Embarking on the thrilling journey of motorcycle ownership, riders often overlook a crucial element – the weight of their two-wheeled companion. It’s a revelation that hits after the purchase when the ride doesn’t quite dance to the expected rhythm, leaving riders pondering, ‘Did I ask the right question about my bike’s weight?’
So, how much do motorcycles really weigh on average? From nimble scooters tipping the scales at 220 pounds to robust tourers pushing the limits at over 1000 pounds, the weight spectrum is as diverse as the world of bikes itself.
In this guide, we delve into the intricate dance of motorcycle weights, breaking it down by class. Discover why bikes bear different weights, and explore a comprehensive list of motorcycle weights to ensure your chosen ride aligns with your expectations. Buckle up for a journey through the weighty secrets of the motorcycle world.
Dry Weight Vs. Wet Weight
The dry weight of a motorcycle refers to its weight without consumables such as fuel, oil, or coolant. On the other hand, the wet weight means that the bike is weighed with fluids. The dry and wet weight can have a difference of up to 70 pounds (32 kgs).
If you want to know the weight of a motorcycle while riding, you’ll also have to add the rider’s weight. Dry weight is essential when you’re comparing bikes between classes. Alternatively, you will want to compare wet weights when you want to pack your bike into a trailer.
Factors That Affect Motorcycle Weight
The type of motorcycle, class, and materials used in its production are some factors that affect a bike’s weight. Motorbikes are built for various purposes. For example, dirt bikes are lightweight to handle rides out of mud and dirt and are also suitable for young riders.
On the other hand, tourers are the heaviest since they pack tons of accessories like radio compartments and storage spaces to make long rides comfortable. Not to mention they are designed to carry passengers. Hence, they can’t have similar weight to Sports bikes which focus on speed and horsepower, and sometimes don’t even have a reserve fuel tank.
These features affect a motorcycle’s weight.
Engine
The engine CCs are the first feature that makes a massive difference in motorbikes. Models with high CCs are heavier than those with lower CCs. Not to mention, brands vary widely regarding the CCs ratings and the bike’s size.
Nevertheless, the CCs are important when determining the class of a motorcycle. Dirt bikes have CCs ranging from 230cc to 450cc and weigh less than 250 pounds. Cruisers, adventurers, and choppers have engines starting at 600cc. Thus, they weigh more.
Fairings
A motorcycle fairing is the hard shell placed on the bike’s frame. Fairings are used on Sports and racing bikes to reduce air drag. While fairings define the appearance of your motorcycle, they also make it heavier than those without.
Panniers
Panniers are luggage bags attached to the side of the bike. Modern panniers are made of aluminum, while old-school panniers are steel and add more weight to a bike. Again, these extras are found on adventure and touring bikes, that’s why they are heavier than other bikes.
Materials Used in Manufacturing
The build material of a motorcycle also plays a massive role in its weight. For instance, those built of aluminum and hard plastic are lighter than those built of steel. If you have an old-school bike, it’s likely made of steel.
How Much Do Motorcycles Weigh? – Different Types of Bikes and Their Weights
These are the weights to expect in each bike class.
Moped Weights
These small-size motorbikes have lesser than 50cc motors. Hence, they are quite light, weighing about 150 – 200 pounds.
Scooter Weights
Scooters are much larger than mopeds with slightly bigger engines. You will find them in populated cities since they make it easy to move around. Scooters average 250 – 300 pounds.
Dirt Bike Weights
The lightest full-size motorcycles are dirt bikes. Since they are made to handle rough terrain and jumps, they have slim frames in a lightweight design. Typically, dirt bikes weigh between 50 and 320 pounds.
Sports Bike Weights
Sports bikes are made for power and speed. Therefore, they lack fuel efficiency, cargo space, and off-road capability. Nevertheless, Sports bikes weigh more because of their aerodynamic fairings, beefy brakes, and powerful motors. Their weight stands in the 300 to 500-pound range.
Adventure Bike Weights
Adventure bikes are a special category of dirt bikes. They have bigger engines than dirt bikes but are designed to maneuver off-roads, big gaps, and mud, among others. For this reason, they often lack panniers, and although featuring big motors, their average weight is 550 pounds.
Cruiser Weights
Cruisers are bikes made for long-distance journeys. These motorcycles are not optimized for speed. Instead, they boast mean looks, growling sounds, and lots of bling, probably to match their maker, Harley Davidson. Thus, they will sport big transmissions and large-capacity, air-cooled motors. These features put cruisers in the 400 to 600-pound range.
Touring Bike Weights
Touring bikes are the heaviest at around 900 pounds. Since they are designed to handle the longest journeys, they pack lots of add-ons. Nonetheless, some touring bikes manage to keep their weight low. The Ducati Multistrada is a good example of a lightweight touring bike at only 516 pounds.
The top-selling touring bike in the USA, Harley Davidson Pan America 1250, weighs 534 pounds shipped from the factory.
Chopper Weights
Choppers are the most modified motorcycles. Their weights vary greatly, but they are all on the heavier side. You can find choppers averaging 650 to 720 pounds.
