Engine pinging

[Dave_NWTrophy]

Has anyone else run into problems with their Trophy pinging (pinking on the other side of the pond)?  I can't run 87 octane (R+M/2) in my Trophy without pinging going up hills on the freeway.  I have moved all the way up to premium, and can still get it to slightly ping rolling on the throttle going up hills in top gear at times.  Engine is not being lugged, RPM is in the 3500-4000 range.  When I had the 20,000 mile service done, an updated engine firmware was loaded, which helped briefly, but the pinging returned after about a week.  The bike definitely starts and idles better with 87 octane, but I can't risk the engine damage under load.

Dave

[1150newguy]

Yep, same issue here. I run high octane and keep the revs up to avoid it. This engine likes to rev and I am still getting amazing fuel mileage and no problems in 38,000 miles. I wrote it off as part of the learning curve when I bought the bike. It does run fine on 87, but like you said hills and/or a load will bring out the symphony. Look up the 12 minute tune up in the search function. I did this and it helped a good bit, but I still need a higher octane fuel in the hills when loaded. Some brands of fuel work better than others too, especially here in southern Ohio.

[plgoddard]

FWIW, I use 87 octane consistently and have never experienced any pinging -- ever -- despite my running the bike typically at lower than optimal RPMs.

[OhioWinger]

Originally Posted by plgoddard

FWIW, I use 87 octane consistently and have never experienced any pinging -- ever -- despite my running the bike typically at lower than optimal RPMs.

+1 no issues here.

[azgman]

No issues here either, even in the AZ heat! Have you tried to run some sort of de-carbonizer additive in the gas to see if that will help? The most likely cause is carbon build up on the pistons which raises the compression.

[1150newguy]

Must be factory installed carbon because it has done it from the beginning. The 20,000 mile tune up and valve adjust helped, but it is still there. My trips west where the terrain was flatter I ran 87 with no issues. If I know I will be in hilly country and loaded I just pump the premium. No big deal for me, this is not the first bike I have had in 40 years of riding that has done this. The bike runs great and on a 360 mile round trip to Lake Erie yesterday the computer showed 56 miles per gallon. Not complaining, just letting Dave know that he is not alone.

[r1pete]

89 is normally used in mine, Chevron brand generally. I never had any pinging with this bike at now 21,500 miles. I do tend to run a lower rpm when I'm most loaded down, with a passenger and some baggage. I do this to be gentle and not make as much noise. And even by myself, I don't generally red line it, but never have had a ping issue.
Heat or hot spot issue?

[Zebraranger]

FWIW, I use 87 octane consistently and have never experienced any pinging -- ever

Same here, no pinging ever. I run 89 octane.