9 ways to save on gas but still have a laugh

Boosting your bike’s MPG doesn’t have to mean riding like a granny. Here’s how to go further for less cash

1. Rolling easy

Start at the bottom: tyres. Tyres are an easy win for saving fuel – low pressures give a larger, softer contact patch, so more drag. Set your tyre pressures to the recommended levels, but not above. High pressures cause abnormal wear, so any saving on fuel from slightly reduced drag will soon be offset by premature tyre replacement. Also consider your fitment: softer, grippier sports tyres will use more fuel. Unless you desperately need slick-shoulder trackday tyres, the extra efficiency of a more road-oriented tyre, not to mention increased life, might be of greater use.

 

2. Look after your chain

Drive losses are unavoidable to a degree, but you can reduce the effort required to turn your final drive round. Clean, lube, adjust. The more, the better. Dirt, dryness, corrosion and slackness create more friction, which you’ll have to counter with that little bit more throttle. Precise adjustment is important too – a wonky wheel causes excess sideplate/sprocket interference. Consider a laser chain alignment tool to ensure your chain runs die-straight between the sprockets.

 

3. Don’t get held back

Brakes are supposed to slow you down, but only when you pull or press those levers. They won’t cause drag when correctly maintained, but any neglect or cutting corners will soon see them constantly exerting a small amount of drag that’ll affect mpg and sap your motorcycle’s performance. Sticky or seized components (levers, cables and drum actuators as well as pistons in hydraulic braking systems) are the main culprits.

 

4. Right sparks

The fuel you do use needs to be ignited. The more complete the ignition, the more efficient it is – fat, well-timed sparks need less fuel for a given speed than dodgy plugs and decrepit components. Change your plugs on time, use good quality replacements, and the inspect coils, leads, caps and connections to make sure there are no losses anywhere that might take the edge off ignition, and adversely affect your bike’s efficiency.

 

5. Conscientious care

A happy motor uses less fuel. Clean oil, correctly adjusted valves, balanced throttle bodies (or carbs), clean air filters and more all do that little bit to ensure your engine isn’t being held back and fighting resistance from within.

 

6. The human element

Take a hard look at yourself. Not mentally, just physically. The biggest source of drag is the large organism in the seat. There’s a reason why racers wear tight, aerodynamic kit. Baggy gear adds to wind resistance – flappy winter kit either needs replacing with correct sizing or adjusting. Don’t bother with kneesliders unless you’re actually going scratching. Riding duck-foot, elbows in the breeze and legs akimbo tires you as well as making your bike work harder for a given speed. Of course, losing weight is free efficiency too and helps with the power-to-weight ratio.

 

7. Just the essentials

Fuel efficiency is useful on a big trip – there will be less stopping and less expense. Luggage is a double-whammy of extra weight and drag, so heavily scrutinise what you carry. Side-mounted panniers and big top-boxes are bad for aerodynamics and increase weight. Rucksacks, tankbags and gear strapped to the tail in a considered fashion largely stops the extras causing additional drag.

 

8. Forward planning

Consistency aids economy. Getting on and off the brakes/throttle all the time burns fuel for no gain. Anticipate having to slow down for lights, junctions and bends, and roll off the throttle earlier. If you’re picking off a line of traffic, use only as much throttle as necessary – no sense in giving it a handful only to brake moments later. Make your fuel use worthwhile instead of burning it on the less interesting parts of your ride.

 

9. Don’t be a tit

Unless you ride to work on a 1970s racing two-stroke, there’s no need to sit blipping your throttle at traffic lights. Bikes are quick off the mark without slipping the clutch and giving it a fistful, so there’s no need to waste fuel with a racing getaway either. High revs, low gear, gassing it around town might make you feel like some sort of bad-boy biker, but it’s not the best use of your bike’s performance.