Common Mistakes That Cause Motorcycles to Consume More Fuel

Fuel consumption is a common issue with older motorcycles when the fuel conversion efficiency of the vehicle is reduced. In addition, fuel consumption also comes from some habits of the riders.

Using the brakes too much, frequently braking abruptly

Many riders have the habit of driving fast and braking abruptly when encountering obstacles. Abrupt braking and continuous braking cause the system to quickly lose momentum, thereby increasing fuel consumption.

This habit also causes unburned fuel to abruptly stop, converting kinetic energy into thermal energy and overheating the engine, resulting in higher fuel consumption.

(Illustrative image: Freepik)

Twisting the throttle to accelerate when the light turns green

Many people have the habit of twisting the throttle to quickly accelerate when the green light comes on. In fact, the faster you twist the throttle, the more fuel you consume. Therefore, to save fuel, riders should slowly twist the throttle until they reach the necessary speed. Increasing the accelerator while smoothly shifting gears not only helps save fuel but also protects the engine and gearbox.

Not shifting to the appropriate gear when necessary

Motorcycles usually have 4 gears suitable for different speeds. If the driver does not shift to the appropriate gear when encountering obstacles, stopping the vehicle, or climbing, the motorcycle will struggle, consume more fuel than usual.

In the case of driving at a lower gear, the motorcycle will become sluggish, heavy, difficult to drive, and also consume more fuel. Use the appropriate gear for the speed to ensure that the fuel is burned properly without wasting fuel.

Keeping the engine running at a red light

Some people have the habit of keeping the engine running at a red light because they believe that restarting the engine will consume more fuel. In reality, each time you start the engine, it consumes very little fuel, in case the engine is already hot.

Meanwhile, every minute the engine is idling consumes nearly 1 km of fuel. However, that doesn’t mean you have to turn off the engine every time you stop the vehicle. If the idle time is short, it’s better to keep the engine running.

Overloading the vehicle beyond the allowed weight

One of the habits of vehicle users that leads to abnormal fuel consumption is overloading the vehicle. This puts a lot of pressure on the operating engine, causing the gasoline engine to burn more fuel than necessary.

Therefore, you should only carry the recommended load by the manufacturer for a more durable and stable vehicle operation.

Over-inflated or under-inflated tires

Very few vehicle owners pay attention to the tire pressure. They only inflate the tires when they are too flat, which not only causes the vehicle to deteriorate quickly but also leads to dangerous situations and consumes more fuel.

When the tires are over-inflated or under-inflated, the surface area of the tire contacts the road more, increasing the rolling resistance of the vehicle and causing more fuel to be burned.

Uneven throttle control

The habit of uneven throttle control, irregular acceleration and deceleration will hinder the fuel conversion system, causing unstable operation. At that time, more fuel will be pushed into the combustion chamber.

According to VTC