Regular, brief power loss at highway speeds

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Old Jul 26, 2024 | 09:58 AM
  #11  
MrKrisk's Avatar
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Default Still does it the odd time

So mine still does it too, but very infrequently, so rarely that I'm wondering if the main issue is fixed but it's just air-fuel.

Couple of questions:
-What year/model is your bike?
-Did the "fix" improve the issue?
-What are the atmospheric conditions when you have the problem? For example, now that I've done the fix, it only happens when I'm almost full throttle on the highway, riding into a bit of headwind, with the highway passing a lake. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but it doesn't seem to do it when there's no body of water beside me. (This could easily be a rabbit-trail, because most of my 15 minute commute is passing the lake, but I'm curious to see if it could be related).
-How long do you warm up your bike before heading out with it?
 
Old Apr 8, 2025 | 02:05 PM
  #12  
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Default Solved???

In case anyone is still having this issue, I think I finally solved it. I was using high octane fuel because everyone says it's better for your bike, but I ran out of gas one day and had to gas up on cheap low octane. Didn't have a skip/stutter at all, so have been running low octane for a couple weeks with no stutter.

Sounds like the high octane might be making the carb burn just slightly rich (or that's how it acts anyway). So when I'm full throttle on the highway, it has a problem with it.

All I can say to this is, stick to the manufacturers recommendations. Hope this helps.
 
Old Apr 9, 2025 | 10:25 AM
  #13  
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Higher octane is usually to prevent detonation, it takes more energy to burn, lower octane will fire with less energy. For whatever reason that stutter may have been caused by that bit of resistance to fire. I virtually always run 87 in my KLX and in my XSR, they can handle it and that's great. My KLX650 was a bit pickier. In the hot summer I'd have to run 91-93 octane to avoid detonation when lugging a bit. In the fall I could go back to 89 without detonation. Kind of surprising what a difference 20-30 degrees made with that bike.
 
Old Apr 9, 2025 | 05:18 PM
  #14  
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That's and interesting description of the diff between low and high octane fuel - from the angle of energy needed to fire..

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone knew, because they understand the variables at play, that best performance is ALWAYS obtained with the lowest octane fuel a given engine can burn without detonation or pre-ignition.

Not sure about the KLX, but large V-Twin street bikes ( Indians in particular ) will register higher power levels, of such a magnitude that even the owners' dyno-butt can detect, with a simple change from 93 to 87 octane.

Sadly, no way is the science of this - the facts - gonna convince the masses.

Agent K got it right: A person can be smart, but people are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals.


 
Old Apr 10, 2025 | 10:48 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by Klxster
That's and interesting description of the diff between low and high octane fuel - from the angle of energy needed to fire..

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone knew, because they understand the variables at play, that best performance is ALWAYS obtained with the lowest octane fuel a given engine can burn without detonation or pre-ignition.

Not sure about the KLX, but large V-Twin street bikes ( Indians in particular ) will register higher power levels, of such a magnitude that even the owners' dyno-butt can detect, with a simple change from 93 to 87 octane.

Sadly, no way is the science of this - the facts - gonna convince the masses.

Agent K got it right: A person can be smart, but people are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals.
I learned it early on when riding my first off road bike, a Bultaco Sherpa T. It ran noticeably better pulling down low like it should, when I was running "regular" gas instead of "premium". It just didn't run quite right when using the premium gas, chugging around like one does when playing and practicing at trials riding.

Interesting to see that even the bikes like the big Indians can have similar issues. You're right, it's surprising that the whole concept of running the highest octane still exists. Heck virtually every video on You Tube done by any remotely knowledgeable rider points out that running gas with excessive octane is simply a waste. I have yet to see any of the most knowledgeable motorcycle media vlogers or blogers fo recommend running octane beyond what is recommended by the manufacturers. They may recommend higher octane if detonation is noticed though.
 
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