I have never used anything but high test. That is what dealer told me to use when I got it new. But they also told me a lot other crap to.

Roadstarblue wrote:
I have never used anything but high test. That is what dealer told me to use when I got it new. But they also told me a lot other crap to.

They told you wrong. Shocker....huh? Regular unleaded is fine for a stock Roadie. BB

The way it was explained to me was the need for high octane gas has a lot to do with what your compression ratio is. An engine with a compression ratio of more than 9:1 will need a higher octane gas to keep it from pre-ignition, (knocking). If your engine is knocking, go up one grade of octane on your gas.I use only 87 octane in my Road* and it runs just fine, and I save over 30 cents/gal t boot.


W. Coyote

and e85 isn't as efficient btu wise so you would need to jet your carb waaay richer.

I guess we need to learn to live with alcohol. Will be a learning curve.

Here in Oklahoma pumps are required to be posted if they are regular or E-85. Regular is pretty available at about a dime a gallon more. Mine doesn't run well on the E-85.

I use regular gas and add 1/2 oz of Staybill Marine to each tank. Be sure it is stabill Marine, not regular staybill. The Marine formula is designed to fight ethenhol and you can get a 32oz bottle at WallyWorld for around @20. Using a half ounce per tank ... it will last a long time.
tt

I couldn't get better than 32 MPG on premium when I first bought my Roadie. Figured expensive bike, use 'the best' gas. First tank of regular 87 octane my mileage shot to 41 MPG. Been up around there ever since. Most Yamaha bikes are built to run on 87 and only need mid-grade if they knock. They rarely 'need' premium unless you build them up and raise compression.

greenpus wrote:
You would have to replace all parts with stainless steel or other parts that won't dissolve from the E85.
Any rubber hose in the fuel line would have to be replaced with stainless steel and the fuel injectors would also have to be replaced with ones that can handle E85 or alcohol.Any Viton seals would have to be replaced. Helped a buddy build an alcohol funny car. Seals that were Viton just melted. When you spend $20,000(1965) building an engine it is really disheartening to have it require a reseal after only running for two week ends.

RoadstarGary wrote:
All the gas stations here are selling gas with at least 10% ethanol, they started this about 3 weeks ago. The only gas that doesn't have it is the high test. I'm wondering what I should do, run high test or the other crap. you can't leave it in the tank come winter time because it only has a shelve life of 90 days, and then it starts to break down. They are telling people to run the high test in smaller motors, like weed eaters and lawnmowers. The Roadstars run best on regular gas so what am I supposed to do? I will be getting my bike out in about 2 weeks and until I find out what to do, I think I will run high test. I hope someone chimes in and can tell us what to do. I don't think I'm the only one thinking about this. Sorry for the long read, I just don't know what to do.
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I run 1 oz of sta-bils new stonger formula Marine Grade fuel stabilizer in every tankfull .

Why i do that is because the ethenol in the fuel can over time attack the sendiing unit for the fuel guage and other parts in fuel system like the rubber parts in elec fuel pump & carb and that new stonger marine grade stalizer neutralizes the negative effects of the ethenol in the fuel.

BTW,i have seen plenty of bad fuel gasuge sending units mentioned here in RSC over the past 1.5-2yrs many of which were on bikes with pretty low mileage and would bet over half were caused be the ethenol in todays pump fuel attacking/corroding them into LA LA LAND/LOL!!!!!

Then i never have to worry about how long bike sits withoiut use because it always hae enough marine grade stabil in it to keep fuerl from going bad up to 1 yr.
1 32oz bottle of the marine grade stabilizer will treat 32 full takes of fuel on the
R* which is approx 5k-5,500 miles on avg wqith form many people is 1 season riding,but some people that put on more mioles may need 2 orm even 3 bottle yrly bottles.

But for me 1 bottle yrly covers/protects my bike from the negative efffects of the ethernol in todays fuel and tyher $26.95 marine grade sta-bils costs is checp insurance to ensure i dont have any issues with either of my bikes which is the case,nevert an issue.

I also use it in the classic 1969 chevelle ss 396 & 1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 both of which i have owned for over 33yrs and no problems with either of them too.

Scott