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FYI Good Read on Fuel and Motorcycles
http://cmgonline.com/content/view/3312/57/
Written Feb 2011 and has Kawasaki Info
Question: Anyone know if the C10 and C14 use knock sensors to detect detonation and retard the ignition timing?
example ....
NOT JUST COMPRESSION RATIOS
This is pretty interesting. A list of Kawasaki's current offerings showing the differing compression ratios in relation to bore size; the larger the bore, the lower the CR. NOTE - Gary sent us minimum octane values too, which we have added so you can see how all the factors inter-relate. Complicated, no?. Anyone care to come up with a formula/graph based on this?
Chart provided by Gary Comer, Canadian Kawasaki Motors.
Some motorcycles today also use knock sensors to detect detonation and retard the ignition timing, which has the effect of running the engine cooler to counter the knocking, and it’s these bikes that are most likely to display a loss of power when using a lower-grade fuel than recommended.
The result with this setup is knock-free running, even when using low-octane fuel, however peak power also drops off as a result of the altered timing, though it must be stressed that this has nothing to do with the energy available in the fuel.
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C10 doesn't for sure. I don't think the C14 uses them either.
Update: Just verified through my service manual that we don't have a knock sensor on the 08/09 bikes. Can't say for sure, without a manual, for the 10/11.
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C10 doesn't for sure. I don't think the C14 uses them either.
Update: Just verified through my service manual that we don't have a knock sensor on the 08/09 bikes. Can't say for sure, without a manual, for the 10/11.
Thanks Jim
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C10 doesn't for sure. I don't think the C14 uses them either.
Update: Just verified through my service manual that we don't have a knock sensor on the 08/09 bikes. Can't say for sure, without a manual, for the 10/11.
Even if it did, that would not make using lower-octane fuel "OK"....
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Totally agree.
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I wish the article covered some info on additives such as fuel system/injector cleaners. I usually use a bottle every four or five tanks in my cars and trucks, but never have in a motorcycle. What do you guys think about that kind of stuff?
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I wish the article covered some info on additives such as fuel system/injector cleaners. I usually use a bottle every four or five tanks in my cars and trucks, but never have in a motorcycle. What do you guys think about that kind of stuff?
I starting noticing my Concours idling a little rough, hesitating a little bit, and running a little rough mostly at lower load/throttle. I checked my log- WOW, I hadn't run any cleaner through it in almost 3 years and 18,000 miles. Threw in half a bottle of Techron mid-fill on a new tank of gas. What a difference- and it only took about 20 miles before I noticed the changes. Ran through that tank and now back to just gas and running well. I don't know what is in that stuff, but I highly recommend it.
I wish they would put a window on the side so measuring less than a full bottle isn't guess work.