Tips to Make Motorcycle Fuel Efficient | Increase Fuel Efficiency

Top 7 Tips to Make Your Motorcycle Fuel Efficient

Read Time: 6 Mins

In Singapore, motorcycles are a better option in terms of ownership and maintenance. Same case on fuel efficiency. Their smaller engine and lightweight parts require less energy to move. Thus they consume less fuel than cars.

An average bike runs at 13–17 kilometers per litre your motorcycle’s fuel efficiency may vary. It’s affected by engine size, bike condition, riding habits, and total weight.

It doesn’t matter whether your results are above or below the average km/l. With tips, you can always increase the fuel efficiency of your bike.

Regular servicing, changing riding habits, and reducing weight can help you ride more for less.

With that said, keep reading to learn how you can improve your gas mileage. You will get seven tips to make motorcycle fuel efficient.

So here are the tips.

1.      Keep Your Tyres Properly Inflated

Underinflated tyres lead to unwanted drag burdening your engine. It means your bike burns more fuel to roll and result in a poor gas economy.

On the other hand, properly inflated tyres eliminate resistance. In this circumstance, your bike’s engine requires less power to move and cuts on gas usage.

Overinflated tyres have a smaller contact area and drag—they may give a harsh ride. It can lead to rapid tyre wear.

For the best results, fill your tyres with the manufacturer-recommended PSI pressure. In addition to your bike’s better fuel efficiency, they last longer. Do also check your air pressure often to ensure it’s at the recommended level.

2.      Maintain Your Bike Regularly

A poorly serviced motorcycle becomes inefficient and reduces mileage output. For instance, lubrication breakdown caused by dirt and oil wears results in mechanical resistance. The resistance strains the engine and affects fuel consumption.

Regular bike servicing is the best way to achieve fuel efficiency. It involves maintaining your motorcycle’s engine in the correct maintenance cycle. It helps it work better by ensuring proper breathing and oil combustion.

Here is the bottom line: maintaining your bike regularly will not only improve your oil efficiency but also give you a safe ride. Your bike will be reliable and have a long life.

3.      Drive at a Steady Speed

Heavy acceleration decreases your motorcycle fuel efficiency. Operating your engine at higher RPMs(revolution per minute) consumes more fuel than a moderate acceleration and maintaining an even speed.

If you want to boost your fuel mileage, avoid aggressive driving and keep a steady speed. Gradually increase your bike’s speed for better fuel economy. It can help use less fuel over the same distance but with increased travel time.

To achieve constant speed, use highways. They’re straight, flat, and with low traffic jams. Therefore, you can avoid recurrent acceleration and deceleration.

In addition to increased km/l, you can save repair costs on brakes fade and worn shocks.

4.      Buy The Right Fuel

Before deciding which fuel is best for your motorcycle, it’s important to know the octane percentage in the fuel mixture and if it’s compatible with your motorbike.

You should also understand that a higher octane percentage in fuel does not mean that your bike will gain more power, increase its torque or be more fuel efficient. It only means that you don’t have to worry about detonation once your motorbike reaches a high pressure and temperature.

Sticking to the minimum octane rating for your motorbike, as recommended by the manufacturer, is good enough. This will ensure your fuel is used efficiently and it will prevent the bike from pinging or knocking as well. So, you don’t necessarily have to spend more and opt for a higher-octane number, unless it’s what your motorcycle should be using. On the other hand, you shouldn’t use fuel that is below your bike’s octane number either. This is because if you go below the recommended rating, the fuel you use can damage your bike.

5.      Reduce Weight on Your Motorcycle

Extra weight leads to more bike-engine strain. It translates to slow acceleration and more gas usage.  Eliminating this weight can reduce fuel consumption and engine damage risks.

To improve your motorcycle fuel efficiency, replace heavy parts with lighter ones. For example, some bikes have a heavy steel sprocket for a bigger chain.

By replacing it with a lighter aluminium sprocket, you can reduce 1kg of your bike’s weight.  Also, reduce your motorcycle’s load and carry the commended passengers.

Furthermore, consider reducing your body weight by wearing lighter clothes. Doing this may lead to improved mileage overall.

Note that overstraining your engine can cause damage which could be costly to repair.

6.      Be Aerodynamic

Wind resistance increases with an increase in the bike’s speed. For instance, at 100km/h the resistance is double that at 65km/h. It causes drag and needs more engine power to counter.

The drag force has an impact on your fuel economy. It accounts for shortened kilometers per litre

To reduce fuel consumption, use a full-face helmet. It’s more aerodynamic compared to a half-face helmet. Also, replace saddlebags with fuel-efficient storage for lower drag.

Other ways to lower wind resistance include lying flat or ducking behind the windshield. Gripping your knees on the tank can also help.

Ride at a lower speed to reduce the wind resistance. You could save on over-speeding ticket bills.

7.      Use Highways

Curvy, mountainous roads and city driving heighten your fuel usage. It’s resulted from frequent braking and acceleration due to traffic jams and road structure. You miss the opportunity to drive at a constant speed with low RPMs, which boosts gas mileage.

Taking highways enables you to maintain a steady speed. They’re flat and straight, thus are the best gas-efficient option. You also get minimized idle time due to low traffic.

Additionally, highway riding can help avoid unnecessary service bills. Recurring braking can result in unbudgeted repairs on faded brakes and worn shocks. It also affects your bike’s performance.

Other Motorcycle Fuel Efficient Tips

• Replace the fuel and air filters. Clogged air filters cause mileage problems; changing one can give you 10% more engine efficiency.
• Check for a fouled spark plug, poorly adjusted carbs, and faulty jets. They’re responsible for engine choke and unburnt fuel.
• Clean your engine frequently. The bike’s engine shorty gets dirty and needs regular cleaning.
• Change the oil often and ensure you use the correct grade. It reduces friction and lubrication resistance.
• Check all indicators and gauges to ensure they are working.
• Ensure your chain is clean and free from rust.
• Check for engine oil leaks.
• Ensure enough backpressure. Works to keep any unburnt fuel in the combustion chamber.
• Observe other expert-recommended maintenance.

With a bigger budget, you’ve alternatives to higher motorcycle fuel efficiency. They might best suit your increased km/l option. They include:

• Purchasing a lighter and more fuel-efficient bike. Check out the reviews on the top-selling motorcycle in Singapore.
• Replacing your motorcycle’s engine with a smaller and gas-efficient one.

If implementing the other tips could affect your riding experience, consider going down this path.

Final Thoughts

Did you understand how you can increase the fuel efficiency of your bike?

Implement these tips to achieve your desired motorcycle fuel efficiency. Additionally, you will improve your bike’s overall performance and enhance its life. You will get a comfortable ride for less.

To save more on fuel cost, research on different credit cards offering fuel discounts in Singapore. By choosing your best option, you could decrease your fuel expenditure.

Last but not the least, make sure you have a good motorcycle insurance which can help you meet any unexpected expenses due to any damage to your motorcycle or third-party injury due to an accident etc. Consider DirectAsia motorcycle insurance for a customized plan that suits your needs at a reasonable price and not to mention its award-winning customer service and attractive NCD options.

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