Grades of fuel.

[Gyrogearloose]

What grade of fuel do most XS1100s burn? Does a "big bore" job change that?
I'm thinking of getting either a VMAX or FZ1...what grade of fuel is recommended for this level of hp ? Thanks for your answers.

[CatatonicBug]

Lots of threads about this topic, and the answers are almost as diverse as an oil thread. Most folks use Regular, but there again, that can mean different things depending on your geographic location (octane ratings are not the same). The fuel that was available when these bikes came out was MUCH different from the fuel available today, so use your best judgement. Try the lower grade fuel, then try the higher and see if you notice a difference.

[crazy steve]

Like CBug said, most use regular, which is what the bike was designed to burn. Don't go by the owners manual, as the octane rating shown is not the same rating as what's currently listed on pumps. With mine, using higher grades made no noticable difference in performance and slightly lowered my mileage. I never had any issues with 'name brand' regular-grade fuel.

A big bore kit will raise compression and require premium fuel.

[bikerphil]

I need to use the mid grade 89 octane in both my XS's. With regular, it will "ping" if I get on it passing a car sometimes. Of course, I do have my ign. timing turned up a little for a snappier throttle response.

[webbcraft2150]

In the summer, regular will bring on some ping. I just bite the bullet and get the top grade stuff on every fillup all year long. Its a small price to pay as far as I am concerned. I know my boat motor (5.7 chebbie), is not real fond of regular, runs ok but I do notice a difference. At 45 gallons per fillup, I find octane booster a viable option to the high priced stuff at the pump..

[windjammergump]

fuel

i only run premium in my bike and small engines...they put 10% ethanol in fuel these days ...and all mechanics here are making a killing recleaning and rebuilding carbs..if they sit for a couple of months ..one thing i have learned is to shot off fuel (peccocks) and crank the bike till she dies....to get all the fuel out of the carbs if you are not planning on riding for a couple of months and put new fuel in when ready to restart....yamaha sales a yamahalube fuel cleaner that is best made ...if you want to take loose the lines and fill with a baby animal feeder before you start to ride again.....do not crank the motor with this in the bowels and do not let sit more than a few days but will get rid of bad fuel in the carb bowels....hope this helps

[motoman]

Mid-grade for everything including cages, never an issue. With two bikes(Honda ST/YamahaXS)one or the other and sometimes both will set in the garage 2-3months at a time and always start and run fine. BTW, do NOT use battery tenders either. They WILL reduce the overall battery life substantually. Both bikes batteries are over 51/2yrs. old now and still meet cranking specs.

[slow mo]

i run reg octane gas ..87 all year except the first fill-up of the year! my bike sits all winter with stabilizer in the tank and i think its a help to run premium 91 to get rid of that ,,just my 2 cents ,,ride safe ,,slow mo!

[Big Daddy Funk]

Big Bore Fuel

I ran numerous dyno runs with a big bore kit and aftermarket cams. Mid grade fuels gave us the best Torque and HP numbers. Premium fuels actually decreased the numbers. Regular fuel did not work well at all. Our testing was done with Shell fuel which seemed to burn cleaner than most other brand name fuels. I would avoid higher ethanol blend fuels and discount retailers. Octane boost additives are generally a waste of money in these engines
BDF

[tinman905]

Wow you think we had the same bike or what . !!!!!!

I ran numerous dyno runs with a big bore kit and aftermarket cams. Mid grade fuels gave us the best Torque and HP numbers. Premium fuels actually decreased the numbers. Regular fuel did not work well at all. Our testing was done with Shell fuel which seemed to burn cleaner than most other brand name fuels. I would avoid higher ethanol blend fuels and discount retailers. Octane boost additives are generally a waste of money in these engines
BDF

[XSive Okie]

I run 87 in everything I own, truck, SUV, bike, 4-wheeler, lawn mower, the works! I avoid ethanol like the plague though.

[CatatonicBug]

I avoid ethanol like the plague though.

You folks in OK have a choice... That's the only place I've seen that even OFFERS fuel without ethanol.

[XSive Okie]

You folks in OK have a choice... That's the only place I've seen that even OFFERS fuel without ethanol.

Wasn't aware of that. I guess we're still lucky for the time being. I know the gas stations here that offer both never have a line at the pump with the ethanol!