Everyone across South Africa is feeling the pinch at the pumps right now. From businesses to everyday commuters, they’re all asking the same question… “How do we save on fuel?” Many are looking to switch up from cars to a motorbike to save some fuel. But what fuel-efficient motorbikes are there?
Did you know that “in South Africa’s road freight industry, fuel can account for up to 50% of a transporter’s operating costs"? This means that even the tiniest increase in fuel can cause a major ripple effect in the entire supply chain of a business. And thanks to constant global tensions, the fluctuations are completely unpredictable.
That’s why advanced tech, like the fuel management software from Cartrack, is a must for all businesses that have bikes on the roads of Mzansi. Because not only can it help you manage your fleet, but it can help you save on fuel as well.
There are plenty of fuel-efficient motorbikes in South Africa. Currently the top new contenders are the:
These are best for last-mile delivery and the everyday commuter because they’re built to handle various terrains and stop-and-go traffic. And of course, they’re incredibly fuel-efficient.
Many daily urban commuters are looking to switch from public transport or their cars to a motorbike. But not every bike you find is more fuel-efficient compared to your car. Let’s take a look at what the best options are for your daily commuting.
This motorbike is one of the best fuel-economical bikes available, and it’s on the more affordable side as well. This stylish bike costs around R23,999, and its reported fuel economy is 2.3 L/100 km.
The Bajaj Pulsar 150 is an incredibly durable and sporty-looking bike, perfect for the daily commuter. It’ll cost you around R31,950, with a fuel economy predicted at 2.6 L/100km.
This Big Boy gives you that retro cruiser feel, with a max speed of 110km/h. It’s really fuel efficient with an estimated fuel economy of 3.2 L/100km. It’s not too badly priced either at roughly R37,000.
If you’re in the market for a superbike without breaking the bank every time you fill up, take a look at the Suzuki GSX 150 SF. It's a 155cc motorbike that’ll cost you around R43 950, and thanks to the Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) technology, it has an estimated fuel economy of 2.4 L/100 km.
When you run a business that needs bikes for last-mile delivery, you need to try and cut costs. We all know that fuel eats up a lot of your profits as a business, so finding motorcycles that can last you a long time and have a great fuel economy is a major win!
So, let’s take a look at what some of your options are.
One of the best choices for last-mile delivery is the Lifan LF 125. This powerful machine is extremely reliable with an impressive estimated fuel economy of 2.1 L/100km. A major bonus for businesses is that, brand new, it’s priced at around R16,495!
If you’re searching for a durable and reliable motorbike for your fleet, the Honda Ace 125 might be what you’re looking for. It’s priced at around R27,319, with a projected fuel economy of 2.2 L/100km. According to AutoTrader, “Their engines are notoriously 'bulletproof', and parts are available in almost every corner of the country, which keeps long-term maintenance costs extremely low.”
The Honda ACE 150 is similar to the ACE 125, but it’s built to handle more heavy-duty work. It has a larger engine with a 5-speed gearbox and will set you back around R30,419. But most importantly, it has a great estimated fuel economy of only 2.5 L/100 km.
If your delivery business frequents really rough and rural roads, then the Honda XR 125 is a brilliant option! It’s built to handle extreme roads and is strong enough to handle a load, costing around R42,469 brand new. On top of that, it has an impressive projected fuel economy of 2.6 L/100km.
Now if you’re tired of the ever-fluctuating fuel prices and still want to get a motorbike, fret not, because we have hybrid and fully electric motorcycles available too! It’s important to note that there isn’t the biggest range available, and they’ll cost you significantly more than an internal combustion engine (ICE) bike.
Electric bikes are mostly designed for developed urban areas, so it’s important to keep that in mind before you start shopping around.
The CITI is more of an electric scooter-styled bike that's perfect for those who want to get around their city without the high costs of fuel. It has a dual battery setup, a top speed of 80km/h, a range of 107km with both batteries, and takes about 3.5hrs to fully charge each battery.
If you take the single battery option, it’ll cost you R65,900, and R85,900 for the dual battery model.
For those who love to go off-roading, the TC Wanderer is a great option. It also comes with a dual battery option and has a 3-year battery warranty. Its top speed is 75km/h and it has a range of 110km with both batteries. This electric motorbike starts at R70,000 for the single-battery and R90,000 for the double-battery model.
