what fuel do you run?

First topic message reminder :

did a search on this but nothing came up.

i've been running 91 fuel, does anyone know if premium is worth the extra $$$?
what does everyone put in their bandits?

As I posted before, my 1250 burns about 6.5 per 100 in stop go daily commute (no freeways). It does not matter which octane fuel I use, same results.
I wonder, now that I have installed a slip on, is it worth doing a dyno tune optimised for economy? Has anyone done it? What are the differences in fuel consumption.

PS, with a slip on, it tends to backfire on compression braking

Cheers
Andy

step_andy wrote:As I posted before, my 1250 burns about 6.5 per 100 in stop go daily commute (no freeways). It does not matter which octane fuel I use, same results.
I wonder, now that I have installed a slip on, is it worth doing a dyno tune optimised for economy? Has anyone done it? What are the differences in fuel consumption.

PS, with a slip on, it tends to backfire on compression braking

Cheers
Andy

they all backfire, its just u have a slipon on it now that u can hear it. its the PAIR's letting cool air in at at the exhaust valve when u back off.

A PAIR's removal kit will fix it, I got the plates from TPO and the resistor from Metrick. The bloke from Metrick owns a 1250 Bandit.

http://shop.metrickmetal.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=35

http://www.tpoparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=55

here is another way to "disable" the PAIR system on the bandit

if you have a bandit (faired or half faired) there is no real need to remove the tank as you will find the hose mentioned above the rocker cover and the split is just behind the #4 coil pack. (look from the right hand side of the engine)
Look here (point # 1)


Please note that the bandit does not suffer from erratic idle after doing it this way (or the TPO way). The GSX650F suffers as it runs quite rich at idle and needs to be adjusted to get get it to idle smoothly once the PAIR has been disabled.

I did a trip to Sydney on Friday, 545kms round, and got 5.2l per 100kms. Around town commuting is generally about 5.8 - 6l per 100km.

I was really happy with the fuel economy, and the money I saved on fuel can go towards the $211 speeding fine. Ouch!

Cold as a witch's tit on the way home once the sun went down. I was sure I twisted the frame I was squeezing my knees so tightly.

Rolls.


Edit: Since this is about "what fuel do you run?", I use 98 octane.

rolls wrote:I did a trip to Sydney on Friday, 545kms round, and got 5.2l per 100kms. Around town commuting is generally about 5.8 - 6l per 100km.

I was really happy with the fuel economy, and the money I saved on fuel can go towards the $211 speeding fine. Ouch!

Cold as a witch's tit on the way home once the sun went down. I was sure I twisted the frame I was squeezing my knees so tightly.

Rolls.


Edit: Since this is about "what fuel do you run?", I use 98 octane.

You could pay 2 speeding fines if you used 91 RON lol
Better luck next time

Just as an aside, my shop made me sign a waiver NOT to use either E10 or Shell V-Power when I purchased the bike.

The E10 I could understand, but when I asked about the V-Power they said it was because it was loaded with detergents.

Pete wrote:Just as an aside, my shop made me sign a waiver NOT to use either E10 or Shell V-Power when I purchased the bike.

The E10 I could understand, but when I asked about the V-Power they said it was because it was loaded with detergents.

I think Shell would like to hear about that. Its a load of frigging BS for modern EFI engines bikes included.
Besides the fact you'll be wasting your money using 98 RON in the Bandit it cant be any worse than some of the imported fuel United sell. Did you sign anything regarding that?

The Shell website even says it's full of detergents, but they (Shell) seem to think that that's a good thing. The mechanics at my shop beg to differ, so yeah, I had to sign the waiver.

I don't really care to be honest, when I stop at Shell I simply fill up with Premium Unleaded (95 RON) instead.

I know there used to an issue with Shell Optimax in that using it in winter would make the bike harder to start.

I use whatever is available normally. My tuner recommended not to use 98 becuase of the detergents. I normally just use premium from shell, caltex, BP.

91 just gives slightly less economy. Our bikes are designed to run on crap fuel. Spending more doesn't mean you'll gain 15HP.

Fuel consumption figures bore me... Ride the thing until it's on the final bar and then go chasing a fuelo

Cause there is a well used woolies servo about 2 mins from my door (that is next to the woolies we shop at) and it's usually cheeper even before the 4 cent off thingo I get my fuel there.

I get normal ULP cause I'm a tight arse.

EDIT: But I already said that. Maybe I should rear the whole thread again before posting next time

reddog wrote:Fuel consumption figures bore me... Ride the thing until it's on the final bar and then go chasing a fuelo

Same here but I just use normal unleaded. Dont think the extra for premium is worth it for the riding I do.

Pete wrote:Just as an aside, my shop made me sign a waiver NOT to use either E10 or Shell V-Power when I purchased the bike.

The E10 I could understand, but when I asked about the V-Power they said it was because it was loaded with detergents.

I would love to hear what Suzuki Australia has to say about it too.

Dink

^^
Not to start a new thread, i did a fuel search & presto this thread popped up "so back from the dead" i will post here. 

I purchased my Bandit GSF-1250N K9 on tuesday this week, having owned several Suzuki motorcycles. I have discussed the E10, 91RON, 95RON, 98RON with many people in the motorcycle industry from engineers, mechanics etc.  

It is of the opinion from most Suzuki engineer's to stick with what your Suzuki user manual states e.g - If 91RON is recommended stick with that, as the bike has been tuned to run it's best on this grade of fuel, but don't use E10 blends "Poison". I personally have trialed with all blends from 91, 95, 98 & found 98 can make a slight improvement in the engines running & smooth delivery of power throughout the rev range. 

