One of the primary appeals of owning a motorcycle is the savings such machines typically offer. In addition to that, motorcycles are usually faster – and most importantly – sexier than cars. Here’s Mbike’s shortlist with the most fuel-efficient bikes you’ll able to buy in 2015. Rather than rely on manufacturer claims, we turned to the crowd and used real world fuel economy reports from riders on Fuelly and Spritmonitor. Enjoy!
1. Scooter: Honda PCX 125
Honda PCX125
50cc scooters are too slow for larger cities but in most cases a nice 125cc scooter will get the job done. One of the most fuel-efficient scooters on the market is Honda’s PCX 125. The 125cc version of the PCX is a Europe’s favorite: it has topped the powered two-wheeler sales charts in Europe for the last two years. It features a modern, stylish design, an economical engine, a large tank and an affordable price tag. With the tank of 8.0 litres, it offers a fuel consumtion of 2,1-2,2 l/100km(95-98mpg) and a range of 375 km. The modern design allows it to slip elegantly into a style-conscious urban youngster’s lifestyle, while compact dimensions ensure it can wriggle through busy traffic with ease.
2. Maxi Scooter: Suzuki Burgman 400
2015 Suzuki Burgman 400
The 400cc version of the Burgman offers great comfort but with only a 400cc heart it’s not going to break the bank on running costs like some other maxi scooters with 650cc engines. A 3.6 gallon (13.5 litres) fuel tank and a fuel efficiency of 55-60 mpg allows for long distances between fuel stops but when you need power, you got it: the Burgman is able to hit 110mph. While with other maxi scooters you are lucky if you get a 150 mile range, with the 400cc Suzuki you’re looking at a 200 plus miles between fill ups. According to statistics, most people live on average 10 miles away from their work place. This means that with the Burgman, in theory at least, you wouldn’t need to fill up for at least seven days.
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3. Cruiser: Yamaha XV950 / Star Bolt
2015 Yamaha XV950
With the XV950 or Star Bolt, Yamaha hit Harley where it really hurts. It’s an affordable middleweight cruiser with lots of customization options, a relatively low weight. a fuel-efficient 942cc engine and an encouraging price tag. It may well be a rip-off but all in all, it’s a bike that makes more of less. Thanks to the brilliant Indian Scout and the classic Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster, the competition in the category is tough but with an mpg of 50-52, Yamaha wins this race by a margin. It’s really a bike inspired by the past but built for the future.
5. Sportbike: Honda CBR250R
2015 Honda CBR250R
The CBR250R is the king in the entry-level sports category, you really won’t find anything easier to ride than the smallest CBR. The bike was primarily intended for the Thai and Indian markets but it is sold worldwide. As a matter of fact, it is sold with a great success so Honda is developing a 300cc version of the bike. The CBR250R is fast enough for short trips on the highway and it’s a really forgiving bike. Fuel economy is excellent: Honda brags with an mpg of 65 but according to riders, it’s capable of doing 70-75 or even 80 mpg. When ridden casually, using relatively small throttle openings, the CBR250R is remarkably efficient.
6. Touring: Honda Goldwing
2015 Honda Goldwing
The 35mpg of the 2015 Goldwing may not seem impressive at first glance, but the competition can’t do better either. The mighty BMW K1600GTL also offers 35-37 mpg while the Harley Electra Glide is even more thirsty. Besides, if there’s a category where mileage is not that important to put it mildly, it’s the market of the luxury touring machines. 1600-1800cc six-cylinder engines on two wheels are not about fuel economy: it’s about sound, torque, road presence, prestige, styling and most importantly supremacy. They’re like anything else on the road. Fun fact: the Goldwing got a better power-to-weight ratio than Nissan’s GTR.
+1: KTM Freeride E
2015 KTM Freeride E
The most fuel-efficient motorcycles are of course electric bikes. But electric bikes have their limitations, most notably range. KTM successfully avoided that problem with a battery pack that you can swap in a minute. The Freeride E features a brushless permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that delivers 16 kW (21,5 hp) of peak power with 42 Nm of torque. With the small battery pack, there’s enough juice for about one hour of riding. After an hour, you just flip up the seat and loosen four bolts to swap out a depleted ‘Power Pack’ with a charged unit. The Freeride E is street legal but it’s only available in a handful of countries.
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