Mods and Methods to Increase Motorcycle Fuel Economy

Gas prices keep going up. Almost every motorcycle rider wishes that they could get the most miles out of each tank. Most modern bikes with several performance enhancements and features are not built to save gas. They are designed to ensure superb performance.

If you are getting pissed off with frequent refueling stops as your bike is consuming too much gas, there are ways through which you can improve your motorcycle's fuel economy. There are certain smart mods and methods that budget-minded riders can use to increase their bike’s fuel efficiency. Continue to read this article if you want to save money on gas and have your bike perform better.

Motorbikes are usually designed to achieve better fuel economy than cars. However, within the motorbikes themselves, there are considerable differences in fuel economy depending on the type of motorcycle. Some bikes achieve 35 mpg, some 50, while some smaller, beginner bikes provide 90 mpg or more.

If you find out that your bike is not achieving the right fuel economy based on its engine size, there may be something wrong with it. More fuel mileage means fewer refueling stops when on long rides. You are less worried about running out of gas while riding. It is also good for your wallet, and in the broader aspect, a better fuel economy is good for the environment, too.

The riding style is also very important when it comes to fuel mileage. Your gear-changing pattern, speed, and how you take care of your bike influence your bike’s fuel mileage. Even certain small things can save considerable amounts of fuel, and in turn money in the long run.

Let’s start with the different mods and methods you can opt for to ensure a better motorcycle fuel economy.

The initial step towards improving your motorbike's fuel economy is regular bike maintenance. A well-tuned, clean engine consumes less fuel and runs smoothly.

If you are a regular rider, you must have observed your bike working quite smoothly and efficiently as soon as you change the engine oil. It feels like the bike’s engine doesn’t have to do much heavy lifting to keep the bike moving. The old, greasy oil indeed makes the work harder. This wastes fuel.

Changing the engine oil is a must-step in the bike maintenance schedule. However, make sure to do it as per the owner’s manual. Riders are also seen using low-viscosity oils. These lighter oils flow more easily and may lead to higher fuel economy. Before using any fuel type, make sure to check the manufacturer's recommended grade of engine oil.

Air is another great factor that influences the motorcycle's fuel economy. Both air and fuel mix together in a suitable ratio for burning inside the engine, which makes the bike work. A stuffed-up or dirty air filter suffocates your engine. This forces it to use more gas. Paper filters are fine, but they easily get dirty. Aftermarket air filters are high-flow, which allows more air to pass through. They are also resilient, reusable, and clean.

Improved airflow implies improved combustion. This is able to increase power and mileage. A minority of riders also report that they got a slight increase in MPG with the use of a good air filter. The engine does not strain and is not forced to work hard.

The spark is formed by spark plugs, which ignite your fuel. Bad sparks are caused by bad or dirty plugs. This results in under-combustion and wastage of gas. Plugs with large holes can consume 15 to 20 percent more fuel.

Check your plugs after every 2,000 miles. Wash them or change them where necessary. Premium plugs are fabricated using iridium or platinum and have long durability. They also produce better sparks, which are stronger and consistent. This is to assist your engine in burning all the fuel.

The power and fuel efficiency of a bike can be enhanced with the help of the right mods. The parts and components that will assist in better breathing and running of your engine are:

Newer or modern bikes are computer-controlled with regard to fuel and air. The stock settings can be lean or rich in order to comply with rules. This may negatively influence power and mileage. A power commander-type of fuel management system allows you to tune the correct fuel blend.

These controllers vary the amount of fuel that your engine receives in different loads and speeds. A good tune has the ability to even the throttle response. It can also increase the fuel economy by providing your engine with the precise amount of fuel. Other riders claim tuning results in higher MPG, especially with other mods, such as exhaust and air filters.

The complete exhaust system helps in passing the exhaust gases at a faster rate. Smoother and less back pressure inside the exhaust system means better engine efficiency. However, there is one more thing: after you have added a new exhaust, you must tune your bike. Failure to tune your bike properly can even cause poor fuel mileage.

A slip-on is a less-expensive option. It will not be as beneficial as a full exhaust system, but it will ensure weight saving. Each pound of weight saved will make your engine work easier. Racing exhausts have the ability to save up to 5 kg or more compared to stock exhaust pipes.

Replacing your front or rear sprocket will impact the way your engine operates at a certain speed. Taller gearing is made by a larger front sprocket or a smaller rear sprocket. This reduced your RPM when highway riding. Reduced RPM implies reduced fuel consumed during cruising.

