K11 Owners Group

Off the grid · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: What fuel?

Does a K11 require?

What fuel does everyone run?

Obviously with Bush trying for one more money grab for his big oil cronies, the price of gas will never be lower than 4$ a gallon.

Currently I am and always have run premium. Any reason I can't go to plus or even regular?
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

Mine will ping pretty bad on a hard acceleration with anything lower than 91 octane. I figure for a mear $1 per tankfull I can splurge for the premium. And depending on what source the fuel comes from, some of the premium has the techron additives already in it. I noticed it more out east than here in the midwest.
_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject:

Dave, here are a couple of links that you can look at.
The first link is a has a chart with european RON ratings for different BMW bikes. Way down at the bottom is our 4vK's, and they reccomend 95 RON.
The second link explains all of the RON-MON-PON, lingo. Then you'll know as much as anyone else. Or be as confused as everyone esle.

http://f3.webmart.de/f.cfm?id=2385371&r=threadview&t=2611735#16118341

http://www.btinternet.com/~madmole/Reference/RONMONPON.html

It all equates to pump octane rating of 91 or better here in the US for the newer 4vK's.
_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

Your mileage will vary too. With current prices and a 20 cent split bteween regular and super $/mile is about the same.

When I got my bike with 14k on it, neither of the two POs had bothered to remove the factory stciker behind the gas cap. Rolling Eyes

I believe it recommended 92 octane.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

hockeyshifter · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

in a recent issue of car and diluted or road and track the issue of gas octain rating was authored . their is a difference between the US and EU. how the forumulation is computed is were the issue comes into play. i know that in england you only had two grades 91 and 98, the counter to that here would be 89 and 93. i have been using 89 or 91 ( sunoco only) i have not had pinging issues as long has you down shift to meet the need for speed . i only get pinging during very low rpm's at 3/4 throttle.

also in the weekend addition of the WSJ.com a policy maker for the EURO was interviewed. it his opinion that a barrel of oil is over priced and once the bubble bursts we will see about 80 to 100 USD oil. he sited in the interview overall long term trends.

also keep in mind we could buy ever drop of oil on this rock but if you can not refine it to meet peoples need cost will skyrocket ... enviro nut jobs or socialist
_________________
fix the problem not the blame ; fix what is messed up ; NO one is to blame.

chopper_harris · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject:

Jeez - Given that you guys produce a signifcant amount of the world's crude, you must be sending the best stuff elsewhere Crying or Very sad

We have two grades of unleaded here in the UK.

Regular - 95 Octane (Hockey, you were close but no cigar !)
Super - 98 Octane

The Super is marketed at the high performance boys - Subaru Impreza, etc.
I have never actually seen anyone buying it Wink

The regular stuff works fine in all my bikes, from airhead R65 to TL1000 R.
There are many octane booster products, which offer a 3 point increase - just add so many cc per gallon.

The BMW handbook specifies 95 RON, so you are miles off with the cheaper fuels. This may be specific to the UK/European bikes, Federal bikes may have different ignition maps, so would be worth checking with someone stateside who has the K11 handbook.

Let's hope that Obama is a petrolhead Cool

_________________
C1 200 (2001)
R100 RS (1990)
NSU Quickly N (1964)
Honda 400/4 F1 (1977)
MotoGuzzi 1000C (1978)
Suzuki TL 1000 R (1999)
Kawasaki KLV1000 (2005)
K12R Sport (2007) - Wifeys

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

Scott,

That's been my experience too. Warm temperatures, higher gears and lower revs when accelerating will have the bike pinging and it reminds me to downshift!

Occasionally when I can find 93, fill it up. But I always choose the highest available octane.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Phil Marvin · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

Hi, Guys,
Careful reading of my K1100 owners manual found that the fuel requirement was "95 RON (Research Octane Number), 85 MON (Motor Octane Number), or 89 (R+M)/2." So, what this means, is MID-GRADE is the requirement. While I had my 2 K1100LT's (a '96 which I rode over 100k miles and a '95 which died with 28k on the odometer when I hit the deer last year), I usually ran premium but at times, I filled it with regular (once, in Mexico, for 5 successive tanksfull) and NEVER did I EVER hear any pinging. I rode the '96 to the '99 National Rally in Rhinebeck from El Paso, TX, sometimes using premium and sometimes regular, and I never heard pinging. YMMV, but I would try a couple of tanksfull of regular unleaded. If it pings, I'd move to mid-grade. If it still pings, I'd move to premium.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

hockeyshifter · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

Mr __ harris...

