06 R12RT Ragged on 91 Octane

[billhilow]

I've got to use a bottle of Lucas Octane Booster or the JP gas addative, sorry, "Maddative." Where I live all the gas is diluted with Ethanol. Hate the stuff. Clean running it is but my bike has 12:1 compression. 91 just does not cut it. She runs much closer to the injected beast she be with the recommended 97-98. I commute everyday up highway 1 PCH so she's more than just my weekend machine. I ride daily. FTW. We lost a fellow rider at work. I miss that guy. Steve Pinto USMC. He didn't get killed in Rhamadi so I guess he had to do it here. If you happen to be a veteran reading this. And you served. I thank you. I also care about you. If you're feeling something please, please don't take it out on the road. RIP Steve. You are gone too young, you are missed.

 

[kbasa]

Sunoco used to sell 97 octane once upon a time, but even back east 93 is the top. My 05 up here in NorCal runs fine on 91.

Are you getting detonation? If you’re getting detonation, your bike may have missed a software update. It has a knock sensor and shouldn’t be pinging.

Us guys on the DGR rode for Steve Pinto a couple weeks ago. Sorry to hear. Join us next year when we ride for men’s mental health.

 

[20774]

Added to the title for more clarity.

 

[lee]

She runs much closer to the injected beast she be with the recommended 97-98

BMW recommends 97 or 98 AKI for your bike?

 

[kbasa]

Octane doesn't add hp, just detonation resistance. Not sure if that's what he's saying or not, but he shouldn't be getting detonation, even on crap gas. I've run 87 when that was all I could find in the middle of nowhere without issue.

 

[r0ckrat]

The 97-98 octane recomendation he's referring to is in ROZ/RON rating from the user guide... which is premium (91-94) AKI here in the US...

 

[lee]

The 97-98 octane recomendation he's referring to is in ROZ/RON rating from the user guide... which is premium (91-94) AKI here in the US...

I wondered about that but he mentioned he lived in California.

 

[r0ckrat]

I wondered about that but he mentioned he lived in California.

Yeah, the user guide for that year (even downoaded the right one for US) specs gas quality in ROZ/RON rather than the US's AKI...

 

[omega man]

Best I can figure, California is E-10 like most states I’m aware of although it looks like they want to go E-15.
If the bike doesn’t run well on available pump gas, high test, I think a look at the bike is in order.
OM

 

[kbasa]

Best I can figure, California is E-10 like most states I’m aware of although it looks like they want to go E-15.
If the bike doesn’t run well on available pump gas, high test, I think a look at the bike is in order.
OM

As a Californian that's owned a couple hexheads and run them on pump gas, gas isn't the issue. BMWs don't seem to care. I've owned every generation of BMW boxer since a /2 while living here and detonation has never been an issue for me, even on the oil/hex/wasserboxers That latter two have knock sensors on them, so if it's detonating, then the knock sensor might be jacked up.

Reading a bit about it, some bikes may not have received an update that would help.

 

[billhilow]

Negative, the bike doesn't pull as smoothly on the 91. I've tried everything. I've even polished the throttle bodies. It just won't run well on 91. I'm not saying it won't run on 91. It just runs ragged. It sounds rough at the upper end with 98 octane. It's buttery, smooth and more torquey. I have a feeling this is due to the timing being advanced due to the knock sensors. Detecting higher octane will advance the timing. But yeah, take my advice. Run some octane booster if you really want a smooth ride. I've only got 45,000 on my ride. So she's still pretty new. Sorry I missed the ride for Steve. I hope you all right. Safe and stay safe. God bless us all.