Taller gearing can improve fuel economy by several MPG in the case of highway riding. You will, however, lose some low-end zip. If you ride mostly in town, with stops, use stock gearing, or even make it shorter. Every bike is unique, and therefore, consult someone experienced or ask on relevant online forums to know what works well on your bike.

Riding style has an enormous influence on the fuel efficiency of motorcycles. There is no comparison of good riding habits when it comes to saving on fuel. It ensures easy and tangible benefits.

Acceleration causes the burning of gas. It is great to roll the throttle wide open every time you see an empty, open road right in front of you. However, this kills your fuel mileage. Rather than pushing the bike excessively while opening the full throttle, build speed gradually. This keeps fuel use in check.

The same goes for braking. By braking too much during the ride, you are wasting the energy that the fuel produces for the bike to accelerate. Look ahead and sail out where you can. Do not accelerate when the road is busy or when it is not needed. This way you will not have to brake excessively and hard.

The best cruising RPM for most bikes is between 2,500 and 4,000 RPM. You can remain in this sweet spot by shifting early. There is no need to rev your engine to redline unless you are in need of quick power.

On the highway, you can change to your top gear when your engine starts running smoothly. Steady speeds in high gears consume less fuel as compared to high RPM in low gears. Know the location of the torque of your bike. Moving to that position provides you with good power without wasting fuel.

Traffic jams are horrible in terms of fuel usage. Each time you stop and accelerate, you use up additional gas. Where possible, use less busy roads. Highways allow you to ride at a comfortable, steady speed that serves well to save on fuel.

Use cruise control on longer highway and open road journeys if your bike has it. Constant throttle refers to constant fuel consumption. A slight increase in speed is cumulative after a long ride.

It is a waste of fuel to idle your bike when it is not even required. In case you are stuck at a spot where you can’t move for over a minute, turn off the engine. The restarts are easy in the modern fuel injection systems. You must have used vehicles that ensure the idle-stop feature.

The Idling Stop System at Honda has the potential to save around 7% of fuel by turning off the engine during red lights. In case your bike does not have this feature, then you can do it yourself. You just have to switch off the key and switch it back on when you are ready.

There are two major parts that remain in contact with the road as you ride. These are your two motorcycle tires that take the most beating. Whereas your bike chain also plays a very crucial role in delivering the engine power to the rear wheel. These two highly influence the fuel mileage of your bike.

Bike tires that are under-inflated have increased drag. This will cause your engine to strain and consume more gas. Tires are also worn out easily with low pressure, and the handling is also compromised.

Monitor the pressure in your tires every two weeks. Make sure to do it before the ride when the tires are cold. The owner's manual of your bike gives the right PSI for your bike. The standard range of bikes requires 30 to 36 PSI tire air pressure. However, it can be different. A decent digital gauge will cost less than a tank of gas and can prove to be really helpful.

High tire pressure decreases the rolling resistance. Some riders inflate their bike tires a couple of PSI higher than the highway stock specification. This can assist in better fuel economy. However, riders must not go over the board. Excessive pressure causes loss of grip and results in a harsh ride.

A dirty or dry chain loses its power due to friction. Losing power translates to wastage of fuel. Frictional losses can be reduced by half when using a well-lubed chain as opposed to a dry chain.

Clean and lubricate your motorcycle chain after every 300-500 miles or after riding in wet and dusty conditions. You can either use a proper chain lube or any oil. Also, maintain the chain at the proper tension. A loose chain or a chain that is too tight is counterproductive.

There are riders who change to a 520 chain instead of the 530 stock one. This is a lighter chain that will save around 800 grams of rotating weight. Less weight equates to increased fuel economy, especially while accelerating.

Every pound that is loaded on your motorbike causes more fuel to burn. So does the air resistance or drag. The more weight on a motorcycle, the more work the engine has to do to propel it.

Similarly, the fuel usage is also increased due to the heavy luggage carried on a bike. Whether it is luggage bags, parts, or tools you are carrying on your bike, even 10 lbs of weight counts on a lightweight bike. Get rid of the heavy equipment and baggage that you do not require on your ride.

Riders who are more performance-oriented remove passenger pegs, mirrors, and the kickstand to lose weight. While these parts may be necessary for many riders, these mods are able to trim 2 to 3 kgs overall. Other riders want to travel with luggage and extra touring parts.

The wind resistance increases as speed increases. Most of the work your motorbike engine does is wasted because of the air drag that pushes the bike backwards, especially at highway speeds. While riding on highways, your bike engine has to do a lot of work to overcome the opposing force, also known as air drag. The air drag increases as your speed increases. This results in higher fuel wastage, on top of compromising the handling and stability of the ride.

