How Many CCs Are Considered a "Big" Engine on a Motorcycle?

The motorcycle engine size or capacity is the most crucial attribute of a motorcycle. These are the most talked-about characteristics that motorcyclists discuss before choosing the right motorcycle.

A motorcycle’s engine size considerably impacts the bike’s performance, power, and ride quality. But what does it mean to have a big engine on a motorcycle?

Also, how many CCs are considered a big engine on a motorcycle? Let’s discuss this in detail to clear up the confusion and let you know what engine size is best for you.

As per the rule of thumb, a small engine has a displacement size of up to 250-300 cc. Such motorcycles are known as entry-level or beginner bikes because they are beginner-friendly. Also, they are very suitable for urban commuting due to being very lightweight.

They have sufficient power and torque for navigating busy roads. They are very simple and dependable bikes that are easy to work on. Due to their small size and low weight, a beginner with no prior experience can ride them. They are a good learning platform for newcomers.

Small-engine motorcycles usually include:

• Scooters

• Standard motorcycles

• Entry-level modern cruisers

• Entry-level sports bikes

The small-engine motorcycles are also the most fuel-efficient. The smaller the engine size, the less fuel it requires to keep the bike moving.

In the motorcycling world, a medium-sized engine usually has a displacement capacity of 300-650 cc. However, it is not a hard and fast rule. A 500 cc engine installed in a cruiser may be considered small.

Meanwhile, a 650 cc sports bike can be much quicker than expected. Supersport bikes with 650 cc engines are widely used for track racing events.

Medium-sized engines are very popular and suitable for most riding conditions. They cater to many riders, and motorcycles with mid-sized engines have always been in good demand.

A motorcycle powered by a mid-size engine can be ideally used for daily commuting, highway cruising, quick rides, and long-distance journeys.

Considering the power figures these mid-size engine bikes produce, they ensure a decent fuel economy.

The mid-size category of motorcycles usually includes:

• Standard motorcycles

• Naked bikes

• Sports bikes

• ADV motorcycles

As a general rule, a motorcycle with an engine size of +650 cc is considered to be a “big” engine. However, it isn’t a hard and fast rule. There are a few examples in the cruisers category, like the Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883 with an 883 cc V-Twin engine, and it is still considered an ideal beginner bike.

Big-engine motorcycles are ideally designed for experienced and trained riders. A motorcycle with a bigger engine is also quite heavy compared to small engines.

However, the engine size alone does not confirm whether a motorcycle is slow or fast. Other factors include the engine's construction, bore and stroke size, and motorcycle type.

For example, a sports bike with a 1,000 cc engine is much quicker than a 1,800 cc touring bike or a cruiser. This is mainly because touring bikes and cruisers are much heavier.

Even a 600 cc super sportbike can be much quicker than a touring bike or a cruiser. There is a thing called “Power to Weight Ratio.” The more power output there is and the lesser the weight of a motorcycle, the greater the power-to-weight ratio.

Similarly, a supersport or a hypersport bike has a higher power-to-weight ratio than touring bikes or cruisers.

Triumph Rocket 3 R

Another very notable example is the Triumph Rocket 3. This bike has the biggest displacement engine on a production bike. However, it is a performance cruiser bike. Despite the largest engine size of 2,543 cc, it is not the fastest motorcycle. It is not as fast as most 600 cc super sports bikes.

Another major reason is the aerodynamics of a motorcycle. Aerodynamics plays a crucial role in letting the air pass smoothly and linearly. The lesser the air drag is, the quicker and more stable a bike is.

Sports bikes have good aerodynamics. The fairings on sports bikes are designed to offer only negligible air drag.

To learn more about the difference between  Sports Motorcycles Vs Cruisers, click on this link to read the detailed article.

Also, a touring bike or a cruiser’s big engines are built to offer more torque than horsepower. Although these engines are much bigger, they deliver impressive torque figures to carry more load and ride in difficult riding conditions.

