FUEL ADDITIVES FOR OLDER BIKES ?

Posted by wiseman on Apr 01, 2012; 1:19pm
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/FUEL-ADDITIVES-FOR-OLDER-BIKES-tp3875167.html

Was wondering if any of you guys out there put fuel additives in your gas tank.
What i am referring to is, in Australia, we no longer have "leaded" fuel,   only Unleaded (ULP), which is equivalent to standard, 92 octane or premium, 95 octane.                              This has not been available and was banned since about late 80's, so all vehicles made after this were made to run on unleaded fuel.
The lead in our leaded fuel was for top end, valve stem lubrication, so now if we run unleaded fuel in a leaded fuel motor, your valve stem seals wear out much quicker, then you start to blow smoke.  One solution is to have any old engine head converted to run on ULP, by having the standard valves and stem seals replaced with hardened ones.  Same as a car if converted to run on LPG gas.  I know you can buy lead replacement additives, but i think these are just a waste of money, cause it's not lead you are adding.
My solution when running an older engine that requires leaded fuel, is just to add a bit of 2 stroke oil to the fuel, much cheaper, and does the same job.
I had an old Triumph 650, used to BP 100 in it, racing fuel with an octane of 100, and contained lead. Best fuel i ever used! no pinging in the motor.
What fuel you guys have in the States, and what octane rating, leaded or unleaded?