There is a section of the audience of the world who are passionate about bikes. This passion builds because of the freedom individuals feel while riding a motorcycle. Motorcycles are the most convenient, as well as the most used vehicles on this planet. They are fast and steady.
I mean, can anything in this world match the speed of Liter bikes? Can anything in this world match the class of Harley-Davidson?
Answer: Nothing.
However, the craze for motorcycles has left the world uncovered with a particular truth. People ignore the fact that they should consider knowing the weight of motorcycles, as well as other specifications of the motorcycle. A rough decision of buying a motorcycle without knowing its weight and how much load it can carry could lead to serious injuries or even death.
As weight varies for different motorcycles, it is recommended to understand their weight and choose the best motorcycle accordingly. This guide will cover all the basics of the same topic with the aim of letting you know, “How much does a motorcycle weigh?”
In general, a motorcycle weighs around 300-500 pounds on average, but we will show you the weight of multiple different types of motorcycles such as scooter, cruiser and sport bike.
How Weight Varies
As we mentioned, the weight of motorcycles varies for different motorcycles. Remember, a motorcycle is designed to help keep the environment healthy. The weight varies depending on the environment in which they will be performing. For example, if you are going to opt for a Liter Bike (1000cc), you will notice that they usually weight more than normal bikes. The reason for this is that its weight stabilizes the functionality of the motorcycle.
How Much Does a Moped Weigh?
Mopeds are the lightest motorcycles available on the market. They usually weigh somewhere between 150-200 pounds. They are also cheap and easy to handle. That’s why they are very popular in highly populated cities. Because of their low weight, they are very easy to steal though. Therefore, you should use some of the most common ways to prevent motorcycle theft.
How Much Does a Scooter Weigh?
Scooters are slightly larger motorcycles than mopeds. The size of their engine varies and the weight can be anywhere between 150 and 300 pounds. Some of the heaviest scooters can weight over 300 lbs though. They are very good for short and long distance commuting and pretty easy to handle.
How Much Does a Harley Cruiser Weigh?
Cruisers are lightweight and are mostly used to travel long distances. Power cruisers are entirely different category and weigh much more than regular cruisers. This is the reason why Harley-Davidson bikes are the heaviest cruisers. They weigh over 500 pounds, whereas regular cruisers usually stay below 300 pounds.
The heaviest bikes on the market are called touring bikes. They are very similar to cruiser bikes but much heavier. Touring bikes weigh around 800-900 pounds.
How Much Does a Dirt Bike Weigh?
Dirt bikes are one the lightest types motorcycles. The smaller 50-125cc dirt bikes weigh around 100-200 pounds, while the bigger 250-450cc dirt bikes weigh up to 300 pounds. They need to be as light as possible due to their ability to be used in muddy terrains and motocross competitions.
There is a special category of dirt bikes called adventure bikes. They are pretty heavy as the size of their engine is around 750-1200cc. Adventure bikes usually weight around 500 pounds.
How Much Does a Sport Bike Weigh?
Sports bikes are used for traveling shorter distances and they usually weigh in the range of 300-500 pounds. Because of their aerodynamics and increased performance, they have to be heavier than most other motorcycles.
You would notice that motorcycles used for longer distance weigh less than motorcycles that are used for shorter distances. Weight drastically affects the speed and the functioning of a motorcycle, so it is preferable to understand the weight of the motorcycle. This would lead you to have a better understanding of what you are about to buy and what you should expect from your bike.
This variation also includes the weight of the various parts used on the motorcycle. Let’s discuss how much motorcycle parts weigh.
Why Weight Varies
These components generally affect the weight of the bike: Engine, Fastener, Exhaust System, Wheels, Braking System, Battery, etc. The list depends on the motorcycle you are using. As some bikes use different parts for each of their functions, the list may vary accordingly.
Motorcycles are designed to work at their best for the customer. Say that you want to buy a bike with a 600cc engine. You cannot enter a bike showroom and expect a 600cc engine motorcycle to be lightweight. These engines are heavy and are best suited for pro riders who want to play with speed. They affect the speed and stability of the motorcycle.
While some motorcycles are heavyweight, there are some lightweight motorcycles that can be handled quite easily. The reason being, they don’t have powerful engines. Again, the engine is the determining factor regarding the weight and stability of a motorcycle. Lightweight motorcycles won’t allow you to have the feeling of being The Flash. However, the positive point is that they can be easily managed.
It can be stated that handling heavyweight motorcycles can be a difficult task for some people, but overcoming these obstacles is the catch. Nothing is impossible in this world. You can reduce the weight of your motorcycle using some mechanical tricks. Let’s discuss how you can cut some weight off your bike.
Put Your Motorcycle on a Mechanical Diet
Putting your motorcycle on a mechanical diet is easy. Perform these minor modifications and you will see a difference.
- Use a Lithium ion battery: A lead-acid motorcycle battery can weigh up to 8 pounds. Switching to a lightweight Lithium ion battery can not only improve starting performance of your bike, but it will reduce its weigh as well. Check out our review of the Best Motorcycle Batteries to see which type of battery will suit your bike.
- Opt for lighter wheels: Wheels are a significant part of the weight of a motorcycle. Opting for lighter wheels would erase some of this weight and reduce the overall weight of your motorcycle to a great extent. Manufacturers usually use heavy metals to design stronger rims. Switch to lighter rims to reduce some dead weight.
- Exhaust upgrade: You may think of it as an additional option, which can affect the performance of your motorcycle. To clarify certain myths, lighter exhausts are manufactured using quality materials. They are lightweight but durable as well. Upgrading your exhaust has a lot of benefits such as reducing the weight of your bike, making your bike look and sound better, etc.
- Single-seat treatment: Shortening your seat could be very helpful for reducing the weight of a motorcycle. This will be a minor change but remember every change counts.
- Fender modification: Shorten, replace, or remove your front and rear fenders. You can also remove some fairings or replace them with an aftermarket version.
- Remove the tool kit container: Some motorcycles have a toolbox box attached to the motorcycle. Yeah, tools are essential, but if you have a perfectly designed bike, then you don’t need a toolbox. Check your bike and make any minor repairs before riding, instead of carrying a toolbox, which increases the weight of your motorcycle.
This is a starter plan for your motorcycle’s mechanical diet. You will need some money to perform these modifications but the savings you get would ultimately result in your favor. These changes can affect the weight of your motorcycle and guess what? This will not influence the performance of your motorcycle. Instead, it will enhance the functionality, making these options value for your money.
Even the Russian Military made portable Lightweight Motorcycle floats and packs that get you wherever you need to go.
Check Out the Video
Did you Check?
I know you don’t want this bike, but yeah, you pretty much get the idea of how weight plays an important role in a motorcycle.
So, weight matters!
Read Also: How to Handle Heavy Motorcycle?
What We Learned
The weight of a motorcycle can adversely affect the rider. It is important to understand the weight of a motorcycle before buying it. Also, you can reduce the weight of a motorcycle by following the steps mentioned in the article. Our aim is to help you understand the basic functioning of a motorcycle. Always use safety equipment and have a safe ride!
Gail says
Don’t know where you got your information on weight, but it’s all wrong! Cruisers do not weigh around 250 lbs. My husbands HD Ultra Classic, which is considered a large cruiser, weights nearly 900 lbs, and my Honda Shadow Aero 750, which is considered a middle of the road cruiser, weighs almost 600 lbs!