How Much Does A Motorcycle Weigh?

Why would anyone ever want to know about the weight of a motorcycle? This is a question those of you may be asking who have accidentally stumbled upon this article may have.

There can be several reasons, ranging from simple curiosity to knowing if a specific trailer can carry it.

Unfortunately, the answer to how much does a motorcycle weighs is not a simple one. Many factors can affect the weight of a motorcycle greatly.

The average weight of one is around 600 pounds. But this is not a fixed number. Bikes can be heavy or light, so there is no one number to describe them all.

This article will discuss the weights of different types of bikes and much more. You will certainly have more information about this topic than ever before.

So, I suggest that you strap in because this will be an interesting article. Let’s get started!

Average Weight Of The Most Popular Motorcycle Categories

I will not be wasting any of your time with irrelevant information. With this first section of the article, you will get to know the average weight of the different types of motorcycles.

This will help you narrow down the weight range of the motorcycle you want to know about.

Moped

The lightest motorcycle option that is available on the market is a moped. It is a type of motorcycle that has a low-powered engine.

It is pretty lightweight, with its average weight being around 160 to 180 pounds. That is pretty light. Muscular people can easily pick it up. This can give you just how light a moped can get.

Scooter

A scooter is similar to a moped, yet it is very different. In simpler terms, it is a more powerful variant of the moped. It has a stronger engine, which contributes to most of the weight.

The average weight range of a scooter is around 200 to 300 pounds. This weight is certainly not the maximum as some can be as heavy as 500 pounds.

Scrambler

The name of a dirt bike may resonate better with you. A scrambler is a bike that has been designed for off-roading.

They can have engines that can output as much as 650cc. These bikes have high clearance and are pretty light. They weigh around 400 to 500 pounds. That is pretty good because the engine is pretty beefy for a motorcycle.

For comparison, there are cars in production that feature engines that can output the same amount of CC.

Cruiser

This is perhaps one of the most popular motorcycle categories out there. This is mainly because Harley Davidson’s offerings are a part of it. Cruisers have been designed for long-range driving.

They feature larger fuel tanks and powerful engines. This is why they can get pretty heavy.

The average for cruisers is around 400 to 500 pounds, but there are options from companies, such as Harley Davidson, that can touch the 700-pound mark.

Baggers

A bagger is a cruiser motorcycle but with storage compartments. You certainly may have seen these bikes on the road.

They offer tremendous storage space, which can be used for many things. These compartments increase the weight by a lot. Some consider them the heaviest bikes that can be bought.

The average weight of this class is around 700 to 850 pounds, which is the heaviest we have seen yet. A heavy engine is also contributed to this weight, which is normally associated with such motorcycles.

Sports Bike

Sports motorcycles are pretty famous as they have been designed to break the speed barrier. This is one of the reasons they are designed to be lightweight. Another reason is to allow for easier maneuvering.

The average weight for sports bikes is around 300 to 500 pounds. Many of you may not have expected this, but this is true. The weight can increase, but that depends solely on the engine capacity.

Touring Bike

The next type of motorcycle discussed with you is a touring one. This is the heaviest type that can be bought. It is heavier than a bagger, which is considered by many as one of the heaviest bikes.

Well, a touring bike certainly beats that. They can be as heavy as 1000 pounds, and I am talking about the average only.

The main reason for this weight is because they contain many features. A touring bike is certainly a great option for people who want it all, from a ton of storage space to an extremely powerful engine.

Adventure Bike

Adventure bikes have been designed for both off-road and on-road use. They are pretty good and are bought by many people. They also have a ton of storage space, which many people prefer.

They have an average weight of anywhere between 500 to 650 pounds. This is certainly a lot lesser than one would expect, given the fact that it is a feature-rich option.

Chopper

The final type of bike that will be discussed here today is the chopper. This is one of the more classical-looking motorcycles.

They were first seen in the 1950s, and they can be identified by their unique lengthening forks, which allow for custom steering angles.

The weight of these bikes is anywhere around 540 to 720 pounds. They are pretty heavy but cannot be compared to touring bikes.

This data has been given in a table format at the end of this article. So, if you don’t feel like reading too much, you can scroll down to get the information you need.

What Can Add To The Weight Of A Motorcycle?

Fuel is something many people overlook. A full tank means you are adding around 20 pounds more weight while driving the motorcycle around. That is a considerable difference that is not considered by many people.

Accessories can also add to the weight of the motorcycle, although not by a lot, in the case of touring and adventure bikes.

Storage compartments can lead to an increase in weight. That is not all. Technology can also lead to a higher overall weight.

If you are looking to buy a new motorcycle, then there surely will be engine options. Well, the beefier the engine, the heavier the motorcycle will get.

If you are a racer or like to take sharp turns, you need to make sure that the bike you are buying is suitable for you.

Reduce The Weight While Driving A Motorcycle

Riding a motorcycle, especially a heavy one, is not easy. So, this section will shed some light on what can be done to reduce the weight of a motorcycle, which will help with better steering.

