Shiftheads - 100 Miles Per Gallon and a $5 Scooter Trip: Ryan O'Donnell Does the Transportation Math

Motorcycle fuel economy is not something most people think about. Ryan O'Donnell did, and the numbers surprised him. Motorcycles average between 30 and 60 miles per gallon. Some models reach 100 MPG. A Honda Civic from 2023 to 2026 sits between 30 and 40 MPG. A Harley Davidson on Reddit data runs roughly 120 miles on a tank at about 50 MPG, which puts a fill-up somewhere under $20. The fuel economy case for motorcycles is stronger than the reputation suggests. The e-scooter comparison does not hold up as well. A 1.3 kilometre rental trip costs around $5. The same distance in a Honda Civic costs approximately 60 cents in gas. A decent scooter runs about $500, which means roughly 125 rental trips to break even, and Ryan O'Donnell estimates he takes about 20 trips per year. Calgary recorded approximately 2,200 e-scooter injuries in the summer of 2023, most involving children. Topics: motorcycle fuel economy, e-scooter cost comparison, Harley Davidson MPG, Honda Civic MPG, transportation Calgary Originally aired on 2026-05-05