I regularly get over 300 miles from the 29 litre tank on my 1300 Pan Euro (not the sort of bike you often see here, but it suits me at the moment) and I've yet to push it home (I did once fill up and got 29.4l in, not sure how that worked). Reading the road tests I was expecting nearer 8miles/litre or even worse but I have never sunk that low, even on long autobahn trips.

I suspect the comics are geared up to test sports bikes, and ride all bikes the same; as though they are on a track, getting the knee down and taking it to the redline every time they accelerate. I may push on a bit if I need to be somewhere (I use the bike to commute when I can), but if I'm touring, I tour (I'm so eccentric). I stop to look at the view; I dawdle through pretty villages; I follow interesting looking signs; I each kilos of cake and drink litres of coffee in small cafes. I then stop for regular comfort breaks.

OK, I should ride a Deauville and save money on tyres and fuel, but with Mrs MarkE & me on board I like a bit (lot) of surplus power (and my fragile male ego requires I ride a BIG bike). When I feel more secure at work (too many redundancies around at present and I might be next, especially if I spend too long on HU in the working day) I will be getting something to keep the Pan company and be more suitable for unmade and bad roads, and I'll be interested to see how that does, and which I ride more often.