But i generally stick with 91RON fuels, i also generally avoid Shell Optimax / V-Power when using higher octane premium fuels, BP Ultimate or Mobil 98 is my personal preferred choice. 

p.s. I am by no means a motorcycle expert or a motorcycle mechanic, i am like most guy's here. I enjoy taking a spanner to my bike & DIY when ever possible. 

Up here in yank-land,  almost all of our fuel is stuffed with up to 10% ethanol, due to the government/industrial cabal.  The FA seems to run fine on it, but on the rare occasions I can find pure gasoline, I use it, and fuel economy is slightly better with that.

I can see no reason to use anything but regular grade,  the bike is tuned for it and designed to run on it.  There is no pre-ignition that I can detect, which is primarily what higher octane gas is designed to prevent.

Around here that means mostly 87 octane (not sure what that corresponds to in Oz-tane numbers,)  or at higher altitudes, 85 octane. 

There is an argument that you get better power with higher octane, but that seems to have never been measured by anything more definitive than seat-of-the-pants feel.  My theory on that is that the bike just feels more powerful due to lower weight,  caused by having less money to cart around...  

In Oz we generally don't get anything lower than 91.

When I bought my bike I asked the dealer what he recommended, he told me 95 because its FI even though the book says 91.
I'll keep running mine on 95, its only slightly dearer, and I haven't had any fuel problems so far..

+1 ........95ron

If you Aussies look closely at your manual you will see it recommends 91 as a minimum. 
We have a different scale to the US. Their books would say 85 minimum. 
As far as what to run in the big lump. 99.9% I used 91 from one of the major brands.

I I reckon the Bandit would run on diesel if you asked it nicely
In other words it doesn't make any difference.

I`ll change the equation..

mine sometimes pings if I  use 91...PING BAD, ME DON`T LIKE PING!!

Sooo, I never use 91

My old VX800 pinged like hell if I ran 91, it was ok on 95 but at it's best on 98

When I first got the Bandit the dealer told me 98 wasn't needed and if I had to I could get away with 91. I ran 95 from the start and when I did mt first long trip I switched to 98, once the weather got cold I had the starting issue where it fires then stalls on 1st attempt, switched back to 95 and haven't had any issues and doesn't use any more fuel.

I put 10 litres of 01 in at Hebel to get me through to St George a couple of years ago, 2 up and a fairly good load and it didn't seem to effect performance too much but did go through it a bit quicker

As for E10, I wouldn't use it in any anything it wasn't recommended for and only then if it was used from new

An interesting E10 experience

I recently found a safety recall notice for my Toro lawnmower

What are the defects?

The fuel lines are not compatible with ethanol fuel (E10). If used, it may deteriorate the fuel lines and contaminate the carburettor fuel float system, allowing fuel to flow unchecked from the tank.

What are the hazards?

Fuel can leak out whilst not in use, causing a potential fire hazard.

I contacted the dealer and he advised me it was only a problem if I used E10 fuel.
I responded that although I don't intentionally fill with E10, how can I be sure what is coming from the bowser.


Probably another reason to avoid E10

Do you really know what fuel you are using?


A riding buddy of mine recently topped up his tank and some time later noticed a large quantity of blue smoke from his exhaust.
He topped up again and the smoking stopped but returned some time later. This occurred 2 more times and has now stopped smoking.
Our best guess is that he put some diesel fuel in his tank and having a lower SG than petrol it will sit in a layer above.
After some fuel usage this diesel layer becomes available to the engine and it starts smoking.
Filling up once again shifts this diesel fuel away from the fuel system.
Nobody has come up with a better idea so we are sticking with this.
BTW this person does not believe he picked up the diesel nozzle by mistake so maybe there is some diesel in the servo's petrol tank

BanditDave wrote:Do you really know what fuel you are using?


A riding buddy of mine recently topped up his tank and some time later noticed a large quantity of blue smoke from his exhaust.
He topped up again and the smoking stopped but returned some time later. This occurred 2 more times and has now stopped smoking.
Our best guess is that he put some diesel fuel in his tank and having a lower SG than petrol it will sit in a layer above.
After some fuel usage this diesel layer becomes available to the engine and it starts smoking.
Filling up once again shifts this diesel fuel away from the fuel system.
Nobody has come up with a better idea so we are sticking with this.
BTW this person does not believe he picked up the diesel nozzle by mistake so maybe there is some diesel in the servo's petrol tank

I have no idea what your friends issue is , but I believe diesel won't work in a petrol engine .( I think he would have more than a smoke problem )

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/diesel-in-unleaded.htm

Hi Paul,
I agree with you regarding igniting diesel but what we considered was a small quantity along with petrol.
It certainly is baffling and that was the only plausible explanation we could find that there was something other than petrol in his tank.
After 3 or more top ups the problem has gone away suggesting that whatever was in his tank has now gone through the engine.
Another one of life's little mysteries I suppose.

A long time back I was working in a servo, a full driveway servo! See I told you it was a long time ago
We had a couple of kids that worked there after school. One of them served a customer who had pulled up at the diesel pump. I can't remember what car it was but it wasn't a diesel. Soon after the kid had started filling this guys tank the customer jumped out of the car and grabbed the nozzle from the kid and sprayed diesel all over the forecourt. There was about 20L on the pump but we figured most of it was on the floor.
We told the customer to fill up with petrol and if he had any problems to come back during the week and see the manager.

A few days later he turns up saying his car was running rough. The manager changed out his plugs, fuel filter and syphoned the tank and refilled it with clean fuel.
What happened to the contaminated fuel? One of the other attendants who had an old HR poured the whole lot into it and didn't have any problems.