Estimate how much petrol your motorcycle will use and what the ride will cost. Enter your trip distance, measured fuel economy and local pump price to see the total, cost per kilometre or mile, and each rider’s share.
How to calculate motorcycle fuel cost
Divide the total distance by your fuel economy in km/L to get litres used. Multiply the litres by your local price per litre. For example, a 25 km ride each way at 40 km/L uses 1.25 litres. At 2 per litre, the round trip costs 2.50.
Budgeting for regular rides
Multiply the cost of your complete daily ride by the number of days you expect to ride. For example, a 30 km commute at 50 km/L uses 0.6 litres per day, or 12 litres over 20 riding days.
How to measure your motorcycle’s real fuel economy
- Fill the tank and reset the trip meter.
- Ride as usual. At the next fill-up, record the distance and how much fuel it takes to refill to the same level.
- Divide kilometres ridden by litres added. For several fill-ups, divide the total distance by the total litres.
For example, 240 km on 8 litres works out to 30 km/L, or about 3.33 L/100 km. For a loaded tour, use mileage from a ride with similar speeds, terrain and luggage.
Compare fuel costs for a daily commute
These examples assume a 40 km daily round trip, 20 riding days and a fuel price of $1.50 per litre. Use your own distance and pump price in the calculator above.
| Fuel economy | Fuel per day | Cost per day | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 km/L | 2.00 L | $3.00 | $60.00 |
| 25 km/L | 1.60 L | $2.40 | $48.00 |
| 40 km/L | 1.00 L | $1.50 | $30.00 |
| 50 km/L | 0.80 L | $1.20 | $24.00 |
Use the right units and trip distance
- Fuel economy. Higher km/L means more distance on the same fuel. Lower L/100 km means less fuel for the same distance. To convert either figure to the other, divide 100 by it.
- Pump price. Use the price for the fuel grade you buy and select the volume unit shown on the pump. Currency selection controls how the result is displayed. Enter the price in that currency.
- Different return routes. If the ride out and the ride back cover different distances, add both legs and leave Round trip unchecked.
What can change your fuel bill?
Stop-and-go traffic, sustained high speeds, headwinds and extra load can increase fuel use. To budget for a long ride, calculate once using your usual mileage and again using the lower mileage you’ve recorded in similar conditions. If pump prices vary along the route, use a realistic price for where you expect to fill up.
Motorcycle fuel cost questions
Which fuel economy figure should I use?
Use an average from several fill-ups if you can. Traffic, speed, hills and luggage can change how much petrol your bike uses.
What’s the difference between US and Imperial MPG?
A US gallon is about 3.785 litres. An Imperial gallon is about 4.546 litres. Match the MPG unit to the figure you entered and the price unit to your pump receipt.
How do I enter a return trip?
Enter the one-way distance and select Round trip. If you already entered the full distance, leave the box unchecked.
Planning when to stop for petrol? Use the motorcycle fuel range calculator.