Does the Phazer require 93 octane fuel?

[Bakemono]

According to the specs on Yamaha-Motor.com, the Phazer runs on "regular unleaded" fuel. To me, that means it will run just fine on 87 octane. Am I wrong?
I bring this up because my brother and I were talking about the Phazer the other day. We both agreed that its a great little sled and $7000 is a steal for all the features you are getting.
My brother claims that it requires 93 octane, I disagree.

 

[RollRite]

From what I read if you fun regular unleaded you will have 4 less hp than if you run super unleaded.

 

[Bakemono]

Interesting. Either way its no biggie (even if it requires 93, its no deal-breaker).
93 octane only costs about .20 a gallon more than 87. Thats about $2 more a day. No biggie.
Thanks for the input, Jim.

 

[big-d]

yamaha suggests running 93 octane for best engine hp and performance. you can run any octane but you will loose a few hp. the engine will compensate for the lower octane, something in the motor that will read the octane and adjust to that level. the motor will run fine and there will be no damage done if you run the lower octane. that was from the yamaha rep when i rode the new phaser the other day.

 

[Bakemono]

Its got knock sensors on it, Id bet. Its like some cars where they say for "optimum performance" you should use 93, but if you run 87 the engine will sense it and retard the timing to prevent preignition.
So, you say that you rode the Phazer? Did you like it?

 

[drifter]

Yamaha recommends 91 or better octane. Less than that will cause a loss of approximately 4 hp.

 

[gerard143]

There's a knock control system (KCS) that controls ignition timing and assures it runs properly despite your fuel's octane. It prefers premium, but will run on 87 octane, although you lose 4 hp. Yamaha tells us the warning light will only come on in a severe bad gas situation.

 

[Bakemono]

Thanks for the update and the explanation, gerard. Its like I figured: knock sensor.
A lot of newer cars and even some trucks are like this. They tell you in the owner's manual that for "optimum power" you should run 93, but they will run just fine on 89 or even 87.
My sister-in-law has a '00 Lincoln LS V8. In the owner's manual and even inside the gascap door it says "PREFERRED FUEL: 93 OCTANE". However, last summer when 93 was $3.50 a gallon she ran 89 in it and the car ran just fine.