Thread: Riding for Fuel economy

One of the advantage of a bike for a commute, more in Melbourne, is the ease of parking, and depends again on the cost of your parking rates if their is any significance savings.
Being only a 600cc, I get very good milage out of my tires, rear will last around 30,000km and the front almost double, and these are good quality Metzlers with a very predictable road manner, hard compounds would last longer, but are alot more dangerous in my experience.
My poor bike does not see the service that it should, but is only 4ltres of oil and a filter, and is air cooled so do not have to worry about any radiator maintenece.
We have a small festiva as a 2nd car and it too gets fantastic mileage aswell, and I did a calculation once of how many K's I had to do on the bike in a year inorder to pay for the extra running cost of the bike and it worked out that I would have to ride it almost 5days a week for the year to make up the difference. But that is not why I ride it, I ride it because I enjoy riding it.
Rego is around $385 a year, + Insurance, and tires is the most expensive part. The bike has just over 100,000kms on it and have just replaced the front disc because it was warped, and have replaced the clutch pack once, and the brake pads have been changed about 3 or 4 times and are getting due for a new set, and have replaced the clutch cable twice - and, and about 3 sets of chain and sprokets.
But over a year time frame I probably spend alot more on the maintence of the Disco than I do for the bike for the same Kms covered.

On a differnent note there is an electric scooter coming into Australia, and they say it will cost about 50c/100km, has a 2hr charge time and will get 100km / charge at around 50km/hr and has a top speed of 100km/hr but will cost $16,000.00
P38rover- thanks for pointing out my spelling error

how do you think it would fair for something smaller say a 250cc road/trail bike whats the expenses of running one of those types of bike?

250 cc trail bikes suck on the highway (I am talking 80's spec air cooled 4 stroke singles here)

The old XR350 was a HEAPS better bike than the 250.

I have considered the road/trail commute/play bike and the biggest sticker for me is that decent dirt tyres are shocking on the road and vice-versa. Compromise tyres excel at nothing.

So. You'd neet two sets of wheels, one with sticky street rubber abd a little rear sprocket and one with off road only knobbies and a big sprocket

Old school 4 stroke singles are cheap to run and service. I know nothing of the modern liquid cooled jobbies

thats about All I was after the bike wouldnt be for highway use just the run to work and back, maybe down to the shops to get milk and light groceries.

With that info in hand I'll keep my eyes on the weekend sales, unless someone knows someone selling a 250 single pot 4 stroker in reasonable nick Im interested.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

thats about All I was after the bike wouldnt be for highway use just the run to work and back, maybe down to the shops to get milk and light groceries.

With that info in hand I'll keep my eyes on the weekend sales, unless someone knows someone selling a 250 single pot 4 stroker in reasonable nick Im interested.

Dave (and others), lot's of people say that, "I don't need anything fast I'm only poking around"
Honestly, you'll find a 250 frustrating in very short time.
And underpowered bikes and scooters are just downright dangerous. People don't see bikes, so it's up to the rider to keep or get out of the way of tin tops. If someone moves into your lane you need to be able to scat. You can't brake because 9/10 the turkey behind you is tailgating and he won't stop as fast as a bike... Need to merge and someone is bullying you? And so on. Bikes NEED an advantage to counter their disadvantage.

My recommendation for a good honest cheap all rounder is you can't go past a 600 trailie.

Think if you want to save money you have to go to the scooter end of town. I was reading about an aprillia 50cc joby that is two stroke, but uses direct injection technology from orbital. Apparently it uses 2l/100, but can cruise at up to 100/110.

Yeah, Right on baby!!!
You buy one and I will get my favourite Indian taxi driver to help you up the Harbour Bridge hill. I once saw someone stuggling up the hill at about 60Kmh on a 125 or something, with cars whizzing by at 80-100Kmh. Scaaaaary!
Having ridden my Honda 900 Hornet to work in Sydney City for 5 years from Mona Vale (about 35Km) EVERY DAY RAIN OR SHINE, I feel I am qualified to comment.

I did 5.2L per 100Km average without fail over the 5 years.
The costs are heavy, especially tyres, which last 15K and cost $300 or so each. Insurance, CTP and rego came to $700 per year.
However it saved me about 70 minutes a day in commuting time,with a park in the basement, or a bus trip with someone's **** in my face. The cheapest by far is the bus.

For commuting around the suburb, I would go for a 250 maxi scooter. they usually have about 50 litres of storage under the seat. BUT they weigh a LOT. They still get 3-4 L per 100Kms, they can do 120 Kmh for real, and they have pretty good weather protection.
If you do not mind a backpack, and you do not plan the ride in winter a 5-600 trailer would be OK, but the rego and CTP is much higher than a sub 250.
Regards Philip A

Well I think scooters are just great

me too,,
this averages 34kpl at 60 kph
does 155kph
twist and go CVT
Piaggio Xevo 400