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I have an 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650SC. I remember reading somewhere that 87oct. wasnt widely available back then so I have been pumping 89oct. Can I pump 87? What do you guys pump in similar bikes?

I put 87 in my Ninja 650R. Which is what is in the owners manual. And the FSM. I'd put it whatever is listed in the owners manual. If you don't have one, I'd recomend getting one.

I sometimes use the 87 (if it pings with regular) but usually just use the regular unleaded. I only have a couple bikes that ping with regular (and only my hack that pings on a regular basis, needing octane booster with any grade of gas) and in those I run either the 87, or regular with octane booster. (I am real careful of the midgrade and premium gas as where I live they often contain ethanol and the regular usually dosen't) I'll use lower octane ethanol free fuel and a octane booster

And as to recommendation of owners manual can you even find it. (I have one manual from HD that states o not use gasahol blends o not use unleaded fuel and Do not use less than 110 octane) Even AV fuel is unleaded and only 102 (I think)

The absolute octane number will vary depending on where you live. For example, whereas most areas close to sea level use 87 as regular, in Slimcolo's neck of the woods, regular can be 85 or 85.5 and 87 is a mid-grade. At higher altitudes engines can use lower octanes and without knocking because they generate lower cylinder temperatures and pressures in the thinner air.

As for the OP's case, you should be able to use whatever is considered "regular grade" gasoline in your area. In the event that you detect some pinging or knocking, just move up a grade.

On my 750 Nighthawk, I get by OK with 87 octane regular in the cooler months here in Phoenix (elev. 1,100 ft). Unfortunately, on a 115 degree day, temps 3 ft. above the hot asphalt can cause intake temperatures to be as high as 140 degrees. When this happens, both my bike and my truck will ping slightly under load. The solution is to just move up to the 89 octane mid-grade. Come fall, I'll go back to 87 octane regular and my bike and truck run just fine.

87 is regular here. I use that.
In my car I also use 87, but if it starts to ping I'll run a tank of premium through and then go back to 87.
I don't believe I have ever seen 85 octane gas.

I don't believe I have ever seen 85 octane gas.

It seems to be pretty standard in States but not always. the only State I have seen selling 87 as Regular was Texas. South Dakota sold the 87 in Lead and Deadwood (both high altitude) but 85 in Rapid. Nebraska had 87 in Alliance but 85 in Kimball. New Mexico sold 84.5. The other States I visited this past year all sold 85 (Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Chihuahua, Arizona {Flag})

I even saw one station, in Colorado, that had 85, 86.5, 88,89 and 91. (five hoses and five grades from the same pump, also five different prices) This station also had both regular and premium diesel in both taxed (OTR) and non-taxed (AG) Kerosene and premix 2 cycle gas as well as service bays. (but no qwicky mart gotta love CO-OP)

Earlier this month I travelled through AZ, NM, CO, UT, WY, MT and ID. Mostly in the mountainous parts. I didn't see 87 regular until I got back into the relatively low Phoenix area. Conversely, on a trip up the west coast, I never saw anything lower than 87.

Here's an interesting pump :



I don't the average driver knows enough about octane requirements to make any sense out of a pump like this

That looks like that one at Co-op. (Diesel and pre mix was another pump)

I was informed (by the Denver Metro Chamber) that you can still buy gas in the Denver area. BUT in all of the Denver metro area there is only one alcohol-free station left. Conoco-Phillips at Union and Alameda (as of now I am only relaying this and haven't personally verified)

There is also a alcohol-free Sinclair (may be an inde now) on North Circle in COS

I use 93 on my R6. Probably gives 2 or 3 more mpg too.

ChemicalTaste wrote:I use 93 on my R6. Probably gives 2 or 3 more mpg too.

Since putting in fuel that's harder to burn makes your motorcycle work so much more efficiently.

Use whatever octane is specified in your owner's manual.