Which octane

[DarkMonster620]

The USA uses it's own system for measuring octane.  I assume you use RON (research octane number), the same as the Ducati manual.  We use an AKI number, which is (RON + MON)/2.
MON is Manufacturer's Octane Number, and is notably lower than RON.

Higher octane will not "clean the valves".  Additives in fuel do that.  The purpose of octane is to prevent engine knock (detonation).
                                                                                                   

Howie,

We use the same method as in the US, and about 'cleaning the valves', that was just a saying... I know that in order to do that, I need to add additives...but the one and only time I used avgas, my Monster 620 was hauling behind...

[ducatiz]

Howie,

We use the same method as in the US, and about 'cleaning the valves', that was just a saying... I know that in order to do that, I need to add additives...but the one and only time I used avgas, my Monster 620 was hauling behind...

Yeah, in many of the Caribbean and Central/South American countries they use (M+R)/2 but the lowest octane available is 91 or 92.  In Anguilla, they only have 95 RM2 octane for all gas.  Cheaper to ship only one kind.

[Howie]

Howie,

We use the same method as in the US, and about 'cleaning the valves', that was just a saying... I know that in order to do that, I need to add additives...but the one and only time I used avgas, my Monster 620 was hauling behind...

In that case, avoid 95.  It will cause carbon build up.

Does your gas have ethanol in it?

[Ddan]

Generally, low octane fuel from a manufacturer has the same detergents as higher octane fuel from that same manufacturer.  You can buy a bottle of Techron at many parts stores and from what I've read, that's worth doing to clean things out.  Like Howie said, running a higher octane than you need is wasting money and can cause deposits.  AV gas is higher octane, but it's also meant to run at a constant relatively low RPM and high altitude/ thinner and colder air.  It's not recommended for use in your bike.

[ducatiz]

Howie,

We use the same method as in the US, and about 'cleaning the valves', that was just a saying... I know that in order to do that, I need to add additives...but the one and only time I used avgas, my Monster 620 was hauling behind...

wait,, what kind of avgas?   you put leaded gas in your tank, i wonder if that was part of it...

[junior varsity]

wait, what kind of oil are you guys mixing with your gas?

[NorDog]

Any gas is good as long as you add 8 oz of Brawndo.

[herm]

wait, what kind of oil are you guys mixing with your gas?

[ducpainter]

Is that Stihl approved?

[DuciD03]

Is that Stihl approved?

...  getting back on topic (i,snt as fun ... but)

Similar to an old post the i reserected a couple of times; is it time to update?

I'm still experimenting; I use 89 regularly; 91 and occasionally 87 ... 89 seems to be the happy medium ...

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1913.0

Cheers Ducid  [moto]

[herm]

Is that Stihl approved?

recommended and approved

[DarkMonster620]

In that case, avoid 95.  It will cause carbon build up.

Does your gas have ethanol in it?

No our gas still has no ethanol, but why stop using 95? My bike runs much much better and I get better gas milage, 85km/g vs 45km/g[55mpg vs 25mpg].

Dan, ducatiz, I only used about 1/2 gallon of avgas and 2 of 95 oct, plus, it was a gift[the avgas].

My manual says '95 oct minimun'. Or should I mix 1/2 & 1/2 to obtain 93 oct?

[Ddan]

I think the 95 octane in the manual is the RON number.  Depending on where you are, that could be 89 at the pump.  I run 87 fine in my M900.

[ducatiz]

No our gas still has no ethanol, but why stop using 95? My bike runs much much better and I get better gas milage, 85km/g vs 45km/g[55mpg vs 25mpg].

Dan, ducatiz, I only used about 1/2 gallon of avgas and 2 of 95 oct, plus, it was a gift[the avgas].

My manual says '95 oct minimun'. Or should I mix 1/2 & 1/2 to obtain 93 oct?

just a dirty exhaust AFAIK

[hcomp]

I actually did back to back dyno testing with 91 and 89 in my 696.....

When we were developing the exhaust we were using 2 696's to get a baseline. My friends bike on 89 made 2 more HP than mine on 91.  I was pissed! So we drained the tank put in 89. Next day dyno again with 89 in my bike. Air temp and density was really really close to the previous day....poof! 2 more HP....Not only that but I have been consistently pulling 30 more miles out of the tank before the light comes on...So now I guess I'll try 87 on the dyno....