Oh yea. My rule of thumb is that if it dont knock you dont need higher octane. Especially if you live in cold conditions. Much more difficult to start the engine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_refinery

Same refined product with a anti knock additive.

This is one of those examples of when learning is fun and will be with you the rest of your life.

 

Thanks a lot, Mitch

 

BTW that is one awesome looking ride.

 

Thanks Anyway, isnt the change of fuel going to be harmful for the engine? How should I do this to avoid any complications?

 

As some of the previous responses alluded to, it sounds like you are jumping to a conclusion that you have a mileage issue, but we don't yet know what you are even getting for mileage. How many miles you get before the fuel light comes on doesn't necessarily tell you much. (Just like calculating your mileage based on the fuel gauge in your car isn't accurate and isn't very useful). We need to know how much gas you are putting in when you fill the bike up.

If you are putting in 4 gallons, well, then you may have a problem (as that would be around 25 mpg, which isn't so good (at least, not for a stock bike. If you have chopped your exhaust off and are running a rear sprocket the size of a pizza pan, then 25 might be just right!).

On the other hand, if you are only putting in 2-3 gallons, then the mileage is fine. If that is the case, then the question is why are you only putting in that much gas. It could be an issue with the reserve light coming on too early, so you've still got 2 gallons left when it comes on, or it could be that you aren't filling the tank up all the way.

On the F4i, there's a little metal bar that runs across the inside of the tank, and you can fill it up to that bar. If you are sticking the pump into the tank all the way, the pump will shut off early. I usually put the nozzle under the 'uphill' side of the opening and let it run, then pull the nozzle out and top it off to right around the little metal bar.

 

I've never put more in than 3 gallons. I rely on the pump itself to distribute the gas until it cuts the gas on its own. I guess I havent been filling the tank all the way, but thats b/c I dont want to overfill and have issues afterwards. Yes, I've seen the metal bar and I didnt know that I could use it to fill the tank up all the way. Thanks for the info. I'm glad to learn something.

 

There is your problem right there. You can't rely on the pump when using a bike, because the nozzle gets buried in fuel. You have to sit on the bike, hold it up straight, and pour in your fuel gently (and watch for it to touch the silver metal piece). The F4i tank is like 4.5** gallons when bone dry (somebody feel free to correct me), so just watch it yourself. When you're done filling the pump should say almost 4 gallons!

 

4.9 fully dry. I fill to the bar and get between 140-150 miles before the reserve comes on. I should have .9 gallon left by then but fillup only needs a little over 3 gallons.

 

If you doubt your MPG, get an app for your phone. I use aCar on Android phones to track MPG & maintenance. You just enter the odometer and gallons at the pump. You set up alerts by mileage and time period for maintenance routines (like 4k miles or 6 months for oil change).

It'll tell you exactly what your MPG is. Mine is about 28 MPG... but then again I usually don't shift until 7k-7.5k... ever

Here's a link to the Android app. Pretty sure there's prolly 20 similar iPhone apps: aCar - Track your vehicles

 

106 miles on 3 gallons is 35 mpg. Your mileage is fine. It sounds like your problem lies elsewhere as others have suggested.