Steve Hart
18 Apr 2000, 14:34
The subject of fuel RON etc sems to have been discussed at length recently, but I have a related question....
My race car uses a Kawasaki ZZR1100 engine. Firstly, because my understanding of engine tuning is very limited, can someone explain how motorcycle engines are different to road engines? Clearly they are designed to have peak power at the expense of torque as bikes are so light, but what does that actually translate to in their construction and set-up?
Secondly, any advice on what fuel would be best to use? The manufacturers say regular unleaded is ok, but am I likely to get better results with Super? I used to run a Kent FFord on 50:50 leaded:Super, which was apparently the thing to use...then last year a guy from Millers wrote a technical article in the 750MC mag (also promoting their lead substitute, of course), but in it there was a very brief reference to why this 50:50 mix was best - he says that 98RON leaded and 98RON Super combined to give 99RON because of "a reaction with between the lead and Super". I'm a chemist so could probably handle a technical explanation for this one, but it sounds a bit flaky to me?
I understand from the previous discussions that RON does NOT translate to more BHP unless the engine can use it so, again, could a bike engine do this?
Steve
My race car uses a Kawasaki ZZR1100 engine. Firstly, because my understanding of engine tuning is very limited, can someone explain how motorcycle engines are different to road engines? Clearly they are designed to have peak power at the expense of torque as bikes are so light, but what does that actually translate to in their construction and set-up?
Secondly, any advice on what fuel would be best to use? The manufacturers say regular unleaded is ok, but am I likely to get better results with Super? I used to run a Kent FFord on 50:50 leaded:Super, which was apparently the thing to use...then last year a guy from Millers wrote a technical article in the 750MC mag (also promoting their lead substitute, of course), but in it there was a very brief reference to why this 50:50 mix was best - he says that 98RON leaded and 98RON Super combined to give 99RON because of "a reaction with between the lead and Super". I'm a chemist so could probably handle a technical explanation for this one, but it sounds a bit flaky to me?
I understand from the previous discussions that RON does NOT translate to more BHP unless the engine can use it so, again, could a bike engine do this?
Steve

