[Metric Junkie]

Are you using in you Nomads? Ran the cheap stuff, (regular) in my last bike and did not have any problems, how bad does the Nomad need 90 Octane ?

 

[Cruising]

I never ran any octane under 90....that's what the book calls for - that's what I burn.

 

[Woody61]

Run the lowest grade you can without knockin or pinging.

 

[SakiRider01]

Middle Grade now. I use to run the cheap stuff and I noticed that I picked up a couple of more miles per gallon using the middle grade. No problems running the cheap stuff but I think I will stick with the middle grade.

 

[Frankt07]

it seems that they want you to run the higher octane due to the lean mixture the factory is running thanks to the EPA. i have a PCIII and i am now running mid-grade. some of the other riders inhere are running regular and havent had any problems

 

[Plato]

Its all about pinging. If your bike is doing that then you should stick with 90+.

Now how many new Nomad riders would know a ping from all the other noises coming off these Kawasaki Vtwins ? There's the rub...

Basically, I tell folks if you go with midgrade on a stock bike, and don't lug the engine especially on hot days then you'll be fine. To avoid lugging the engine get in the habit of not upshifting to 4rth till the speedo shows 50+, and again wait until the speedo hits 70+ before going to 5th. And by hot days I mean 80F+...

All that advice assumes a stock bike. If you add a PCIII or other fuel chip and perhaps more open pipes you can get the bike out of that factory lean condition and probably start running regular...