I just did 195 miles on 1 tank, filled her back up up with 3.5 gal of 87 unleaded gas. :scooter

195??? I went 240 on 1 tank.

That's pushing it a little to me lol I don't really want to get stuck in the middle of traffic pushing the bike :D

You put in 87? I put in 91... Another forum said the higher ratings are better. and im only spending 15 bucks anyways. Does it even matter?

You put in 87? I put in 91... Another forum said the higher ratings are better. and im only spending 15 bucks anyways. Does it even matter?

Well in the manual it calls for 87. Also our engines have low combustion so it is easier for our engines to run the 87. I personally see no difference between 91 and 87 on our bikes so I just use the cheap stuff because it really doesn't make a difference.

For those that don't know...

http://autorepair.about.com/od/generalinfo/a/aa060504a.htm
This applies to motorcycles as well.


The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline

Are you tempted to buy a high-octane gasoline for your car because you want to improve its performance? If so, take note: the recommended gasoline for most cars is regular octane. In fact, in most cases, using a higher octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner. Your best bet: listen to your owner’s manual.

The only time you might need to switch to a higher octane level is if your car engine knocks when you use the recommended fuel. This happens to a small percentage of cars.

Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money, too. Premium gas costs .15 to .20 cents per gallon more than regular. That can add up to $100.00 or more a year in extra costs. Studies indicate that altogether, drivers may be spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year for higher-octane gas than they need.

What Are Octane Ratings?

Octane ratings measure a gasoline’s ability to resist engine knock, a rattling or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders. Most gas stations offer three octane grades: regular, usually 87 octane, mid-grade, usually 89 octane and premium, usually 92 or 93. The ratings must be posted on bright yellow stickers on each gasoline pump.

What’s The Right Octane Level For Your Car?

Check your owner’s manual to determine the right octane level for your car. Regular octane is recommended for most cars. However, some cars with high compression engines, like sports cars and certain luxury cars, need mid-grade or premium gasoline to prevent knock.


How Can You Tell If You’re Using The Right Octane Level?

Listen to your car’s engine. If it doesn’t knock when you use the recommended octane, you’re using the right grade of gasoline.

Will Higher Octane Gasoline Clean Your Engine Better?

As a rule, high-octane gasoline does not outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your car’s engine. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that all octane grades of all brands of gasoline contain engine cleaning detergent additives to protect against the build-up of harmful levels of engine deposits during the expected life of your car.

Should You Ever Switch To A Higher Octane Gasoline?

A few car engines may knock or ping — even if you use the recommended octane. If this happens, try switching to the next highest octane grade. In many cases, switching to the mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline will eliminate the knock. If the knocking or pinging continues after one or two fill-ups, you may need a tune-up or some other repair. After that work is done, go back to the lowest octane grade at which your engine runs without knocking.

Is Knocking Harmful?

Occasional light knocking or pinging won’t harm your engine, and doesn’t indicate a need for higher octane. But don’t ignore severe knocking. A heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine damage.

Is All "Premium" Or "Regular" Gasoline The Same?

The octane rating of gasoline marked "premium" or "regular" is not consistent across the country. One state may require a minimum octane rating of 92 for all premium gasoline, while another may allow 90 octane to be called premium. To make sure you know what you’re buying, check the octane rating on the yellow sticker on the gas pump instead of relying on the name "premium" or "regular."

Yeah unless the engine is knocking, I just go with whatever the manual says. Plus, the compression on the new Ninjas is lower so it can actually use 87 without risking pre-detonation. Higher rating just simply mean it's less volatile, so it doesn't ignite prematurely while being compressed in the cylinders. :)

You are smarter than the other forum people
Im going with 87 from now on :) Thanks peeps

as of yesterday, I have 608 miles on the odometer and I've filled up totally about 8 or 9 gallons.. and I still have probably another 75-90 miles left on the current tank...so I am getting around 65 to 70ish mpg...

tuesday or wednesday I'll be riding back up to my parents house which is a 400 mile drive; I think that will give me a better idea of what I'm really getting mpg wise. but hey...anything above 60mpg is a frickin' joy seeing as my 97' mitsubishi eclipse is sucking lately with only getting about 26 miles to the gallon... haha since buying my bike (july 18th) I have driven my car once; and that was to go to dallas...damn i love my 250:)

Since i got the bike, i have average 210 on a full tank.

Yeah, I usually run 91 in my bike, too. I guess I'll just stick with 87 from now on to save money.

I went up to about 205 miles before filling up with about 4gal.

235miles w/ 3.9Galons today

But how are you guys riding?

The most I have got from a tank was 197mi. at 4.3 gallons. But my commute consists of 32 miles at an average speed of 75mph. and 4 stop lights.

But how are you guys riding?

Well thanks......Seriously when I got my highest I was going 50 most of the time and flat roads.

im at E and its at 196. so i would assume i have another 10 miles to go before completely empty. But yea, i plan on getting a full tank of gas the next time i go riding. And i go 100 mph when ever i get the chance. the last time i got a fix it ticket. why a fix it not a speeding ticket? free lens cover that was blue....

But how are you guys riding?

The most I have got from a tank was 197mi. at 4.3 gallons. But my commute consists of 32 miles at an average speed of 75mph. and 4 stop lights.

I go through 2 freeways and 2 toll roads on the way to work with no traffic, and 4 freeways in heavy traffic on the way home. But I open it up way over 90 (indicated) because So Cal drivers are crazy and I don't want to get hit from behind.

