Motorcycle Fuel Economy - Does anyone really care?
Discussion
I've never had a bike that was significantly better than my car, so it's never really made my commute any cheaper, even when it was a long commute.
Maybe it's because I has a diesel golf which was pretty frugal, but all my bikes have been around the same, about 55mpg (same as the golf). So unless you're riding a scooter or something equally low capacity / power, do you even bother looking into the fuel economy when choosing a bike?
Maybe it's because I has a diesel golf which was pretty frugal, but all my bikes have been around the same, about 55mpg (same as the golf). So unless you're riding a scooter or something equally low capacity / power, do you even bother looking into the fuel economy when choosing a bike?
Yes.
One of the reasons I sold my Gen 1 Tuono was the ridiculous 80 ish miles to reserve. It worked out something like 27mpg or so.
My VFR is far from great but it seems to be similar to other bikes of it's size (43mpg ish).
My 500 will do 60+mpg regardless of how I ride.
I like to spend time and money riding, not constantly stood at the petrol pump.
One of the reasons I sold my Gen 1 Tuono was the ridiculous 80 ish miles to reserve. It worked out something like 27mpg or so.
My VFR is far from great but it seems to be similar to other bikes of it's size (43mpg ish).
My 500 will do 60+mpg regardless of how I ride.
I like to spend time and money riding, not constantly stood at the petrol pump.
I wonder this when comparing say the Multistrada to the KTM Super Adventure. My KTM 1290 GT allows me to go a fair bit over 200 miles between fill ups if needed, whereas the Multistrada as I understand it is getting one worried at 150 miles.
Until petrol prices are significantly more crazy, it's just the range that I care about. If the Multi had a big enough tank to match the KTM, it'd be a contender... you know, ignoring the ten grand price difference :P.
Until petrol prices are significantly more crazy, it's just the range that I care about. If the Multi had a big enough tank to match the KTM, it'd be a contender... you know, ignoring the ten grand price difference :P.
I use mine more or less exclusively for commuting, so mpg does have an effect on my day to day living costs. However, I'm happy enough with the ~46mpg I get from my Tiger 1050 Sport. I had a Tiger 800 before it and that did about 49mpg on the same route(approx 20 miles of open motorway, then another 10 of London traffic each way) so the actual difference isn't a huge amount over a year.
I think I would have to get a much smaller bike to save any real money, and I certainly wouldn't want to give up the beefy open road performance of the 1050 engine to save literally a few quid a year. Realistically though, the 40 miles of motorway a day precludes anything much smaller and I suspect would have an impact on longevity too. So probably wouldn't get 10 years out of it like I have the Tiger (so far!).
I think I would have to get a much smaller bike to save any real money, and I certainly wouldn't want to give up the beefy open road performance of the 1050 engine to save literally a few quid a year. Realistically though, the 40 miles of motorway a day precludes anything much smaller and I suspect would have an impact on longevity too. So probably wouldn't get 10 years out of it like I have the Tiger (so far!).
I rarely look at the MPG specifically but I do look at the size of the tank. I prefer not to have something so impractical that does 80 miles to a tank and I have to fill up every hour or so.
My Triumph Trophy 1215 wins as the most economical vehicle I've ever owned and certainly the best touring bike. Regardless of how I ride on the road I have not seen less than 55mpg. Cruising at a steady 80mph it does about 80 mpg and in mixed motorway/A/B road use 65 mpg, giving an easy 330 mile tank range, although I have had it showing 400-420 mile range after filling up during a long motorway run.
My Triumph Trophy 1215 wins as the most economical vehicle I've ever owned and certainly the best touring bike. Regardless of how I ride on the road I have not seen less than 55mpg. Cruising at a steady 80mph it does about 80 mpg and in mixed motorway/A/B road use 65 mpg, giving an easy 330 mile tank range, although I have had it showing 400-420 mile range after filling up during a long motorway run.
Mine are toys so I don't really care - I'd rather ride half as far on my 990 than ride an F800 (or ride the 990 economically)
My cars generally get 20-25mpg so 30-35 out of the bikes is significantly better
I'd consider it if I was going on a world trip
My cars generally get 20-25mpg so 30-35 out of the bikes is significantly better
I'd consider it if I was going on a world trip
Edited by KTMsm on Monday 21st August 04:04
Yes, for two reasons:
1. I wouldn't buy a bike that was significantly less fuel efficient that its main competitors. Unless that specific make/model is VERY special in another area, why pay noticeably more to run it than to run the equivalent bike from another manufacturer?
2. Fuel efficiency combined with tank size define range and I really don't want a bike that will not manage 150 miles between fill ups. Better is 200 miles between fill ups. Less than 150 miles becomes a real pain when touring.
1. I wouldn't buy a bike that was significantly less fuel efficient that its main competitors. Unless that specific make/model is VERY special in another area, why pay noticeably more to run it than to run the equivalent bike from another manufacturer?
2. Fuel efficiency combined with tank size define range and I really don't want a bike that will not manage 150 miles between fill ups. Better is 200 miles between fill ups. Less than 150 miles becomes a real pain when touring.
As most folks are saying it's range not strictly mpg that I need, it's just too easy to find yourself a long way from the nearest fuel stop even on a Sunday ride out.
That said when we were facing £2 a litre last year that was eating into my coffee and cake budget, the joys of being a skint pensioner.
That said when we were facing £2 a litre last year that was eating into my coffee and cake budget, the joys of being a skint pensioner.
Bob_Defly said:
I've never had a bike that was significantly better than my car, so it's never really made my commute any cheaper, even when it was a long commute.
Maybe it's because I has a diesel golf which was pretty frugal, but all my bikes have been around the same, about 55mpg (same as the golf). So unless you're riding a scooter or something equally low capacity / power, do you even bother looking into the fuel economy when choosing a bike?
I care but only really because I'm a bit of a nerd and when I was doing 110 miles a day it did add up. Maybe it's because I has a diesel golf which was pretty frugal, but all my bikes have been around the same, about 55mpg (same as the golf). So unless you're riding a scooter or something equally low capacity / power, do you even bother looking into the fuel economy when choosing a bike?
Recounted it loads of times but when I was given a FZ1 as a replacement hire bike it only did 35mpg at best and I f
king hated it. My Bandit 1200 could do 50mpg but easily 45.
Think my current VFR800 does 40-45, which isn't great but tolerable.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Monday 21st August 09:16
ChocolateFrog said:
I'm surprised there isn't a circa 600cc bike with say 80hp that can do an easy 100mpg by now.
I know most don't care and if they do they buy a 125cc Scooter but there must be a market for it.
F800GS the closest we've got?
Searching SV650 on Twitter showed a few photos of the dashboards showing the average consumption in Litres. When I did the calculation it worked out at over 100mpg. I don't know whether the riders were economy run specialists and/or whether they'd lengthened the gearing. I don't know how accurate the dashboard average mpg readouts are. I know most don't care and if they do they buy a 125cc Scooter but there must be a market for it.
F800GS the closest we've got?
I don't know what riding schools get out of SV650s or Z650s they run.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff