Bikes With Better Miles per Gallon?

[Ingah]

The CBF125 has been advertised around town at 120mpg (11bhp), and i've heard it's similar speed to the CG125 (80-90mpg, also 11bhp). This is a sizeable improvement in MPG without any obvious loss of power (i've always been told "you pay for power" and i'm hoping it's no longer strictly true) - unfortuntely in the case of the CBF it's still a piffling amount of power that i feel is more suitable for learners than for proper usage - i never really did feel 100% safe on A-roads/motorways on my old CG125 (it just didn't have the power to prevent other vehicles bullying you or to get out of trouble and i can't see the CBF being any different), ergo i was wondering if anyone is aware of it being achieved in the slightly bigger bikes. I'm talking 150-500cc here - bikes that are designed for commuting/general use really (like the CBF125, but more useable on bigger roads).

I know there's bikes like the CB250 (75mpg, 20bhp) and the various equivalents from the other Jap manufacturers, but i've never really heard that they're any great shakes safer/quicker than things like the CG/CBF. It seems to then jump somewhat to the 500cc twins (CB500, ER-5, GS500 @ 50-57bhp, ~50mpg). The 400s all seem to be rare/expensive sports bikes, so not fitting the bill either. And of course then you have 600cc+ which all properly go like stink, but have more carlike MPG.

The only bike i ever heard of that may have a suitable balance of MPG and performance is something like the CB250RS (27bhp, ~65/70mpg) - but it's again old and rare, and any examples lying around would probably be all knackered out.

Was just hoping to pick brains really, are there any decent more fuel efficient bikes yet (i only really pay attention to Hondas so maybe another manufacturer has made something?) or (i'm thinking more likely) have the manufacturers not really bothered to (probably perceived lack of demand at a guess).
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-- Ingah

[ttr]

I've heard NTV650s get 60 odd MPG. Will report back soon on the verity of that, though.


I don't know figures, but perhaps something like the old school 250 'ninjas'?
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[temeluchus]

My experience with CGs is more along the 110-120mpg mark.

I used to have a GS125, that hit 110 on average.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Ingah]

I was talking more about the manufacturers figures (i think they are the best guide) as i'm aware of a massive range of values that various owners get from their bikes, even of the same model.

For example, i used to get 80-85mpg on my CG125 (vs your 110-120) And i'm getting 45mpg or under on my CB500 (restricted; thankfully this period is ever-so-close to ending) - vs other people's oft-reported 60-70. And no, i don't ride like a maniac! (i also service the bikes properly too which makes my own MPG figures rather irritating).

Does the manufacturer say that 650 can do 60mpg, or is that grandad-style riding in 6th everywhere? (although even so, 60mpg even at a push, on a 650 does appeal somewhat).
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-- Ingah

[ttr]

None too sure, not seen manufacturer's figures, just 'what I've heard', haha.

Don't think it'd be much of a step up from a full power cb5, mind you, definitely sub-60bhp.
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Flip]

It's a sad day for bikers everywhere when someone wants a fuel efficient bike (I think your post may have actually killed a kitten!). 4 bikes over 8ish years I've owned and I couldn't tell you the MPG of one of them.

Now go to your room and think about what you've done.

[Alexio]

A 125cc 4 stroke bike in good tune will cruise at 65MPH, which is perfectly acceptable for not getting "bullied" on A roads and Motorways even.

I know this because of the thousands of miles I've done on my CG going faster than 60MPH (and even cruising at 70 for long stretches). It's perfectly acceptable and feasible and you still hit 100MPG. Yes you have to service the bike much more often and probably rebuild the engine more often than is normal for a 4 stroke but thankfully it's an incredibly simple bike, even pretty simple to fix on the road side.

So if you're really fussed about fuel economy then stop complaining and learn how to look after a 125 properly
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[Devils Advocate]

[P.addy]

[Mark65]

My YBR125 is well looked after and has oil changes at 1k but on a normal day it will only reach 57mph on a dry day with no wind it will get to 62mph, iv seen 65mph once and that was down a hill.Now granted i am a largish chap so that may be the reason, it is pretty nippy up to the 50mph mark though.

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Devils Advocate]

My reply wasnt about speed, it was about the perception of being able to avoid bullying and getting out of situations on big busy roads.All the basic 125s will fail at that, and by basic i mean cbrs/cg etc not derestricted rs/tuned nsr etc.

Whilst some of them might be able to hit 70, that`s flat out speed for a 125 and theres nothing left in the pipe above that for overtakes etc.
Even riding at 50-60, if you need to get past something quickly its going to take an age to get the bike upto 70 isnt it.Getting out of situations requires more BHP than a 125 can offer.
And then there`s the very poor braking of basic 125 at speed, amongst other things.

