Best Gas Mileage?!?

[Max 90]

I'm looking to buy a bike, and am wanting the best gas mileage possible with a sportbike. Is there much difference in gas mileage between the ninja 250 and 500, or between the 500 and 600 models at that? I plan on riding easy most of the time, but would like to have something I could maybe take to the track every once in a while. I'm looking for something with the most horse power and atleast 55+mph when ridden easy. Any ideas???




Max 90

[AZDude]

On my 500 I get between 47 and 55 mpg depending on how I ride. That is around town both highway and city mixed about half and half. Of course the more city and less highway the less the gas mileage. And of course the 500 can go plenty faster than 55.

I don't have any experience on a 250 so couldn't answer your other questions.

[webnetxpress]

do you mean 55+mph or 55+mpg? I think any bike out there will do the 55mph easy...

[Shakli]

500 is 45-55mpg
250 is 60-70mpg

Edit: 600's 30-40mpg depending on modifications .

[joebob2000]

my zzr600 gets 50+mpg for usual riding, it would probably get 60+ if i ran full pressure in the tires, and didnt spend so much time at WOT.

That being said the only bike thats notably good on gas is the 250, the 500 and 600 are pretty close mostly because the 500 is such an old design and you will spend a lot more time on the throttle just to keep up. The 636, if driven at a 'traffic' pace, has the ability to compete nicely for MPG, but who wants to do that

[tnhunter]

try a Harley!!! All the Harley guys are claiming 75 mpg. I dont think pushing it or it riding in the trailer should count, but then I am not a Harley guy!!

[rlovrin1]

My old '02 Ninja 500R (Dyno-tuned, V&H full exhaust, ignition advancer, K&N air filter, & Denso Irdium Plugs): 60-65MPG
My '05 ZZR600 (Stock): 45-55MPG

[Draiz]

My 250 Usualy gave me around 65mpg. With heavy throttle, but I think it helped that i only weigh about 135.

The zx6r I ride gets about 45-55.

[JimmyD]

I have no idea how you guys running 600's are making close to 60mpg.

I can't do that on my EX if I try. I average high 40s. I got 57 once going with the wind and I don't think I broke 8k the whole time, tucked into the bike. Then again my worst mileage ever was about 42 and that was with a passenger, so I can't complain. My mileage takes a dive the colder it gets out.

The 250 will get much better mileage than the 500. Some guys on the ninja250 boards average high 60s. Mind you, like anything online, this should be taken with a grain of salt.

If you're going to be commuting a lot the 250 is the winner. If you're a big guy or will be doing a lot of freeway riding you might want a 500. To each their own.

[silvia-junkie]

my old ex500 got around 58 mostly highway. my zx6r gets about 40 mix of every thing.

[1sic1]

my 636 gets 45-49 when not getting on it...... but when we went to carlisle we averaged about 120mph all the way down and got about 35mpg lol

[ervins]

I have no idea how you guys running 600's are making close to 60mpg.

I can't do that on my EX if I try. I average high 40s. I got 57 once going with the wind and I don't think I broke 8k the whole time, tucked into the bike. Then again my worst mileage ever was about 42 and that was with a passenger, so I can't complain. My mileage takes a dive the colder it gets out.

The 250 will get much better mileage than the 500. Some guys on the ninja250 boards average high 60s. Mind you, like anything online, this should be taken with a grain of salt.

If you're going to be commuting a lot the 250 is the winner. If you're a big guy or will be doing a lot of freeway riding you might want a 500. To each their own.

None of my 600 got past 32mpg and my 10R is currently around 30mpg...How you guys are getting close to 60 even on a ZZR is incredible.

[love2ride]

55 on the 250 on a good day. More like 50-52 interstate commute (50 miles one way), with 15/42 gearing, running 75-80 mph..

[Connman]

HA, on the 12 I normally get around 30. Best I have ever seen on mine is about 39.
But mpg isnt really something I'm concerned with.

[ervins]

HA, on the 12 I normally get around 30. Best I have ever seen on mine is about 39.
But mpg isnt really something I'm concerned with.

+1...Gas mileage is not a concern for me considering my 2003 Trailblazer gets around 16MPG...So if my bike gets double that, I am good.

[Alizard]

I'm looking to buy a bike, and am wanting the best gas mileage possible with a sportbike. Is there much difference in gas mileage between the ninja 250 and 500, or between the 500 and 600 models at that? I plan on riding easy most of the time, but would like to have something I could maybe take to the track every once in a while. I'm looking for something with the most horse power and atleast 55+mph when ridden easy. Any ideas???




Max 90

My old 750 Twin has always gotten about 42mpg city and around 60mpg highway.

[Draiz]

I think the rider weight affects your MPG quite a bit, and probably riding habbits, for the most part when i'm on the highway I like to ride in a smooth controlled manner, erratic acceleration is more difficult for other cars to anticipate and tickets are even worse than poor fuel efficiency. I've never paid much attention to what kind of gas mileage i'm getting at the track on any of the bikes, but I do know it's quite a bit less.

Also probably keeping your carbs and injectors in good condition helps dont know i've heard various responses some people who are pulling the same mpg i am and some who average a good 20 mpg less. All in all it doesn't matter so much really, can you imagine what guys in sportscars are getting when driving with the same sort of acceleration? My mustang rarely averages better than 20mpg, and i do way more highway than city, in fact if i'm going to be doing city i generaly take the bike.

[ervins]

Definitely...If I am taking a ride to Home Depot, or any small shopping I need that requires me to go through lights, I take my bike and backpack.

[ss396ninja]

95 - Kawi 250 Ninja with almost 30K miles....70 mpg regularly with midgrade at 5000-6000 feet altitude

06 Ducati Monster 620cc - gets 55 mpg when riding conservatively - Premium only !