A lot of theoretical bla-bla (not that I would question the technical knowledge of those who think different).
Fact: my Varadero (and XLV750R) feel better. runs smoother, has a much better fuel economy and starts better on high octane (>98+ RON) fuel.
Frankly, I don't care if it is- or isn't the number of RON what counts. What counts, is my personal experiences and feeling; and from out over 300.000 km on motorbikes I will keep recommend high octane fuels. And if there was still leaded fuel available, I would even use it and recommend that too.
Fact: the exhaust of my bike shows a brownish-grey deposit which is a clear indication of an efficient (for as much as you can call an internal combustion engine 'efficient'... ) use of fuel and a clean 'burning' process.
Fact: you WONT feel any difference if you are used to use low octane fuels and only fill the bike up every now and then with 98+. The difference will be noticeable if you use these fuels for a (much) longer period of time.
I believe in the power of high octane fuel and I don't need to be convinced that it is rubbish. I have my own experiences with over 300.000 km and 4 Transalps, 4 Varadero's, 1 Africa Twin and 2 XLV750R's which are the proof for that personal experiences.
If you think otherwise... Well... its so easy. Keep fuelling up with 95+ or less. Its so simple as that... Just as simple that I keep recommending the use of high octane fuel on big V-twin motorbikes.
Bernard,
pls feel free in wasting your money, BUT have a look at this short summary:
"High-octane gasoline for high performance engines
Prof.Dr.-Ing. M. Weclas
Prof.Dr.-Ing. H-J. Tretow
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) J. Bernstein
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) J. Wellmann
Institute of Automotive Engineering, Georg-Simon-Ohm
University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg
Keßlerplatz 12
90489 Nürnberg
Abstract For several months, there are at service stations
Germany new varieties petrol to buy,
Shell (V-Power) and Aral (Ultimate 100), each 100
Octane. According to the manufacturer, this fuel helps
more output with higher
Consumption and improved acceleration.
The aim of the project described here was to use
comparative measurements reliable statements
about performance, acceleration and consumption of
be able to make new fuels.
It was found that none of the two high-octane fuels
relevant More power, more torque,
Consumption savings or performance gain
brings. The observed differences
below 2%, that is, on the measurement accuracy limit.
Regarding the performance of the reference fuel was
(conventional Super Plus Esso, 98 octane)
the fuel V-Power with 100 octane even
slightly superior. In the lower part load range can
at the high-octane fuels, a minimum
Consumption savings notice.
ISSN 1616-0762 Reprint Series of the Georg-Simon-Ohm-Fachhochschule Nürnberg No. 29"
Rainer