So, better aerodynamics means lower air drag. This means the bike will experience less resistance. As a result, the fuel economy will be much better.

The aerodynamics can be improved by improving your riding stance. Hiding behind your windscreen or fairing by leaning forward and getting your chest closer to the gas tank can help you improve the aerodynamics. This is how you ride a sports bike, and such a riding stance is termed an aggressive riding style.

Having smooth, aerodynamically designed body panels, windscreen, or fly screen can improve the fuel economy by decreasing the air drag. However, a bigger, upright windscreen can add to the overall weight and air drag, resulting in poor fuel economy.

Remember! The purpose is to streamline the air and not to take in more air like a sail. Similarly, decently fit riding gear, including clothing and a helmet, reduces the air drag on long highway rides compared to loose ones and a half-face helmet. This is especially true while riding on open roads at highway speeds.

The quality of fuel that you put in your motorcycle's gas tank also counts. However, high-cost gas is not necessarily good.

High-octane fuel has resistance to engine knock. An engine with high compression requires it to operate properly. However, when your bike is made to run on normal 87-Octane gas, then using premium will not help. You will just waste money.

Check the motorbike owner's manual or the sticker on your bike’s fuel tank. Use the fuel with the octane rating that is recommended by your motorcycle manufacturer. It does not increase the power or make it more fuel efficient.

The fuel additives claim to clean fuel injectors and increase fuel mileage. Some work, some don’t. Even in certain cases, some fuel additives may reduce the efficiency of your bike and may cause issues. Fuel additive products, such as Sea Foam or Star Tron, will purify your fuel system. This can assist in case your injectors are filthy.

The other additives market themselves as being the best to enhance the fuel economy. However, the results are not promising. With a good bike that can perform, and you have good gas and a clean gas tank from the inside, you are most likely not in need of fuel additives. There is no bottle of magic juice like regular maintenance does for the fuel economy.

The amount of fuel you burn is highly dependent on where you ride and what route you choose.

Stop-and-go traffic and busy roads kill your motorcycle mileage. Each time a bike starts at a standstill, it consumes a burst of fuel. You should plan routes that have a lesser number of stops, traffic signals, blockages, and traffic jams as much as possible.

Mobile apps, such as Google Maps or Waze, indicate the real-time traffic. You can use such apps to discover easier paths. At times, a longer route with fewer traffic stops will beat a shorter route that has tons of traffic jams and red lights.

Highways provide the best fuel economy. It is possible to maintain a constant speed at low RPM in top gear. This is where the taller gearing stands out. In case you are mostly riding on highways, a change of gearing to reduce your cruising RPM is worthwhile.

You can ride when there is light traffic. The early morning or late evening riders will allow you to ride at speed without braking. This in itself can increase your MPG by 10 percent or higher.

Nothing can be made better unless it is measured or monitored. Monitor your mileage to check what you are getting.

Fill your tank all the way. Record the number of miles in your odometer. The next time you fill up, you will put your number of gallons added and the mileage that was obtained. Divide the number of miles travelled by the number of gallons used. This will be your fuel mileage in MPG.

Repeat the same process on a number of gas tanks fully fueled every time to have an average. Then try one change at a time, like adjust your motorcycle tire pressure, adjust your riding posture, or add some mod discussed above. This will assist you in knowing what actually works for your bike.

There is no single magic trick or thing that can cause your motorbike's fuel economy to increase overnight. However, combining different methods and mods can make a difference. Begin with something that doesn’t cost anything, like correct tire pressure, riding smartly, and planned riding. Make sure to keep the bike maintained by following the recommended service intervals. This can possibly increase your bike’s fuel economy by 10-20 percent.

This is when you should go for the mods if you want more improvement with a performance gain, too. A few percent of fuel mileage improvement can be achieved by adding a good air filter, fuel controller, and lightweight exhaust. With smart riding, you can achieve nearly 25 percent superior fuel economy in comparison to riding aggressively on a bike that is not well-maintained.

Riders don’t need to make huge changes or go for the costly mods to make their motorbikes more fuel efficient. It is the little things, such as maintaining your tires, cleaning your chain, and smoothing your throttle that make the difference. You can add some smart mods, such as a high-quality air filter or fuel controller, to make each gallon of gas take you longer.

The best part? The majority of these tips also ensure that your bike is more enjoyable to ride. When the engine is in good condition and air is flowing well, it runs smoothly. Smart riding keeps you safer. Handling is enhanced if your bike feels lighter and has better aerodynamics. Fuel saving and a better ride are two sides of the coin.