First off, welcome to the group!

Second, your Shadow is a low compression engine. Not to make you feel bad, it's actually a pretty low performance engine for its displacement. The manual recommends 87 octane, like you've been giving it and you will get no benefits at all from going to a higher grade.

Like a lot of the folks around here say, if you go to a higher grade you may see better acceleration, but only because your wallet is lighter!

--Justin

 

welcome and tubes has it dead on you're good to go

 

Don't waste your money on 87 or higher octane. I have a 2004 Shadow Aero 750 and have put nearly 20K miles on her (in the last 4 years) and have always used the 84 "regular" stuff. I've even modified the exhaust (DG straights) and intake with a stage 2 jet kit about 12K ago too. And even with all that and as loud as it is, it's still somewhat on the low performance scale especially when considering what else is out there. But it's plenty fast and responsive for me. I also doubt any of us would be riding a cruiser if we really wanted that crotch rocket high performance too.

In any case, using regular grade seems to make my Aero run better. And I usually get a good chuckle to myself when I see some of the Harleys and other bikes I ride with spend more for for that higher octane gas too. However, beware when it comes to oil! (Be sure to NOT use standard oil since it will rob you of power and likely gunk up your "wet clutch").

 

Don't waste your money on 87 or higher octane. I have a 2004 Shadow Aero 750 and have put nearly 20K miles on her (in the last 4 years) and have always used the 84 "regular" stuff.

Octane is rated differently at high altitude....or the gas is actually formulated differently. Anyhow, in MOST of the country, regular IS 87 and you can't get anything rated lower. :wink:

 

K good deal! Looks i've been doing the right thing.

 

My 08 Honda shadow aero manual shows to use 91 octane or higher. I have noticed when i used lower octane my shadow has a hard time starting even with the choke out.

 

Its an 11 year old thread but I have not seen any Aero manual that recommend 91 PON (unless Europe or Australia that use different octane numbers) . Any chance of posting a photo?

 

This is what I have. Even my buddy's honda spirit 750 shows the same.

 

You have a European manual. These "free" manuals were on the internet and while most of the info is OK the octane ratings are not. Notice it says Research Octane Number RON 91 (also notice your manual mentions petrol).

Whats listed as 87 PON at US pumps is about 92 RON in Europe. No harm, but you are wasting a bit of money.