You need to put things in to real world scenarios to understand the serious impracticalities of using a 125 in the manner suggested and compare its flaws to the way a bigger capacity-better suited machine handles the same situations.
One fails, one wins.

[Mark65]

Yes, i was agreeing with the lack of oomph that they have, although i ride in the middle to the centre of the road and do not let myself be bullied, i can appriciate not everyone is like that. The only place i really ride on regulary that requires speed is the small stretch of the east lancs where its a 60mph stretch, and with the lack of oomph i have too plan well ahead to change lanes and such. Maybe a YBR150 or 175 would be better . Hopefully this summer my test will be passed. Mpg is around 110.

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Kickstart]

Hi

Never really seem real claims from the makers for mpg, and not aware of any standards for bikes to make those figures meaningful.

From memory the CBF125 isn't meant to be as good as the CG125 on fuel.

Of the 500 twins, we have had 2 GPZ500s and one would do 60mpg at normal speeds (ie, kept below 85mph) while the other would do 65mpg.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[thewildblue]

My versys has averaged 60mpg over 10k miles. It will the hoik the front up in 2nd and can hussle along at a fair old lick if you need it to. This is with full throttle redline runs through the gears to a ton plus but moslty cruising on the mway in the 75-90 bracket.

Big bikes can return good mpg. My 10r returned 48mpg with a passenger,tank bag and loaded panniers on a 45mile cruise at 90ish on the A1...I was on my way to a track day so had all the luggage on. Did alot less than that round teh track dropping into the 20s.

[Alexio]

[Bendy]

[Devils Advocate]

[locked]

I've got a CBF125 and at todays prices, £5 of fuel gets me around 90 - 110mpg.

Im not a fan of using the bike on the duel carriageway because it tops out around 65 - 70mph and thats with revving the tits off it.

Im happy to sit there doing 65mph but it gets frusraiting after a while.

sometimes I just want to overtake but I wouldn't even dare try because of the lack of oomph.
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on the look out for my next bike....
CBT Passed - 13/09/09 Theroy Passed - 19/12/09 Mod 1 Passed 04/05/10 Mod 2 Passed 14/05/10 - Free to ride ANYTHING!
Motorcycles are perfectly safe as long as you remember they're dangerous.

[.Chris.]

I find on a small bike the fuel economy is far more variable - the economy on my RXS drops quite markedly if you're trying to ride fast into a headwind, for example.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[ttr]

At the end of the day everyone defends what they ride.

125s are more economically sound but are frankly shit at cruising on real roads. It can be done but it isn't as pleasant an experience as doing it on a bigger bike. It can even be quite fun to rev the tits off a tiny engine but after you try a bigger bike you will not miss it so much. A 250 is probably a pretty comfortable balance of small bike-tit-revving-fun but capable of doing sensible speeds at sensible engine speeds, too. That said my CRM needed the bollocks revved off it to keep up with traffic in NSLs...

Alexio, try a big bike then report back. You'll probably find it a lot more civilised. I always had great laughs ducking in behind the tiny box of a fairing on the GS and redlining it at 60 but I definitely prefer being able to sedately cruise at like 4k revs on the Z.

And I'd be amazed if you really got good fuel economy covering NSL miles on a 125, I should have thought it'd drop to car levels at best.
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Kickstart]

Hi

Can't say a small 4 stroke 125 on motorways appeals at all. Being the thiny spread filling in a sandwich of 2 lorries isn't something I like, and having a true top speed of around 65 is going to make it difficult to avoid that without getting in everyone elses way.

However a full power 2 stroke is fine on the motorways. Capable of cruising at about 80 with an easy 10mph left in reserve. And while not great on petrol doing that, 55+mpg isn't that bad. Indeed the best every time for the ~160 mile journey from my mothers to my old house was on an old Aprilia AF1.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[P.addy]

[stinkwheel]

A Royal Enfield 350 bullet does somewhere in the region of 80mpg but isn't really much faster than a 125.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Kickstart]

[T0MMY]

Manufacturer figures aren't very reliable in my opinion, better to go with real life examples.

The power:MPG ratio certainly isn't linear, my CBR600 and my Bros both got 50-55mpg but the Bros had one third the power!

That said you won't find a standard bike that can cruise at 75 mph and get over 100mpg too. GPZ500Ss can be very good on fuel, I can't remember what mine used to get but I hear figures of 80 mpg possible if you ride smoothly, keep the revs down, minimise braking by planning ahead etc. etc.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR