How to ride for MPG and bike integrity?

[YourMumRang]

Hi all.

Just picked up a nice cheap CBR125 and I'm commuting to work on it each day. The trip is about 11.5 miles each way. It includes a few stretches of 60 and some 30 villages.

What I'd like advice on is the best way to ride for good MPG. How should I accelerate? What gear should I be in/when?

Also, since I want to be kind to my bike if anyone could give advice on the main things to be checking constantly (as in maintainance), if there is any benefit in using the 'posh' unleaded and any other advice for allowing me to still be riding this bike in 3 years time.

Cheers,
Andy

[dragstaar]

Best maintenance is riding safe so that you don't crash it.

Buy haynes Manual
Read haynes Manual

Pre-ride checks.

Chain Tension
Oil Level
Headlights and brake Lights
Tyre pressures

Regulars

Change oil (possible filter to)
Check sprockets for wear
Check brakes for wear (change if needed)
clean air filter

Just treat the bike with care, and don't neglect it and it will will give you years of service. You've made a good decision by buying a Honda rather than a hongdonsukidaxhanchinglow. Chinese bikes are shit.

[Sham]

To get the best out of it, don't thrash it everywhere. Gentle throttle use, avoid riding with the throttle fully open for long periods, that kind of thing. Backing off a touch and riding at 55 rather than 60+ pushing it will make a big difference. Did on my CBF125 at least - 320 miles to a tank.

Checking stuff, usual suspects - oil, tyre pressures, chain....

[FBSF]

What he said.

Plus, the easiest way of not using as much fuel is to open the throttle less. Sounds like I'm taking the P1ss, but I'm not.

If the engine is struggling either at too low revs, or too high revs, you are going to be using more throttle and therefore more fuel than if it's in it's happy range (probably 4000-8000rpm on the CBR).

Also keeping it maxed out (65-70ish) will use a lot more fuel than doing 55-60.

[dragstaar]

Also, choose the correct gearing. Too high or too low a gear will use more fuel. Get a feel for the bike, and you will soon know which gear is best for what situation

[Daimo]

On a 125cc, you really dont need to worry about fuel.

But if your are that bad about it, then low gear shifts, smooth acceleration (dont just wind it opne), and get into 6th asap.

I find I go round chicanes (sorry, roundabouts), when no cars around, in 6th, and stay in 6th coming out of the roundabout.

Smooth throttle, revs down, into high gear asap.

[DrDonnyBrago]

Ride it like you are not in a hurry -

use a smooth throttle input
let the bike slow down without brakes as you approach junctions etc
leave a bigger gap to the vehicle in front so you don't brake and accelerate as often
take corners smooth
try not toaccelerate up hill
pick up free extra speed down hill
ride slower than you normally would
don't rev the hell out the engine, keep the revs low, change up earlier than you normally would
take things you don't need out of your topbox etc to save weight
keep your tyres pumped up
make sure your brakes aren't dragging
keep your chain clean and well lubed
don't be fat


Also, don't waste your cash on high octane 'premium' fuel, you don't need it just stick to regular unleaded.

[N cee thirty]

on my cg i did 50 in 5th and did about 300 miles to a tank
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[Kickstart]

Hi

For the mpg, ride smoothly. Don't run up to corners and stamp on the brakes, back off early and avoid braking.

Mainenance wise, keep the chain well lubed and adjusted. Keep the tyre pressures right. Change the oil regularly. Keep the air filter clean. Keep on top of the valve adjustment.

As to posh petrol. depends which one to be honest. Fuel that purely has a higher octane rating will do you no benefit at all. Some of the posh fuels claim higher energy content or better cleaning additives and these might help.

If you need to change the oil then wander over and do it here if you want.

All the best

Keith
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[calyx]

It's a 125 ffs. Just ride it like you stole it. You'll get 72mpg instead of 78mpg.
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Boris - London

[neil.]

Don't rag it, change gear smoothly, let the clutch out without too much speed. I believe keeping the revs lower decreases stress and wear on the engine (I generally top out at 50mph in 5th gear at 7k rpm on my YBR, sometimes letting it go to 55mph if I want a short burst of extra speed).

Also add checking valve clearances and changing/checking spark plug to your regular servicing.

[crowe]

My old bike was Honda CBR125r....You'll more than likely rev it quite high in order to get to a reasonable speed in time. My advice is keep away from red lining it and you'll be fine. It's only a small bike so the fuel return is going to be excellent whatever you do to it.

Crowe
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Kawasaki ER-5

[Frost]

[Jim Mc]

I found that I had to completely rag the shit out of the bike to get any speed out of it and the economy was still pretty good, 110miles per day cost around £7, what's that, 64mpg, don't think you need to spend too much time being preoccupied by fuel with economy like that.

[Martay]

Economy you cant really go wrong with. I fully loaded my 125 and rode it up to the coast for a camping hol. With side panniers and riding at 9,500rpm (redline at 10,000) it still averaged about 85-90mpg.
Ride it carefully, look after it, and it will look after you
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[stonesie]

[YourMumRang]

It's more about the engine tbh.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Once warmed up I can't say I worry about the revs within reason.

All the best

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

[dragstaar]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Adding to Donny's list, don't just blindly go for top gear, having the engine lugging is almost as bad as screaming. Engines are most efficient at peak torque - on the CBR this is claimed to be at 8,250rpm so although the peak power is at 10,000rpm, try to keep it closer to that point when cruising.

Above all, ride like your brakes don't work. Plan ahead, ride smoothly. Your 11.5 miles at 60mph (even if you could average that speed on the trip) would take 11.5 minutes, at 40mph it would be 5.75 minutes longer. See what speed decrease you're willing to put up with to maximise fuel consumption. The CBR is quoted at returning up to 120mpg - would an extra 6 minutes on your journey be worth a potential extra 40mpg to you?
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[cloric_tzr]

^^^ thats easily achieved on a road like the A45 but you do that on the old 4500 at rush hour you know some tw*ts gonna nearly kill you trying to overtake.
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My wifes so ugly, the only thing that goes down on her
Is the internet connection.

[Beelzebob]

[Raf]

You're on one of the most efficient bikes out there. Stop being a nonce and ride it, you will get 100mpg even redlining that thing.
Il be lucky to get 35mpg out of mine, even when trying.
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CBR1100xx - BMW K1100 - BMW K100 - Triumph Sprint ST 955i - Suzuki GSX-R 600 - Suzuki DR 350 - Yamaha XV 750 - Honda CBR 600 FM - Yamaha XT 600 - Yamaha Rs 200 - Honda NSR 125

[Shreddie]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Petrol sold in the UK must comply to at least BS EN 228. This specifies a min RON of 95, so unless supermarkets are prepared to try and sell fuel that is legal in the UK then it has the same RON rating as other normal UK unleaded fuels.

Suspect it you tried running most cars on 90 RON fuel (let alone 80 RON) you would just land up with a hole burnt in the piston, if it managed to run long enough to do the damage.

All the best

Keith
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