Top 10 fuel efficient motorcycles in India

Whether it is two wheels, four or more, it’s well-nigh impossible that a vehicle owner has not been accosted by that ubiquitous question “Average kya hai?” in India.  

Get astride a new motorcycle and it’s often you’re queried about the mileage your steed on two wheels delivers per litre of petrol. And that person could be your neighbour, distant cousin or even the speedster in the upmarket sedan who has been compelled to grind to a screeching halt at a traffic signal. 

On April 14, India Yamaha Motor launched its all-new 110cc Saluto RX, which is claimed to deliver 82 kilometres per litre. But even that handsome figure puts it only on eighth place in this list of the Top 10 most fuel efficient motorcycles in the country. While the listing is based on the fuel efficiency claimed by the companies which make them, it should serve as a good reference point for which motorcycle gives you the most mileage for your money.

1. Hero Splendor iSmart

Claimed mileage: 102.5kpl

Engine: 97.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 50,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

With an almost unbelievably high fuel efficiency that runs into triple digits, this one is the ultimate fuel sipper in India. Work out the math: At 102.5kpl and a litre of petrol priced at Rs 65.63 (in Mumbai), this green machine gives you a truly wallet-friendly return for your investment – only 64 paise for a kilometre! 

Hero MotoCorp has taken the Splendor, its best-selling product of all time, and given it the i3s (idle Start Stop System) treatment. Such start-stop systems have made their way into more affordable cars over the past few years, but this is the first time that it’s been applied to a motorcycle in India. What this system does is switch off the engine every time you halt and idle for more than a few seconds, and automatically restart it when you pull in the clutch once again. Switching off the motor during idle situations makes an already very efficient motor even more so. In today’s time of high-priced petrol, this one’s really a Hero.

2. Bajaj CT 100

Claimed mileage: 99.1kpl

Engine: 99.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 35,034

Launched in 2015, the CT 100 (along with the Platina 100ES)was part of Bajaj Auto’s two-bike salvo to take on the commuter motorcycle segment in India. The previous CT 100, which was among the more successful products in the past, was reborn last year to signify the company’s resolve in taking on the competition in a class that is undoubtedly the single-largest segment in India (the 100cc, 110cc and 125cc bikes put together comprise close to 60 percent of the overall two-wheeler market in the country).

The CT 100 is billed as the slightly less premium sibling to the Platina, but gets almost similar features such as the SNS rear suspension. However, the motor doesn’t get DTS-i technology and develops slightly lesser torque as compared to the Platina. Recently, the company also launched a variant called the CT 100 B that features a round headlight instead of a bikini fairing, which is over Rs4,000 cheaper.

3. Bajaj Platina 100ES

Claimed mileage: 96.9kpl

Engine: 102cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 45,252 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The Platina has always been one of Bajaj Auto’s best-selling and highly efficient motorcycles. In its 2015 avatar, the Platina sports new styling along with electric start as standard. The air-cooled motor features the company’s proprietary DTS-i twin-spark tech for improved combustion efficiency leading to the high mileage figure that the company claims.

It also gets the company’s dual-spring SNS (spring-in-spring) suspension for added comfort as well as what Bajaj claims to be the longest seat (21.9 inches) in the segment. At 190mm, even the ground clearance is said to be the highest in class. So tackling the worst of Indian roads shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

4. TVS Sport

Claimed mileage: 95kpl

Engine: 99.77cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 36,880 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The TVS Sport has been around for a few years, but last year the Chennai-based company launched an updated version of this entry-level commuter motorcycle, which now boasts an even higher fuel efficiency. Besides a bump in the mileage, TVS has equipped the motorcycle with a few more features. It now gets electric start as standard, aluminium grab rails, a chrome muffler guard and a new instrument cluster.

The Sport is powered by TVS’ DuraLife Engine that reduces the friction in engine components and provides improved fuel efficiency. And what’s more, the Sport was also ranked No.1 amongst economy segment motorcycles in the JD Power APEAL Study 2015. The company claims that this makes the bike “the most appealing economy motorcycle”. It’s also the only motorcycle in the 100cc class with large 130mm drum brakes that facilitate better braking.

5. Hero Splendor range

Claimed mileage: 93.2kpl

Engine: 97.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 46,850 (ex-showroom Delhi)

Think fuel efficiency on two wheels and the first name that comes to mind for most people is the Hero Splendor. Remember the memorable ‘Fill It, Shut It, Forget It’ ad campaign? This bike is pretty much the company’s bread-and-butter motorcycle and has been on the top of sales charts for the better part of the last two decades. The 97.2cc motor has remained fundamentally unchanged in that time but recently with the introduction of the ‘Pro’ model, various internal bits were refined to provide improved power and torque figures – which currently sit at 8.36bhp and 8.05Nm respectively. And in a surprising move by the otherwise conservative bike maker, Hero MotoCorp released a single-seat café-racer version of the Splendor Pro in the form of the Splendor Pro Classic, which yields similar performance and mileage figures. The bike is also available in the Splendor+ avatar which sports the familiar first-generation Splendor design.

