Motorcycle Fuel Costs

The formula

Annual fuel cost = annual miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. Dividing miles by MPG gives the gallons you use in a year; multiplying by the price gives the cost. The calculator uses exactly this formula with the model’s MPG figure, your annual mileage and the gas price you enter.

Worked example: different MPG

These examples use 6,000 miles a year and $3.80 per gallon. $3.80 is the calculator’s editable default and is used here for illustration only; it is not a verified current price.

At 35 MPG the bike uses about 171 gallons, so fuel costs about $651 a year. At 50 MPG it uses 120 gallons, about $456. At 69 MPG – the calculator figure for a Honda Rebel 500 – it uses about 87 gallons, about $330. Between the least and the most efficient of these, the difference is about $321 a year.

Worked example: different mileage

At 50 MPG and $3.80 per gallon, 3,000 miles costs about $228 a year, 6,000 miles about $456 and 10,000 miles about $760. Fuel cost scales in a straight line with mileage: double the miles, double the fuel bill.

Each $0.10 change in gas price changes the annual cost by $0.10 × the gallons you use. At 120 gallons a year, that is $12 for every $0.10.

Regular or premium

Some motorcycles require or recommend premium gasoline. Check your owner’s manual. If your bike needs premium, enter the premium price at your usual station rather than the regular price, because the difference applies to every gallon.

Check the current gas price

The U.S. Energy Information Administration publishes weekly average retail gasoline prices for the United States and its regions. Use it as a reference, or simply use the price you pay at your usual station, which is usually closest to your real cost.

Real-world MPG

Model MPG figures are a starting point. Highway speed, wind, a passenger, luggage, a large windshield, cold weather, stop-and-go traffic and tire pressure all change real consumption. The most accurate figure is your own: fill the tank, reset the trip meter, and at the next fill-up divide the miles ridden by the gallons added.