Best bike for fuel consumption, advice please?

[insertnameher...]

Hi, this is my first post so apologies for my newbie status

I'm looking for a bike for getting out and about on at the weekend.

I don't have to get there really fast, I'd like to be able to keep up with people if I'm riding with others, but I'd like to get further on a tank of petrol if you see what I mean. For me, at the moment at least, the fun is in the freedom to go places rather than the speed that I get there.
Any suggestions?

thanks

[Kickstart]

Hi

Things like the CG125 are good on fuel, but not that quick. Possibly not a good choice if you need to keep up with people (unless they are on CG125s as well).

GPZ500 is good on fuel and has a decent size tank.

All the best

Keith
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[and]

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[insertnameher...]

Useful suggestions thanks. I'd rate both your posts but I don't have enough karma yet! Not sure how that works but I'm sure all will become clear in the fullness of time.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Welcome to the forum. It'll be useful to let us know what you're licenced to ride first, as there's no point recommending bikes if you're only 16 and are stuck with 50cc. Your budget would be useful too - if you've only got £500 to spend then we can't suggest the 130mpg CBF125. If you've got £4k to spend, a lot of patience and don't mind smelling like a tractor, you might be able to find a 200mpg Diesel Enfield too

Have a look at this thread, there's a spreadsheet of bikes with their fuel consumption listed.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Dazbo666]

Another vote for the GPZ from me too... my first bike, cheap to buy, well loved, regularly ridden, good on fuel, relatively cheap on insurance, and an apparently bullet proof engine
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[insertnameher...]

Thanks and good point Shaggy D.A

I've got a full licence, passed my test as a teenager and coming back to bikes after a l-o-n-g break. Free again after ditching the ex but have very limited funds, can only spare a grand really.

[chris-red]

The CBF125 claims it getts over 100mpg, you won't keep up with much mind.
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[insertnameher...]

I don't want anything smaller than a 250 really, so that narrows things down a bit more

[el_oso]

yamaha diversion

the gpz is good aswell.

i prefer my divvy for long motorway journeys as the screen seems to offer a bit more wind protection from a more comfortable long distance riding position. the downside is that the divvy is quite boring but they are extremely cheap. insurance for a 20 year old with 1 year NCB was about £171.
gpz insurance is a bit more expensive. around £250.
i've got slightly less mpg on the gpz compared to my divvy.
gpz is a lot more fun.
straight line speed is very similar although the divvy is only slightly quicker
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[jamR]

i've got a CBF125 and i get around 350 miles per £10, guess you wont beat that on fuel, however you wont have fun keeping up ^^

[crowe]

Hi I recommend a Kawasaki ER-5 because that's what i have and it's great on fuel (about 55-60MPG). I fill my tank up for £12 and it goes 150 miles, plus about 25 on the reserve. I've ridden over 100mph and it's a comfortable ride...a nice upright seating position.

similarly are the honda CB500, Suzuki GS500.

[Flip]

[kawakid]

I'd have to agree with the ER5 I had one it had great fuel economy.
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[insertnameher...]

So, ER5 over GPZ? Is this a daft question, but what's the difference apart from being naked?

Also, which bikes are more likely to have been thrashed because of the kind of people who've owned them?

And what problems do the old 600Fazers, GPZs, ER5s, Bandits, Diversions have? In other words what do I need to look out for onthe older ones?

Cheers

[The Shaggy D.A.]

The used bike bible might help with some of those questions :-

https://www.usedbikeguide.com/bible/index.asp
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[crowe]

[Kickstart]

Hi

ER5 and GPZ500 use the same basic engine, but the GPZ has about 10hp more (claimed). GPZ has less commuter bike styling and monoshock rear suspension, ER5 uses twin shocks. Some GPZ500s had twin front disks (varies between years and markets, only very late UK ones had twin disks).

All the best

Keith
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