You may not have expected it, but there are many things that can be done to improve the handling by reducing the weight:

• One factor that many people don’t take into account is their own weight. As you are sitting on the motorcycle, you are adding to the overall weight.
• If you feel like the motorcycle is slightly heavier to drive, then you can lose some weight. It will not only drive better, but you will also become healthier. After all, who does not want to trim a bit of fat?
• The amount of fuel that is present in a motorcycle can also affect the weight too. A full tank, alone, can add to the weight by 20 pounds.
• Now, you cannot subtract the entirety of the 20 pounds, but you can certainly not fill it all the way to the top. A half-full tank will help you in saving around 10 pounds of weight.
• Safety equipment can also greatly contribute to the weight of the motorcycle. If you have not bought it, then you can save yourself the hassle by buying a kit that is not too heavy. If you already own one, then you can remove the heaviest components. This is an option but not a great one.
• You are the focus of this section once again! One thing that people do before going on rides is drink a lot. Bloating results in a lot of added weight.
• Although it is temporary, it does make driving the motorcycle difficult. So, you should avoid drinking too much water whenever you are going out for a ride.

What Is Exactly Affected By The Weight Of A Motorcycle?

You are finally aware of the different factors that can result in a motorcycle being heavy. The next thing you should be enlightened about is all the things that can be affected due to this weight.

This section is an important one, and I suggest that you continue reading.

1. Acceleration And Speed

Acceleration is one thing that is difficult to achieve on a motorcycle. The fact that so many components have been put so densely with one another means that the weight will increase.

Well, that weight results in a loss of acceleration. The motorcycle is not able to gain speed as fast as possible.

Now, the acceleration of heavy bikes is not bad at all. But they are far from what they can be. The weight of the components and the engine is why the acceleration of a 1000cc engine is less than that of a 600cc one.

The same goes for the rider’s weight. Even if two bikes have the same weight and the same engine, the weight of the rider will determine the acceleration.

Top speed is also affected by weight. A motorcycle that has too much weight on it will not be able to reach its advertised maximum speed, no matter how powerful the engine or no matter how much throttle is given.

2. Handling

Handling is another thing that is affected by weight. This makes sense because the heavier a thing is, gets more difficult it is to handle. The same science applies to motorcycles too. Let’s say, for example.

You have a full tank and a full storage compartment on your touring bike. With it already being hard to steer, it will certainly become much more difficult.

You can expect difficult turns and almost impossible sharp turns without slamming on the brakes first.

Although people can cope with less acceleration and top speed, they cannot accept the difficulty in steering that comes with a heavy motorcycle.

3. Braking Efficiency

Did you know that the brakes also lose efficiency when there is too much weight for it to slow down?

Yes, it works exactly like that. What this means is that when you do press on the brakes, the braking distance will be far greater with more weight as compared to when there is less.

This is dangerous because there can be an instance where you need to slam on the brakes. You may not be able to slow down in enough time, which can result in a serious accident.

Although the chances of something like this happening are low, you should always be prepared for the worst.

4. Fuel Economy

The final thing that will be discussed in this section is fuel economy. This is another factor that is not considered.

When there is too much weight, the engine will have to work harder to maintain the desired speed. Higher RPM will result in the engine consuming more fuel.

Weight can also increase the wear on the engine as it has to work harder than usual. So, it can result in a reduced lifespan.

The difference may not be dramatic, but long-term use like this will certainly result in a noticeable difference.

This is a table of all of the data that was displayed in words in the article. You will be able to get a quick idea of the average weight of each category.

Below is a table of some of the most common motorcycles that can be bought right now. You will be able to get a rough idea of their weights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is 500 lbs Heavy For A Motorcycle?

500 lbs is definitely considered to be heavy for a motorcycle. This definitely is not as heavy as adventure bikes that can touch 1000 pounds, but motorcycles in this weight range are definitely not that easy to steer and control.

Q2. How Heavy Is A 600cc Motorcycle?

The average for a 600cc motorcycle is around 410 pounds. That is not that heavy and is actually the average weight of most motorcycle models on the market. A 600cc motorcycle is easy to steer and handle.

Q3. What Is Considered A Heavy Bike?

This question is a continuation of the first one. 500 pounds is the minimum for a motorcycle to be considered a heavy one.

Some people also consider 400 pounds as heavy, but those bikes do not have beefy engines. When you enter the 500-pound range, you will certainly enter the heavy bike category.

Q4. How Heavy Is A Harley?

Harley Davidson’s bikes are considered to be heavy ones. The weight range of the bikes that are in the company’s catalog is between 540 and 905 pounds.

So, the average weight you can expect for a motorcycle from the company is around 700 pounds.

Q5. Which Motorcycle Is The Lightest?

If you are looking for the ultimate steering experience, then you should consider a light motorcycle. The lightest motorcycle that money can buy is the Kawasaki KLX250.

It is 304 pounds and has a lot of power. Now, I could have mentioned a moped, but the majority of you will be looking for something powerful.

If you are a touring motorcycle rider, I recommend reading this article on 39 Best Lightweight Touring Motorcycles.

Conclusion

Choosing a motorcycle according to its weight is not easy. Apart from the dozens of factors to take into consideration, the weight adds a whole new level of consideration too.

This article has managed to not only answer the question of how much does a motorcycle weigh but also has detailed all the information that is there to know about how the weight of a motorcycle can affect its performance and how it can be reduced.

I hope that this article has helped you get the information you need, and I hope it may have helped you in easing the decision to buy a new motorcycle.

Tahir Azam

I am a passionate blogger who wants to spread my interest in motorcycles. Fueled by my love for motorcycles, I provide readers with valuable insights and updates on motorcycles’ informative and engaging topics and document the latest happenings in the biking community. Despite my hectic schedule, I can provide these blogs, which involve regular trips to the gym and sports like mountain biking and BMX. I am usually available most of the time, so be sure to join me on my journey of motorcycles and bikes! I appreciate a quiet and simple life and am always eager to interact with my readers to provide helpful information on my blog site.