Motorcycle Weight Showdown: 60 Legendary Models Revealed

The weight of a motorcycle is often ignored when purchasing a motorcycle. Most riders only later discover that their bike does not feel right because of its weight. That’s why it’s important to ask, “how much do motorcycles weigh on average?”

Motorcycles weigh between 220 and over 1000 pounds, and most weigh between 400 and 800 pounds. The lightest motorbikes are scooters and dirt bikes, averaging 220 and 320 pounds, while tourers, cruisers, and adventure bikes are the heaviest averaging 500 to 1000 pounds.

This guide takes you through various motorbike weights according to class. I’ll also tell you why bikes have weight differences. Lastly, I’ve included a long list of bike weights to help you check the weight of the bike you have in mind.

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.

honda CBR 600 weight

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.

Pan America 1250 weight

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?