[EenyBear]

I thought that my R12S would detune itself if I put lesss than 94 in the tank. Apparently not. All the debates about fuel I've seen here have to do with RON equivalents etc. but have not specifically addressed what octane is optimum (despite the manufacturer's recommendation).

Surprise - Today my trusted mechanic suggested I use lower octane fuel to get better performance and better mileage (yes, both). I just about fell off my stool. Since the beginning of time I've been using Chevron 94 and, from the looks of things, a lot of fellow Pelicans are octane junkies too.

Could it be we've got it all wrong?

My last tank was a meager 91 octane because that was all that was available for miles around. I waited for the drop in performance as I rode away from the pump... and it never came. The bike's torque curve felt more immediate and the power band was smoother up to 7500RPM or so with no end in sight. It felt like I had magically unlocked another engine or removed some sort of governor while I was expecting exactly the opposite.

Later today, Mr. Fuel Expert (I have friends in the industry) said something about a better burn rate with 91 and that he, a veteran of many bikes and many miles, just completed a 1,500 mile trip with never more than 87 in the tank and great performance.

Further, he said that all fuels (in Canada) have the same cleaning components and the hype that the higher octane fuels clean "better" is a push to spend an extra dollar. Shhhh....

Comments from the other knowledgeable members among us?