Once again the oil companies have an excuse to raise gasoline prices. International conflicts do not play in anyone’s favor, nor in favor of ordinary citizens, who are the ones who always end up paying the consequences of the “games” of those in power.
But no, we are not going to talk about politics, we are not going to give you nonsense. What we are going to do is tell you how you can make the increase in gasoline not noticeable, or less noticeable in your pocket. Because yes, we will still need a source of energy to move, but we can try to tune it as much as possible to achieve better gasoline consumption. And be careful, some of these tips also help you save electricity if your motorcycle is electric, that increase is the next one to arrive…
Be gentle and forward-thinking
Consumption is linked to how we drive. The smoother we do it and the more capable we are of anticipating events, the better we can manage our driving.
Always having a margin allows us not to have to brake hard, we can decelerate with time and those seconds in each braking that we do without accelerating simply due to inertia, are seconds that the engine is not pushing and then having to brake harder. That doesn’t mean that, when the time comes, you don’t apply the brakes hard, but if you’re flowing everything will be better. So if you see a car in the distance, for example, don’t wait until you’re on top of it to brake, or if you know you’re going to take the next exit or reach a roundabout, don’t brake as if you were fighting for a position over Márquez.
It accelerates yes, but what it touches
Of course, smooth driving can never be dangerous. You have to control the accelerator, but don’t fall short either. Furthermore, although each motorcycle and each engine varies, the usual thing is that the lowest gasoline consumption in terms of revolutions is found close to the moment in which the maximum engine torque is achieved. The usual thing is that if, for example, on our motorcycle the maximum torque is delivered to us at 6,500 rpm, we achieve the lowest consumption at the previous 2,000 rpm, that is, we will consume less between 4,500 rpm and 6,500 rpm than above or below.
Technology works in your favor, take advantage of it
If your motorcycle has technology, take advantage of it. If possible, always use cruise control. In this way you avoid accelerating and braking, the engine work is kept constant and consumption is optimized.
But that’s not all. There are many motorcycles on the market that tell you when you should change gears, take advantage of it. Also, although that goes without saying, if you have several power curves you surely have an ECO, choose that one. Finally in this section, if you have a “Start&Stop” system, do not disconnect it.
Tires influence consumption much more than you imagine.
We always say that tires are a vital part because they are the only part of our motorcycle in contact with the ground, and they also play a vital role in consumption. You have to have the correct pressure, if it goes below we will have more surface area and consumption will increase. But it is also important that you know that excessively worn tires, in addition to the safety problem they can pose, also consume more gasoline.
The air filter, that great forgotten
You may not even know where your motorcycle’s air filter is, but if it’s a gasoline one, it has it, that is if you haven’t dropped it… Joking aside, gasoline burns because there is air in the mixture and thanks to the oxygen in it we have combustion. If the air filter is dirty and does not allow the correct flow, the gasoline does not burn as it should, therefore it is not optimized and the same consumption results in less performance, so to maintain the usual performance more gasoline is needed.
Be careful with the oil and the spark plugs
If you don’t pay attention to the air filter we hope you do to the oil. If it is not recommended by the manufacturer in its technical specifications or is not in the correct size, it will affect consumption, in addition to the useful life of the engine. The same thing happens if it is damaged.
And since we are in “mechanical” mode, having the spark plugs up to date will help us achieve better combustion. They are responsible for the spark that starts the explosion inside the cylinder and the better the spark, the better the combustion will be.
The chain, better well lubricated
If you have a chain on your motorcycle you have to monitor two aspects that affect consumption. The first is lubrication. Not only will you be able to increase the useful life of the chain and the entire drive kit, but by minimizing friction due to the lubricant you will improve consumption. The same thing happens with the tension, if it is not correct, whether it is more or less, it will make you consume more.
Watch the aerodynamics
Aerodynamic work is not something that only influences MotoGP, it affects your motorcycle as well. That is why it is important to check that you do not have any damage to the fairing that could slow you down. The same happens with some accessories or raised screens. The flatter the profile of the motorcycle and the more frontal crash surface the air, the more consumption there will be. It’s that simple.
Leave your suitcases at home if you don’t use them
Suitcases and top cases are an exceptional invention, but only when they are going to be used. If you don’t use them, that is, if you move around with them empty, it is always best to remove them. Not only will you make the bike less bulky and more agile, but you will also remove surfaces that affect the aerodynamics of the bike and generate resistance.
Don’t carry unnecessary loads
You might justify using the suitcase because you have things inside… that you don’t use. Well, try not to carry more than the necessary weight. If you’re not going to use it, leave it at home. To give you an idea, it depends on the motorcycle, for every extra kilo the consumption increases between 0.02 and 0.05%. It may not seem like much to you, but in the long run it ends up being noticeable.
Plan the route, be a strategist
To save gasoline you have to use your head and not only when driving or keeping the motorcycle up to date but also when planning our route, even more so if it is daily. If it is in your power, leave when traffic is less intense and allows you to maintain constant speeds. Furthermore, if you have several options to get there with almost equal mileage, the smart thing is to choose the flattest one, the one that avoids crossing towns and roundabouts and the one that has a lower maximum speed. Because yes, the higher the speed, the higher the consumption.
Keep looking for the cheapest gasoline
Don’t give up, if prices have increased at your usual gas station, take a look at those in the rest of the area. There are online comparators that tell you the prices at the moment. You might as well stop halfway where you’ve never done before and save a few cents per liter.
Oh and remember, in Spain all the bases of gasoline are the same, what changes are the additives and, obviously, if there is a failure in the tanks and their consequent water filtration.
