What Is a Good MPG for a Motorcycle?

A good fuel economy for a motorcycle is generally 50–60 mpg (US). Many riders consider 60–80 mpg very good, and anything above 80 mpg excellent—usually seen on smaller bikes and scooters. Large touring and high‑performance motorcycles often return 35–45 mpg, which is normal for their class. For metric readers: 50 mpg ≈ 4.7 L/100 km; 60 mpg ≈ 3.9 L/100 km; 80 mpg ≈ 2.9 L/100 km.

How “Good” MPG Varies by Use and Expectations

What counts as good mileage depends on what and how you ride. Daily commuters on light bikes often target 60+ mpg, while long-distance tourers on heavy machines are content with mid‑40s. Urban stop‑and‑go typically lowers mpg compared with steady highway cruising at moderate speeds. Also note that mpg figures in the U.S. use the U.S. gallon; the U.K./Imperial gallon is larger, so the numbers appear higher (50 mpg US is about 60 mpg Imp).

Typical Real‑World MPG by Motorcycle Type

The ranges below reflect common real‑world rider reports and manufacturer estimates for current and recent models; actual results vary with speed, load, terrain, weather, and riding style.

• 50–125cc scooters: roughly 80–120+ mpg (US), optimized for short urban trips.
• 150–300cc scooters and small motorcycles: about 60–100 mpg, strong economy with enough power for city and suburban use.
• 300–500cc standards/sport/commuters: typically 50–80 mpg, balanced performance and efficiency.
• 650–900cc twins and middleweight standards: around 45–65 mpg, depending on tuning and aerodynamics.
• 600–1000cc sport bikes: generally 35–50 mpg; high revs and aggressive gearing can lower economy.
• Middleweight cruisers: about 45–60 mpg; larger-displacement cruisers often run 40–50 mpg.
• Adventure/dual‑sport singles: commonly 55–80 mpg; big ADV twins: roughly 40–55 mpg.
• Full‑dress tourers (1000–1800cc): about 35–45 mpg, with fairings and weight affecting results.
• Electric motorcycles (MPGe): often 60–150+ MPGe city and 40–90 MPGe highway; note MPGe measures energy equivalent, not gasoline consumption.

If your bike’s mpg falls inside these brackets for its class, you’re in the expected range. Consistently exceeding the upper end typically means gentle riding and favorable conditions; falling well below may signal heavy throttle use, high speeds, headwinds, or maintenance issues.

Key Factors That Affect Motorcycle MPG

Multiple variables influence fuel economy, sometimes more than engine size alone. The points below highlight the biggest drivers of real‑world mpg.

• Speed and aerodynamics: Wind drag rises rapidly above ~55 mph; small bikes can lose substantial mpg at highway speeds.
• Riding style: Smooth throttle, early upshifts, and anticipating traffic save fuel; aggressive acceleration and late braking cost mpg.
• Engine type and tuning: Larger displacement, more cylinders, and high‑revving tunes typically burn more fuel; modern fuel injection helps efficiency.
• Weight and load: Passenger, luggage, and accessories (e.g., panniers, top boxes) increase drag and rolling resistance.
• Tires and pressure: Underinflation and aggressive tread patterns raise rolling resistance.
• Fuel quality and ethanol content: E10 (10% ethanol) can reduce mpg by roughly 3–5% versus pure gasoline.
• Maintenance: Dirty air filters, old plugs, misadjusted chains, and dragging brakes sap efficiency.
• Terrain and traffic: Hills, headwinds, stop‑and‑go, and cold weather all reduce mpg.
• Altitude and temperature: Thin air at altitude can change fueling; cold engines run richer until warmed.

Addressing these areas often yields noticeable improvements, especially for commuters riding in mixed urban conditions or touring at highway speeds.

How to Improve Your Motorcycle’s MPG

You can’t change your bike’s class, but you can optimize how it uses fuel. These practical steps typically deliver the biggest gains.

• Ride smoothly: Moderate acceleration, maintain steady speeds, and shift up early without lugging the engine.
• Keep speeds reasonable: Aerodynamic drag climbs steeply above 60–65 mph; even a small reduction can add mpg.
• Maintain tire pressures: Check at least weekly and before long trips; follow the manufacturer’s spec for load.
• Stay on top of maintenance: Air filter, spark plugs, chain tension/lube, throttle body sync, and brake drag checks.
• Reduce drag and weight: Pack light, remove unneeded accessories, and keep luggage narrow and aligned with airflow.
• Plan routes and timing: Avoid heavy congestion and long warm‑ups; combine short errands to minimize repeated cold starts.
• Fuel choice: If available and appropriate, ethanol‑free gasoline can slightly improve mpg; always follow octane requirements.
• Monitor with data: Track fill‑ups and use a trip meter or fuel app to spot trends and detect problems early.

Consistent habits matter more than one-off tweaks; combine several of these practices to see sustained, measurable improvements.

Measuring Your Real‑World MPG Accurately

Published mpg figures are helpful, but your riding conditions are unique. Use a simple method to calculate your own baseline.

• Top off the tank, reset a trip meter, and ride normally.
• Refill at the next stop, noting miles ridden and gallons added.
• Calculate mpg: miles ÷ gallons (or convert to L/100 km: 235.21 ÷ mpg US).
• Repeat across several tanks to average out wind, traffic, and temperature effects.
• Record context: speed mix (city/highway), load, and weather to interpret variations.

After a few tanks, you’ll have a reliable baseline for your bike and riding pattern, making it easier to evaluate changes or spot issues.

Bottom Line

For most riders, 50–60 mpg (US) is a solid benchmark for “good” motorcycle fuel economy. Smaller and lighter machines can achieve 60–80+ mpg, while big tourers and high‑performance bikes commonly return 35–45 mpg. Your real‑world number will depend on speed, riding style, conditions, and maintenance—factors you can partially control.

Summary

Good motorcycle mpg is typically 50–60 in U.S. terms, with 60–80+ achievable on small-displacement bikes and scooters and 35–45 common for large tourers and sport machines. Results hinge on speed, aerodynamics, riding habits, load, fuel, and maintenance. Track your own mpg over several tanks to set expectations and guide improvements.

Is 48 MPG good for a motorcycle?

Riding Style and Habits:
Usually, higher RPMs will mean lower MPGs. On certain motorcycles riding reasonably can get you a good mpg between 45 to 55. However, if you really push it, it is normal for the mpg to drop significantly, in some cases, as low as 20 to 30 mpg.

Is 35 MPG good for a motorcycle?

The simplest answer, without needing any more information about what bike, where you’ll be riding, road conditions, etc., is to say that you can likely expect 35–50mpg from almost any modern motorcycle. That’s a wide range, and you could get better or worse mileage.

What motorcycle gets 70 miles per gallon?

They also happen to be super fuel efficient, even in their sportiest guises. The Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Honda CBR300R, for example, will grant you close to 70 miles per gallon of fuel. If you’re looking for a little more punch, the Yamaha YZF-R7 provides close to 60 mpg in a bigger package.

What is a good MPG on a motorcycle?

1.	Small Motorcycles (Under 250cc)	: Often achieve 70-100+ miles per gallon (mpg).
2.	Medium Motorcycles (250cc – 600cc)	: Generally get 50-70 mpg, depending on the model and riding conditions.
3.	Large Motorcycles (600cc and above)	: Typically range from 30-50 mpg.

Mar 8, 2020