HOW RIGHT YOU ARE...

it is amazing how thick the american public is... most of the oil that is produced off the west coast is sold of given to allies in the south pacific.
the nut jobs in the west will not refine it because the stuff is to heavy and will expel to much crap into the air... go figure.. buy it from the middle east; ship it to the calif. then sell are crude on the open market...
_________________
fix the problem not the blame ; fix what is messed up ; NO one is to blame.

Jim · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject: fuel

from: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject: octane

OK - from page 70 of the 1997 owner's manual: "Type of fuel Unleaded middle or premium grade fuel, minimum octane number 89 (Anti Knock Index (R+m)/2) or minimum octane number 95 (RM) and 85 (MM)."

From page 28: "Note: Use only middle or premium grade unleaded fuel, minimum octane number 89 (Anti-knock Index R+m/2) or minimum octane number 95 (Research Method, RM)."

Above references courtesy of BMW, as is the caution below.

Maybe I'm wrong again, but without driving to the gas station, I think we use the Anti-knock Index in the States - I don't think we use RM - seem to recall seeing "R+m/2" on the gas pump. Having said all that, apparently it's fine to run either mid grade or premium, but I think I chose mid grade based on economics. Seems like I also remember someone at one of the dealers saying mid grade is just fine to use in the K's.

"Caution: Remember fuel expands if it becomes warm such as from the effect of heat or the sun's rays. Never fill the tank to the brim." Which is what I always do if I'm hitting the road right away and going a distance....
_________________
Jim
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject:

I run Chevron Supreme with Techron. I' ve taken a few K bikes apart and the cleanest one I ever saw was my K75RT. I used that gas at least 90% oif the time. The TBs looked near new. It made a believer out of me.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Jim · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:17 pm Post subject: octane

+1 on the Techron. I don't go out of my way to buy Chevron - get it when I can - add Techron from the bottle as needed.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Milton · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject:

I have been running mid-grade for about 20 tank fulls w/o any problems. Seems to run just fine. Gas mileage is great and it runs strong. I have even advanced my timing to ~32 degrees to match the K1100 timing.

Crisp and strong.

Milton S.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

RAL88 · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

I use Texaco (Chevron and Texaco are the same company) which also has techron in it. I use both the midgrade and premium.
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

mike toon · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject:

With a CR of 11:1 I would think it would ping on anything lower than 92 octane..........unless the computer really retards the spark. Do these have knock sensors. I know they have altitude compensation.

BTW, I use 89 with no ping. It's been 100°+ here the last few days.
_________________
Current Bikes
1993 K1100LT
1976 GL1000 Naked
1981 GL1100 Naked
2000 DR650 Dual Sport

Phil Marvin · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

Hi, Mike,
The K1100 engines do NOT have knock sensors. Try regular unleaded. If it pings, go to mid-grade. If it doesn't, save a bit of money.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

DetroitDan · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

The norm for mine is 89 - Never have heard any detonation.

For two tanks I was forced to use 87. It never detonated, but I was very careful to keep revs high, and cylinder pressure low.

Bottom line is that if it doens't knock - you're cool!
_________________
1973 CB350F / 1977 R100/7 / 1991 DR650S / 1995 K1100RS

"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that’s in the right and keeps on a-comin’” Capt. Bill McDonald (1852-1918)

dave n · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: Fueling around

Kind of depends on where your timing is set - if your engine hasn't been molested since new timing is most likely not advanced enough for max power and therefore has no requirement for premium fuel.
Try the mid grades first - not as big a leap as going straight to reg.
_________________
Dave Norris KOG 248
1999 Cagiva Gran Canyon
1993 K1100LT w/Hannigan sidecar
2008 Suzuki DR650

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:04 pm Post subject:

For you guys that like detergent additives, give Sea Foam a try. It really cleans things up with regular use.

I've even direct-fed it into my airhead before removing the heads and found everything nearly carbon free.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

chopper_harris · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: Re: Fueling around