Motorcycles get about 50 miles to the gallon. That's a general statistic trotted out by motorcycle manufacturers, government representatives, individual riders, your mailman. But specific MPG figures for specific models? That's been difficult to find.
There are any number of reasons why motorcycle manufacturers have been loath to give actual MPG figures for actual models with any consistency. Bikes are already fuel-efficient, so differences in their MPGs aren't considered as important. Besides, actual MPGs vary wildly depending on how a bike is ridden.
Even more significant, there isn't an industrywide protocol for motorcycle MPG testing. Unlike with cars, federal law doesn't require motorcycle manufacturers to perform fuel-economy tests or, if they do, to reveal their numbers, since bikes make up such a small percentage of overall vehicles and already get such great mileage.
But with gas prices nearing $4 per gallon and increasing numbers of commuters considering two wheels as a more economical way to get around, manufacturers are beginning to play the MPG trump card as a means of wooing customers in a down market.
On Tuesday, Yamaha released specific MPG figures for the six scooters in its model lineup. Less publicly, but more significantly, Yamaha is also making MPG figures available for its 27 other street bikes; dealers and customers just need to call Yamaha's customer relations department ([800] 962-7926) and ask for them.
In May, Suzuki will also expand its offering of fuel-economy specifics in an ad campaign that will trumpet MPG figures for half of its street bikes and scooters, including its SV650 (which boasts 54.8 mpg), Burgman 650 (38.1 mpg), Bandit 1250 (39 mpg) and other models.
There are any number of reasons why motorcycle manufacturers have been loath to give actual MPG figures for actual models with any consistency. Bikes are already fuel-efficient, so differences in their MPGs aren't considered as important. Besides, actual MPGs vary wildly depending on how a bike is ridden.
Even more significant, there isn't an industrywide protocol for motorcycle MPG testing. Unlike with cars, federal law doesn't require motorcycle manufacturers to perform fuel-economy tests or, if they do, to reveal their numbers, since bikes make up such a small percentage of overall vehicles and already get such great mileage.
But with gas prices nearing $4 per gallon and increasing numbers of commuters considering two wheels as a more economical way to get around, manufacturers are beginning to play the MPG trump card as a means of wooing customers in a down market.
On Tuesday, Yamaha released specific MPG figures for the six scooters in its model lineup. Less publicly, but more significantly, Yamaha is also making MPG figures available for its 27 other street bikes; dealers and customers just need to call Yamaha's customer relations department ([800] 962-7926) and ask for them.
In May, Suzuki will also expand its offering of fuel-economy specifics in an ad campaign that will trumpet MPG figures for half of its street bikes and scooters, including its SV650 (which boasts 54.8 mpg), Burgman 650 (38.1 mpg), Bandit 1250 (39 mpg) and other models.
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