The Akata Tinbot TS1 is built specifically for last-mile delivery. This is a hybrid motorbike that’s designed to handle South African roads with a top speed of 45 km/h and a range of 100km.
It’s important to note that although the Akata Tinbot TS1 retails for R42,499 once off, it’ll cost you an additional R2,150 a month for battery rental. According to The Road Warriors, “You swap petrol spend for a fixed monthly battery fee… [and you’ll] save up to 77% on fuel immediately." You also get two batteries with the rental.
The TC Max is an electric motorbike that’s not only stylish but has great handling as well. This bike would work well for both daily commuters and last-mile delivery. It has a top speed of 95 km/h and a range of 92km, and the 72V/45Ah battery takes 4.5 hrs to fully charge.
This is definitely on the higher end, costing you a whopping R99,900!
But remember that this isn’t the only money you’ll be spending on your new ride. Read on to discover some of the hidden costs of owning a motorbike.
Let’s take a look at the total cost of ownership of a bike and not just at the pump. Even if you’ve chosen a fuel-efficient motorbike at a reasonable price, there’s a chance your money is just being spent elsewhere.
For businesses, your delivery bikes are constantly on the roads; they’re going to require frequent maintenance and possible repairs. When you’re not proactively monitoring the health of your bikes, this is going to end up costing you not only in maintenance and repair costs but also in unexpected operational downtime.
For the everyday commuter, we all know that the streets of our cities aren’t for the faint-hearted. Potholes, uneven roads and constant congestion on the roads will affect your bike’s health. Not keeping your bike well maintained is going to end up costing you a lot of money in the long run.
A major problem with these lighter, fuel-efficient motorbikes is that they’re high risk. These bikes are often targeted by thieves because they’re light and are easy to resell as a whole or for their parts. When you don’t have the proper safety measures installed on and in your bikes, you’re leaving the door wide open for thieves.
For businesses, your bikes are travelling throughout the day all over the streets of South Africa. When you don’t have an efficient routing system in place, you’re wasting precious time, money and fuel. When you don’t plan the best routes, you (or if you own a business, your drivers) will end up sitting in avoidable traffic or taking the longest route possible.
Another fuel and time waster is when you need a driver to take over another driver's tasks or have a new job that needs to be done. You could be asking the driver that's the furthest away from his new job location.
Motorbikes are a risk on the road for both accidents and theft. This means you’re probably going to be paying quite a lot of money for insurance. So you need to explore ways to minimise this unavoidable cost of having insurance.
Cartrack can help minimise the costs of owning a motorbike fleet through our telematics technology and fuel management system. When you install our telematics system in the bikes in your fleet, it monitors almost every aspect of your bike, and our fuel management system gives you complete insights into how fuel is being used.
Did you know that the number one factor in how much fuel any vehicle you own uses is driver behaviour? If your drivers are speeding, taking corners recklessly or idling unnecessarily, they're burning through the fuel in your motorbikes quicker. Cartrack’s fuel management system monitors driver behaviour so you can stop the number one factor for fuel wastage in a fleet.
Another way we can help with fuel efficiency in your motorbike fleet is by monitoring each bike's performance. A bike that isn’t well maintained will use more fuel. That’s why our telematics system actively monitors your bike’s health, so the second something is acting up, we’ll alert you so you can set it up for a maintenance check.
As discussed, motorbike theft is common. Especially for those lightweight delivery motorbikes. With a Cartrack GPS tracking device, you can rest assured knowing that not only is your motorbike always protected, but also there’s a dedicated recovery team who will go out and try to get it back for you.
Another major problem for motorbike fleets is fuel theft. With our world-class fuel monitoring system, you’ll be able to accurately monitor every single drop of fuel and spot fuel theft the second it happens.
Cartrack can help you with route optimisation. By finding the most efficient route, your delivery bikes will reach their destination faster and take the best route as well. This means less damage to your bikes, which means your maintenance costs come down—all while saving costs on fuel.
To bring your insurance down, having a Cartrack GPS tracking device can assist with reducing your insurance premiums. This is because you’ve added a reliable security feature that can assist with returning your motorbike in the event of theft.
So if you’re ready to save fuel and keep your motorbike safe, speak to one of our helpful agents!
If you enjoyed this blog and want to find out more on motorbike delivery fleets, check out this piece on How to Start a Successful Delivery Business.
Discover the most fuel-efficient motorbikes in South Africa for both everyday commuters and for fleets, and see how Cartrack can help you save on fuel costs.
