So, I just rfeturned from a 2000 mile round trip from Key West to Tennessee and back. Between my new hard fairing lowers, leather and hand warmers in my gloves and boots, I survived the 28 degrees in Macon, Ga at 6am this past Friday.

However, temperature was not my only problem. I filled up at a service plaza on the Florida Turnpike... loving the cheaper gas prices compared to the Keys, I filled with Premium instead of mid-grade. I passed a service plaza with 80 miles showing since my previous fill-up. At 110 miles my light came on! I slowed down from 75-80 mph to 60... in a little while I saw a sign saying 'Service Plaza ahead 9 miles.' I ran out 3 miles later at around 125... don't remember exactly. Geico was going to send gas for me, but a Florida State Trooper stopped and gave me a ride to the plaza and back with a loaner gas can.

It took three more tanks refills to get back up to 38 mpg. I've been getting 42-48 mpg in the Keys where the speed limits are reduced. At 75+ mph I was getting around 40.

It happened again on the way home on I-75 in Naples at a Shell station. 100 miles later I was on empty... didn't run out this time. My engine was clicking and tapping and obviously running at less than peak performance. Once I got home I let it run way down and filled with 91 octane (non-ethanol) marine fuel. It sounds and runs a LOT better.

I'm guessing that people don't use Premium much because of the price and given Ethanol's reputation for going bad... the gas is going bad or getting a lot of moisture in it, in the tank at the station. Anyone know this for a fact?

I bought some octane booster yesterday and plan to run regular with the booster. Anyone done this?

I too only stop at reputable stations.  Bob's gas stop type stations are only the last resort.  I only run premium fuel, with as small as our tanks are, the extra few bucks are worth the health of the bike and the enjoyment of the ride.  Whenever the bike is going to sit for 2 weeks or more, I add stabil to the tank (this only happens a few times a year).  Generally if the bike is going to sit that long, it might take me a month to go through a tank of fuel (just running back and forth to work as weather permits like right now).

My last bike was a high horsepower rocket and when I got bad gas, I felt the effects for multiple tankfuls.  I don't want to ever go through that again.

Going across to Cali last year on my Raider I always stopped at the best stations I could and never run anything but premium in any of my bikes. The MPG does vary but not too bad. Caourse riding w my buddy and his HD w the 6 gal tank I always took crap from him having to fill up. I told him to enjoy what little junk he could talk and to just remember to kindly ask for his headlight back after I blow by him every time. The conversation ends there mostly but we like to give each other crap anyway. IMO premium is best and good stations.
HP

I have been on the lookout for a Venture tank.  If I can get one cheap enough I am going to try to fit it to the bike.  I talked to a custom shop who was going to split mine and grow it 1.5 gallons, but they wanted over a grand to do it.

I keep hoping that GMan industries will come out with an aux tank for the liner, but nothing yet.

I carry a touring tube that I put in my rear seat bag for very long trips.  I ran all over Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah this year on a trip and never used any fuel out of it.  It sure made me feel better that it was back there and I was able to enjoy my ride more.  I did not much like carrying it into the hotel each night, and I am sure if they knew I had it in the room that they would have had a fit.  Locking inside a saddle bag would be a way better option.

I have the two gallon version of this:



http://www.tourtank.com/TourTubes.html