Source: MotorcyclistOnline.com
Yes, that’s an electric motorcycle, the Zero FXE. No, you’ll have to read the whole article to find out why we included it. (Zero/)As of this writing, the average gas price in the US is $3.53 per gallon, which is below past spikes in 1981, 2005, and 2008. But adjusted for inflation, we pay twice what we paid 40 years ago. Whether it’s global conflict, supply disruptions, or seasonal reformulations in fuel, the result is the same—higher prices.Riders generally feel the pain less, if the subject even comes up. Motorcyclist doesn’t include mileage figures in our technical specifications list in our new motorcycle preview articles, but you know we provide tested figures in our official non-press introduction motorcycle reviews.But while some blissfully twist the throttle without care, others lean into our horsepower/weight advantage and relish the savings. Those savings ain’t what they used to be. A hybrid Toyota Prius gets about 57 mpg, significantly more than most current performance or cruiser bikes.Still, if you dig around enough, some bikes stand out. Here’s our annual roundup of the most fuel efficient bikes on the market. There are lots of familiar faces (fascia?), but we dug deep to find new blood as well. And at the end, a surprise ringer helps kickstart the comments section.As in the past, we relied on fuelly.com to keep official mileage claims honest. That’s assuming miles-per-gallon claims exist at all. It’s funny. As you climb product lines and bikes get bigger, mileage figures disappear from spec sheets. Fun fact: Only Yamaha shows claimed EPA-derived mpg for all its streetbikes. Enjoy.Ah, the Honda Grom. Can hedonistic fun coexist with sensible things like fuel economy? This is America, we can have it all. (Honda/)Honda GromSince the 2022 redesign, Honda managed to get slightly more power and significantly better gas mileage, thanks to a bit of “stroking” and a fifth gear that acts as overdrive. A smaller bore and longer crank can do this by increasing compression and making more bang from the same or less amount of fuel. Honda claims 166.5 mph is possible, but that’s if you religiously short-shift and avoid fun and spontaneity. But resistance is futile. Just try to ride the Grom without attempting wheelies and hanging knees out. But it’s cool. No matter what, you’ll likely get at least 100 mpg.The cost-savings emphasis on efficiency of Honda’s NC750X starts with things like not updating media photography and reusing 2023 European product photography. Well played, Honda. (Honda/)Honda NC750XIn the immortal words of Huey Lewis, it’s hip to be square. While much of the motorcycling community applies fake mohawks to helmets and stretches Gixxers, another subset loves utility storage big enough to fit helmets in, minus the mohawk, of course. And ridiculous gas mileage. Enter the Honda NC750X. This venerable ADV commuter option gets a claimed 67.2 mpg, with owners regularly claiming 70–80-plus mpg. Motorcyclist testing netted a 53.5 mpg figure, with former staffer and professional racer Michael Gilbert at the wheel. So, go figure. Notably, this is the biggest bike on the list.The 2024 KTM 390 Duke brings pint-size power that’s practically a teetotaler at the pump. (KTM/)KTM 390 DukeThe revamped 2024 KTM 390 Duke took a little extra time to get unveiled, but the good news is that rumors of its demise were greatly exaggerated. Revised bodywork, revised suspension, and a redesigned frame get matched up with a new gearbox and top end. But ultimately, weight and power are largely unchanged: a claimed 364 pounds wet with 44.3 hp on tap. It even gets cool rider aids like traction control for those heavy on the throttle. And while KTM’s brand identity isn’t based on things like fuel economy or even listing it on its site anywhere, we registered upward of 50 mpg during our official test, even with liberal throttle-twisting. Lord love a single-cylinder bike that’s thrifty in the twisties.Royal Enfield brings accessibility, fun, and a low price point to its venerable Meteor 350 thumper. Mileage may not be top of mind for buyers, but the Meteor is easy on the petrol too. (Royal