Motorcycle Weight by Bike Size
These are the weights you can expect from bikes featuring these engine CCs.
| CCs | Average in Pounds | Average in Kgs |
| 50cc | 110 – 200 | 50 – 90 |
| 125cc | 200 – 320 | 90 – 145 |
| 150cc | 220 – 320 | 100 – 145 |
| 200cc | 220 – 320 | 100 – 145 |
| 250cc | 220 – 350 | 100 – 155 |
| 300cc | 220 – 400 | 100 – 180 |
| 350cc | 230 – 480 | 100 – 220 |
| 400cc | 250 – 500 | 110 -225 |
| 450cc (Dirt Bikes) | 200 – 250 | 90 -110 |
| 450cc | 220 – 500 | 100 – 227 |
| 500cc | 330 – 500 | 150 – 225 |
| 600cc | 330 – 550 | 150 – 250 |
| 650cc | 330 – 550 | 150 – 250 |
| 700cc | 330 – 550 | 150 – 250 |
| 750cc | 400 – 550 | 180 – 250 |
| 800cc | 450 – 550 | 200 – 250 |
| 900cc | 400 – 550 | 180 – 250 |
| 1000cc | 550 – 600 | 250 – 270 |
| 1200cc | 400 – 650 | 180 – 295 |
| 1500cc – 2000cc | 700 – 1000 | 300 – 450 |
Motorcycle Weight by Type
Bike weights vary depending on the class. This list is a quick look at bike weights in every category.
| Class | Average Weight in Pounds | Average Weight in Kgs |
| Mopeds | 150 – 200 | 70 – 90 |
| Scooters | 250 – 300 | 110 – 135 |
| Dirt Bikes | 220 – 320 | 100 – 145 |
| Adventure Bikes | 220 – 550 | 100 – 250 |
| Cruisers | 400 – 600 | 180 – 270 |
| Sports Bikes | 300 – 500 | 135 – 220 |
| Choppers | 650 – 720 | 295 – 320 |
| Dual-Sports Bikes | 250 – 370 | 110 – 165 |
| Touring Bikes | 450 – 1000 | 200 – 450 |
| Baggers | 600 – 1000 | 270 – 450 |
| Naked | 280 – 530 | 125 – 240 |
| Supermoto | 220 – 440 | 100 – 200 |
| Café Racer | 400 – 500 | 180 – 250 |
Motorcycle Weights by Model
These are the weights of the most popular motorcycles from various brands.
| Bike Model | Type | Weight in Pounds | Weight in Kg |
| 1946 Panther pm | Classic | 425 | 193 |
| Aprilia RSV Mille | Sports | 474 | 215 |
| Benelli TNT 135 | Street | 330.7 | |
| BMW C400 GT | Scooter | 472 | 214 |
| BMW G 310 GS | Adventure | 374 | 169.5 |
| BMW F 750 GS | Adventure | 493 | 227 |
| BMW F 850 GS | Adventure | 476.2 | 233 |
| BMW F 900 XR | Adventure | 482.8 | 219 |
| BMW S 1000 XR | Sports | 498 | 226 |
| BMW R 1250 GS | Touring | 548 | 249 |
| BMW R18 | Cruiser | 761 | 345 |
| BMW R nineT | Classic Roadster | 471.8 – 492.1 | 221 |
| BMW G 310 R | Street | 349 | 158.5 |
| BMW F 900 R | Naked Roadster | 465 | 211 |
| BMW S 1000 R | Sports | 438 | 194 |
| BMW R 1250 R | Roadster/Street | 527 | 239 |
| BMW K 1600 | Bagger | 789 | 358 |
| BMW R 1250 RT | Touring | 615 | 279 |
| BMW S 1000 RR | Sports | 434 | 197 |
| BMW M 1000 RR | Sports | 423 | 192 |
| BMW R 1250 RS | Sports-Touring | 536 | 243 |
| 2020 Boss Hoss Gangsta Trike | Custom Cruiser | 1500 | 680.4 |
| Boss Hoss BHC-3 502 | Cruiser | 1395.5 | 589.7 |
| CFMoto 650 GT | Sports | 498 | 226 |
| CFMoto 700 CL-X | Sports | 432 | 193 |
| Ducati Monster 1200 S | Sports-Naked | 412 | 187 |
| Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro | Adventure | 417 | 189 |
| 2022 Ducati Desert X | Adventure-Touring | 445 | 202 |
| Ducati SS Super Sports 800 | Sports | 402 | 182.3 |
| Ducati Streetfighter V4SP | Naked | 432 | 196 |
| Ducati Scrambler | Street | 381 | 173 |
| GasGas MC 450F | Dirt | 234 | 59.5 |
| GasGas MC250F | Dirt | 218.3 | 99 |
| GasGas MC125 | Dirt | 37.9 | 17.2 |
| GasGas EX 450F | Dirt | 60.1 | 27.3 |
| GasGas EX 350F | Dirt | 59.9 | 27.2 |
| GasGas EX 250F | Dirt | 57 | 25.9 |
| Honda Rebel 500 | Cruiser | 408 | 191 |
| Indian Scout | Cruiser | 561 | 254 |
| Kawasaki Ninja 650 R | Street | 465 | 211 |
| Kawasaki Ninja 400 | Sports | 368.2 | 168 |
| Honda CB1000r | Naked | 467 | 213 |
| Honda Gold Wing | Touring | 835.5 | 357 |
| Harley Davidson 99 FLHTC | Touring | 776 | 352 |
| Harley Davidson Street 750 | Street | 491.6 | 223 |
| Harley Davidson Street Glide | Touring | 796 | 379 |
| Honda Fury | Chopper | 663 | 301 |
| Honda V65 | Sports | 589 | 267.2 |
| Honda VTX 1300 | Cruiser | 662.9 | 300.6 |
| Honda 1500 Goldwing | Touring | 793.7 | 360 |
| 2010 Honda Sabre VT1300 | Cruiser | 200 | 90 |
| 2004 Honda V65 | Cruiser | 549 | 250 |
