Motorcycle Engine Sizes – Informational Guide

There are many factors to consider when buying a motorcycle, either as a beginner rider or an expert motorcyclist.

Motorcycle engine sizes, indicated by a bike's cubic capacity, remain among the most significant aspects for riders to consider in a motorcycle. 

In our article today, we discuss motorcycle engine sizes to give you a detailed overview of how they are determined, how they affect your bike, and what engine size you should go for, especially as a beginner. 

What is CC in Motorcycles?

The CC in motorcycles means cubic centimeters, a measure of the motorcycle's engine displacement. The engine's displacement refers to the amount of air the engine pistons move in one revolution. 

Motorcycle engines require a mix of air and fuel for combustion to produce the power that propels the two- or three-wheeler. 

A higher CC equals more air and fuel intake, more combustion, more power, and even higher bike speeds (holding other factors constant.)

However, higher motorcycle CCs are not better for beginners at all times because they translate into reduced fuel efficiency, lesser bike control, and compromised motorcycling safety. 

Motorcycle Engine Sizes

Motorcycle engine sizes range from 50cc to as high as 2,500cc for the world's biggest motorcycle engine size of the Triumph Rocket 3. 

For this article, let's discuss some of the most common CCs ranging between 50 and 1500cc.

50cc

50cc motorcycle engines are on the lower end of the spectrum. They are usually used in scooters, mopeds, and small bikes with maximum speeds of 30mph. 

For example, the general legal definition of a moped is "a motorcycle whose engine does not exceed 50cc and reaches 28mph as the maximum speed".

200cc

A 200cc motorcycle reaches speeds between 65 and 90mph, higher than 150cc motorcycles due to the larger engine displacement. The speed depends on other factors, such as the riding conditions and bike type. 

The acceleration of 200cc motorcycles happens faster because of the larger displacement. 

200cc motorcycles weigh an average of 154kg. 

Best For

200cc motorcycles are also a good option for beginner motorcyclists. It's advisable to use them only on backroads and less busy city roads, although they are still suitable for highways. 

250cc

In the past, most people haven't been buying 250cc motorcycles as their first bike, making them a lot less available even as pre-owned models. 

However, the situation is changing, thanks to the realization by many beginners that they have better learning chances on low-capacity bikes before proceeding to bigger ones.

A 250cc motorcycle weighs about 280 pounds on the higher end. Most models weigh between 230 and 250 pounds. 

Best For

250cc motorcycles are best suited for beginners because of their lower weight. As a beginner, you have greater chances of successfully learning how to ride using a smaller bike than a bigger one. 

300cc

300cc motorcycles weigh between 100 and 150kg (220-330Ibs) and can reach speeds of up to 112mph. 

Best For

Because of their lower attainable speed of around 110mph compared to 170mph for 600cc bikes, 300cc motorcycles are considered a better bet for beginner and amateur riders. 

Motorcycling experts recommend that you go for a 300cc bike at most as a beginner to learn the ropes of easy riding as you climb up the ladder to use bikes with over 600cc.

650cc

Most 650cc bikes are heavy, moderately potent, unpredictable, and hard to use for beginners. The larger weight makes them less forgiving for a beginner. 650cc bikes usually achieve high speeds between 130 and 150mph, but some models hit 175 and higher. 

Best For

650cc motorcycles are a better option for intermediate riders rather than green beginners. 

As an intermediate motorcyclist, you have probably used a lower CC bike for a long time to learn basic bike maneuvers. Soon enough, you outgrow the low-cc motorcycle and feel the need to upgrade to a more powerful one. 

1000cc

A 1000cc bike usually maintains top speeds of 188mph, but some can run up to 200mph and even higher, depending on the model, riding conditions, and the rider's experience. 

The general speed limit for 1000cc motorcycles is 186 to 188mph, and the industry-standard speed achieved by the bike's rev limiter restricts the maximum speed to this range to protect the motorcycle's engine. 

Best For

While 600cc and 650cc bikes are usually used by intermediate motorcyclists moving up from 300cc, 400cc, or 500cc bikes, 1000cc bikes are best suited for expert riders that have mastered the art of riding heavy motorcycles that are a lot less forgiving. 

1500cc

1500cc bikes can reach 350-400kmph speeds. However, most manufacturers limit the speed to just 300kmph to ensure the rider remains safe and doesn’t get tempted by the speed thrill to ride at dangerous speeds above 300kmph. 

