Can my bike run on unleaded ?

[robinjo]

The bike is '78 GS750 (the 8-valve engine) with 60.000 km on it, it has separate K&N filters, bigger jets and a Marshall Deeptone 4-1 exhaust
Here in Holland we have 95 octane unleaded, 98 octane unleaded and 98 octane with lead replacement.

Wich octane fuel is recommended for my bike and does it need lead?
I hope I can use the 95 octane safely because petrol is pretty expensive, about 1.14 dollar per liter for the 95 and about 1.20 dollar for the 98 with lead replacement.

 

[Anonymous]

Here in the US our grades of gasoline are based on different measures, but the fact that your bike should use unleaded gas shouldn't change.

Many people run their bikes on a lower grade of gasoline, higher octane will remove "pinging" from the engine. Your bike should be just fine on the 95 octane, but if you get too much of the "pinging" you can try the 98.

 

[robinjo]

It doesn't "ping" at all so that's good, actually it runs GREAT especially since I got the K&N's installed so that's good, the thing I was worried about were the valve seats wearing too fast on unleaded since it's such an old bike. Thanks for the quick reply :mrgreen:

 

[argonsagas]

If I recall correctly, it was decreed, (at least in North America) that all vehicles HAD to run on lead-free gas as of 1975. Engines had been built to use lead-free gas earlier, but leaded gas was being discontinued across North America at that time, and was completely stopped in about two years.

The manufacturers, having no choice in the matter, had to build their engines to run with unleaded gas, so they changed the valves and seats on all their engines, for world-wide use, because you can run the newer engines on either gas without problem. (The emission systems object, but the engines run fine )

 

[Anonymous]

Have a look at www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/bulletin/unld-gas/ This website is mainly for cars, but the same applies to motorcycles.

 

[saaz]

The manual for my 78 GS1000 recommends 90 octane unleaded or higher. The GS motors were built for unleaded. In fact my old GT750 waterbottle would have lowed unleaded...but it went to get the Gs1000 years ago....

 

[robinjo]

I am curious about what the owners of old Triumphs and Harleys for excample were supposed to do when in 1975 this unleaded gas was in troduced. On the website of Chevron vehicles that needed leaded gas are advised to change to valve seats capable of running on unleaded or advised to not ride long periods of time at full throttle.

I guess they were forced to do the things recommended by the gas companies, that would suck right????

 

[argonsagas]

All was not lost for those who had older machines. Oil companies created a substitute for tetraethyl lead that was not harmful to the environment, did not cause cancer, (or at least lowered the risks) and allowed them to gain an even greater profit, as the substitute was, and still is, sold in small bottles at very high prices, plus you still have to buy their gasolines.

 

[Anonymous]

I`ve been useing regular unleaded in my old Gk ,she runs great , but I still get some pinging :x . Im about to try some higher octane unleaded :?: Trouble is you just dont know what your getting some times .I`ll guess ill see what happens :?: