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95 or 98 petrol for a motorcycle — is premium worth it?
A higher price does not automatically buy more power. Learn how to read your engine’s fuel requirement, recognise different octane scales and choose petrol without guesswork.
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At the pump, 98 can look better than 95 simply because the number and the price are higher. What matters to the engine is whether the fuel meets this motorcycle’s requirements. If the manual specifies at least 95 RON, do not choose a lower rating. Buying 98 instead does not automatically promise extra horsepower.
What the number actually means
An octane rating describes resistance to knock, an abnormal combustion process that can damage an engine. It does not measure cleanliness, freshness or the energy in a litre of petrol.
Some engines require a higher rating and may be calibrated to benefit from it. Others gain little from going beyond their required grade. Both “every bike should use 98” and “any bike will run on cheap regular” ignore how the engine was designed and set up.
Read the requirement for your bike
Find the fuel section in the manual for the correct model year and market. Check the minimum octane rating, the rating system, permitted ethanol content and the requirement for unleaded fuel. E5 or E10 describes ethanol content; it is not an octane grade.
If the engine or its ECU calibration has been substantially modified, the original manual may no longer describe the tune’s requirements. Ask the specialist who performed the work. A full-throttle road test is not a sensible way to discover whether a fuel is suitable.
RON and AKI are different scales
North American manuals may show AKI, PON or (R+M)/2. Many other markets label pumps using RON. Matching numbers on those scales do not identify matching fuel. A “91” in an American manual must not simply be read as 91 RON at your local pump.
For an imported bike, confirm the appropriate local grade with the manufacturer or dealer. Avoid treating a rough internet conversion as an exact rule for every blend of petrol.
Choose quality as well as the right grade
Use a dependable station selling the correct fuel. A high octane number does not undo water contamination or poor storage. Nor is an additive a universal way to make an unsuitable fuel meet the bike’s specification.
If a fill-up is followed by unusual knocking, poor running or an engine warning, ease off and stop somewhere safe. Do not try to use up suspect petrol through hard acceleration. Serious symptoms need professional attention and, where necessary, recovery.
Save the fuel requirements on your phone. At the next pump, you can check the specification instead of joining another argument about which number motorcyclists prefer.