BTW, shit I gotta wake up at 6:30am tomorrow for a ride and I'm still up... :doh

im at E and its at 196. so i would assume i have another 10 miles to go before completely empty. But yea, i plan on getting a full tank of gas the next time i go riding. And i go 100 mph when ever i get the chance. the last time i got a fix it ticket. why a fix it not a speeding ticket? free lens cover that was blue....

When I am on E directly my bike takes 3.8 gallons,So I have 1 gallon to go which works out to be at least 40 miles.

I'm getting 171 on 3.1 gallons.....mostly stop and go, lights, theme park traffic and idiot drivers riding their brakes. I do get hit 65 for about 2 miles if i can time the light.

Wow... I must be working my poor 250 over... I think I'm getting roughly 150 miles to 2.9 gallons.... Roughly 53 mpg... I commute 35 miles one way, 1 stop sign 15 miles of 4 lane 65 mph speed limit (riding 75ish), and 20 miles 55 mph speed limit (riding 65ish). When I'm in town I suppose it's allfull throttle motocross style shifts, and just general thrashing around town (2 miles total per trip 5 stop lights, and lot's of stupid college pedestrians that think they don't have to stop for cars let alone motorcycles). Some minor wheelies thrown in as well...

I can ride about 180 miles before refilling. I can't use my reserve, the bike stalls in this position leaving at least a half gallon remaining. Got myself stranded 3 miles from home. Luckily the husband was home with gas can handy.

Shell and Chevron only in my ride. Arco...bad bad.:nono

Fill up at 200 miles ish.

I just filled up my tank on Sunday and the bike had 238 miles on it. I think at that point she was runnin on fumes. :lolnod I had a track day and two street rides on that tank. That's damn good. I also haven't used any other grade other then 91 octane.

I got 220 and although my gague said empty there was still prolly 1/2 a gallon in there...

currently i am only at a meager 2.1k miles on my 08....but was wondering: Has anyone noticed an idle change from running 91 versus just regular 87 unleaded?? Last 2 tanks I put in 91 and bike was idling around 1500...and stalling, having to start it like 5 or 6 times...but then I throw unleaded into it yesterday and bam...no stalls, and it idles higher... I am the first to say I am far from intelligent when it comes to engines...could anyone take a guess as to what this means...or if there is anything that I need to do...other than the obvious of just put regular unleaded in from now on haha...

just curious if i was the only one who has experienced this...

I'm not really familiar with engine and gasoline either, but my guess is that because 91 is harder to ignite because it's designed so that you can compress more fuel and air in the combustion chambers?

what about using an octaine booster it is cheap and not hard to add i use it on my honda motocycle somthing my dad and have always done

since our 250's use carburetors and are not fuel injected (ECU etc.) they aren't going to compensate for the different octane gas that you use. Now I've heard that the 08's are running fairly lean when idling anyway...(which is why a lot of people us shims) ....so i would say im sure that either octane fuel is ok in our bikes... you would probably notice a difference like you have at idle .... but also at the high rpms ....if your just scootin around town 87 im sure is great... but if your gonna go to the track or do some high rpm hwy.. 91 octane might be a better idea... more just so the bike runs smoother and maybe a little more power at the high revs...

Octane doesnt affect compression. The higher the octane the cooler the engine runs because it burns slower making a more complete burn. Since it burns more complete it is easier on the engine by having less deposits in the engine and has a very slight bump in mileage. You most likely wont notice it unless you ride long distances. I use 91 in all my vehicles. Some people wont agree with me for using it since the increase in price vs results but why not use it to help the engine work easier meaning lasting longer. But this is just my opinion.

yup i would have to say 60-70 miles per gallon, 200-240 depending on how i ride it, but thanks guys i never knew about the octane in gasoline, im so use to putting higher octane-its almost weirdfor me to switch...

I normaly hit reserve at around 240 miles depending on how hard I ride.

I normaly hit reserve at around 240 miles

Snake, This is the New Ninja forum. The 2008+ ninjas do not have reserve.

Snake, This is the New Ninja forum. The 2008+ ninjas do not have reserve.

Chris, you mean yours didn't come with a reserve?!?!? :eek:

You probably got a lemon! Might want to just give it to me. :zing

I've been riding my bike for quite some time now ...it has almost 4k miles on it... i pretty much am only using it to commute to and from work... about 17 miles one way...

my commute consists of average traffic (25-45mph) ... often very little in the morning and a few lights ... there is about 10 miles of hwy driving that i avg 80-90 (indicated) mph (9-10k rpm)

i always let it warm up for several minutes before riding

the oil has been changed 4 times by me (since i bought the bike with 450 miles on it) chain has been adjusted, also checked many other things..

I am 5'9 & 190 lbs

all i have been able to get is about 45-47 mpg.... maybe 170-185 miles on a tank

is it the high rpm highway driving that is killing my mileage? or what?

170 is about what I have been getting out of a tank. I do believe that runnin 8k RPM at 65 is a big part of it. I have seen mileage as bad as 110 out of a tank, but thats with me trying (read:losing) to keep up with a R6 for an hour down winding country roads. I have installed the K&N filter. I am wanting to go with NGK Iridium plugs during my next service.

i roughly get between 150-160 miles per tank. I drive 113 Miles one way 226 miles total round trip give or take 4 miles depending on traffic. Most of the time i'm doing 80MPH at 10k RPM i've had this bike for 2/3 weeks brand new, had 1 mile when i got it... now it has 3.5k miles on it.. i traded in my gixxer 600 for it to get better gas mileage but honestly i think my gixxer was doing alot better than the 250.. getting a lil buyers remorse