Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: SHREDDER on June 29, 2006, 06:38:53 PM
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I took a hard ride on the Bandit the other day after filling up with Sunoco 91 octane and got some of the best gas mileage ever! I was riding between 80 and 90 mph for about 3 hours straight. Has anyone had this experience with Sunoco or any other gasoline brand?
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We more or less only have the one kind over here in reland. tis just unleaded or diesel is all we have lol.
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for whatever reason??? I get better mpg`s with sunoco gas also in my bike and cars ( I only purchase 87 octane )
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Yes I have, and often, Caltex premium vortex often returns the greatest millage, in both the bikes and both vans. The other big 3 petrol marques preform about the same.
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No Sun Oil Company stations down here. They tend to be in the northern states. But, because I work for them and get a bit of a discount, I use Exxon/Mobil fuels. I don't notice the mileage to much just get gas after turning on the reserve.
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There is a Phillips 66 in town that has 100 octane. I get about 30-40 miles more on it. Bike runs 70 on speedo 4000 rpm on 87. 73-74 at 4000 on 100 octane.
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There is a Phillips 66 in town that has 100 octane. I get about 30-40 miles more on it. Bike runs 70 on speedo 4000 rpm on 87. 73-74 at 4000 on 100 octane.
I don't know how this is going to sound, but I'm not trying to insult..but...
That doesn't make sense. How can the type of fuel change your gearing? That would be cool if it was true though.
I would be very suprised if what you are saying about your mileage is true, unless you have done internal mods to your engine to be able to use the benefits of the 100 octane. You need to do an an apples to apples mileage test to verify that all the extra $$ you are spending on that gas is really worth it. You will likely find that it isn't.
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:toofunny: :yesno: It wasn't an insult, but it sure was funny
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We've had lots of posts here about octane and higher octane will not have a benefit for you. A stock Bandit will run fine on 87 octane. What makes the difference is fuel quality (not a lot of additives) and the main one age. Fresh fuel is the best. Gas will start to degrade just after a few days.
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Using higher octane than the bike needs is like overfilling a water canteen for a hiking trip in case you get extra thirsty. :wink:
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Years back I owned a 94 Nissan Maxima SE 5 speed. It had the same 3.0 litre motor as the 300 Z. That car screamed, the power band was most pronounced with Sunoco 94. Mobil and the rest just didnt have the same performance.
PIN
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I'm so frustrated with mileage and octane threads. Always conflicting info.
But let's beat a dead horse some more...
Is higher octane better to use or not?
The majority on this and another motorcycle board I frequent claim not necessary to go for higher octane than a bike's manual recommends.
My Audi, Mazda, and Saab dealers all say unequivocally, "YES!" Use 91+.
My Ford dealer says 87 is fine.
Suzuki says 87 is appropriate for the Bandit and the Aerio.
:roll: :roll: :roll:
Wish I had a Sunoco to try, but we're an Exxon, Mobil, Texaco, Chevron, and Valero mostly area.
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I'm so frustrated with mileage and octane threads. Always conflicting info.
But let's beat a dead horse some more...
Is higher octane better to use or not?
The majority on this and another motorcycle board I frequent claim not necessary to go for higher octane than a bike's manual recommends.
My Audi, Mazda, and Saab dealers all say unequivocally, "YES!" Use 91+.
My Ford dealer says 87 is fine.
Suzuki says 87 is appropriate for the Bandit and the Aerio.
:roll: :roll: :roll:
Wish I had a Sunoco to try, but we're an Exxon, Mobil, Texaco, Chevron, and Valero mostly area.
Apples & Oranges.
My wife's BMW is supposed to have 91 octane. Since we don't have 91 in Chicago, we go with 93. The higher compression the engine, the more octane is required (in general) The Bandit is 10-1 compression... which isn't that high.
The bottom line is to use fuel that is just high enough octane that you don't get 'pinging'. (You could probably go up one number over that and your bike would be happy.) More than that really defines the word superfluous. And using too high an octane in an old-school engine like the Bandit can cause carbon buildup... since it has a higher flash point. To my knowledge, the only factors that can severely change octane requirements is altitude or extreme heat.
I have to believe that people who claim their 1996-2006 Suzuki Bandit 1200 (with an unmodified engine) runs crappy on 87 octane (R+M/2) just got a bad tankful of 87 octane and figured they need more octane. "Bad' or 'stale' fuel is a common problem.... and more likely to occur at a "Joe's Last-Chance Fillin' Station' than a high-volume Shell/Mobil/BP/Amoco.
Frankly... there is no one I've seen who has logical or scientific proof that higher octane 'helps'.... it's all just 'feelings'.
Here's a quote from Chevron's website...
In most vehicles no benefit is gained from using gasoline that has a higher octane number than is needed to prevent knock.
http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/gas_qanda/api_octane.shtml
(87 octane USA = 91 octane EURO)
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I've always run the cheapest gas in the Bandit, I've had to buy mid grade or premium a few times when stations were out of regular but never noticed a difference. I have never noticed pinging on the Bandit although my old VX800 would ping off and on so I would alternate between mid and regular on long trips to keep things "cooler" so to speak.
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I would be careful about using SUNOCO gas of any grade, here in Buffalo they are using ETHANOL blend in SUNOCO gas, I am not sure if it is recommended for Bandits :stop:
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Ethanol is fine. (up to 10%)
Here in Illinois it is the LAW that all fuels contain ethanol. We have no choice.
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You should use the lowest octane possible to prevent knock. You are going to LOSE some power if you use octane higher than is nessesary.
On super hot days and stuck in traffic my Bandit can ping a little(barely, I have to really crank it off the line) on 87 Octane. With 89 it doesn't. So I stick with 89 in the summer and then 87 in the winter. Simple. Putting in anything higher, say 90+, is a waste of money and power. THe octane rating is the combustability of the gasoline only, it's nothing to do with "power" or whatever. In fact you can make the arguement that LOWER octane has more "power" because its more volitile.
Always start out with the lowest octane and work up. It only pre-ignites on my bike when it's super hot and I've been stuck in traffic. If I were going on a trip with lots of highway and better cooling I could stick with 87 no problem. But since I'm in the city I use mid-grade in the summer.
The reason there is a myth about higher octane having more "power" is due to the fact that high octane fuel is used exclusively in high compression engines that have more power.
For example the Stock bandit compression ratio is 9.5 to 1. Some of the newer bikes have 11 to 1 or 11.5 to 1. So they can fit more fuel/air mixture into their cylinders per volume than our bandits, hence the individual firings of the cylinders have more power. However due to the fact that the compression ratio is so high you need a less volitile fuel so that the mixture doesn't pre-ignite robbing you of power and possibly damaging the engine. Hence the usage for high octane.
Most high compression engines are in sports cars/bikes rather than your mom's Ford station wagon so the un-educated will read their owners manual and it will say "Use high octane fuel of a minimum of 90 in this vehicle" and figure "well I must be getting more power out of the fuel because I drive this BMW".
Unfortunately for us, the fuel companies have picked up on the stupidity of some people and are charging more money for basically a tiny bit of additives added. It should only cost you about 5 cents a gallon more but the companies market the high octane as "V-power" or "Mid life crisis Super fuel" or whatever and charge you extra.
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According to my owners manual, it's OK to use up to 10% ethanol laced gasoline. If I have the choice, I prefer to have unlaced fuel though. I've noticed the bike runs better on the straight stuff.