MPG For Motorcycles

If you'd found this page your probably fed up with high gas prices and wondering about other options besides your car or truck.  Many now days are wondering about the MPG for motorcycles.  Previously I had a neat blog here where I detailed the MPG I was getting on my motorcycle vs. my truck.  A web server crash ended that so I figured I'd post some of my data here anyway for your reference.  The short answer to what kind of MPG can you get from a motorcycle is anywhere from 34 - 100 MPG depending on the motorcycle.  Lots of factors go into this answer mainly weight, engine type and displacement as well as the technology that goes into the engine and transmission.  Here's what I am finding on my 2005 Harley Davidson Streetglide FLHX.

MPG For Harley Davidson Motorcycle -  My Streetglide is a heavy bike probably 800lbs.  I has a 88 inch motor which is 1450 cc's.  It's a twin cylinder motor with a carburetor not fuel injection so it's a worst case scenario as far as getting good MPG from a motorcycle.  Heavy and inefficient.  When I drive my Harley normally which is 70-80mph highway speeds with lots of passing and going fast off the stoplights, I get 34 mpg.  When however I hang out in the right lane cruising at a steady 60-65 mph I get 49 mpg.  As you can see the MPG you get on a motorcycle will vary just in the behavior of the driver.  You have quite a bit of control over how much gas you use when riding a motorcycle.

Contrast this with my 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck.  Normal driving I get about 15 mpg and if I drive steady in the right lane I can get 20 mpg which is excellent for a V8 truck.  Still i'd rather drive my motorcycle every chance I get and save the mpg.  I actually save $10 each time I drive a motorcycle vs my truck to work.

Harley Davidson MPG 34 - 49