6. Hero HF range

Claimed mileage: 88.5kpl

Engine: 97.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 39,470 (ex-showroom Delhi)

Hero MotoCorp has been known to manufacture a huge number of products based on the same basic platform. So even right now, the company has about nine motorcycles based almost exactly on its ever-so-successful Splendor platform. And with a mileage figure of nearly 90kpl, it’s the HF series of bikes from this family that take the number six spot in terms on the chart of the most fuel efficient bikes in the country.

The HF series is seen as the more affordable take on the Splendor, with a few features left out to keep costs down. Currently, there are three bikes in this range starting with the most affordable HF Dawn, going on to the HF Deluxe and the HF Deluxe ECO. The ECO is shod with low rolling resistance tyres for better mileage. Engine-wise, there is no real difference in specs between these bikes and the other Splendors.

7. Mahindra Centuro

Claimed mileage: 85.2kpl

Engine: 106.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 43,250 (ex-showroom Delhi)

In India’s cut-throat commuter bike market, it is difficult for most machines to differentiate themselves but the Mahindra Centuro certainly does try its hardest. Apart from its distinctive styling, it gets a number of segment-first features such as a flip-key and find-me lamps which flash along with audio beeps at a press of a button on this key, to help locate the bike in a crowded parking lot. Then there are take-me-home lamps which stay on to light up your path once you’ve parked and locked your bike. And to top it off, the Centuro gets a tachometer along with a digital instrument cluster.

Mahindra also offers variants which get a 240mm disc brake at the front for enhanced braking performance. The Centuro packs a 106.7cc single-cylinder motor which comes with the company’s patented lubrication system for improving fuel efficiency.

Also read: India's Top 10 Two-Wheelers in 2015-16

8. Yamaha Saluto RX

Claimed mileage: 82kpl

Engine: 110cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 46,400 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The Saluto RX is the latest bike to join this list of fuel sippers and has been launched recently as part of Yamaha’s initiative to make headway into the commuter bike space.

The company says that the target market for the bike is youngsters in rural India, reason enough to bring back the legendary RX name in a bid to have better brand recall. The Saluto RX’s 110cc motor is based on that of its larger-capacity sibling –the Saluto 125 –and also gets some mileage-improving features such as the offset cylinder. There isn’t much to write home about in terms of specifications, with the motor developing 7.5bhp of peak power and 8.5Nm of torque. However, a kerb weight of just 98kg should make for a sprightly ride. One major advantage the Saluto RX has is the fact that it’s the only bike in this list that meets BS-IV emissions norms.

9. TVS Victor

Claimed mileage: 76kpl

Engine: 109.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 49,490 (ex-showroom Delhi)

While the Victor brand name belongs to year 2002, this year TVS Motor Co brought the name back in a totally revamped avatar. The changes aren’t just limited to the visuals though. Pretty much everything else has been changed from the ground up as well.

This new Victor packs the company’s 3-valve EcoThrust motor which can generate 9.6bhp of peak power and 9.4Nm of peak torque, making this the most powerful bike in this green lot. There are many more features on offer as well, which help make this new Victor great value. The bike gets tubeless tyres as well as an optional petal disc brake at the front for added safety. Even fit and finish has really been taken to a higher level, making this a bike that leaves very little to fault with.

10. Suzuki Hayate EP

Claimed mileage: 76kpl

Engine: 113cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled

Starting price: Rs 52,235 (ex-showroom Delhi)

It’s true that the original SuzukisHayate did not enjoy much success in the highly competitive arena of entry-level commuter motorcycles in India. However, in a bid to remedy that, the company launched a major update to this bike in the form of the Hayate EP.

The 110cc single-cylinder motor now gets Suzuki’s Eco Performance (SEP) technology and makes 8.7bhp of peak power and 9.3Nm of peak torque. According to the company, the motorcycle uses a ‘Super Sleek Piston’, high-ignition spark plug and low-friction cylinder and piston rings, which helps in delivering improved combustion, a high compression ratio, reduced friction and weight reduction.      

The new Hayate EP also features a longer seat, a long wheelbase and a new diamond frame. On the convenience front, the motorcycle comes with a maintenance-free battery, tubeless tyres and a five-step adjustable rear shock absorber.

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