Fuel consumption of motorbikes?

[Synchromesh]

Just wondering how economical bikes were really. What kind of mpg have you been getting (calculated over a tank preferably), what bike do you ride and how do you ride it?

[Fred Leicester]

Around 150 miles out of a tank, CBR600F, mix of city commuting and fun on A and B roads so varied speeds etc.

[croyde]

I love bikes and have ridden them for over 30 odd years but mpg compared to modern cars is pretty crap to be honest. My current Street Triple is lucky to get 30 mpg which is pretty poor for something that can only really carry one person and not much luggage.

It's a lot more fun to use than a car that returns 30 mpg in town though

[GTIR]

I don't care really.
Even if it was 1mpg I'd still ride. (slower)

[gr88]

my old velocette will do 120 mpg

it takes about 3 hours to use 1 gallon



at a maximum cruising speed !

[Jazoli]

Fred Leicester said:

Around 150 miles out of a tank, CBR600F, mix of city commuting and fun on A and B roads so varied speeds etc.

That's really helpful, how big is the tank?

For the op, most average bikes 600-1400cc will do 40-60mpg,

400-600's about 40-60mpg again.

50's will do 120mpg, as will most 125's

Some will do more, some will do less, the new Aprillia RSV does less than 30mpg, the BMW F650 thing will do 80mpg,

Considering how little they weigh and that they only carry 2 people at most bikes are pretty inefficient compared to cars, just don't tell the government.

croyde said:

My current Street Triple is lucky to get 30 mpg which is pretty poor for something that can only really carry one person and not much luggage.

That's pretty crap for a triple, my 955 Speed Triple averaged nearer 50 and my Daytona's did the same, they'd drop to 40 on an enthusiastic ride but I never saw less than 40, and I wasn't hanging around, no commuting just fast road riding.

Edited by Jazoli on Saturday 16th June 22:37

[Desiato]

MY GSXR750-K7 averaged 52+ mph over 40k miles, ridden daily in all weathers with "enthusiasm"

[Synchromesh]

Jazoli said:

For the op, most average bikes 600-1400cc will do 40-60mpg,

400-600's about 40-60mpg again.

50's will do 120mpg, as will most 125's

Some will do more, some will do less, the new Aprillia RSV does less than 30mpg, the BMW F650 thing will do 80mpg,

Thanks. What about bikes 200-400cc?

Why isn't there much difference between 400 to 1400cc bikes?

[mr wiki]

I find that the MCN figures on the reviews to be bang on. They say Daytona 675 is 40mpg, which is about what I get .

[croyde]

My Street Triple tends to be only used in Central London thus I never get beyond 3rd gear so might explain the 100 miles to the tank. I'm sure it would do better on a run. My E36 BMW only does an appalling 17 around London where it spends most of it's life but can get 25 on a fast country run and even 35 if I take it easy.

[jackh707]

kawasaki versys. 650 twin, sitting on an A road at 60 just rolling on and off throttle in 6th will do near 70mpg, everyday fast smooth riding 60mpg, thrash it or stop start town riding 50mpg at the very worst, tank range 210 milesish, 19 litre tank I think.
I think for the relative performance to a car, that's very good. I don't know any cars that will get 60mpg while doing the pace I do on the bike.

Any parallel twin seems to be very good on fuel, BMW seem to be the daddies though.

[Hooli]

Synchromesh said:

Thanks. What about bikes 200-400cc?

Try finding one, they are very few & far between.

Synchromesh said:

Why isn't there much difference between 400 to 1400cc bikes?

TBH a 400 is quick enough when used properly so larger bikes get less trashing & it all evens out.


I get mid to high 40s mpg out of my Pan & GSX1400. Both will top 50mpg if sticking to 60-70mph on a run, but if I wanted to be slow I'd buy a car.

[Condi]

40-50mpg out of the Fireblade, depending on what Im doing. Quite happy with that, about the same as the eurobox banger gets, but obviously 10 times as much fun and 10 times as quick in town traffic. Not everyones choice of commuter, but does me grand.

[Yazza54]

Hooli said:

Synchromesh said:

Thanks. What about bikes 200-400cc?

Try finding one, they are very few & far between.

Synchromesh said:

Why isn't there much difference between 400 to 1400cc bikes?

TBH a 400 is quick enough when used properly so larger bikes get less trashing & it all evens out.


I get mid to high 40s mpg out of my Pan & GSX1400. Both will top 50mpg if sticking to 60-70mph on a run, but if I wanted to be slow I'd buy a car.

This, one of the NW rides out I was the only one on a 600 and used the most fuel. 30mpg caning it... Mr OCDs R1 did 40mpg.

Modern cars are generally more efficient but when you weigh up the performance you get from a bike from a similar mpg, I take the bike every time. Plus the bike is actually enjoyable and when I take the car out its like a means to an end.

[PhillipM]

Commuting on the R6 is around 50-60mpg, there's not many cars will match that when they're sat in a queue idling!

[cheadle hulme]

I get 43mpg out of this without trying. The F800S I had before it did 65mpg.

Th Skoda 1.6TDI the wife runs does 54mpg since she got it, which proves the OPs point really.

[kev b]

My Aprilia Mille does 38 mpg whether it is ridden gently or thrashed, my old LC 350 averaged 38 mpg as well but would improve to 60 mpg at a constant 95 mph on the autobahn.

[Dr Jekyll]

60 MPG on a 650 Deauville. Just over 200 miles to reserve and theoretical 250 miles to empty.

[MaxMX5]

I get 60-65mpg out of my SV650 on my 110mile daily commute on A roads and Motorways.

[bamberwell]

between 25 - 30 mpg for my 5vy r1.......