Author Topic: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi  (Read 3012 times)

Offline kballowe

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Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« on: November 20, 2022, 09:58:26 AM »
What octane rating (USA scale) do you run in your Moto Guzzi ?

My '20 Eldo usually gets 91 octane.  89 in a pinch. 

It has occasionally burned a tank of 87 octane when there was nothing else available.

« Last Edit: November 20, 2022, 10:00:50 AM by kballowe »

Offline TOMB

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2022, 10:08:12 AM »
In my convert I burn 91 or 93 octane preferred on occasion 89 convert doesn't ping runs really well and it's a 1976

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Offline guzzi4me

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2022, 10:18:52 AM »
When we lived in CA Central Valley ran 91.

Now living in Colorado at 4500 ft (moved here a year ago) and running 85 with no pinging. Also MPG went from 45 to 59+.
Different fuel blend here? Don't know..just happy with our new home and loving retirement!!!

Ride safe and often,

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2022, 10:52:51 AM »
We don’t have 91 in my area. 87, 89, and 93.

I too off at the close by non-ethanol station at the end of every ride before I park my bikes. They carry all grades in Non-ethanol.

If I am out and about and know I can’t get home before needing fuel I will add the needed amount to get me home of whatever grade non-ethanol is available, or 93 10% ethanol. That way I am reducing the % ethanol in the tank. I try and plan it so I have a gallon or less when I get home.
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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2022, 10:52:51 AM »

Offline guzzisteve

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2022, 11:13:09 AM »
Non Ethanol mostly. Unless I can't find it. 90 is usually what it is around here.
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Offline Ryan

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2022, 11:18:35 AM »
I buy whatever the highest octane is as the station I am filling up at. I try to use Shell consistently; there are cheaper fuels available at independent stations, and I buy gas there for the mower and my Suburban (she drinks anything- I bet she would run on coal dust mixed with water!) but for a couple of bucks a tank, I stick with a known quantity on the bike. Large-bore, air-cooled motors are prone to ping in the heat of summer, so I want to give the Stelvio any advantage I can.

Offline Zenermaniac

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2022, 11:19:10 AM »
On reading others were using 87-89 in their V9’s I tried it and can’t tell a difference between that and 91-95. No pinging at all but then we are going into winter so that could change in next summer’s heat. We’ll see.   

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2022, 11:20:27 AM »
I don't think I've seen 93 in a long while. I buy non-ethanol 91 for all my bikes. Easy to find where I go. For my truck, always E-15 88.

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2022, 12:15:45 PM »
Stelvio runs fine on 87 in all temps,non ethenal for winterstorage,91 for old bikes.

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2022, 12:29:46 PM »
I always try and run PREMIUM (91 or 93) octane in both my bikes when I can, but my Centauro GT will run just fine on 87 when needed... :thumb: :boozing: :cool: :wink:
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Offline Huzo

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2022, 12:42:28 PM »
I opt for 98 because the 95 pump handle is yellow and the 98 is red.
My bike is red, so I thought it would logically be the way to go… :rolleyes:

Seriously though, the octane ratings for automobile gas (petrol), can not be relied upon to be as specified. Avgas @ 100/130 is certified correct and comes with a release note guaranteeing as much. I think we are probably being duped a lot of the time thinking we are buying the “good” stuff.
I am certain here in Oz, that the United stuff is garbage.


When I did an Oz lap on my Triumph Sprint ST 1050, I would consistently get about 30 km more to a tank on Caltex Vortex, than the garbage from the Curry Munchers.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2022, 12:43:59 PM by Huzo »

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2022, 03:40:39 PM »
I am retired from Weights & Measures. I used to take a lot of samples none ever came back as not up to labeled octane. Not delivering the correct amount of fuel not so much. But as the equipment wears it starts to favor the customer by dispensing more than the readout indicates. I used to get a lot of complaints about how my gas tank doesn't hold that much. Vehicle manufacturers state tank capacities lower than actual. I think so they won't be sued by someone who ran out of and got hurt or something similar. Propane dispensers were notorious for going out of tolerance. I was always red tagging those things.
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Offline berniebee

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2022, 04:55:22 PM »
I use 91/premium because in these parts, only premium comes as non ethanol.

Offline Michael D

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2022, 06:06:28 PM »
The 1st 6 months of ownership with the 98 EV, I filled the tank with 91 octane gas.  Then I gave the 89 octane a try and have not had any ill effects (pinging in the Summer, etc) for 15 years.  That's a lot in savings in fuel cost over the years.
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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2022, 06:49:53 PM »
When we lived in CA Central Valley ran 91.

