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Cape Town - For more than three decades, the RFS (Retirement Fund Solutions) Bike Econorun has been an annual fixture on the motorcycling calendar.
The 2016 edition was no exception, with the fuel consumption of a variety of bikes tested under controlled conditions. The Econorun is a solid indication of how well the various bikes in the local market do.
And the most frugal bike is…
...2.4litres/100km
Capetonian Gareth Floweday on a Yamaha YZF-R15, was the overall winner of the 2016 RFS Bike Econorun with an average consumption of 2.54 litres/100 km, the lowest consumption achieved since 2004. Making his debut in last year’s event, Floweday already showed promise by taking second place overall, and cemented his reputation with this year’s win.
He was also one of only two riders to return a sub-3l/100km average consumption over the 973 km route from Brakpan to Thaba ‘Nchu on 23 and 24 September.
Gareth Floweday
The second rider to break the 3L barrier was Mike Peel on a Honda NC750X with an average of 2.7-litres/100km. First-timer Gerard Dehlen, on a Yamaha YZF-R3, grabbed 3rd overall with 3.03-litres/100km. Dave Leech on a BMW F800S, and Willie Duvenhage on a BMW G 650 GS Sertao completed the top five with averages of 3.20652 and 3.21870 3.03769-litres/100km respectively.
The big boys
The most contested category, Adventure Motorcycles above 1000cm³, was won by Reg Gurnell on a BMW R 1200 GS with 4.1-litres/100km, while Grant Scott managed 4.29-litres/100km on a KTM 1050 Ad-venture to earn him second place. Louis Alberts, also on a BMW R 1200 GS finished third in the with 4.37-litres/100km.
A charity raffle raised R27 000 for the benefit of the Lethoteng Community Centre in Ladybrand. This was made possible by donations by the likes of Bavarian Motorcycles, Bike SA, Biking Accessories, Bike Crazy, Dyna Beads, Hotel Numbi, 4×4 Mega World Zambesi, Rupert’s Bike Inn (Sabie), Scott Motorcycles, Wildman Hunting and Outdoors Montana and Windmill Wine Shop and Cottages. Not to be outdone by business, competitors managed to raise R12 000. Team Burly donated a further R10 000 and a competitor donated his R5000 lucky draw prize money as well.
Image: Supplied
The results of the Econorun are not just important to the industry, but also extremely valuable to the buying public who are looking to shave as much off their fuel bills as possible.
"Given the nature of the route and the fact that day one was a 677km slog that kept riders in the saddle for over nine hours, the results were impressive," said clerk of the course Francois Jordaan.
The Econorun, which has been organised by the Pretoria Motor Club since the event’s inception in 1982, is an important platform for the local motorcycle industry in South Africa because it highlights the fuel efficiency of properly maintained and well ridden motorcycles over a long distance.
The dates for next year’s event will be announced in due course.
Image: Supplied
