Not to start a debate, but my SP500 has 10.2:1 compression - hardly a "low compression engine". The manual also says 87 octane or higher.

As the saying goes, different strokes for different folks. Some people use cheap $2 per quart oil, while others use Amsoil or Mobil-1. All three work. Some people put basic NGK plugs in, and some put in Iridiums. Some run K&N air filters. Same deal with gas. Personally, when I'm 20 miles from the trail head, I feel better knowing I have Premium in the tank. When my quad sits for 5 months over the winter, I'm glad it's got the best gas I can put in it.

I just changed my original fuel filter on an 8 year old quad, 1600 miles. I run premium whenever I can. The filter I pulled out was so clean that I felt like I wasted my time and money replacing it. Is that because I run premium - who knows, maybe it's just a poor filter.


>>The higher octane has less power than a lower # octane fuel
Sorry, try again. Octane rating has nothing to do with power or energy content - purely detonation resistance.

 

just use a good grade stablizer to prevent winter storage breakdown will help alot. imo