Now living in Colorado at 4500 ft (moved here a year ago) and running 85 with no pinging. Also MPG went from 45 to 59+.
Different fuel blend here? Don't know..just happy with our new home and loving retirement!!!

Ride safe and often,

Jeff

The biggest factor is altitude. You encounter reduced wind resistance and your motor is making less power due to the thinner air. This adds up to better fuel mileage as well as lowered octane requirements since pre-ignition is less likely with lower overall pressures.

It is also possible there are variants in required E10 or oxygenate content, but that's likely secondary to those other factors.

I can't answer the poll because the answer varies.

I tend to aim for recommended octane, but I'll go higher with hotter ambient temps and more aggressive planned riding or lower with cooler ambient temps, higher altitude, and/or more sedate riding.

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Offline aklawok

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #15 on: November 20, 2022, 07:48:18 PM »
 We don't have any choice here with barged fuel, only 87 winter blend ( that means stabilizer and iso added non ethenol) currently $7/gal. Til next summer.
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Offline s1120

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #16 on: November 21, 2022, 03:00:04 AM »
Local to me I can get 93 non Ethanol so thats what I run. When Im going somewhere without Ill run whatever I can get mostly. It really doesn't seem to like 87 when your running higher speed roads though. I dont hear pinging, but at times [like hills, at high highway speeds] I can feel the power loss.
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Offline nbags

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #17 on: November 21, 2022, 05:11:26 AM »
most time fill up ethanol free 90 octane on the road get 93 e10

Offline blackbuell

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #18 on: November 21, 2022, 06:12:36 AM »
For years I only put 93 octane in my Norges, but recently I have been using 89 octane in my Norge and my v7 850 special; haven't noticed any ill effects of using the less expensive alternative.

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #19 on: November 21, 2022, 08:54:59 AM »
90 octane non-ethanol is available and not overly expensive here in Central Texas.  My '04 Breva 750 has the nylon fuel tank and the former owner ran it on non-ethanol 90 and I faithfully carry on the tradition.  In a pinch, I'd use premium ethanol fuel, but only if necessary to get me home.  Hasn't happened yet.

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Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #20 on: November 21, 2022, 09:18:28 AM »
my 72 Eldorado ,76 Convert and Honda SUV get any of the low grades but the V7 Special only ever gets hi grade Ethanol free, i justify this because it gets such good milage, about 60 MPG
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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #21 on: November 21, 2022, 09:21:43 AM »
As far as I can tell, Guzzi has spec’s 90 octane (US method) for all , for decades.

I put higher octane in when that’s all they have, but there is NO value to the bike to run higher octane than spec’s by mfg.  A properly running motor, at least in mostly stock configuration can not take advantage of higher than rated octane.
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Offline Dilliw

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #22 on: November 21, 2022, 09:50:41 AM »
87 in the EV.  Whatever the non-ethanol is in the Griso. 

When I'm on the road in the Griso I will put the 10% corn in there and for some reason it seams to get better mpg using the 87.  I don't think you gain anything using the higher octane.

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Offline Clifton

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #23 on: November 21, 2022, 10:19:51 AM »


Usually fill with 90 non-ethanol or if not available ethanol 91,93, or 89 in that order.
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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #24 on: November 21, 2022, 10:22:09 AM »
I usually run 93 because that's what all the non-ethanol gas around here is...  If I cant find non-ethanol, I put midgrade/91
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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #25 on: November 21, 2022, 11:10:38 AM »
 07 Norge - NON Ethanol Premium.   The non ethanal to stop the gas tank expansion to plastic tank.  16 years later still as new size.
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Offline blackcat

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #26 on: November 21, 2022, 01:18:02 PM »
I use 89 octane on all of my bikes and none of them ping. Occasionally I'll use 93 or non-ethanol gas and I've never noticed a difference in performance and I don't know when was the last time I checked mileage on any of the bikes.
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Offline Guzzi Gal

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #27 on: November 21, 2022, 01:54:23 PM »
My husband hates fueling the bikes & scooters at stations (the Vespas tend to spit-up on themselves). He prefers to keep 5 gallons of stabilized gas at home, and top off as needed. Obviously, this doesn't work when we head to up to rim country. This means I usually don't have a clue as to what it is I'm putting in the tank, except that it's likely to be top-tier. That said, I've never seen him use premium.
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Offline Yard Sale

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #28 on: November 21, 2022, 05:15:12 PM »
87 RM/2 in a Breva 750 at 4500 ft altitude. Rarely 89 or 91.

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Re: Gasoline Octane Poll - Moto Guzzi
« Reply #29 on: November 21, 2022, 06:16:33 PM »
2022 V85 Ethanol free 89. Runs quite well.
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