Best For

Because of their high speeds, 1500cc motorcycles are most suitable for expert riders and sports bikers who usually engage in competitive motorcycling sports where top speeds are necessary to set them up for better winning chances. 

How to Calculate Motorcycle CC

To calculate motorcycle CC, you need to find the bike's stroke and bore specifications on the user's manual. 

What Size Motorcycle Engine Do I Need?

Although motorcycle size is not the only or best way to determine what motorcycle you need, it is a commonly accessible and easier-to-understand concept for most people than torque and horsepower. 

Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the best motorcycle size. 

Your Level of Riding Experience

As a total beginner, you are better off practicing and learning to motorcycle using low-cc models between 100 and 250cc. Low-cc bikes are more forgiving for beginners and offer you the chance to keep honing your skills at lower power before branching out to higher CC bikes. 

A 300 or 350cc bike will be a good fit as an amateur rider, even with the higher motorcycle weight. 

Intermediate riders are better off riding 350-650cc motorcycles as they have by now learned how to maneuver a more powerful and heavier bike safely. 

If you are confident enough of yourself and the skills you have learned over time, a 1000+ CC bike should not be a problem for you. 

Your Physical Size

Consider your physical size relative to the load capacity of the motorcycle. A heavy rider should go for a bike with more CC as it can accommodate more weight. 

While there is no hard and fast rule for checking your weight against the bike's load capacity, you can try sitting on the motorcycle to see how its shock absorbers behave. A motorcycle with strong absorbers should be able to accommodate more load. 

If you plan on carrying a pillion passengers or goods on the motorcycle often, you should go for a bike with a higher CC for more riding power to comfortably ride under the total weight. 

Motorcycle Purpose

You should be able to simply explain how you plan to use your motorcycle. If you are looking for a simple day-to-day motorbike for regular riding, consider one with a low CC enough for regular riding needs. 

A CC above 1000 is a good choice for a cruiser, while a sports bike for competitive motorcycling should preferably be 1500 to 2000cc. 

For prestige, the 2500cc Triumph Rocket 3 is a good option. 

Motorcycle CC Comparisons

Now that you know what motorcycle CC is and how to determine what bike size you need, let's look at some basic motorbike CC comparisons for a broader understanding. 

Motorcycle CC vs HP

Motorcycle CC and HP are close terminologies for describing the ability of a motorcycle. While CC stands for Cubic Centimeters, HP stands for horsepower. 

Motorcycle CC measures a bike's engine capacity, while horsepower refers to the motorcycle engine's power, its work capacity per unit time. 

A motorcycle's CC remains constant, but its horsepower is variable. Most experts agree that horsepower is an even better parameter than CC to consider when buying a motorcycle.

You can convert CC to HP by dividing the CC value by 15. For example, for a motorcycle with a CC of 1200, divide 1200 by 15 to obtain 80 as the bike's HP. 

It's important to note that the HP of a bike may vary slightly below or above the theoretical value, based on how well the bike's engine is tuned when you test it. 

300 CC vs 600 CC Motorcycle Engines

300cc motorcycles are best suited for beginner motorcyclists because they have a weaker engine with less power and are more forgiving. A 600cc bike is a better choice for intermediate riders looking for higher speeds. 

300cc bikes are cheaper than 600cc bikes, generally costing twice as less as the latter. 

While 600cc motorcycles are heavier, 300cc motorbikes are compact and lightweight, making them the better choice for beginners. 

A 300cc bike has better fuel efficiency than a 600cc bike because the latter takes in more air and fuel for more combustion to maintain the rider's and bike's weight in motion.

800 CC vs 900 CC Motorcycle Engines

Other than the slight difference in CC (and consequently, horsepower) between 800cc and 900cc bikes, purchase costs, maintenance, and fuel consumption differences come into play. 

However, seeing that the two CCs are quite close, the above aspects overlap easily rather than remain different or similar. 

For example, the fuel consumption differences may be negligible between 800cc and 900cc bikes from different brands but significantly profound between the two CCs for bikes from the same manufacturer. 

Conclusion

Motorcycle engine sizes range from as low as 50cc to as high as 2500cc. While the engine size you go for depends on your level of experience, the purpose the bike is intended for, and your physical size relative to the bike's load capacity. 

As a general tip worth noting, a higher CC is not always better for you despite the increased bike power. As a beginner, you had better buy a low CC model less than 600cc because you need all the motorcycling forgiveness you can get at this point.