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The Spiraling Cost Of Petrol

I'm not going to get into the politics of international fuel cartels, falling world stocks and the UK's fuel taxes...that's for you to decide how you feel. What is scary is how much fuel has risen.

When I first bought the 125 I was most impressed I could fill it for about £8.00 then ride it around for 200 miles. Now...I can still fill it and ride it for 200 miles but it costs £10.50. It's not exacly a ball busting difference but that extra £2.50 per tank soon adds up if you're filling up once a week.

You may have noticed...125. I have a Fazer 600 which is a lovely bike but drinks fuel at the rate of 60mpg, if ridden carefully. The 125 however returns 100mpg if thrashed mercilessly, normally 110mpg and up to 120mpg on a nice smooth gentle run. Why the hell anyone needs a 600 to ride 10 miles to work and 10 miles back a day is beyond me. Why anyone would use a nice shiny 600 in the wind and the rain is silly.

As far as I'm concerned, 125's and the like must surely be the future. 600's, 1000's and 1300's are great toys, and to be honest toys is what they are to most modern bikers. Yet for the everyday rider who uses the bike as transport, 125 are ideal for local work and 250's if there's a little distance involved. That said, my 125 is used on the motorway quite often. I also carry out a 27 mile ride to Liverpool quite often and the 125 is so frugal this makes the journey less painful on the pocket.

You'd think in these fiscally hard times 125's would be on the increase. Yet motorcycling still seems to be heading along the course of performance perfomance performance. When a modern diesel car can return 70mpg then why is it that most bikes, not just sports bikes but tourers and regular bikes, only return 35 to 55 mpg? I know most rider's bikes are indeed toys and being able to boast of 170 bhp and 0-60 in 2.2seconds brings kudos at the biker haunt, but I dream of a 250 to 400cc diesel bike that returns 100mpg yet can comfortably carry 2 and luggage for over 300 miles in comfort at a steady 70mph. Please, don't mention the bloody Enfield diesel, not that I've ever even seen on of these in the UK

I'd love to build such a bike. Where can I find a 400cc diesel motor and a Deauville with a knackered motor?

Cheers, Ren.