Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero
As a side-discussion, motorcycles - whilst somewhat efficent, have a long way to go to match the efficiency of a car. Our oil needs changing more frequently, for the engine size we use alot of fuel, our tyres don't last as long. I was wondering how possible it would be to have direct injection motorcycle petrol engines, as this can improve efficiency. 2-stroke engines lend themselves to this wonderfully...the orbital 2-stroke engine is really efficient and realyl clean. I just wonder when the technology will be applied to the manufacture of large capacity engines
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You're absolutely right, and I wondered if someone would make this point.
A good efficient petrol car, albeit a small one (more relevant when comparing with motorbikes), might achieve 45mpg. The bike will probably do something similar - but it's half the size.
The oil change is a good point... but on the other hand, an SV (for example) will use 4.5 litres of oil over a 12,000 mile period. A small engine car will use something similar in that period too, perhaps twice as much if changing oil every 6,000 miles.
But, what motorbikes really have going for them, is that they'll achieve their 40mpg in town, where cars will struggle to achieve 30 or even 25. They'll complete their journies quickly and efficiently, cutting through congestion in ways that car drivers just can't understand.
However, I once drove an old 1 litre Peugeot 106. Even in congested traffic, doing my 25 mile journey to work, I average well over 55mpg over the months that I drove it... and that includes all the sitting in traffic. It wasn't anything special, but I don't know many bikes, or cars that could match that.