- Our pick of some seriously fuel-efficient motorcycles from every category — without sacrificing fun
- From MT-07 to Fireblade: real-world performance with low running costs
- Why lighter, smarter bikes deliver the best “fun per litre”
With the impending fuel crisis at the forefront of everyone’s minds, many of us are looking to alternatives when petrol starts getting scarce. And if you don’t want to go and fight others on the forecourt of an EV dealership, motorcycles are a good option thanks to their frugal fuel usage. But, if you were to sit down and list the most economical motorcycles on sale today, you’d quickly find yourself staring at a lineup of scooters and small-capacity commuters. They sip fuel, they’re cheap to run, and they make perfect sense.
But they’re not what most of us dream about riding.
The good news? You don’t necessarily have to choose between fun and fuel economy, with many motorcycles offering the same fuel economy you’d see from the most efficient small cars. Hidden across every segment are bikes that manage to deliver genuine performance and character, while still being surprisingly kind at the pump.
This isn’t about the absolute lowest number. It’s about the bikes that still provide the sort of smiles we want from riding a motorcycle while also making every litre count.
Superbikes: surprisingly civilised… if you behave
Modern superbikes like the BMW S1000RR and Honda’s Fireblade are weapons — 180hp-plus, track-bred, and brutally fast. Yet, ride them with restraint, and they’re not as outrageous at the pump as you’d expect.
The S1000RR can return around 6.0 L/100km, which is remarkable given the performance available, and the M1000RR can even average 6.5 L/100km. Although we reckon nipping out to drop $80k on one to save some money at the pump might be a tough story to sell when you get it home… Honda’s Fireblade sits in a similar ballpark at roughly 6.2–6.5 L/100km, helped by Honda’s typically smooth fueling and efficiency.
Of course, use the performance and those numbers quickly climb — but the fact they’re even achievable says a lot about modern engineering.
Middleweights: the real sweet spot
This is where everything clicks.
The Yamaha MT-07’s torquey CP2 twin makes around 74hp, but more importantly, it delivers its punch low in the rev range — meaning you don’t need to thrash it to have fun. That’s a big part of why it can sit around 4.0–4.2 L/100km in normal riding, so with the 14-litre tank full, you should be able to see around 300km before lining up for gas once more.
The Suzuki SV650 brings a different flavour with its V-twin character, but lands in a similar place at roughly 3.8–4.2 L/100km. It’s smooth, engaging and incredibly easy to live with.
This is the class where performance and economy genuinely meet in the middle.
Entry nakeds: where the real value lives
Drop down slightly and things get even more impressive.
The Honda CB500F is about as balanced as motorcycles get. Its 471cc twin is smooth and predictable, and with fuel consumption around 3.5–3.7 L/100km, it’s incredibly cheap to run without feeling dull. And with a 17 litre tank, that’s a lot of fun to be had before looking to fill up.
The KTM 390 Duke, on the other hand, is all attitude. Light, sharp and eager, it turns every ride into something playful — while still returning around 3.4–3.6 L/100km.
Different approaches, same result: big fun, tiny fuel bills.
Big nakeds: growing up without giving up
Larger capacity usually means higher consumption, but some bikes manage to keep things under control.
The Yamaha MT-09’s triple-cylinder engine is full of personality, yet it can still return around 4.8–5.2 L/100km when ridden sensibly. That’s impressive for something this lively.
The BMW F900R offers a more composed ride, with its parallel twin delivering strong midrange torque and fuel use in the 4.2–4.5 L/100km range.
Plenty of performance, without a huge penalty.
Retro: slowing things down in the best way
The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 proves that you don’t need big numbers to have fun. Its simple single-cylinder engine is easy going and efficient, sipping around 2.8–3.0 L/100km.
The Triumph Speed 400 adds a bit more performance and refinement, but still keeps consumption low at roughly 3.2–3.4 L/100km.
These are bikes that reward riding for the sake of it, not chasing numbers. But it’ll also mean that not only will you be smug that you’re using barely any gas, you’ll also look cool while you’re doing it.
Adventure and touring: built to go further
The Honda NC750X has long been the benchmark for efficiency in a larger-capacity machine. With its low-revving, torque-focused engine, it can return around 3.5 L/100km, which is exceptional for a bike of its size.
The CFMoto 450MT is slightly thirstier, but still very reasonable at 4.5–4.8 L/100km, while offering genuine touring capability.
Both are built to cover distance — and do it cheaply.
Scooters: the unexpected contender
The Yamaha XMAX 300 sits around the 3.0–3.3 L/100km mark, but what’s surprising is how capable it is beyond the city.
Comfortable, practical and easy to ride, the Yamaha makes a strong case as an everyday machine that just happens to be incredibly efficient and fun.
Supermoto: fun without consequences
The Suzuki DR-Z400SM remains one of the most entertaining bikes you can ride at sensible speeds, and it manages around 4.0–4.5 L/100km doing it.
KTM’s smaller-capacity supermoto platform delivers similar thrills with slightly better efficiency, typically around 3.5–3.8 L/100km.
Lightweight, responsive and endlessly entertaining — without the fuel bill to match.
Sportsbikes: less really is more
The Kawasaki Ninja 400 continues to prove that you don’t need big power to have fun, returning around 3.5–3.8 L/100km while delivering a genuinely engaging ride.
The Honda CBR650R with its four-cylinder engine is fun to ride and there’s even a LAMS version that means you’ll never be sitting high in the revs. It steps things up slightly but still keeps things reasonable at around 4.0–4.3 L/100km.
Real-world performance, real-world economy.
Electric: No fuel at all
There are a couple of electric options, and while range is still generally an issue with electric bikes, if you’re simply heading to work and back then they could well be worth a look. And these two are still a giggle to ride.
BMW’s CE04 not only looks space-age, it goes like a rocket with plenty of instant, electric power on tap. There’s room to stash the groceries under the saddle, and you can charge it from a standard plug or public charger, with about 130km achievable with a full charge.
And then there’s the Hamilton-based Streetdog, with the Streetdog 50 and Streetdog 80 offering a trendy, inner-city ride. The 50 does 50km/h, and the 80 does, you guessed it, 80km/h.
BRM’s Choice
Some of the most enjoyable motorcycles on the road today are also some of the most economical — because they focus on usable performance, lighter weight and real-world riding. Plus, with many gaining switchable throttle maps, you can dial down the performance when you want to save gas, then flick it to Sport when you want to have fun.
What would our choice be out of all this lot? Well, the BMW S1000RR would be great, but is also a bit excessive if you’re looking to save fuel. With so many parallel twins on the market today that are all capable of achieving good fuel economy figures, it would be hard to go past a good mid-capacity option from Yamaha or any of the similar choices from other manufacturers. But really, if you’re sensible with your right hand, whatever bike you’ve got in the shed is likely to be more fuel efficient than your average SUV or sedan.
So, instead of trawling through TradeMe trying to find an electric car to buy, get the bike out and do the trip to work, shops or school on that. Not only will you not need to spend so much money on gas, but you’ll also be a lot happier on the journey.
