have a great effect on the way your single cylinder, single spark plug engine runs but varies extremely. My fuel knowledge is advanced as we had what we called a fuel farm at our GM Desert proving grounds in Mesa Arizona with fuel from not only all around the US but from around the world that we tested in our vehicles during hot climate testing.

In one of my drivability training classes I would have my class of usually 12-15 GM technicians go out and bring back a fuel sample from different stations and record what they purchased. In the summer RVP (reid vapor pressure) inconsistencies cause major hot weather drivability issues amongst carbureted vehicles and EFI vehicles that run lower pressures than PFI does. In a nut shell and without pointing fingers at certain stations, rarely did we receive what we paid for. We also tested for alcohol content and found stations diluting their fuel with high amounts of E-85 to gain higher profits at the result of poor fuel economy for the customer.

I will point the finger at the only station that consistently gave us what we paid for and worked best in our vehicles and that is Chevron. When my field office was at the GM Training Center in Tigard Oregon I had access to Chevron stations and the best fuels we could find were from them.

The DiTech recommends high octane because the fuels available in most countries are not as refined as what we get in the US. IT IS NOT NECESSARY to put high octane in your DiTech here in the US. You will pay more and generally have poorer results as high octane fuels burn slower and on an engine that turns 9000 you don't want a slower burning fuel. Anyone that dyno's engines will also tell you lower octane fuels produce higher dyno numbers than high octane pump gas fuels. High octane Race fuel is different than high octane pump gas. I run 108 pre-mix in both my scoots.

If thats the case im going to be filling up from BP using there ultimate 102 octane unleaded

or shall i use tesco 99 octane

[Lorenzo]

So, HG, it's OK to go to any Chevron station and fill it up w/reg 87-octane gas?
How do you feel about SHELL then?

[shrubman]

HG,
Are the race fuels you use pure gasoline and if so, how do they differ from pump gas of the same octane?

[High-Gain SR50]

So, HG, it's OK to go to any Chevron station and fill it up w/reg 87-octane gas?
How do you feel about SHELL then?

I only wish we had Chevron here. Their Techron (deposit cleaner) is one of the best formulations ever made and found now in most injector cleaners. You will get the best performance from the lower octane ratings.

[ABBYrider]

chevron 94 octane is all my bike gets. I've tried one full tank of every octane they have at one time or another, but would have to say my bike likes the higher octane best. Definite power and throttle response difference, at 87 octane it just coughed and sputtered with lousy acceleration.

[High-Gain SR50]

HG,
Are the race fuels you use pure gasoline and if so, how do they differ from pump gas of the same octane?

Here's some good data for Sunoco race fuel octanes

[Culverin]

I only wish we had Chevron here. Their Techron (deposit cleaner) is one of the best formulations ever made and found now in most injector cleaners. You will get the best performance from the lower octane ratings.

chevron 94 octane is all my bike gets. I've tried one full tank of every octane they have at one time or another, but would have to say my bike likes the higher octane best. Definite power and throttle response difference, at 87 octane it just coughed and sputtered with lousy acceleration.

That is very conflicting advice.
I've haven't been filling up with mid octane stuff since I had sputtering issues. I've just been using the dirt-cheap 87 octane from Petro Canada. But I guess I'll try some chevron next few tanks and see how that does.

[ABBYrider]

These bikes have there own personality, maybe its the difference in engines as yours is quit different than mine. Try all of the octanes, make it a trial/error like changing roller weights.

[shrubman]

Here's some good data for Sunoco race fuel octanes

Looks like the highest octane stuff is all leaded.