A vehicle’s fuel efficiency is one of the most important things to consider when shopping, but motorcycles are actually some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. It doesn’t matter if you’re comparing an SUV or a hybrid, even a gas-guzzling motorcycle is likely more fuel-efficient than a regular car. Here’s why.

Simple physics of a motorcycle’s fuel efficiency

Motorcycles are smaller than cars, and several pros and cons accompany this fact. However, due to a bike’s smaller size, its engine doesn’t have to work as hard to move. Not only that, but it also needs less fuel when moving. As a result, the average commuter bike has a fuel economy of about 60 MPG. That’s far better than most passenger cars, including hybrids.

The only vehicles that get a better fuel economy are electric cars, but that’s not a fair comparison since most bikes burn gas and electric cars don’t. That said, if you get yourself an electric motorcycle, then your fuel efficiency will be better than the fuel efficiency of an electric car. However, like any vehicle, that’s not the whole story.

Pros of motorcycles 

A motorcycle’s fuel efficiency is clearly superior, but it also has a generally better performance. Again, it boils down to size. By weighing less, a bike can accelerate faster than most vehicles. How fast depends on the motorcycle, but many can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under three seconds. This kind of acceleration is unheard of outside of a sports car.

Not only are bikes fast and fuel efficient, but they’re also more affordable than a car. Again, the cost will depend on the bike, but a good beginner motorcycle isn’t more than $7,000. For comparison, even a fuel-efficient car like a Toyota Prius can easily go for $30,000. That’s over four times the price, as cheaper motorcycles start at $4,000. Not only that, but bikes are also cheaper to insure. This means even more savings in the long run.

Cons of motorcycles

The smaller size of a bike is also the culprit of several issues. Obviously, if you need room for more than two people, then a motorcycle won’t cut it. A spacious SUV will burn way more fuel, but it can carry far more people and cargo. Furthermore, a bike means fewer safety features. Of course, in a collision between an SUV and motorcycle, the SUV will be the safer vehicle.

That’s why some motorcycle owners get into deadly accidents. That’s not to say bikes are dangerous and have no safety features at all, but rather that a car is simply safer than a bike. 

Motorcycle maintenance is also different compared to car maintenance. Owners must learn how to care for a bike or else it will be unsafe to ride. Maintenance generally has to be more frequent, too. For example, a problem with your bike’s tire is a more dangerous issue. Compared to a car, where if you get a flat, it’s not as immediately dangerous.