Total Motorcycle Community Forums

If my Honda Civic 1.5 Vtech can give 40-45mpg imperial, carry 4 people and a boot full of luggage, then why can't a modern bike of half that capacity carrying much, much less weight return 80 to 100 mpg at up to 85mph. It seems cars are much more efficient. After all it is the amount of fuel burn that is destroying the planet. So why can't I buy a touring bike that will cruise all day at 80mph returning 70-80mpg imperial with a top speed of say 130mph. All in a degree of comfort that will enable 3-400 miles in a day in relative comfort. Is that too much to ask these days.

Cause bikes will do 11-12 second quartermiles and aerodynamics. Powerful engines for thier size and high co-effiecient of drag numbers suck down milage numbers.
That's why not.

Buzz - In the 60's my friend was getting 80+ to the gallon out of a 250cc BSA. It might do about 75mph top wack. I don't know what the average car was getting to the gallon then but I'd guess about 28mpg with top speeds around 80mph as well. So cars have come on a long way regarding mpg and their top speeds have increased as wll. What I'm asking for is a bike with really good economy without the sportsbike performance because I don't really need or want it. Don't get me wrong I do like to enjoy myself on the twisties but rarely go above 90mph anywhere. So if I don't use the speed I'll have the economy.

What does a Burgman get for milage? I never checked before.....

Other than that, a scooter is all I can think of to get that kind of milage. The marketplace is still buying 30-40mpg bikes with 10 second quarter times, so that's where the R&D dollars are going at the factories..... whatcha gunna do??? 2 years before the world goes down the toilet, they will realize they can sell bikes that get 100mpg.... 20 years too late.

Now we are on the same wavelength, and the Burgman is a good example. You reminded me that an old friend rides one and just uses his bike for track days. This really is the time for manufacturers to come up with some more alternatives, then they might get some of those drivers onto really economical forms of transport that can do a good distance in comfort at a reasonable spees which take up less room. And whilst writing this I remebered the Quasar see this site http://www.motobykz.co.uk/Quasar.htm

Well, I'm not looking to impress anyone here, but I get about 110 miles out of a tank (appx 41 mpg) on my 1974 cb360. 2.7 gal tank.

CB750 Honda Nighthawk has a 4+ gallon tank, so I get 180-ish before I need to refill.
Linda

so far on my 02 f4i im at 96 miles on one fill up which cost me 11 bucks to fill. And I have not hit reserve yet.

I think thats good..

I get about 250 miles out of a tank (if I use the reserve too) when riding hard. But hey Its a 125, when doesn't it get ridden hard?

tank is 17.5 litres

I average 40-44mpg with my ZR1100 and almost always need to switch to reserve at 135-140 miles. Could probably go another 50-60 miles on reserve but since I don't enjoy walking all that much I start looking for gas.
If I didn't like the stock gearing so much I could improve the range a bit with a sprocket change. If I planned to be riding the super-slab on a long tour I'd probably go up a tooth on the countershaft and reduce the RPMs a little.