To learn in more detail about the difference between horsepower and torque, click on the link to read the detailed article: “Motorcycle Horsepower Vs Torque Explained!”

The bigger the stroke size of the engine, the more torque it will produce and the smaller the horsepower figure will be.

On the contrary, sports bikes’ engines tend to have smaller stroke sizes, meaning the camshaft can rotate at a much more drastic pace. This ultimately leads to more horsepower.

However, the torque produced by a sports bike is low compared to a cruiser or a touring bike.

The more horsepower the engine produces, the greater the top speed. This is why sports bikes have a greater top speed: they have substantially higher horsepower.

However, if a motorcycle, like a touring bike or a cruiser, produces more torque, the bike can accelerate quickly.

The engine size influences various aspects of the motorcycle’s performance. These include:

• A bigger engine tends to produce more power output and torque, making rides more fun.

• A bigger engine produces much better acceleration, which is quite helpful in certain riding conditions, especially when overtaking.

• Good torque means carrying more load on your bike for touring or moto camping.

• Good torque also helps you ride a motorcycle in complex conditions requiring more thrust. For example, while riding uphill.

• The bigger the engine is, the more capable a motorcycle will be.

• Bigger-engine motorcycles are good for highway cruising and long-distance touring as well.

• Bigger engine motorcycles are more stable and upright.

• Small-engine motorcycles tend to shake badly while riding at highway speeds.

• Engine size also greatly influences the ride quality of a motorcycle.

• A bigger-engine motorbike tends to ride more smoothly. However, it must be noted that the engine design or layout, including the V-Twin, Parallel-Twin, Single-Cylinder, Boxer-Twin, L-Twin, Inline-Three, Inline Four, or V4, also matters. To learn more about the different engine types, their design, and layouts, read the article: “The Pros and Cons of Every Motorcycle Engine Type.”

• Weight can be an issue if you choose a motorcycle powered by a large-displacement engine. Such a motorcycle may not be highly maneuverable compared to a small-engine motorbike.

• However, a motorcycle with a bigger engine has better linear stability.

Choosing a motorcycle with the right engine size is important. You need to be sure about what you want from a motorcycle and what your purpose is to buy a motorcycle.

Do you need a standard motorcycle for urban commuting, a sport bike for fun, or a touring bike for long-haul journeys?

It all depends on your preferences, riding style, riding experience, and the purpose for which you intend to use the bike.

If you are a beginner with no prior riding experience and no basic know-how of motorcycles, it is better to start learning with a 125 cc bike.

If you have a little know-how of motorcycles, a 250-300 cc bike is an ideal choice. These bikes are an ideal learning platform.

If you are an intermediate rider, you can choose a motorcycle with an engine size of around 500-1200 cc. However, you must consider your learning curve and skill level before choosing the rider engine size and motorcycle.

It is better not to go with a 1,000 cc supersport bike because it can be way above your skill level. Make sure you always prioritize your safety.

The experienced or trained riders can go for the top-end horsepower, torque, and large-capacity engines.

Yes, a higher cc engine consumes more fuel. Due to being large, they draw more fuel and, hence, do more work and generate impressive horsepower and torque figures.

The engine size of a racing superbike usually falls between 850-1,200 cc for a twin-cylinder engine. However, the engine displacement size usually falls between 750-1,000 cc for a four-cylinder racing superbike. Superbike engines must be four-stroke.

It depends on what type of motorcycle we are riding. If we are discussing speed, it has to be a 1,000 cc super sports bike. A 1,000 cc superbike can attain a top speed of around 180-200 mph. It also depends on the specific mode, motorcycle’s condition, and modifications.

As a rule of thumb, an engine above 650 cc is usually considered big if we do not discuss a specific motorcycle class. In general, whether an engine is bigger for you or not depends on the type of motorcycle, your skill and experience level, and your purpose of riding a motorcycle.

An ideal engine size meets a rider’s style of riding and experience level. Whether you choose to ride within the city, cruise on freeways, or winding through mountains or hills, there is always the right engine size that suits the purpose.