Published September 18, 2025 by Michael Le Pard , Editor‑in‑Chief
1965 Motorcycle and Scooter Models
A guide to motorcycle gas mileage (MPG and L/100km) and efficiency.
Total Motorcycle Fuel Economy Guide is your guide to motorcycle and scooter fuel economy in MPG and L/100km.
Over 5500 bikes by year, manufacturer and model from 1934 to today.

World Changing Event: March 8, 1965– The Vietnam War for the USA: Some 3,500 United States Marines arrive in South Vietnam, becoming the first American combat troops in Vietnam. The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government viewed the war as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against South Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet state. By the end of the Vietnam War (30 April 1975) more than 3 million Americans served, some 1.5 million of whom actually saw combat in Vietnam; 58,220 soldiers were killed, more than 150,000 were wounded, and at least 21,000 were permanently disabled. The average age of the combat soldier was 19.
1965 Motorcycle and Scooter Models
|
Year
|
Manufacturer
|
Model
|
Engine Size (cc) /Cyl
|
Average MPG
|
Average L/100km
|
Source
|
|
BMW
|
R50
|
53.5 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R50/2
|
53.5 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R50S
|
53.5 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R50US
|
53.5 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R60
|
53.0 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R60/2
|
53.0 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R60US
|
53.0 MPG
|
4.4 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R69
|
51.5 MPG
|
4.6 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R69S
|
51.5 MPG
|
4.6 L/100km
|
|||
|
BMW
|
R69US
|
51.5 MPG
|
4.6 L/100km
|
|||
|
BSA
|
650 Thunderbolt
|
654/2
|
40.0 MPG
|
5.9 L/100km
|
||
|
BSA
|
Spitfire Hornet
|
654/2
|
39.0 MPG
|
6.0 L/100km
|
||
|
Harley-Davidson
|
CH
|
52.5 MPG
|
4.8 L/100km
|
|||
|
Harley-Davidson
|
FLH
|
1207/2
|
36.0 MPG
|
6.5 L/100km
|
||
|
Harley-Davidson
|
H
|
52.5 MPG
|
4.8 L/100km
|
|||
|
Honda
|
CB250
|
68.0 MPG
|
3.5 L/100km
|
|||
|
Honda
|
CB450
|
52.0 MPG
|
4.5 L/100km
|
|||
|
Honda
|
CB450KO
|
444/2
|
42.5 MPG
|
5.5 L/100km
|
||
|
Honda
|
CB450SS
|
444/2
|
42.5 MPG
|
5.5 L/100km
|
||
|
Honda
|
CL77
|
305/2
|
65.0 MPG
|
3.6 L/100km
|
||
|
Norton
|
650SS
|
646/2
|
47.5 MPG
|
4.9 L/100km
|
||
|
Panther
|
M120
|
650/1
|
60.0 MPG
|
3.9 L/100km
|
||
|
Suzuki
|
X6 Hustler
|
247/2
|
64.0 MPG
|
3.7 L/100km
|
||
|
Vincent
|
Black Lightning
|
998/2
|
45.0 MPG
|
5.2 L/100km
|
<<>>
Check out more Total Motorcycle Fuel Economy Guide years
|
2018
|
2019
|
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|
1930
|
1931
|
1932
|
1933
|
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ADD
YOUR MPG DATA |
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