Super Unleaded ?

[Beemer]

Have got an 03 1150 GS and was reading through my owners handbook today. I was surprised to find that it states that Super Unleaded fuel should be used.

Anyone here able to confirm if there is any noticeable difference if one uses standard Unleaded? Wonder how many owners actually use Super?

Cheers
Steve

 

[CONDORPILOT]

Shell Optimate,mate! Good enough for Shumaker and recommended previously here.I certainly found the bike ran much better on it.Probably comes from the same place as other brands but you have to understand how persuasive we can be Baaaaaaah.Baaaaaaaaah

 

[longdog]

....... or BP Ultimate. It's good stuff!

 

[skybluebird]

Mine runs a little better on Shell Optimax and the BP one. Ride magazine tested them recently and found a couple of bhp more with the premium grades. I'd only use it "fresh", if I'm going to leave the bike for a few days it seems pointless filling up with the higher octane petrol - the more volatile aromatics which they add to boost the octane will just evaporate off.

Is it definitely Super Unleaded in the handbook?

 

[Greg Masters]

There's no point in using super unleaded in an 1150 - the motor cannot take any advantage out of its superior octane rating.

The 1200GS, however, has an anti-knock sensor and can advance and retard the timing to prevent knock (pinking). By using higher octane fuel, in theory the ignition timing can be optimised without the constraint of possible pinking. In certain circumstances that may give more power for particular throttle openings and engine loadings.

On my 1150 I use whatever fuel comes out of the pump at whatever filling station I stop at. If I want to go faster, I open the throttle more!

Greg

 

[John Armstrong]

Deja vu?

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...32727&perpage=16&highlight=shell&pagenumber=3

Ofcom's view of the "performance increasing petrol". Not!

 

[Beemer]

Mine runs a little better on Shell Optimax and the BP one. Ride magazine tested them recently and found a couple of bhp more with the premium grades. I'd only use it "fresh", if I'm going to leave the bike for a few days it seems pointless filling up with the higher octane petrol - the more volatile aromatics which they add to boost the octane will just evaporate off.

Is it definitely Super Unleaded in the handbook?

Yeah, definitely Super, I was surprsied also.

 

[notadrop]

Shell Optimate I've used........MOST CERTAINLY an improved engine response/pick up. I will use it when on a run on bendy roads with mates and I want immediate/rapid response - or if I fancy a 'clean out' every few weeks.
Ordinary unleaded fine for day to day though.

 

[cookie]

i can't tell the difference on mine & i don't see why i should see any improvement.

as greg has pointed out, unless your engine has a knock sensor it will not be able to advance the timing to take advantage of the higher octane. this is where gains are made in the rather more sophisticated ECU's of the car world.

i suppose it may have some increased calorific value, but a recent test i saw got 0.7bhp (IIRC) gain on a dyno. big deal, who uses all the standard power?

who could spot 2bhp gain by seat of the pants testing? some of you lot apparently. not me anyway.

 

[nadeem]

This month's Ride has a comparison of 'normal' fuel vs Optimax and BP Ultimate used in two bikes (carb model + fuel injected bike) - in the fuel injected bike using Optimax there was a 1.9% increase in power - I forget the exact amount for Ultimate but it was around 1% both figures were obtained on a dyno test. They also said there was a mpg advanatge as well but didn't measure it....

 

[Wraithwrider]

I definately notice a mpg increase when I use either in my car. Not that I measure mpg, I just get an extra 20 miles or so for a tankful of juice. Doing long journeys on a 3 litre donk this does help!

 

[markyp]

No mystery here - if you believe my theory. I think that the reason for this is because in Germany they call our standard unleaded "Super". Someone has got confused in translation before they wrote it in the manual:

German fuel grades:

Regular (91 octane) Super Unleaded (95 octane) Super Plus Unleaded (98 octane)

such as at....

German Tourism Advice

so their "Super Unleaded" = our "Premium Unleaded"
Their "Super Plus" is almost our "Super". Our Super only needs to be 97 octane to qualify.
UK Fuel types


Cheers, M

 

[Beemer]

No mystery here - if you believe my theory. I think that the reason for this is because in Germany they call our standard unleaded "Super". Someone has got confused in translation before they wrote it in the manual:

German fuel grades:

Regular (91 octane) Super Unleaded (95 octane) Super Plus Unleaded (98 octane)

such as at....

German Tourism Advice

so their "Super Unleaded" = our "Premium Unleaded"
Their "Super Plus" is almost our "Super". Our Super only needs to be 97 octane to qualify.
UK Fuel types


Cheers, M

Marky,

Thanks for that, I thought that it might be the case after re- reading my manual today I noticed the 95 RON which it refers to as Super Unleaded but that is our standard unleaded.

Cheers
Steve

 

[trev]

Super Unleaded ?
as mentioned in previous posts, The only time you really need it is in summer ,hot days loaded up causes pinging on big throttle openings(very noticable on motorways etc). Super unleaded stops this. Rest of year use whatever is at the pumps
safe riding
Trev