Enfield/)Royal Enfield Meteor 350This list wouldn’t be complete without another thumper. This single-cylinder budget classic got 60.1 mpg, courtesy of sister publication Cycle World. The secret to its fuel-sipping ways? A very modest 17.9 hp. And of course that hardworking SOHC 349cc air-and-oil-cooled single. The recent trend of parallel twins in favor of inline-fours follows the same logic. Fewer cylinders means fewer emissions and less fuel consumption in stop-and-go traffic.Suzuki’s entry-level GSX250R ABS brings minimalism and less-is-more philosophy to things like fuel economy. (Suzuki/)Suzuki GSX250R ABSThe wee Gixxer isn’t technically a GSX-R and it’s the last Japanese 250cc sportbike on the market, with everyone else going to 300 and even 400cc bikes. The Honda CBR300R claims 71 mpg, but the GSX250R, even with 45 extra pounds, comes out ahead of all the beginner sportbike contenders with a claimed 73.6 mpg. Obviously, results will vary with real-world riding. And Honda bases its figures off EPA emissions testing, same as Suzuki. Honda and Suzuki site language disclaimers are identical, so if that’s not head-to-head empirical evidence, we don’t know what is. According to fuelly.com data from 2018, the GSX250R averages 76.3 mpg.Classic entry-level enduro charm: the 2024 Yamaha XT250. Largely unchanged for 16 years and light on the wallet. (Yamaha/)Yamaha XT250A claimed 76 mpg earns the Yamaha XT250 a place on this list. While the classic TW200 claims 78 mpg, we’ve included it in enough lists to give a well-deserved break. For reference, during the 2023 Yamaha TW200 Review, we recorded over 60 mpg. Funny enough, the TW200 still samples gas from a single 28mm Mikuni carb while the XT250 drinks from EFI for $400 more. But 50cc more for just 2 mpg less is a great bargain. Virtually unchanged since 2008, it actually began life in 1980 as an update to Yamaha’s much-loved DT250 two-stroke dirt bike. Two-strokes drink gas like a drunken sailor with a borrowed credit card, so the dividends are obvious. Real-world figures are 65.0 mpg, courtesy of fuelly.com. Does that include proper trail riding and minor hill climbing? Only a proper Motorcyclist ride review can determine that. Yamaha representatives, get at us.Ladies and gentlemen, start your comments. But keep reading, there’s a point here. (Zero/)Zero FXEHave a seat and grab a beverage, this one needs a little explanation.Sure, you plug the Zero Motorcycles FXE in. But somewhere, something is getting burned in order to extract all that electric dinosaur power. Chances are your next trip to a full charge is partly due to traditional fuel sources. In order to understand EV efficiency, the EPA helpfully invented “MPGe” in 2010. Assuming the energy contained in 1 gallon of gas equals 33.7kWh, we can use the range to generate standardized figures to compare different bikes or cars. If 33.7kWh gets you 100 miles down the road, that’s 100 MPGe. It’s a useful number, since small-displacement bikes have been reaching 100 mpg for decades. For reference, a Tesla Model S gets a combined 120 MPGe, with 124 city, 115 highway.Figures are hard to come by, but the Zero FXE claims a 560 MPGe rating which, again, is just a product of an EPA formula. You’ll get less if you spend sustained time at 70 mph, or at its top speed of 85 mph. But the 7.2kWh battery works hard for its claimed 102-mile city, 57-mile highway range. Want something bigger? The Zero SR/F gets a claimed 380 MPGe, while the Zero DSR/X clocks in at 398. Again, claimed. To be fair, Zero uses MPGe (buried in the specs), a rarity in the world of EV bike sites and info.On the other end of the spectrum, the Chinese-made Evoke 6061-GT EV cruiser offers a staggering 29.7kWh battery (the largest currently available), with a claimed mixed range of 306.9 miles and 409.2 city. But this yields a mixed range of 360 MPGe. Also, it weighs 705.2 pounds. We’ll keep digging through the fuzzy math, but for now, let’s say the Zero FXE is the MPGe king (or queen).Speaking of math, urban-oriented smaller electric motorcycles get MPGe figures that reach four figures. But let’s put a pin in this for now and let the debate begin.
