Guys - Just off my ride in the NC mountains, and wanted to ask a question about backfiring. I have Muzzy Black Stainless midpipes and slipons, which has always had a nice, light popping on decel. I have no problem with that, and don't think the bike does either. But on my trip, one morning in northern GA, I fueled up, along with the 3 other guys, at the lone gas station in Suches GA. I seem to remember they had non-ethanol fuel, but I think it was 93 octane. From there, over the course of the next day or so, the bike backfired with a big loud boom/bang from time to time. Usually just once and it was done for a while. it happened ~20 times total. It even happened after fueling up at other stations. If I recall right Kawi calls for 90 octane fuel, so 93 was high.

I think I was the only one to fill up from the nozzle I used. And the other guys had no such backfiring.

My bike's ODO is at 9,400 miles, and I have not yet changed the original air filter.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Concerns??

Bad gas? Air filter? Something else?

Thanks all ...

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I seem to remember they had non-ethanol fuel, but I think it was 93 octane.

We have that here and I use it all the time with no problems. It could have been that they put regular in that pump or maybe it had ethanol. Regular with ethanol pops more for me. No backfire though. Higher octane should be less volatile, not more so.

Probably a good idea to change that filter ASAP but I've gone to 11000 miles with no change in performance I could tell. Generally, it's dirty by 6,000. 8,000 is about as long as I like to go.

Only backfires I've had was when I started with a week battery and cranked over many times. I suppose there was fuel getting sprayed and not burning. Also with stock exhaust and bike running one time when it was very hot.

I think you got bad gas or else it was running rich from high elevation.

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I think it goes something like this:
High octane = Hard to fire off.
Regular = Fires off fast so it's a faster burn rate i.e., is why they run this for drag racing.

High octane in the pipe = Hangs and then the flame front fires off enough unspent. I could be wrong.

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I use non-ethanol 91 octane exclusively and have done so for over 2 years with no problem.

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Same here. Also 91 octane ( no ethanol ) exclusively for 2 years without issues.

Same 91 E0. Occasionaly I do run E10 if I need gas and can't get to the regular place. Bike doesn't(hasn't) run differently switching back and forth.

At 9,400 miles or about 15,000k in real money, your 14 would be like an asthmatic smoking 50 ciggies a day.
Without its filter cleaned. Give it a birthday present & a clean, 5,000k is my routine. Not hard to do.
But probably iffy fuel also ?

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Ordered a new air filter earlier today.

We shall see. I'm suspecting iffy gas plus air filter.

Thanks all ...

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I ran 87 octane since day one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=780&v=FPPkPAbzwbU

* Last updated by: Hub on 10/4/2017 @ 9:03 PM *

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Interesting Hub, seems in the States your octane rating starts at 87 up to 91.
Here in Oz it starts at 91 goes up to 98 for our Super.
Ive read bike reviews done in the States ie the latest Ducati Multi strudel, where the bike ran like crap & they put it down to only low octane fuel being available, everywhere, The Beemer it was up against coped ok A parent lee.
I only put 98 in the 14, as most bike riders do here.
I wonder if bikes in general in the States are tuned differently to cope ?

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We don’t have ethanol free gasoline in my area. That being said, all I’ve ever ran is 93 E10. Of course I over maintain my bike. Every 1,000 miles it gets an oil change and the air filter cleaned. Changed plugs at 5,000 miles and again at 10,000. No such issues that you describe and I’m running the same exhaust.

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I wonder if bikes in general in the States are tuned differently to cope ?

1. If piston is the same part number(compression variable) between countries = Same-same.
2. If head has the same part number (head decking) between countries = Same-same.
3. If ECU has the same part number (ignition curve) hard to say it's a fuel change.

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