Anyone try the new shell nitro plus UNLEADED? reported to be 99 octane and have add friction reducers. The word is that it is supposed to reduce frictional, clean and increase performance. I'm in CA and wanted to know which station would have it in the Orange County area.
I filled up my tank at Chuckwalla Raceway with 101 Octane and did NOT notice a difference in hp or torque or top end speed?
And you won't, nor will anyone else.
Octane simply defines resistance to combustion (detonation). Running a higher Octane than what your owners manual or engine builder/tuner specifies will not yield more power. You will only be faster due to your wallet being lighter.
One of the biggest marketing schemes ever was when they labeled 93 Octane "Premium". It leads to many people thinking "
only the best for my ......." and running a higher Octane than what is necessary. Higher Octane/Premium gas isn't better, it is just different.
Run the lowest Octane you can run without causing early detonation (knocking/pinging).
In and of itself, Octane doesn't generate power. Like I said, it simply defines resistance to combustion. When I ride a stock (motor) bike on the track, I run 93 Octane pump gas. The exception is when I have a custom map built for race fuel (which changes the A/F ratio, ignition timing, etc). The race fuel is a different Octane, but the bike is tuned for it. On the R6 Superbike, I run U4.4 for practices and Solo races, and MR12 for Sprints (map switch with different maps). On the RSV4 (stock motor) I run pump gas for track days/coaching and practices, and U4.4 for races.
) LOL 
