Fuel - 95 vs 97.

[garynortheast]

Bike is a SV650sy (2000 curvy). Normally runs on 95 ron but now and then I'll run a tankful of 97 ron through. I filled up with 97 a few days ago and remembered just what a huge difference it makes to the engine feel and characteristics. It's a 75,000 mile engine and runs quite nicely on 95 ron but the 97 has it running so much more smoothly. It's not an imagined difference either. It pulls much more cleanly from much lower rpm, ticks over much more steadily, especially from cold, it has a much crisper note from the silencer. I shall be interested to see if the mpg is improved too, although that may be asking a lot from a bike that already gives around 60mpg.

I'm due to fill up again soon so I'll put some more 95 back in the tank and see what happens over the next 200 miles/tankful of fuel.

[Craig380]

When I got my K6 I ran it on Shell V-Power for a few tanks, largely because it had only done 7,500 miles in 9 years when I bought it, so my main aim was that the V-Power might help clean up any crud / deposits on the injectors (one of the big claims is better detergent additives).

I usually just fill up with regular 95RON now, and can't tell any difference. Although I would expect the later injected bikes would be more tolerant of different fuels because of the pressure at the injectors and the closer control over fuelling.

[Blapper]

I did try the good stuff once and there was a small performance improvement as you said, but I didn't notice an improvement in fuel economy on my curvy.

[Craig380]

Also, even with bog standard 95, we're better off than our US-based counterparts, their standard stuff is 91 and the best they can get is 93 :)

The SV is designed to take crap fuel, but good fuel won't do any harm at all.

[Bibio]

only if the fuel can be burnt efficiently in the first place. a badly running bike will still be a badly running bike even with the higher ron.

[Mark_h]

Mine needed 97 in the winter as otherwise it struggled to start.

[tom_e]

I use V power simply because it costs so little extra when you're talking about brimming a bike tank that even if it only keeps the engine running a little cleaner and easier then it's worth it. Also because Shell is on my way home from work, any other stations require detours.

[ophic]

It's probably got more to do with the extras in the premium 97 RON fuel than the standard cheap 95 stuff, rather than the RON rating itself.

The 95 probably has more ethanol and fewer detergents.

In terms of RON, I think the SV is designed to handle 85. Anything above that is fine but shouldn't make any difference to running.

[garynortheast]

I'd hazard a guess that you're right about that Ophic. It could well be the general cleaning effect of the higher rated fuel. I've just filled the tank again at 195 miles (fuel light started flashing at 187 miles) and ridden the 7.5 miles home from the garage. The engine still feels very smooth, still punchy from low rpm, and still ticking over very cleanly. We'll see how it is after a couple of tanks of the 95.

[Craig380]

I've just filled the tank again at 195 miles (fuel light started flashing at 187 miles)

How much fuel did you squeeze in, out of interest? When my fuel light starts flashing (K6), I can usually only get about 10 litres in before the pump starts cutting out all the time, and the fuel level is right up to the filler neck. That's about 130 - 140 miles.

[garynortheast]

I got 15.25 litres in. I sit on the bike to put the fuel in and spend a couple of minutes trickling it in and gently rocking/shaking the bike from side to side as the tank nears capacity.
That seems to work out at a touch over 58mpg. I'm not all that gentle on the throttle either, although I do almost no town riding.

[Craig380]

I got 15.25 litres in. I sit on the bike to put the fuel in and spend a couple of minutes trickling it in and gently rocking/shaking the bike from side to side as the tank nears capacity.
That seems to work out at a touch over 58mpg. I'm not all that gentle on the throttle either, although I do almost no town riding.

Cheers - I fuel mine while sitting on, too, but have never managed to get more than about 11 - 12 litres in. I average about 55-60 brim to brim, all open-road riding. My fuel warning light obviously comes on early :rolleyes:

[ophic]

Cheers - I fuel mine while sitting on, too, but have never managed to get more than about 11 - 12 litres in. I average about 55-60 brim to brim, all open-road riding. My fuel warning light obviously comes on early :rolleyes:
My K3 fuel light comes on at about the same point, and it's a single stage one - no flashing. There's at least quarter of a tank still in there.

[shiftin_gear98]

I once put in 16 1/2 litres - think I was nearly walking. About 145 miles. K6.

[Biker Biggles]

I used to get problems with carb icing on my curvy around this time of year and found putting BP ultimate in every second fill up helped.I dont think it gave any more power and I didnt really check the mpg.

[Corny Gizmo]

I only run "premium" petrol, for me the bike picks up better, idles smoother, pulls stronger and is ever so slightly louder and poppier. All good stuff! oh and I definitely get more miles per tank

[Craig380]

My K3 fuel light comes on at about the same point, and it's a single stage one - no flashing. There's at least quarter of a tank still in there.

Cheers for that. I'm happy to stop at 130 miles or so anyway, even with a gel seat my wrists and @r5e need a rest :)

[Heorot]

Yonks ago, in the days of leaded petrol, I always put 3* in my cars until one day, I RTFM for my Colt Celeste 1.6 and discovered it should run on 2*. When I tried it, it ran better on the 2*.

[500tie]

I've only ever run high performance cars on the likes of shells V-Power, I didn't really make much performance difference but it did give me more MPG. I would use it with the bike but I literally ride past an Asda everyday on my way to and from work so I just get fuel there

[Heorot]

While I was still a learner I had a Honda CG that I used to commute to work. To get the maximum speed out of it I fed it with Tesco 98 ron. It blew up. Ripped the gudgeon pin out of the piston, bent the con rod and wrecked the gearbox.

[andrewsmith]

While I was still a learner I had a Honda CG that I used to commute to work. To get the maximum speed out of it I fed it with Tesco 98 ron. It blew up. Ripped the gudgeon pin out of the piston, bent the con rod and wrecked the gearbox.
Stick a nitrous bottle on for good measure?

Sent from my D2303 using Tapatalk

[Fen Tiger]

Mine seems crisper and more eager on the better fuel. As a result I try and fill up with the highest octane I can get. Especially good in the winter when i don't use the bike as much. Seems to maintain a good enough octane whereas the 95 Ron drops off too low when left for a few weeks in the tank and the bike runs badly until I get some fresh in.

[Blapper]

Mine seems crisper and more eager on the better fuel. As a result I try and fill up with the highest octane I can get. Especially good in the winter when i don't use the bike as much. Seems to maintain a good enough octane whereas the 95 Ron drops off too low when left for a few weeks in the tank and the bike runs badly until I get some fresh in.

Interesting, I was wondering whether to fill it up with high octane or empty it completely.