Leaded or Unleaded

[78yamahaman]

I have seen a few forum talking about the uses of different octane in your bikes. I just purchased a 78 xs1100e a month and a half ago and it is finally ready for the road. Is it ok that I use unleaded gas in my bike? I dont think any gas station around me still sells leaded fuel.

[egsols]

Originally posted by 78yamahaman

Is it ok that I use unleaded gas in my bike

Yes.

[trbig]

And the regular unleaded should work just fine... no need for the expensive stuff unless it starts pinging... but it shouldn't.


Tod

[Wildkat]

I usually run midgrade in mine...

and usually John fills up first when we go out together... so I pull into the pump and get the midgrade nozzle... and he says...
"We use regular unleaded"
"Oh yes?"
"Yes"
So apparently, when I'm with him... I also put the lesser grade in... and it runs just fine...

I never even thought about these things having been built to run on leaded gas.... It's been so long since I've seen it available... almost forgot it used to be an option...

[Flatlander]

Leaded.?.

My side cover states for my "engine family"
Regular (Leaded)
Research octane 91 min.
??????

Oh it's a '81 also.

[78yamahaman]

Thanks guys for the answers. I appreciate it. When a guy at work told me I had to run leaded gas in it I went into panic mode. Like I said its not even available to purchase around here. Thanks again.

[trbig]

It was posted recently somewhere that the way the formula was figured the old way to the new way, that the new 87 octane is basically the same as the old leaded 91 octane... just minus the lead. It was also stated somewhere that the design for these engines allows you to use just about everything except a combination of dead rats and kerosine..


Tod

[81xsproject]

No doubt. I get in debates with the ignorant masses all the time about fuel grade and how if your car isn't designed for it, you don't need and will see no benefit from, higher grade fuel.

As for running on anything, for those folk that have been around a while, remember the guy across the pond that converted hi XS to LPG? LINK

[NemisusDM]

Recent Gas thread

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18070

PS: I will try the dead rats and kerosene this weekend and post the results.....lol

[TADracer]

Well I dont know alot about the R+M/2 method of calculating octane but what I do know is that 30 years ago when these things were made the quality of gasoline was not what it is today. Many think the lead additive was to 'cushion' the valve seat but actually it was to help curb detonation that was prevalant in gasoline and carbureted cars back then, to keep pinging at bay. The refinined quality of gasoline these days is leaps and bounds over what it once was.

87 works just fine in my 79 special and after many years of unleaded gasoline my valve seats looked perfect last time the head was off.

So I say that as a rule of thumb, if it ain't knockin...use 87 and save the $.