Petrol prices in Pakistan have hit an all-time high in the wake of the Iran-US conflict. For daily commuters, there are only two options to keep costs low:
- Switch to a fuel-efficient petrol motorcycle
- Buy an electric scooter or motorcycle
For most people, EVs don’t make sense; range anxiety, unappealing designs, and high upfront costs are still barriers.
So the smarter move right now is option one: a fuel-efficient petrol motorcycle.
Here’s a breakdown of the best options available in Pakistan with technical details.
Methodology
This list only includes motorcycles with a total running cost of under Rs 10 per kilometer. That is the cutoff.
Anything above Rs 10/km may still be a decent motorcycle, but it cannot be called fuel-efficient..
3. Suzuki GD110S
The GD110S costs 2x as much as the cheapest bike in this list, but its per-kilometer running cost is very affordable.
Its 110cc long-stroke OHC engine was originally designed in Japan as part of Suzuki’s GD series, with a DC-CDI unit, tuned for maximum fuel economy.
The result: 55 km/l from a 110 cc engine.
It’s also the only motorcycle in the 100cc category in Pakistan to come with:
- A balancer shaft engine (extremely smooth ride)
- Self-start
- Dipper
The one downside is its low ground clearance. The engine mounting rod scrapes on almost every speed breaker.
| Expense | Interval | Cost per km |
| Petrol (55 km/l) | Per fill | Rs 6.64 |
| Engine oil | Every 900 km | Rs 1.67 |
| Air filter | Every 5,000 km | Rs 0.30 |
| Oil filter | Every 2,000 km | Rs 0.35 |
| Total | Rs 9.00 |
Still very affordable for a 110cc bike.
Oil recommendations:
- Company-recommended: SGO 10w-40 (mineral, we don’t recommend it)
- Our pick: Havoline 10w-40 Fully Synthetic or PSO Blaze Xtreme 4T
Both are fully synthetic, prevent sludge buildup, and outperform mineral oil. PSO Blaze Xtreme meets the API SP standard, the highest oil quality standard in the world, and is available at most company-operated PSO pumps.
2. Honda Pridor
Some people avoid the Pridor because of its poor resale value, but it’s also cheap to run.
The 98cc engine with optimized 14-to-43 gear sprocketing delivers a solid 50 km/l.
Two things to watch out for:
Clutch plates
The Pridor has a known issue where clutch plates burn out after 15,000–20,000 km. Keep an eye on this.
Oil capacity
It takes 0.9 liters of oil, and almost no third-party brand sells oil in that size; bottles are either 0.7L or 1L.
Your options:
- Stick with Atlas Honda’s OEM oil, which is available in a 0.9L bottle, if you don’t like Honda oil and decide to go with a third-party brand:
- Buy a measuring flask and pour 900 mL from a 1 L bottle.
| Expense | Interval | Cost per km |
| Petrol (50 km/l) | Per fill | Rs 7.30 |
| Engine oil | Every 800 km | Rs 0.88 |
| Air filter | Every 5,000 km | Rs 0.24 |
| Total | Rs 8.42 |
Only Rs 0.86 more per km than the CD70, a difference you’ll barely notice day to day.
Oil recommendation: Just use the Atlas Honda OEM oil and change it every 800km.
1. Honda CD70 (Obviously)
A tiny 72cc engine, 82 kg dry weight, and slim tires, everything about its physics favors fuel efficiency.
In normal city riding, the CD70 delivers 55 km/l. To consistently achieve this, you need to:
- Change engine oil every 800 km
- Use a reputable 20w-40 oil (such as Havoline or ZIC)
- Replace the air filter every 1,600 km
The 72cc engine is very sensitive to dirty air filters and low-quality oil, so don’t skip these steps. If your motorcycle is brand new, you can also use a fully synthetic 10W-40 oil. It is thinner than 20W-40 and can increase your economy to around 58 km/l.
| Expense | Interval | Cost per km |
| Petrol (55 km/l) | Per fill | Rs 6.64 |
| Engine oil | Every 800 km | Rs 0.81 |
| Air filter | Every 1,600 km | Rs 0.11 |
| Total | Rs 7.56 |
At Rs 7.56 per km, the CD70 is the cheapest mode of transportation in Pakistan. Below this, EV scooter is your only option.
Oil recommendations:
- Company-recommended: Atlas Honda 20w-40
- Our pick: Havoline 20w-40
- For a higher budget: ZIC 20W-40 Semi-Synthetic (works better than the above two, which are mineral oils)
Final Verdict
If the priority is saving money, the Honda CD70 wins easily. If someone wants a bit more comfort and can accept slightly higher costs, the Pridor is the balanced pick. The GD110S is the best machine technically, but for most commuters in Pakistan right now, its higher price weakens the value equation.
Bonus: The Most Expensive Motorcycles to Run in Pakistan
These are great bikes, but they’ll cost you much more per kilometer.
Suzuki GR150
With its 150 cc engine, the GR150 reaches 60 km/h easily, so on open main roads, there is little reason for a rider not to cruise at that speed.
That also means fuel economy drops at that pace, and at 60 km/h in 5th gear, it returns no more than 29 km/l. In stop-and-go traffic, it drops to 27.5-28 km/l.
| Expense | Interval | Cost per km |
| Petrol (29 km/l) | Per fill | Rs 12.59 |
| Engine oil | Every 900 km | Rs 1.67 |
| Air filter | Every 5,000 km | Rs 0.60 |
| Oil filter | Every 2,000 km | Rs 0.35 |
| Total | Rs 15.21 |
Honda CB150F
Same story as GR. At highway speeds in 5th gear, the CB150F delivers around 30 km/l.
| Expense | Interval | Cost per km |
| Petrol (30 km/l) | Per fill | Rs 12.17 |
| Engine oil | Every 1,000 km | Rs 1.36 |
| Air filter | Every 5,000 km | Rs 0.70 |
| Total | Rs 14.23 |
Editor’s Advice:
On paper, both bikes cost nearly twice as much per kilometer as the CD70.
But if you can afford the running cost, they’re excellent motorcycles, smooth engines, flawless suspensions, sofa-like seats, and superb build quality. These two bikes tell you what motorcycle riding is.
Worth it if the budget allows.
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