Topic: What gas to use?

[roach374]

I just bought my first bike, a '72 Honda CB500. Being pretty new to motorcycles, I'm trying to figure out what gas to use. As far as I can tell (from the owner's manual, and general sources), I should use a leaded, high octane (90) fuel, with *no ethanol*.

...This is, to say the least, hard to find.

So ignore the "lead" part (which according to wikipedia has been replaced somehow with ethanol, which I shouldn't use). Getting gas without ethanol is supposedly pretty hard to do at your corner gas station.

So: How big of a problem is gas for folks anyway? Can I just use regular 90-octane car gas and stop worrying about it? Do I need to special-order my gas from some Eastern European country where they still use leaded gas? Should I use boat gas? Jet fuel? Kerosene?

Help!

[bryanj]

Nope you use NON LEADED normal octane, without ethanol if possible or if with do not leave standing unused for more than a week or two

[Scott S]

 Your name isn't Janus, by chance,  is it?

 87 octane is fine. If you can find non ethanol, use it. Ethanol is a scam and ethanol laced gas sucks. BUT.... as long as you're constantly turning over the fuel in the tank you will be OK, other than reduced fuel mileage.  If the bike has to sit for any length of time,  add a stabilizer or look for non ethanol gas.

[Stev-o]

Your name isn't Janus, by chance,  is it?

And I hope it isnt Wilde?!

[34barab]

Roach

I don't ride very often, and bike may sit for a couple of months without running.  So I always use non-ethanol gas.  After three years, no issues.  In my area (NY), all the non-ethanol gas is 92+ octane.

According to this link,     https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=WA     you should be able to find non-ethanol gas without driving too far.  Good luck with the 500. 

[HondaMan]

For the curious: if you add a little bit of oil (I use mostly 2-stroke oil, regular or synthetic) to the ethanol-gas, it helps prolong the sitting life about a month. No articles on this: it's just something I discovered by accident because I was doing it for a long time until I installed the bronze valve guides in my 750, to prolong the old ones' life. I still do it, as it makes the engine happier in city traffic with this lousy fuel...

[Don R]

 I've been using a couple oz. of synthetic 2 stroke oil in mine to help out the gas tank, the gas and maybe the 4-4 exhaust a little. 

[DaveBarbier]

Your name isn't Janus, by chance,  is it?

Haha!

[jamracing]

I've been using a couple oz. of synthetic 2 stroke oil in mine to help out the gas tank, the gas and maybe the 4-4 exhaust a little.

Yup, the gas in my 2 stroke dirtbike lasts for quite a while Thanks to the premix


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[1976cb750f836]

Ditto on the 2 stroke oil for end of year last ride and storage.
And I've benn burning local BP high test for several years now.

[ckahleer]

If you can't ride your bike at least once a month, avoid using ethanol gas. Try these web sites to find your nearest gas station.
Pure-gas.org  buyrealgas.com

[MauiK3]

I feel fortunate. My non-ethanol station is a mile away and it's 89. I use it in all my vehicles, new or old. My 97 Jeep TJ love it.

[70CB750]

Did you look here:

https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=WA

[sixthwisconsin]

I can get 91 octane no ethanol gas 23 miles from my house. The last few years I have made a habit of stocking up with this gas and fueling up the bikes. I also drain the bikes completely for winter heated storage but they are all lined tanks.

[BomberMann650]

Aviation fuel will increase hp!

[HondaMan]

Aviation fuel will increase hp!

It doesn't draw water from the air, either! Hard to find, though.

[seanbarney41]

Aviation fuel will increase hp!

yes, but on our bikes, you will have to increase timing advance to see any benefit...and probably jetting too.  A Ninja 300's computer controls will do that based on output of knock sensor and o2 sensor

[Airborne 82nd]

Most all marinas will have it. Or bait and tackle shop

[Tracksnblades1]

She'll tell you what she wants.....

https://www.aviationpros.com/fbos-tenants/article/10387611/octane-101-autogas-vs-avgas

[Stev-o]

Most all marinas will have it.

Not around here.  Fortunately, my boat has fuel injection and the ethanol has not been an issue...

[Kelly E]

Luckily for me the Stilliguamish Tribe started selling non-ethanol gas at their smokeshop 7 miles from my house. The state won't be able to stop them like they have the other places that were selling it because of the independent nation thing. I always try to keep 20 gallons on hand because we get long power outages in the winter sometimes and I always top off the bikes with fresh ethanol free gas to dilute any gas that I bought when out riding.

[1976cb750f836]

It's 10 miles to my nearest non E fuel. I did that for several years. Got older, got lazy. It's 1/2 mile to BP with 10% blend. I use their 93 in all my bikes, classic cars now. Except for the smell, when filling up, I haven't noticed Any difference! They all usually set bout 3 months through winter. I add 2stroke oil and sea foam to all the last drive of the summer.  Sometimes they get started and moved around, sometimes they don't! I've had Zero carb issues since I started the 2stroke and sea foam thing.
All stored in shop or basement, Never below freezing.

[Little_Phil]

We only have 5% ethanol in our standard 95 octane fuel in UK. Also never had a problem with 4-5 months of storage. We also have non ethanol in our premium 97 octane, but never felt the need to use it.

[Deltarider]

We only have 5% ethanol in our standard 95 octane fuel in UK. Also never had a problem with 4-5 months of storage. We also have non ethanol in our premium 97 octane, but never felt the need to use it.

As a matter of fact, you will not even have a problem with 10% ethanol in 6-7 months of storage. As long as your tank is filled up. You may be interested to read this. See attachment. Let me know if you want to have the German original.

[Redline it]

For the curious: if you add a little bit of oil (I use mostly 2-stroke oil, regular or synthetic) to the ethanol-gas, it helps prolong the sitting life about a month. No articles on this: it's just something I discovered by accident because I was doing it for a long time until I installed the bronze valve guides in my 750, to prolong the old ones' life. I still do it, as it makes the engine happier in city traffic with this lousy fuel...

how much is a little bit? a splash or half a cup? 1/4 cup? the oil sounds better than more ethanol that the big companies are selling for ethanol damage treatment. what i don't get is, so we can't buy regular un ethanol gasoline at the pumps. ok, but them some brainiac decides to produce 1 gallon cans with a premix of 50:1 at lowes for 25.00 27.00 dollars that have no ethanol in it. so what's going on here? 25.00 a gallon that has ethanol free formula, then somebody is really screwing us. remember it's an environmental thing, right? i say boycott the gasoline at stations. for a day. shut em down.