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Are heavier motorcycles easier or harder to ride?


Motorcycles can vary a lot in weight, from dirt bikes weighing just over 100lbs to touring bikes that weigh over 1,000lbs. Some new riders might assume that a heavier bike will be easier to handle and more stable on the road. 

Heavier motorcycles are better for long highway drives, but do not have easier handling. The size and weight of your bike will depend on your own size. When choosing a bike, the type of motorcycle matters more than the weight.

This can all seem confusing at first if you’re new to motorcycles, so let’s break it down further to look at why some motorcycles are so much heavier than others, and what the pros and cons of a heavy bike are.

Is it easier to ride a heavier motorcycle?

For some reason there is this idea that heavier motorcycles are better and easier to ride. This isn’t actually the case though. There are several types of motorcycles and they are each designed for a specific purpose. The ‘best weight’ for a motorcycle depends on a lot of factors. 

Let’s talk about some of the places where heavier motorcycles do better. We’ll break down the types of motorcycles later on with a bit more detail, but here’s an overview. Cruiser and touring motorcycles are built to be heavy.

These heavy bikes are designed for long highway rides. They’re the kind of bike where you can get comfortable and ride for a long time, with additional features like speakers, luggage racks, and wind protection. 

Heavier bikes do tend to do better on the highway. They are less likely to feel the impact of wind or big trucks passing by. 

However, smaller bikes can handle highway speeds. If you have a light bike, you don’t need to worry about getting blown over by a gust of wind like you might think. Even light motorcycles are pretty sturdy!

Now, one place where heavier bikes do get a leg up is in power. It’s inevitable that the more power you add to a motorcycle, the heavier it will need to be. That being said, heavier motorcycles will have worse acceleration and slower stopping speeds. 

Although heavy motorcycles like cruisers and touring motorcycles are stable and smooth at highway speeds, they can have awkward and difficult handling in city driving and at slower speeds. They aren’t as easy to control as the lighter sport and adventure motorcycles. 

In addition, heavier motorcycles are less aerodynamic, especially if they have added features for comfort during long rides. 

One place heavy bikes do excel though is in two-up riding. If you want to travel with a second rider, a bigger, heavier motorcycle will be easier. 

So while there are good reasons for wanting a heavy motorcycle, the fact is that a heavy motorcycle is not easier. In fact, in some cases it can be much harder.

For example, if you are new to motorcycles, there’s a good chance that you’ll have a couple low-speed tips during your first days of riding. If you have a heavy bike, it will be much harder to lift it after such a tip, and it will be more likely to suffer damage from going down. 

Even if you don’t tip your motorcycle, you will have a harder time parking, backing up, or trying to manually move the motorcycle at any point. Depending on your own size and strength, this might not be a big deal or it could feel almost impossible.

Heavier bikes are not necessarily better. It all depends on your reason for wanting a motorcycle in the first place.

Does your weight matter when choosing a motorcycle?

I want to spend a little bit of time talking about the rider’s weight and size. Now, don’t get me wrong, anyone can ride a motorcycle and you don’t need to feel limited just because of your size. 

However, size does make a difference, especially in the case of new riders. Once you’ve been riding motorcycles for a while and have tested different motorcycles, you’ll be more easily able to adjust to different sized motorcycles.

When you’re starting out, though, it’s a good idea to try and match the motorcycle to your size. 

The most important thing to consider here is actually height, not weight. You should be able to sit on the motorcycle and have both feet flat on the ground at the same time. If you have a hard time finding a bike that is short enough for you, keep in mind that you can make some adjustments like lowering the seat or wearing boots with a heel and thick sole to add height. 

At the same token, if you’re especially tall, you might not want to buy the smallest motorcycle you can find, and you may need to raise the seat. Luckily there are a lot of motorcycles out there to choose from!

As far as weight goes, your weight doesn’t make a huge difference to riding, except that if you weigh on the low end you may want to look at smaller motorcycles, and if you weigh more you should look at bigger, sturdier bikes. 

Technically, your weight is added to the weight of the motorcycle when you ride. Therefore smaller riders may benefit from a slight acceleration boost and a heavier bike with a heavier rider may be slower.

However, in reality this difference is barely noticeable. While many professional racers do tend to be shorter and lighter than average, that doesn’t mean that someone who is taller and heavier can’t ride. For example, French racer Loris Baz is 6’4”. 

Tips for handling a heavy motorcycle

If you do end up with a heavy motorcycle that feels difficult to manage, all is not lost. Heavier motorcycles are not inherently easier to ride, but they also don’t need to be a million times harder. Here are some tips for handling a heavy motorcycle.

  1. Practice! Practice makes perfect, and this is no exception. The best thing you can do is practice a lot in a safe location and learn how your motorcycle works. With time you’ll laugh that it ever felt so hard!
  2. Ride at low speeds. Heavy motorcycles are easier on highways, so it’s good to practice riding slowly so that you really learn to control the motorcycle at its most difficult.
  3. Adjust the seat height if it feels especially difficult. Adjusting the seat may make a world of difference.
  4. Use your body to ride. Riding a motorcycle, especially a heavy one, takes some core strength. Learn to adjust your body to turns and prepare for acceleration and deceleration.
  5. When you ride, keep your eyes forward, looking at where you want to go. This is good practice for any motorcycle, be alert and in control at all times!
  6. Consider getting boots with a thick sole and taller heel, which can help you get solid footing when you’re stopped. 
  7. When driving in slow traffic with a heavy motorcycle, try to rely more on the rear break. However, you shouldn’t exclusively use the rear break, as that is considered bad practice and can be dangerous. It’s safer to use both breaks, but for heavy motorcycles it can be a little easier to mostly rely on the rear break.
  8. Make sure the front wheel is straight when you park or stop. This can help prevent tips when you start again.
  9. If you need to park on slanted ground, put the foot that is closest to the ground down first. That means the foot that is on the ‘up’ side of the slant. 
  10. Learn how to lift your bike if it drops! Dropping your motorcycle is of course something you want to avoid, but it does happen. Knowing how to lift it yourself will save you a lot of trouble. An engine guard can also help prevent damage from a fall and make the motorcycle easier to lift.

