Tips to Improve Your Motorcycle’s Fuel Economy

Although motorcycle gas tanks are often smaller than cars, they still require frequent refueling, and, over time, the cost can add up significantly. This can put a dent in your savings and increase your environmental impact. We often recommend that our customers try improving their bike’s fuel efficiency and lowering the overall cost of riding by being proactive riders. Thankfully, you won’t require investing too much money or time to boost your motorcycle’s fuel economy. Here are a few tips to get you started!

Maintain Your Motorcycle Regularly

Regularly checking your bike’s oil level, tire pressure, air filters, and spark plugs can help your motorcycle run efficiently. This can also impact its fuel economy and enable you to ride more miles in a gallon. If any component requires replacement, take care of it right away. This way, your motorcycle will use less fuel, emit fewer pollutants, and save you money in the long run.

Avoid Rapid Acceleration and High Speeds

It’s tempting to rev your bike's engine and navigate through the traffic all the time. However, this riding style can reduce your motorcycle’s fuel efficiency. The more you force your engine to power the bike, the quicker it will run through fuel.

Conversely, gradually increasing the speed will help you ride your bike safely & enjoyably and maximize fuel efficiency. So, maintain your speed within the legal limit instead of accelerating quickly.

Plan Your Route

Planning your ride can help you avoid congested areas and heavy traffic zones. By mapping out your route beforehand, you can choose a more direct path to your destination and save time and fuel.

Avoid Unnecessary Engine Idling

Leaving your engine running while waiting for a friend or picking up food at a drive-through can cause you to burn more fuel than required and produce needless emissions.

On the contrary, turning your engine off during stops is an excellent way to increase fuel efficiency. If you know you'll be idling for over 30 seconds, turn off the engine and save some gas.

Choose the Right Motorcycle

Many motorcycle models are more fuel efficient than others. For example, smaller engines offer better fuel economy over larger machines. However, remember that the efficiency rating of any bike will likely depend on your riding style and maintenance habits than just the type of bike you choose. If you want to save gas and money, you’ll benefit more from buying an electric motorcycle.

We hope these tips help make your motorcycle more fuel efficient. If you need more advice or are still searching for your dream Harley-Davidson® bike, contact Bert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson®. We are in Port Charlotte, FL, where we proudly serve our patrons from Fort Myers and North Port!