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What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:12 am
by Trinity765
So if it all went a bit Mad Max and you wanted a petrol bike that was reliable, easy to maintain, had good mpg and a large tank, what would it be? F*** insurance, that was in the olden days.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:31 am
by ZRX61
Raleigh Wisp.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:47 am
by KungFooBob
The Honda NC series of bikes are always touted as being super good on the MPG.
They were originally advertised as being half a Honda Jazz car engine. They've got locknut adjusters for the valves, etc..., very easy to maintain.
The DCT is probably a bit complicated for the wastelands, but they did a manual version.
The tanks aren't huge, they're under the pillion seat.
My Enfield 500 Bullet does silly MPG if ridden normally, it's an air cooled pushrod motor, so maintenance is pretty basic.
Both of them would get you laughed out of Toe Cutters gang tho'
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 6:26 am
by Nobby
Since leaving Blighty, and changed over to Km, I’ve got an average of 26.3 kms per Litre. I’ll let someone else do the Math.
Maintenance. Oil and filters many times, set of plugs, and 2 headlight lamps.
Also, I had to turn the gear lever rubber 90 degrees as it was starting to show flat spots top and bottom. Gutted.
Just shy of 60,000k
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:26 am
by Ditchfinder
For the apocalypse then probably the Himalayan 411. 65-70mpg, 200 mile range, long travel suspension for the potholes/craters.
Loads of them about so spares shouldn't be difficult. Think that the only thing you need a special tool for is taking off the stator.
If you break the fuel pump then a carb conversion is straightforward.
Only problem is it might not outrun the zombies
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:43 am
by Supermofo
Seen plenty of people claiming 75-85 mpg and 200 miles out of the 300-350 scoots and there's room under the seat for all sorts of hand cannon
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:52 am
by Cousin Jack
Honda CB500 does a consistant 80 mpg even with long main road trips at 80-90 mph cruising.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:54 am
by Nordboy
Supermofo wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:43 am
Seen plenty of people claiming 75-85 mpg and 200 miles out of the 300-350 scoots and there's room under the seat for all sorts of hand cannon
Yep, I was getting just a smidge over 90mpg on my Xmax 300. My xadv is the Honda NC engine but I have no idea how many mpg's I'm getting from that?
Got to be a lower capacity bike/ scooter though surely?
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 8:00 am
by Count Steer
Ditchfinder wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:26 am
For the apocalypse then probably the Himalayan 411. 65-70mpg, 200 mile range, long travel suspension for the potholes/craters.
Loads of them about so spares shouldn't be difficult. Think that the only thing you need a special tool for is taking off the stator.
If you break the fuel pump then a carb conversion is straightforward.
Only problem is it might not outrun the zombies
That's pretty key to post-apocalype transport - easy access to spares to scavenge. (+ something that won't guzzle fuel and won't sulk/blow up if the fuel available is a bit variable. An old, military, diesel powered bike would be perfect if it wasn't for the spares problem. Be quite in keeping with the scenario too. Something with a sidecar and a BFG, à la Doom, mounted on it would be
).
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 4:07 pm
by gremlin
Supermofo wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:43 am
Seen plenty of people claiming 75-85 mpg and 200 miles out of the 300-350 scoots and there's room under the seat for all sorts of hand cannon
MPG is worthless if the mouth-breathers of the lawless and desolate wasteland full of scrotes nick it.
And that's just Croydon, pre-apocalypses.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 4:10 pm
by Dodgy69
My little monkey ain't bad. Honda say 180mpg but I reckon 120 odd, still testing. I've done 120 miles and filled up taking 4.5 litres I think it was, it's a 5.6 litre tank. Should do about 150 miles to a tank ish. Don't need a big tank.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:16 pm
by Le_Fromage_Grande
Honda C50 with a Jerry can, Honda used to claim 225 mpg for the little step through
Re: What is the most economic petrol
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:43 pm
by Bigjawa
It'll be some sort of Honda step through. Although I did have a CB Two Fifty that did 90 mpg.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:56 pm
by Yorick
My GSXR1000 is so efficient, I managed 65 mpg at about 60 mph on way to Portimao last year.
But the filthy beast was only doing 18 mpg on track
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 11:08 pm
by Felix
Trinity765 wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:12 am
So if it all went a bit Mad Max and you wanted a petrol bike that was reliable, easy to maintain, had good mpg and a large tank, what would it be? F*** insurance, that was in the olden days.
Yam Divvy 900. Ultra reliable, stress free 8v motor and potential 70+ MPG riding like you were mid 80's
Re: What is the most economic petrol
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 11:12 pm
by Felix
Bigjawa wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:43 pm
I did have a CB Two Fifty that did 90 mpg.
Was that the 250RS or the Superdream.
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2026 3:18 am
by Trinity765
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2026 8:02 am
by asmethurst99
KungFooBob wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:47 am
The Honda NC series of bikes are always touted as being super good on the MPG.
They were originally advertised as being half a Honda Jazz car engine. They've got locknut adjusters for the valves, etc..., very easy to maintain.
The DCT is probably a bit complicated for the wastelands, but they did a manual version.
The tanks aren't huge, they're under the pillion seat.
My Enfield 500 Bullet does silly MPG if ridden normally, it's an air cooled pushrod motor, so maintenance is pretty basic.
Both of them would get you laughed out of Toe Cutters gang tho'
The NC owners website has people who claim to have got into the 100 club (100mpg) Toecutters notwithstanding
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2026 8:35 am
by Taipan
Honda Sh300 was often referred to as the 80/80 as it'd do 80mph and return 80 mpg. Mine certainly sat at 70mpg happily and did indeed nudge 80mpg.
BMW F800r was very economical too. IIRC mine used to get near on 70mpg.
Honda NCs are renowned for being economical and having a great tank range. I've had a few 700/750s in 750/750x and XADV guise and always got c70mpg and a 180+ mile tank range. My current one is returning 68mpg. Its a brand new bike though, so it might improve as the engine loosens up?
Re: What is the most economic petrol bike?
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2026 8:36 am
by Count Steer
Some solar panels, a small wind turbine and a couple of eMTBs.
(+ a stash of weapons, plenty of ammunition, canned food, a supply of drinking water, a few trained attack dogs and a copy of 'The Road' to remind me that things could be worse
).
