im thinking about running VP race gas in my aprilia mille, with stock engine. the bike has about 10k miles on it, has the bolt on add on's like chip, exhaust open airbox etc, i have been wanting to run race gas for 1 track day to see how it performs Now the questions- where can i get race gas? will it break my engine if i run it? any disadvantages? thanks
Long and short of it, it is a waste of money. 5 gallons of MR-12, sells for $130. It requires a special map, otherwise the bike will run incredibly lean. Lean will cause major engine damage. Next, the fuel system must be flushed after use. The witches brew will destroy throttle bodies, fuel pumps and cylinder plating. Gains from fuel? If you can ride your bike near 95% of its potential, you may gain 0.5 seconds a lap. If you can't ride to that limit, you will only see your wallet getting lighter. For racing, 0.5 seconds will make a difference. For trackdays, nothing will change about a day if you go a slight bit faster. -X
Well that sums it up for me. I have always wondered and now I know that I will not be running race fuel. Thanks!!:thumb:
What X said. You have to tune your bike for it, you cannot store it in the bike, it has a limited shelf life once opened, it is stupid expensive. It does smell really awesome though and will get you about 5hp more (provided you tune for it), and the bike just feels more crisp.
X nailed it. You can run U4.4 in a stock bike, without a tune. On modern Jap bikes you will see a 3-6% increase in HP (more than likely you will need the custom dyno tune to reach the 5-6% area). But at track days it is a waste of money. It is not a competition and you have nothing to gain or prove. You will increase the cost of your weekend by $250, only to run maybe 0.5sec faster per lap...and that is only if you are riding your bike for most of what it is worth now. That isn't even enough extra speed to gain you an extra lap over the course of 20min. So at the end of the 20min, you will pit like normal, like everyone else, except you will have spent an extra $20-$25 to ride that session.
Don't buy race gas from your local gas Staion. It is only for high compression motors. The lower the octane, the more power it will make, if your motor will handle it without knocking. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ok can someone please answer this for me. I took the 2001 R6 i bought that had not ran for 18 months and sat out side to a shop to get it running. After getting the carbs cleaned, acid wash in the tank due to rust and corrosion cleaned from the ignition because it would not run. I was told to run a tank of racing fuel. The bike ran but weak after the above items were completed. I bought the (Rocket Brand racing fuel 100 octane $63 for 5 gallons).Will the 100 octane do the same damge as the MR-12? The bike runs but bogs down during acceleration then its like it catches then takes of.
Is your motor stock? Then no. Octane simply defines resistance to combustion. If your motor isn't built/tuned for higher octane fuel, it won't help you. One of the biggest marketing schemes ever was when they labeled 93 octane "Premium". It leads to millions of people thinking "only the best for my shit" and wasting money on it. "Premium" isn't better, it is just different. If your manual calls for 87 or 91, that is what you should run. Pouring 97 or 100 octane in a stock motor will not help anything. It will only give you better acceleration because of your wallet being lighter.
U4.4 is about $75 for 5gal. MR12 is about $130 for 5gal. In the R6 I run U4 at track days, race practices and Solo 20 races; then I run MR12 in Sprint races. In the RSV4 I run pump gas at track days and race practices and U4.4 in races. The RSV4 motor is still stock, but it has a custom tune for U4.4...which is also compatible with pump gas. I run U4 in the R6 at track days because it is a Superbike motor and can't run on pump gas. That is why I coach on the RSV4 and only take the R6 out in Advanced when I want to play.
The post makes little sense to me. If your bike is running "Weak", giving it expensive fuel will do very little good. If you were advised this, due to the cleaning properties of the fuel, then I sorta understand. VP U4.4 or MR-12 will eat (not clean) the varnish off of brass. If your carbs are clean, this would be pointless. If they are plugged, then they are not clean... See how that works? 100 r/m fuel will NOT run well in a stock motor. 87 r/m fuel will make more power, in most stock bikes. This includes modern 600 machines. Only if the fuel detonates (knocking), will you see a loss of power. -X
I agree and think X's post nailed it. However... VP makes a fuel that is essentially a bit better than 93 octane and carries not a single ounce of Ethanol which is shit for your bike. I have had a few guys running it and they don't notice any real results, but it is a better burning fuel. I know there are a few gas stations out there that are still able to get Ethanol free fuel, but instead of searching high and low, you can buy the VP stuff and even get a slight gain. Which is minimal, but at least is the healthiest and in fact, the cheapest VP "race" fuel...
Luckily there is a gas station less than 300 yards from my house that sells pure gasoline (no ethanol). I always fill the bikes, toy hauler and several jugs with it before i leave home.