What 1995-2005 motorcycles have the best gas mileage?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, the smaller the engine, the better the mileage.

Most common fault for poor fuel consumption is dirty air filters, an aggressive hand & and bad riding practices. Fuel consumption is like asking how long a piece of string is. It all boils down to how hard you accelerate, how much stop & staring you do, how much highway work you do. Bike have advanced so much these last few years there's nor much in them at all. There all getting lighter, faster & more advanced.

If you are after a bike for cheaper transport beware. They require more servicing mostly every 6000km, depending where you live air filters every 12000km. Bikes all vary, 750 & 1000CC injected bikes are probably the best. Fitting a power commander is a good example as you are able to remap these. Leaning the bike off in areas needed and richening them where needed. Every bike is different in their requirement. Your best bet is to just get out there and find a bike you feel comfortable on, you feel you can handle (not going to kill yourself on). One that just feels right. Every one is different, everyone handles different. Decide what type of riding you want to do and look for the model that suits your needs.

Other answers from contributors:

• It seems that a lot of 2-stroke bikes have really good mileage but you do have to take into account that they use a little bit of the 2-stroke oil as well.

• 4 strokes get much better mileage than two strokes. Ask any outboard motor owner. The fewer cylinders often the better the mileage. The lower the RPM's the better the mileage. Harleys get an amazing 50 MPG's. Low RPM's, only two cylinders only about 45 horse power. Buy a 125cc or a 250cc single cyl. 4 stroke and you will get 60-90 miles per gallon. A 100 Horse Power 6 cylinder goldwing expect about 32 MPG's. The best may be the new 4 stroke scooters. They have excellent aerodynamics. A 250cc scooter that will go 100 MPH can get 80 MPG (not running at 100 MPH).

• I have a goldwing 1800 and for being one of the biggest bikes on the market, it gets more than 32 MPG. Try more around 39 to 45. Maybe 35 if your riding real hard.

• I own an 2004 wing and routinely get 38 mpg at 85 mph. (90 - 95 mph gets 36 mpg). Since gas broke $3.00 I am trying to keep it under 2200 rpm in town (not hard to do). My first 200 miles yielded 44.4 mpg and 80 of those miles were at 65 miles per hour and 2700 rpm. I expect to get 45 - 46 mpg in town just by obeying posted speed limits and not accelerating fiercely. This is good on a machine weighing 750 and will cruise cross county! Remember - tires are $125 - $140 each and last about 12000 miles.

• My Honda Reflex (maxi-scooter) with a 250cc Engine has averaged 68 mpg (for the first 12,000 miles). This is a "twist and go" but it will go about 75-80 mph (actual) and will cruise at 70 all day with no problem. Some report better mileage.

• Kawi Eliminator 125 - 110mpg

• I have a 2004 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster Standard. I routinely get 52mpg and have hit 59mpg. The worst was about 47mpg. It only has a 3.3 gallon tank, so the range between fill ups is about 100 to 130 miles, if you don't want to hit reserve. They do have a 4.5 gallon tank you can replace it with, though.

• 02-05 Honda VFR 800's reportedly get between 30 and 55 depending on throttle usage and, apparently, even the individual bike. This is a v-4 with vtec valving. Smaller displacement single cylinder four-strokes will of course be your best bet for pure mileage, however 400cc is your legal highway limit, and they won't always have the get-up to put you in the safest riding position.

• My 2003 Honda "silverwing" (600 scooter, centrifical clutch, cvt) seems to deliver around 46 city or highway. I do tend to use too much throttle in town and cruise at 80+ on the interstate. One of these days I intend to do a couple tankfuls at 65mph, but just haven't been able to hold her down yet. I'll post the results if I accomplish that.

• I find it hard to believe that the BMW F650 is not listed here. I guess what I am looking for is to find the bike with the best size to mpg ratio. It is pretty easy for a 250 scooter to get 80 mpg but my buddies BMW F650 averages 68 and 70+ mpg on the highway. Now the Suzuki 650 DL v-strom only gets 56 on the highway. My little Suzuki DR350 and Ninja 250 both only got 54 on average. I am yet to find a bike that can easily cruse at highway speeds and get better gas mileage than the BMW F650

• 400cc is not the minimum for highway. 125cc is all for Michigan. I have owned over 60 bikes. A 250cc single cyl 4 stroke may be the best bike for MPG's with enough speed to keep up with traffic. My Honda NX250 conisitantly got 85 MPG's and I am 6'4" 250 lbs. In addition it would go 85MPH. I agree with the previous statement the 250cc 4 stroke scooters are the best MPGs with enough power to be safe.

• The BMW F650 does seem to be the hands down winner for a freeway capable, high mpg bike.

• And California rules state: M2 license up to 125cc. M1 license above 125cc. And 250cc minimum for freeways. My 86 Honda Elite 250 had 70mpg at 50 to 60mph and occasionally was pushed to 70 mph. It complained bitterly afterwards. But it was worth it to pass cars in the fast lane on a scooter.
• I have a 650-CS (Scarver). Riding in Central Colorado and Utah, between 65 and 75 mpg I average around 62 mpg. I find that downshifting and otherwise unnecessarily goosing the throttle (twist grip) can reduce my mileage by 20-30%. I had a Yamaha 250 which got better mileage but didn't have the power to handle the bigger hills and headwinds without winding out in a lower gear. The Scarver with its anti lock brakes and great suspension is probably the safest bike around.

Answer 2

Indian