| Kawasaki Kz1000 | Drag | 541 | 245.5 |
| Kawasaki Vulcan 900 | Chopper | 619.6 | 281 |
| KTM Duke | Standard | 405 | 159 |
| Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak | Sports | 527 | 214 |
| Moto Guzzi V7 | Naked | 416.6 | 189 |
| MV Agusta Brutale 800 | Naked | 385.8 | 144 |
| Royal Enfield Classic 350 | Cruiser | 430 | 195 |
| Streetfighter V2 | Naked Sports | 392 | 178 |
| Suzuki Katana | Naked | 474 | 215 |
| Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom | Dual-Sports | 456 | 207 |
| Yamaha YZF-R6 | Sports | 419 | 190 |
| Yamaha YZ250 | Motocross Race | 212 | 96 |
| 2001 Yamaha Road Star 1600 | Cruiser | 871 | 395 |
>> 5 Ways to Tell Your Motorcycle Needs a New Clutch
How to Cut Your Bikes Weight
These modifications can help cut your bike’s weight.
Switch to A Lithium-Ion Battery
Lead-acid batteries weigh up to eight pounds. However, switching to a lighter lithium-ion battery can shave some pounds while giving you better starting performance.
Shortening the Seat
While this is a minor change, it can significantly reduce a motorcycle’s weight.
Upgrade the Exhaust
Upgrading your exhaust with higher quality and lighter exhaust reduces your bike’s weight and makes it sound better (keep it legal though).
Modify the Fenders
You can remove or replace your front and rear fenders to shed your motorcycle’s weight. In addition, you can remove some fairings or use lighter aftermarket options.
Lose the Tool Kit
Tools are good, but they are better off in the garage unless you’re riding a bike that tends to need repairs.
How Weight Affects Performance of a Motorcycle
Steering and Handling
The lighter the motorcycle, the better it maintains traction around corners. In addition, a heavier bike affects steering since bikes rely on shifting your weight. As such, it will be easier to lean on a heavy bike, but it won’t be as easy to change its direction as on a light motorcycle.
Braking
Heavier motorbikes don’t stop on a dime, unlike light motorcycles that stop much faster. This is because of the pressure difference between the front and rear wheels, such that the front wheel bears lots of weight when you apply the brakes. Consequently, a heavy bike will continue moving forward before stopping.
Acceleration and Top Speed
A bike with too much weight will suffer from decreased top speed and acceleration. As such, it is better for racers to have a light bike. For example, a 650cc engine is faster than a 1000cc engine since the latter is heavier than a 650cc engine.
>> Can I Shift Gears on a Motorcycle Without the Clutch?
Is It Hard to Ride a Heavy Motorcycle?
A heavy motorcycle is not necessarily challenging to ride. However, it’s not the most enjoyable if you’re not strong and muscular. You may find it hard to control, turn, and park. Sports bikes for example are designed to be low-weight, making them fast and easy to corner.
What’s the Heaviest Motorcycle?
The Boss Hoss Corvette V8 is the heaviest production bike at over 1100 pounds (500+ kg). Still, the Harley Davidson CVO Road Glide Ultra is the most likable heavy motorcycle at over 900 pounds (439 kg).
Are Heavier Motorcycles More Stable?
Heavier motorcycles have one advantage over lightweight motorcycles. They are more stable when moving at high speeds. They feel more solid and planted since they are not easily blown around by the wind.
Conclusion – How Much Do Motorcycles Weigh?
Your motorcycle’s weight matters when purchasing a new bike. Keep in mind that bike weight varies significantly between classes. Hence, it’s essential that you have an idea of the type of bike and clear expectations as far as its weight is concerned. Still, you can use the list in this post to help you compare the weights of various bikes.
>> What is Considered High Mileage for Motorcycle?
Sam is Automole’s editor-in-chief and classic car enthusiast. Sam is studying mechanical engineering at Cockrell School of Engineering, Austin. He also writes for many top automotive publications and appears on the Collecting Cars Podcast.