Anyone fancy doing some maths for me?

metbandit1 · 7 May 2011 at 17:29

Ok so I ride a GSX-R 600 bike (and before you say this should be in the bikes section this is a fuel economy thread).
I get 140 miles to a tank before I fill up.
My bike holds 16.5L of regular fuel (I don't get the special stuff).

Im just wondering if it would be more fuel economical to buy a 125cc Suzuki address which does a minimum of 80mpg.

The cost of the 125 would be £1200 second hand.
Insurance cost on that is £200

How many miles would I have to do to for it to be financially viable?

Or am i being crazy?

I would be keeping my 600 for those fun weekends as well.

ZG002 · 7 May 2011 at 17:37

need to know how many miles you do a year?

The GSX-R is getting something just shy of 40mpg I think (maths isn't my strong point)

Luke · 7 May 2011 at 17:39

The bike holds 16.5 litres, but how much are you filling it with for those 140 miles.

Regardless, you'll hate the 125 having come off a 600. I wouldn't do it.

metbandit1 · 7 May 2011 at 17:40

I do about 4500 miles a year, I would do a bit more if i had the 125 (because I dont like to get the GSX-R too dirty)

Its rated at about 39 mpg and i think its about what im getting, between 38-42 ish id say.

Edit: My average fill up is £17.50. so however many Litres that is...

the 125 would be more for winter commuting. i would use the 600 in the summer.

Luke · 7 May 2011 at 17:44

Then you're getting ~49mpg based on petrol being 133p/l.
Not too shabby at all.

Valentino · 7 May 2011 at 17:46

Do remember the 125 won't actually be 80mpg, seeing as you will be used to a 600 you will probably be full throttle everywhere to combat the boredom.

ZG002 · 7 May 2011 at 17:48

In all honesty for 4.5k miles a year, I'd not bother.

metbandit1 · 7 May 2011 at 17:49

Luke said:
Then you're getting ~49mpg based on petrol being 133p/l.
Not too shabby at all.

Ohhhh that's much better than I thought I was getting!

Im not too worried with that kind of mpg, it was more of a consideration if I was getting closer to 39mph or below.

Serpantine · 7 May 2011 at 18:51

metbandit1 said:
Ohhhh that's much better than I thought I was getting!

Im not too worried with that kind of mpg, it was more of a consideration if I was getting closer to 39mph or below.

Seriously? How can you have not worked out your MPG?

Go brim the bike, drive it until it hits the red and tell us how many miles you get out of that.

jaybee · 7 May 2011 at 18:53

metbandit1 said:
Ohhhh that's much better than I thought I was getting!

Im not too worried with that kind of mpg, it was more of a consideration if I was getting closer to 39mph or below.

Something's wrong with your bike if you are only getting 39mph.

Did you forget to add a digit?

Cookeh · 7 May 2011 at 19:21

Luke said:
Then you're getting ~49mpg based on petrol being 133p/l.
Not too shabby at all.

£1.33?

£1.39 is about the cheapest around me!

DRZ · 7 May 2011 at 19:46

I paid 135.9 yesterday. 133.9 was possible a few weeks ago.

Luke · 7 May 2011 at 20:28

Yep, £1.33 here at certain garages.

metbandit1 · 7 May 2011 at 20:32

Serpantine said:
Seriously? How can you have not worked out your MPG?

Go brim the bike, drive it until it hits the red and tell us how many miles you get out of that.

Will do! Ive never really spend the time to work it out.

Luke · 7 May 2011 at 20:39

metbandit1 said:
Will do! Ive never really spend the time to work it out.

Actually, you need to brim it, ride until you need to fill up again and brim it again.

Record the number of litres it takes up to the same level as the first time you brimmed it. Then the formula is:

Litres used / 4.54 = gallons used.
Miles travelled / gallons used = MPG