How much do motorcycles weigh?

We’ve been talking a lot about heavy and light bikes, but what exactly does that mean? At what point does a motorcycle classify as being heavy?

The average motorcycle weighs 400lbs, but they can range in weight from 100lbs to over 800lbs, depending on what kind of motorcycle it is. 

Dirt bikes tend to be the lightest, and can get as light as 100lbs and are rarely over 300lbs. Sports bikes range from 300-500lbs. Adventure bikes are usually around 500lbs, cruisers are between 400lbs and 800lbs, and touring bikes are the heaviest, starting at around 800lbs.

This is why it’s essential to know what kind of motorcycle you need before you start asking questions about the ideal weight. Cruiser bikes weigh more so they can do long rides on smooth roads. Touring bikes are also designed for the long trip and tend to have additional features which all add to the weight. 

If you want a motorcycle for city driving or track days, you’ll want a lighter, more powerful sport bike. 

What do motorcycles weigh? Well, it depends a lot on the motorcycle. Visordown lists the heaviest bike in production as the Harley CVO Road Glide Ultra at just under 1,000lbs. In terms of the lightest road bike, Visordown lists the Kawasaki KLX250, at about 300lbs.

How do you choose the right motorcycle?

In order to choose the right motorcycle, the first question you should ask yourself is not about weight at all. Instead, you need to really ask yourself: “Why do I want a motorcycle?”

Start by narrowing down what kind of motorcycle you want. Do you want to ride on the road and off road? If so, a dual sport bike or adventure bike might fit your needs. The dual sport bike will be the lighter option but the adventure bike does better on the road. 

If you just want a motorcycle to ride around town, you may be thinking of a standard motorcycle. The standard motorcycle isn’t the most comfortable on long rides, but it does great in cities and comes with a wide range of power so you can start low if you’re new to motorcycles. 

Sport bikes aren’t a great choice for beginners, since they tend to have a lot of speed and power. They’re great for track days, though, if you want a motorcycle just to drive fast on a rack. 

Cruiser motorcycles, typically made by Harley Davidson and Indian, are motorcycles for hitting the road and driving along the highway. You sit pretty far back with your feet in front of you. These bikes are heavy and can have awkward handling, but they’re not too hard to ride.

Finally, touring bikes are good for long rides and often come with the option of additional features to make a long trip more comfortable.

Now, within these categories there’s some cross over and you can find sport touring bikes and cruiser touring bikes and some other combination. You should be able to narrow down your search quite a bit when you know what the main purpose of your motorcycle will be. 

If you’re a new rider, there are a few things you want to prioritize:

  • The motorcycle should be at a height where you can sit on the seat and have both feet flat on the ground. 
  • In addition to reaching the ground, you should be able to reach the handlebars, petals, and controls easily.
  • You want moderate power. You don’t need to start off on a scooter by any means, but you also don’t want to learn how to ride on the fastest bike you can find.
  • Good handling is important as a new rider as you master getting control while you ride.
  • Lightweight bikes tend to be a good choice for beginners, though that depends on your intended use of the motorcycle.
  • Your new bike should have good balance. If you can go to a dealer and sit on several bikes, do it! You need to find a bike that feels good. 

If you can ride a couple motorcycles before committing to one, all the better. There is no perfectly recommended motorcycle, because each rider is different. Your size, climate, goals, and likes will all affect the bike you choose. 

Take your time finding a bike that fits you well and has the features that are important to you. Though remember also, there’s a good chance your first motorcycle won’t be your last, and you’ll find yourself trying a few bikes throughout the years.

Can you make a motorcycle lighter or heavier?

If you already have a motorcycle and want to make it either lighter or heavier, there are some ways to adjust the weight of a motorcycle without changing any significant parts. Removing some weight can add a bit more speed to your ride. 

Here are some things that might be adding weight to your motorcycle:

  • The brake lights. You can swap out brake light assemblies to get a lighter load.
  • Your battery may be adding unnecessary weight. Swap out for a lighter battery.
  • The seat. An aftermarket seat can remove some unneeded weight, especially if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort. 
  • Tires. Believe it or not, tires come in different weights, and you may be able to lower the weight by getting new, lighter tires.
  • The fender. Some motorcycles with steel fenders can actually be adapted to have lighter fiberglass or carbon fenders instead.
  • Add-ons. Things like bags, backrests, gps, wind protection, and speakers can all be adding extra weight. 

A heavier motorcycle isn’t easier to ride and it isn’t always better. Before buying a motorcycle or making any weight adjustments, make sure you know why and where you want to ride. The weight you need will depend a lot on the reason you ride. 

Tim

Tim owns a Honda 'Hornet' CB600F and loves to ride his bike whenever the weather allows him to. Tim has been interested in motorcycle clothing before he even owned a motorcycle driving license. Motorcycle gear is his hobby and that's why he started this blog. Tim lives in the Netherlands, which you might notice due to his accent.

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