Don the Voyager 1300s require a higher octane fuel than the KZ1300s?
Somewhere, I think I’ve seen a fuel specification of 88 octane for the Voyager, but I’ve not been able to find it in the manuals. I did, however, stumble across some interesting information that is relative. Base manual lists compression on KZ as 9.9 Supplement lists compression on ZN as 9.3 Yet both engines have identical bore, stroke and displacement; 62×71 mm and 1286 mL. The valve timing, however is entirely different on the two engines, indicating that the cam must be cut different, and the dwell (or duration, as the manual calls it) must account for the difference in compression. That would indicate that the KZ should really need higher octane than the ZN. Former owner who sold me my bike claimed that he had always run regular in it, but I very quickly noted pinging on regular and switched to mid-grade, and the extra rattle stopped. Been using it ever since. Have also found that turning off the ‘cruise’ button gives better performance and lower temps at high altitudes. Ike K. A:
