Fuel question

[Hammo1916]

Hey

I ride a BMW C650 Sport. I am planning a long road trip from Perth to Esperance in Western Australia. My concern at the moment is fuel. The manual says 95 UL (apologies to Americans, I don't know what the US equivalent of that is). Once you get outside the metropolitan areas, premium unleaded is hard to find- most of the smaller roadhouses only have 91 and diesel. I haven't done a proper check on the range of my fuel tank but I am estimating about 350km. There are at least two stretches of my trip where I am going to do at least 400km and they are pretty remote.
So, my options seem to be either to buy a big jerry can and refill with 95 whenever I can (not super keen on that option for several reasons) or buy some sort of octane additive to bring 91 close to 95 where I can't find it.
Anyone got any thoughts?
Richard

 

[Hammo1916]

For any Western Australians reading
My main concerns are the leg between Hyden and Esperance, between Esperance and Bremer Bay and Bremer Bay to Denmark.

 

[Ceesie76]

Higher octane is not always better, my Honda shi 300 scooter runs better and more efficiently on lower grade fuel. The higher grade I think is more resistant to 'knocking' (pre-detonation) under load. If I were you I would not worry about it at all, but I would ride a bit easier while you have lower-grade fuel in the tank, meaning not accellerate too hard or push it too hard on long steep uphill stretches - that's all.

 

[mjnorris]

Not sure how it translates, here in the states we have 89, 91, and 93 octane. My owners manual recommends the mid grade 91 octane.

 

[Hammo1916]

Not sure how it translates, here in the states we have 89, 91, and 93 octane. My owners manual recommends the mid grade 91 octane.

I think that translates as 91, 95 and 98 on our pumps

 

[Minister of Etc]

A tank of lower grade fuel isn't going to harm your bike, especially if you're just chugging along at a steady speed. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Pappy13]

You can always carry an octane booster to mix with the lower grade fuel, I had to do that when the fuel here was in short supply (broken fuel line from the northern states). I noticed nothing out of the ordinary, and still rode a little aggressive.

 

[Hammo1916]

Thanks everyone.