Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

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Bill Kemp
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Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by Bill Kemp »

I have looked all through the manual that came with my 1980 CBX But it does not say what fuel to put in the bike.

Are you guys using Regular grade gas, mid grade, premium.

Let me know what you guys use in your CBX bike.

My bike is a 1980 CBX that is all stock with only 8952 km on it with the exception of the Lester Wheels. The original wheels were not with the bike when I recently bought it from the estate of the previous owner.

Last ridden in 1988.
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tevan
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Re: Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by tevan »

I just always used regular grade with no issues.

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Syscrush
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Re: Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by Syscrush »

It's worth noting that the higher grades don't just have higher octane rating, but they also tend to have different/better additive packages. The common and required additive packages in gasoline varies by region.

I'm also in Toronto, and I always use premium because it tends to have the least amount of ethanol in it. Or, at least, it did. Shell V-Power used to be ethanol-free, but these days I can't find good info on the ethanol content of their different fuels.

I also like to have the better detergent package because I worry about carbon buildup. Lastly, I like the higher octane because I worry about knock on hot days (or when stuck in Toronto traffic, which is really hard on these engines).
Phil in Toronto
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Pics of Perry, my '79.

hondaman160mph
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Re: Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by hondaman160mph »

Whatever grade of fuel you use I would try to use ethanol free
Here's a list of ethanol free gas stations in the U.S and
Canada
https://www.pure-gas.org/

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NobleHops
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Re: Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by NobleHops »

Your rule of thumb goes like this: Use the lowest octane that the bike will run that does not result in detonation, aka pinging. Higher octane fuels resist ignition till they are compressed to a greater degree. A stock CBX with standard pistons is relatively low compression compared to modern engines. So called "top-tier" fuels in the USA are better primarily because of their additive packages - all of the fuels are refined by relatively few refineries, the retailers then modify the fuel with their own additive packages.

IMO you are wasting your money using high-octane fuels in any vehicle that does not require it because of its higher-compression engine. The additives in top-tier fuels are found at all grades.

More info here:

https://www.consumerreports.org/fuel-ec ... 682471234/

N.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA '80 CBX, sort-of restored :-)

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Syscrush
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Re: Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by Syscrush »

hondaman160mph wrote:
Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:18 am
Whatever grade of fuel you use I would try to use ethanol free
Here's a list of ethanol free gas stations in the U.S and
Canada
https://www.pure-gas.org/
I don't trust this list. It has a lot of Shell stations in ON listed, but Shell hasn't claimed that their V-Power fuel is ethanol-free for a few years now.
Phil in Toronto
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Pics of Perry, my '79.

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jt
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Re: Grade of Fuel 1980 CBX

Post by jt »

Phil, Here in Texas at least, at Buckee's their Non Ethanol pumps are marked and the pump handle is in BLUE. But not all Buckee's have the Non Ethanol pumps. All the Ethanol fuels have a Green pump Handle.

here some info.

https://urtfuels.com/isobutanol-and-going-ethanolfree/

Before Buckee's started having Non Ethanol pumps ( probably 10 at my location) I was buying the Gulf Isobutanol at a local Oil distribution company, They would fill up my cans.
JT In Texas

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have to deal with, watches you from
the mirror every mornin'.

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