Kawasaki starts promoting its bikes' MPG ratings - best = 70 mpg

[MetroMPG]

Using the tag line: "Take the pain out of the pump - check out MPG-friendly Kawi's", the manufacturer has listed "EPA" ratings of 23 of its bikes here:

Kawasaki - Kawasaki.com

It doesn't say whether the rating is the combined calculation, city or highway number though. All it says is: "fuel economy estimates are based on EPA emission measurement TEST PROCEDURES."

Top 5:

70 mpg - KLX™250S
61 mpg - NINJA® 250R
55 mpg - KLR™ 650
53 mpg - Versys™
51 mpg - Ninja® 650R

[FastPlastic]

Great find MetroMPG I've been wondering about where mine should be. Couldn't find ratings on any bikes out there. Looks like my high of 39.72MPG's in town on a 750cc isn't too bad (especially with 4 dirty somewhat out of sync carbs).

[jamesqf]

"best = 70 mpg"

Hummm... Sounds great, except that my Insight is currently averaging 70.9 for 80K miles, and I can take the dog with me :-)

[MetroMPG]

You've got a valid point there, james. Per passenger MPG is likely not great on bikes vs. relatively efficient cars. And then there's the emissions question.

[MazdaMatt]

Ah, but can your insite go 200mph or 0-60 fast enough to make you crap yourself? Fun and efficient is just as good as practical and efficient. It just depends on what you're looking for. Kudos to them.

[Binger]

I almost bought a C3 scooter and those are rated at like 116MPG....but then we inherited the mirage.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Ah, but can your insite go 200mph or 0-60 fast enough to make you crap yourself?

Nothing on wheels can accelerate that fast :-) As for top speeds, I know my own limits (having owned a number of pretty fast bikes over the years). Somewhere around 120 is as fast as I ever want to go on a bike, and that only in perfect conditions, which are as rare around here as honest politicians.

[PaleMelanesian]

Cool.

70 mpg - KLX™250S

That's pretty similar to the Yamaha XT250, rated for 73 mpg.
Wayne got 104 mpg out of that one, so these should be fairly capable as well.
(review)

[Vince-HX]

The ninja 250 is only good for about 110mph

My all time favorite street bike though, use to run mine like a raped ape and still averaged about 55 mpg.

[slipstreamer97]

I've been getting 70-75 mpg with my 250 rebel, not enough power for most people though. but i'm certainly content to save my money