what octane for stock 2011ultra tri-glide?

[jackf1950]

Folks, I searched this forum for "octane" and got 3 results.. didn't seem to be on them... with the price of gas goin through the roof.. what are you runnun on the stock bike???
don't wanna save a few bucks now, and pay big time later??
thanks in advance
Jack

[rickt]

unless HD changed recently, you need to use the good stuff

[jackf1950]

that's what I thought... got spoiled on my 1800vtxr... regular for years..

[tfdeputydawg]

Owners manual! I'm sure it will tell you premium only in the Hogs! They are set very lean from the factory and anything less than the best could cause issues over a period of time. Every Harley I've had got the SE breather kit, Stage I download and freer flowing Harley street legal mufflers installed prior to leaving the dealership.

[Dwight]

I've always used the best gas available. I have, however, used 85 octane when the only choices were 85 or diesel (somewhere in Wyoming). Around here the best you can get is 91. I've run some 93 where available but haven't had any problems with the 91. It's also sometimes necessary to run 89 or 87 here. Whenever I have to run the lower octane I always add higher octane as soon as I can find it. I don't worry too much about it and you don't see many bikes in the shop for running low octane fuel, but a steady diet of it, depending on conditions, won't be good for the bike.

Dwight

[Casper]

I've always used the best gas available. I have, however, used 85 octane when the only choices were 85 or diesel (somewhere in Wyoming). Around here the best you can get is 91. I've run some 93 where available but haven't had any problems with the 91. It's also sometimes necessary to run 89 or 87 here. Whenever I have to run the lower octane I always add higher octane as soon as I can find it. I don't worry too much about it and you don't see many bikes in the shop for running low octane fuel, but a steady diet of it, depending on conditions, won't be good for the bike.

Dwight

What he said....

[trikermutha]

Manual states 91 and above octane..

[jackf1950]

I did look in the manual, and, read "no race, or octane boosters" then chart 13, next to pump octane, sez
(R+M)/2
thought that formula might have to do w/ engine mods
then says
91 (95 RON)
so, I was mainly just tryin to make sure..
thanks for all the input!!
91 or above!

[Maryland Triker]

Don't worry about it, your engine will let you know with a nice ping ping ping, and you'll know you went to low. Here in Md I run mid/grade or high test

[cewhit1]

60 degs and below it safe to use 87 octane, above use 89 to 93 octane. It works in my 2009 HD Tri-Glide.

[Boom]

In my area I buy a lot of Sunoco which offers 91 and 93 octane, I fill it with 93 because the difference is only 2 cents /gallon. 12 cents per tank! Big deal! Why waste the cost of keeping a 91 octane? Get rid of it and bring down the cost of the high octane! Just my 2 cents! (no pun intended)

[Ol' Grey]

A general personal rule-of-thumb is that an engine with a 10:1 compression ratio or higher should definitely be running 91 octane or higher (altho' factory manuals sometimes would disagree to an extent) Your's may be 9.6:1 ? and your manual recommends the 91 octane or better, which is perfectly fine.

My OL's Suzuki/Lehman is 10:1 and her manual allows a spread from 85-95 octane, but preferably 89 or above.

The higher the octane rating, the slower the burn, which results in a more complete burn during the combustion phase.

Am also remembering when leaded gas was taken off the market and folks were wondering which octane rating to go with on their Harleys.........H-D recommended using the highest octane rating available and many Harleys back then could have had compression ratios ranging from 7.25:1 - 9.5:1.

Whether I actually need to or not, have applied that early recommendation to any 4-stroke bike since then. Regardless of number of cc's or compression ratios, they all get 91 octane or better :yes:

[jackf1950]

thanks guys for all the good info, 91 or better, don't be "penney foolish"....