unleaded or leaded petrol?

[Chadatious]

hey all i have a 1989 H1 model and i just wanted to make sure if it runs on unleaded petrol as thats what ive been putting into it, but dad mentioned due to its age it could be a leaded engine????????????/

[RedexRobB]

Itll run on unleaded fine, itll also run on leaded fine too. In fact i think there's someone here who runs a bit of it in from time to time to look after the valves, possibly cargo, or did i dream that?

[cargo]

A favorite topic for me................

Kawasaki were one of the first to build engines able to run on unleaded in fact if my memory is correct all Kawasaki motorcycles since 1973 are able to run on unleaded.

Of course they will also run fine on leaded fuel.................

Now I have a theroy lead is good for valve seats even if they are designed to run with no lead...............and so I run my race bikes with a lead replacment additive I always have.
I dont know if it's a good idea or not but valve seats are important and I reckon mine enjoy the lead substitute not done them any harm

Could be expensive doing it on road going bike my perfred lead replacment is Castrol Valvemaster.............there is an octane boost version too

[Neosophist]

The owners manual says unleaded

On the subject

I just buy proper leaded 4 star for my old (pre 80's bikes).. plus.. proper 4 star is 99 ron, which means it wont pre-detonate (pink) in even most highly tuned motorbikes

Yes proper leaded 4 star is still available from a few garages.. the government licenced it for the classic car owners when the general withdrawal of leaded happened in 2000.. although it's £1.74 a litre at the moment.

http://www.leadedpetrol.co.uk/

Complete list there.. I get mine from

Redhall Garage
68 Loughborough Road
Coleorton

Bikes that are designed to run on unleaded have harder valve seats in them which are designed to run without the protection offered by the TEL (tetra ethyl lead) in 4 star.. i don't think leaded petrol helps valve seats on these types of engines, seen pleanty of high mileage bikes internals (100,000kms +) that havn't had any bad valve seat wear.

But each to their own

[Chadatious]

Okay thank you for your help