The average motorcycle on the road today gets somewhere around 35 to 40 miles per gallon. That is surprisingly low, when you compare the size of the engine and the weight of the motorcycle’s load with that of a car. While some motorcycles can get more than 60 miles to the gallon, that 35 to 40 mpg number is where the vast majority fall.

Forgetting for a moment the environmental concerns about burning more gas than you need to, there’s a very practical issue at stake, as well. One of the reasons that most people cite for wanting to ride a motorcycle is for the sake of saving gas. And, while 30 to 45 miles per gallon is much better than a car, it’s not the best it can be.

Here are some quick and easy ways to improve your motorcycle’s gas mileage:

1. Keep your engine clean. A clean engine is an efficient engine. Make sure you regularly use a fuel additive to keep things humming along on the inside.
2. When you can, drive on the highways. Long stretches of road without stop signs are better for fuel efficiency. All of that stop and go of traffic just sucks the gas right out of your tank.
3. If you ride in the city, consider a lighter bike. If most of your driving is in the city, a lighter bike will help to reduce the amount of fuel you’re using.
4. Keep your tires inflated. While the amount of fuel you can save by keeping your motorcycle’s tires inflated is less than what you’d save in a car, it can still help your overall mileage.
5. Don’t drive aggressively. Brake and accelerate slowly. Keep a constant speed whenever possible.
6. Watch your speed. Stay at or under the speed limit. For every 5 miles per hour over about 55, you could be costing yourself as much as 2 miles per gallon or more. Not only that, keeping free of tickets will be a boon to your motorcycle insurance.
7. Dress aerodynamically. A full-faced helmet is much more aerodynamic than other helmets, for example.
8. Watch for accessories that create drag. If you have accessories attached to your bike that stick out, they’re going to create drag and reduce your fuel efficiency.
9. Use higher-grade fuel. How much this will save you depends largely on the price of the fuel, but it will allow you to use less fuel.
10. If all else fails, consider an electric motorcycle. The world of electric bikes has made great strides in recent years.

Photo via Rob Speed