MPG on touring bikes

[c-m]

I've read a lot of stuff on forums and MCN and bike mags etc.. about touring bikes and what gets me is that all these bikes they class as tourers or sports tourers, have crap MPG

Surely if you are touring you want much better MPG than the 35 that the VFR or Bandit puts out. In fact taking this into account you'd be better off with a ZX9R (41mpg), ZXR750 (41mpg), CBR600F (50mpg), GPZ(55mpg at least)

[Phoenix]

Not sure i'd agree really, there are quite a lot of sports tourers that give the same economy as sports bikes (40-50mpg). Blackbird, Fazer1000, BMWs, ZZR1200, RF900, VStrom and Varadero no doubt plenty of others, all those bikes will give you at least 40mpg and all have hard luggage options and a relaxed riding position. The VFR is a bad example as it's a very heavy bike and uses a bulky V4 engine which is not very economical, the FJR1300 is also a gigantic lump but that sort of thing is more into Goldwing territory, Bandits 1200s can do 40mpg easily so not sure about that one.

[Alexio]

If I were touring I'd look for a bike with a much smaller engine that got 70MPG and upwards at least. As long as it could cope with motorway stuff and could carry large amounts it would be job done. Just my opinion obviously though as people interpret touring as different things and some people will want a "sports" bike or off-road bike when they get to where ever they are going.
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[Itchy]

I think I got 55 on the CBR, it all depends on how you ride it, in that the issue is in Europe with less cops and cameras you are generally tempted to wring the neck of the bike and thus your fuel economy goes through the floor.

On the motorways down to the ferries I keep it at about 4-6000rpm, once I hit mountains in spain I seldom kept it below 8-9000rpm.
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[c-m]

I was going by the mpg figures on https://www.usedbikeguide.com/bible/index.asp

Just starting to think about it as in 2011 i'm planning a much longer trip away.

[woodyfjr]

[Itchy]

Well don't forget fuel is often cheaper outside the UK, not in france, germany or italy though
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[Kickstart]

Hi

My 1200 Bandit in normal use will give 45mpg. Could probably get that a bit better with some effort.

It has also been down at 28mpg cruising at high speed with a pillion.

All the best

Keith
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[The Shaggy D.A.]

[c-m]

I quite like the MCN reviews as they state the tank range.

I think for any long distance touring (i'm not talking about a quick blast round Europe) you'd want at least 50MPG and a 200mile or more tank range.

What do those BMWs do?

[Bendy]

Quite a few of the touring bikes might not have a particularly better mpg, but they tend to have a bigger tank.

Eg. my Sprint'll do 200 to a tank no bother (its about 21 litres or so) and apparently if you get into the sweet spot you might make 250.

In town it chews fuel like a power station though.

[c-m]

The GPZ regularly did over 230 on a tank (19litres) - its not very comfortable though. The narrow seat digs in a bit.

The ZXR750 again two up with luggage did 230 once on my way back from Klon. Itt needs valves done every 6k though

Haven't toured on the ZX9R yet, but i don't think it will be great. something bout the riding position buts my head directly in the wind blast and makes it very noisey., I'm 5'10 so not exactly huge. Also my rearsets/pegs don't seem to be symmetrical, which is unconfortable.

I'm wondering what 50+mpg, 200mile range low service bikes there are out there with a sporty riding position (i don't like to sit upright).

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Put clipons and rearsets on a CB500
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[27cows]

I get around 48-50mpg from my 12 Bandit. But then I usually ride with max miles to the gallon in mind I've had as little as 32mpg, though.

[c-m]

[Skudd]

My Varadero has a 25lt tank, when touring I tend to fill up at the 280 mile mark, usually it has about 3lts still in the tank, sometimes it is mls. It does depend on how you ride, but the larger bikes do things at ease with loads in reserve and that is what you want when touring.
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[kingsmith]

my old c plate yamaha fj1200 should do 50mpg+ i am told previous owner (mate at work) told me, doing 60/70mph i have only done about 250miles on the bike before the weathers gone shit

i would say the tank should do about 250miles can other confurm that???

wanted it because you can load it up + two people and still buzz along all day long, great torque engine love it...can sit in top from 25mph well top speed very lazy riding lol
ready for next yrs touring fun!!!

love it
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[Al]

[Kris]

[alone]

My Sprint quite often managed 60mpg while away touring. On days varying between mountain roads and flat out plains.. I tended to get to 260miles before filling up. Which was usually fine for a break too.

More important than mpg is comfort, I'd say.
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[kitty kat]

Mk1 Fazer 600, 19 litre tank, most fuel put in 17 litres and get minimum 200 miles per tank even fully laden around Europe.

BTW I found Austria & Slovenia to be the cheapest for fuel, France, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium & Luxembourg were dearer than Uk.
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[kawashima]

TDM900 has 20L tank. About 22kms(14miles)/litre, 64mpg. Tank mileage is about 280 miles.
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[instigator]

[c-m]

[G]

Remember that you can drastically chance fuel economy with riding style.
For instance, try and keep up with a zx9 that's 'pottering' on a GPZ and the ZX9 may well give a lot better mpg.

Oh and I found a double bubble made a big difference to my zx9 and I'm around the same height as you. I could sit at 140mph slightly ducked down with ear plugs in and it felt slower than 80mph on a KLR650 - this may not be a good thing, though!