With the April 1, 2017, deadline passing for all bike makers to convert their bikes to comply with BS-IV emission norms, it’s a good time to look at which bikes are the most fuel efficient now. These mileage figures are based on what’s claimed by the manufacturers themselves. So, they may not match real world figures, but they’re a good indicator of which bikes are getting the most kilometres to each litre of petrol.
1. Hero Splender i-Smart
Claimed mileage: 102.5kpl
Engine: 97.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹50,255 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Its fuel efficiency goes into triple digits! Hero MotoCorp took its best-selling Splendor, and put what its calls ‘i3s technology’, or idle Start Stop System on its bike - the first time that we’re seeing it on a motorcycle in India. This system turns off the engine every time you pull the bike to a halt and idle for more than a few seconds, and automatically restart it when you pull in the clutch once again.
2. Bajaj CT100
Claimed mileage: 99.1kpl
Engine: 99.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹35,389 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
The previous CT 100 was quite successful in its segment and Bajaj brought it back in a refreshed avatar in 2015. It’s billed as the slightly less premium sibling to the Platina. The motor doesn’t get DTS-i technology though and makes slightly lesser torque than the Platina. The company also launched a variant called the CT 100 B, that comes with a round headlight instead of a bikini fairing, and is over Rs 4,000 cheaper.
3. Bajaj Platina 100ES
Claimed mileage: 96.9 kpl
Engine: 102cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹45,985 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
The 2015 version sports new styling along with electric start offered as standard. The air-cooled motor comes with DTS-i twin-spark tech for improved that aids fuel efficiency. This bike is supposed to be one of the most comfortable in its class. At 190mm, even the ground clearance is said to be the highest in its class.
4. TVS Sport
Claimed mileage: 95kpl
Engine: 99.77cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹37,780 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
This updated version of TVS’ entry-level commuter motorcycle now boasts an even higher fuel efficiency. TVS also added a range of features to the updated bike - electric start as standard, aluminium grab rails, a chrome muffler guard and a new instrument cluster. The Sport was also ranked No.1 among economy segment motorcycles in the JD Power APEAL Study 2015. The company claims that this makes the bike “the most appealing economy motorcycle”.
5. Hero Splendor range
Claimed mileage: 93.2kpl
Engine: 97.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting Price: ₹47,680 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
This is the company’s bread and butter bike, and has ruled the top of the sales charts for the better part of the last two decades. The 97.2cc sloper motor has remained fundamentally unchanged, but recently, with the introduction of the 'Pro' model, various internal bits were refined for improved power and torque figures. Hero MotoCorp even 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.
6. Hero HF range
Claimed mileage: 88.5kpl
Engine: 97.2cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting Price: ₹39,700 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
About nine motorcycles are currently based almost exactly on its ever so successful Splendor platform. And with a fuel efficiency figure of nearly 90 kilometres to the litre, this bike makes for a tempting buy. The HF series is billed as the more affordable take on the Splendor, with a few features left out to keep costs down. Hero has also added a new model to the HF range, the HF Deluxe i3S, which features the start-stop technology from the Splendor i-Smart. This bike uses the same engine as the other Splendors.
7. Mahindra Centuro
Claimed mileage: 85.2kpl
Engine: 106.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹47,130 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Apart from the Mahindra’s distinctive styling, it gets a number of segment-first features such as a flip-key and find-me lamps, take-me-home lamps, which stay on to light up your path once you’ve parked and locked your bike. The Centuro gets a tachometer, along with a digital instrument cluster as well. The Centuro uses a 106.7cc, single-cylinder motor, which comes with the company’s patented lubrication system for improving efficiency.
8. Yamaha Saluto RX
Claimed mileage: 82kpl
Engine: 110cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹47,380 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
This is the most recently launched bike on this list. The company says that the target market for the bike is rural youngsters - part of the reason for bringing back the legendary RX name. 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. The motor churns out 7.5hp of peak power and 8.5Nm of torque. One major advantage that the Saluto RX has is that it’s the only bike in this list that meets BS-IV emission norms.
9. TVS Victor
Claimed mileage: 76kpl
Engine: 109.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹1,715 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
This year, TVS brought back the Victor in a totally revamped avatar. This bike is all new from the ground up. This new Victor’s 3-valve EcoThrust motor makes 9.6hp of peak power and 9.4Nm of peak torque, making this the most powerful bike here. The bike comes with tubeless tyres as well as an optional petal disc brake at the front for added safety. Fit and finish are great, making this a bike that’s hard to fault.
10. Suzuki Hayate EP
Claimed mileage: 76 kpl
Engine: 113cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Starting price: ₹52,754 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
The company launched a major update to the original Hayate, called the Hayate EP. The 110cc single-cylinder motor now gets Suzuki’s Eco Performance (SEP) technology and makes 8.7hp of peak power and 9.3Nm of peak torque. It even comes with a longer seat, a long wheelbase and a new diamond frame. The motorcycle also comes with a maintenance-free battery, tubeless tyres and a five-step adjustable rear shock absorber.
