lightest motorcycle – AdventureBikeTroop

While the weight of a motorcycle doesn't matter much once you are on the move, a heavy motorcycle can be very intimidating when you stop or ride slowly, especially for beginner riders. Apart from the size, the type of motorcycle will also determine the weight of the bike. The average weight of any motorcycle is 430 lbs (195 kg). The lightest motorcycles are dirt bikes with an average weight of only 202 lbs (92 kg), while the heaviest bikes are touring motorcycles at 804 lbs (365 kg). The Yamaha Star Venture is the heaviest motorcycle of any bike at 963 lbs (437 kg) and the Yamaha PW 50 is the lightest at 90 lbs (41 kg). Motorcycle weight should not be the only factor to consider when you are buying a bike. The weight will, however, greatly influence how quickly you get comfortable on the motorcycle if you are a beginner rider. Many new riders drop their ride while practicing clutch and throttle control at low speeds. And if you are into adventure riding, dropping your bike is inevitable. My wife standing next to her bike in the middle of the Chalbi Desert in Northern Kenya A heavy motorcycle is not only difficult to keep upright once it leans past the balance point, but it is very difficult and demotivating to pick up a heavy motorcycle on your own. My wife learned to ride on a 150 lbs Yamaha MR 50 before she upgraded to a heavy 421 lbs BMW F650 Funduro. The only way to know which bike is best for you is to take it for a test ride. Second prize is to at least go sit on all the bikes on your shortlist. That will give you a feel for the the weight of the motorcycle and how easily you are able to balance it upright. For more experienced motorcycle riders, the weight of the bike is almost totally irrelevant. It is during those early days while learning to master clutch and throttle control, and how to properly stop the motorcycle the right way, that the weight of your motorcycle may play an important role. Weight of All the Motorcycles The table below lists all the weights of all the major motorcycle manufacturers from the heaviest to the lightest in pounds (lbs) and in kilograms (kg). The weight listed here is the curb (or wet) weight instead of dry weight. Curb weight is the weight of the bike, fully fueled and ready to ride. Motorcycle ModelCurb Weight (in lbs)Curb Weight (in kg)Yamaha Star Venture 963 437Harley CVO Limited 944 428BMW R 18 Transcontinental 942 427Harley Road Glide Limited 932 423Harley Ultra Limited 917 416Kawasaki VULCAN 1700 VOYAGER ABS 895 406Harley CVO Road Glide 893 405BMW R 18 B 877 398Yamaha Star Eluder GT 877 398Yamaha Star Eluder 875 397Harley CVO Street Glide 866 393Harley Electra Glide Revival 862 391Harley Road Glide 855 388Harley Road Glide Special 853 387Honda GOLD WING TOUR AIRBAG AUTOMATIC DCT 847 384Kawasaki VULCAN 1700 VAQUERO ABS 845 383Honda GOLD WING TOUR AUTOMATIC DCT 838 380Honda GOLD WING TOUR 836 379Harley Street Glide 829 376Harley Road King 828 376Harley Street Glide Special 827 375Harley Electra Glide Standard 820 372Harley Road King Special 807 366BMW R 18 Classic 805 365BMW K 1600 Grand America 802 364Suzuki BOULEVARD C90T 800 363Honda GOLD WING AUTOMATIC DCT 800 363Honda GOLD WING 787 357BMW K 1600 GTL 772 350Suzuki BOULEVARD M109R B.O.S.S. 764 347BMW R 18 761 345Suzuki BOULEVARD C90 B.O.S.S. 758 344BMW K 1600 B 741 336BMW K 1600 GT 736 334Harley Heritage Classic 728 330Suzuki BOULEVARD M90 723 328Harley Fat Boy 114 699 317Harley Sport Glide 699 317Kawasaki CONCOURS 14 ABS (incl. hard cases) 690 313Harley Low Rider S 679 308Harley Fat Bob 114 676 307Harley Softail Slim 671 304Honda FURY 663 301Harley Streetbob 114 659 299Kawasaki VULCAN 900 CLASSIC LT 657 298Harley Softail standard 655 297Suzuki BOULEVARD C50T 644 292Yamaha FJR1300ES 642 291Kawasaki VULCAN 900 CLASSIC 620 281BMW R 1250 RT 615 279Suzuki BOULEVARD C50 611 277Kawasaki VULCAN 900 CUSTOM 611 277Kawasaki NINJA ZX-14R ABS 593 269Suzuki BOULEVARD M50 593 269BMW R 1250 GS Adventure 591 268BMW R 1250 GS Adventure - Edition 40 Years GS 591 268Yamaha Super Tenere ES 584 265Suzuki HAYABUSA 582 264Yamaha NIKEN 580 263Kawasaki NINJA H2 SX SE+ 578 262Honda SHADOW AERO ABS 573 260Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 SE LT+ 567 257Harley Iron 1200 564 256Harley Iron 883 564 256Ducati Multistrada Enduro 560 254Honda SHADOW AERO 560 254Harley Pan America 1250 Special 559 254Harley Forty-eight 556 252Honda AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS ES DCT 553 251KTM 1290 Super Adventure R 551 250BMW R 1250 GS 549 249BMW R 1250 GS - Edition 40 Years GS 549 249Honda SHADOW PHANTOM 549 249Suzuki V-STROM 1050XT 545 247Suzuki V-STROM 1050XT ADVENTURE 545 247Yamaha Bolt R-Spec 542 246BMW F 850 GS Adventure 538 244BMW R 1250 RS 536 243Harley Pan America 1250 534 242Kawasaki Z H2 SE 531 241Honda AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS ES 530 240Kawasaki Z H2 529 240BMW R 1250 R 527 239Kawasaki NINJA H2 525 238Kawasaki NINJA H2 CARBON 525 238Honda AFRICA TWIN DCT 524 238Suzuki V-STROM 1050 520 236Suzuki V-STROM 1000XT 514 233Suzuki V-STROM 1000XT ADVENTURE 514 233Kawasaki NINJA 1000SX 514 233Suzuki V-STROM 1000 511 232Honda REBEL 1100 DCT 509 231BMW F 850 GS 504 229Harley Sportster S 502 228Honda AFRICA TWIN 501 227BMW S 1000 XR 498 226Suzuki GSX-S1000GT 498 226Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ 498 226Kawasaki VULCAN S 496 225Kawasaki VULCAN S CAFE 496 225Kawasaki W800 496 225BMW F 750 GS 493 224Honda NC750X DCT 493 224BMW R nineT Scrambler 492 223BMW R nineTUrban G/S - Edition 40 Years GS 492 223Honda REBEL 1100 487 221BMW R nineT 487 221Yamaha TRACER 9 GT 485 220BMW R nineT Pure 483 219Kawasaki KLR 650 ADVENTURE 483 219BMW F 900 XR 482 219Suzuki BURGMAN 400 481 218Kawasaki VERSYS 650 ABS 476 216Kawasaki VERSYS 650 ABS LT 476 216Kawasaki NINJA H2 R 476 216Kawasaki Z900RS CAFE 476 216Suzuki V-STROM 650XT 476 216Suzuki V-STROM 650XT ADVENTURE 476 216Kawasaki Z900RS 474 215Kawasaki Z900RS SE 474 215Suzuki GSX-S1000F 474 215Suzuki GSX-S1000F 474 215Suzuki KATANA 474 215Yamaha Tracer 900 GT 474 215Honda NC750X 472 214BMW C 400 GT 472 214Suzuki GSX-S1000 472 214Suzuki GSX-S1000FZ 472 214Suzuki GSX-S1000FZ 472 214Kawasaki KLR 650 TRAVELER 472 214Suzuki V-STROM 650 470 213Suzuki GSX-S750 ABS 470 213Suzuki GSX-S750Z ABS 470 213Kawasaki Z900 SE 470 213Kawasaki Z900 ABS 468 212Honda CB1000R BLACK EDITION 467 212BMW F 900 R 465 211Suzuki GSX-S750 465 211Suzuki GSX-S750Z 465 211KTM 890 Adventure R 463 210Yamaha MT-10 463 210Suzuki GSX-S1000Z 461 209Kawasaki NINJA ZX-10R ABS KRT EDITION 456 207Kawasaki NINJA ZX-10R ABS KRT EDITION 456 207Kawasaki NINJA ZX-10RR 456 207Kawasaki KLR 650 ABS 456 207Honda CBR650R ABS 456 207Yamaha Tenere 700 452 205Yamaha YZF-R1M 450 204Yamaha YZF-R1 448 203Yamaha YZF-R1 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition 448 203Honda CB650R ABS 445 202Suzuki GSX-R1000R 445 202Suzuki GSX-R1000RZ 445 202Honda CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 443 201Suzuki GSX-R1000 443 201BMW S 1000 R 439 199Suzuki SV650 ABS 437 198Suzuki SV650X 437 198Honda CB500X ABS 434 197BMW S 1000 RR 434 197Honda CBR1000RR ABS 434 197Honda CBR600RR ABS 434 197Suzuki SV650 432 196Kawasaki NINJA ZX-6R ABS KRT EDITION 430 195Yamaha XSR900 430 195Honda CBR1000RR 428 194Kawasaki NINJA ZX-6R 426 193Kawasaki NINJA 650 ABS 423 192Kawasaki NINJA 650 ABS KRT EDITION 423 192BMW M 1000 RR 423 192Honda CBR500R ABS 423 192Honda CB500F ABS 420 191Suzuki GSX-R750 419 190Suzuki GSX-R750Z 419 190Yamaha MT-09 SP 419 190Yamaha YZF-R6 419 190Yamaha MT-09 417 189Honda REBEL 500 ABS 414 188Yamaha YZF-R7 414 188Yamaha YZF-R7 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition 414 188Kawasaki Z650 ABS 412 187Kawasaki Z650RS 412 187Suzuki GSX-R600 412 187Suzuki GSX-R600Z 412 187Honda CBR600RR 410 186Yamaha XSR700 410 186Honda REBEL 500 408 185Yamaha MT-07 406 184Suzuki GSX250R ABS 399 181Yamaha XMAX 397 180Suzuki GSX250R 392 178KTM 390 Adventure 387 176BMW G 310 GS 386 175BMW G 310 GS - Edition 40 Years GS 386 175Kawasaki VERSYS-X300 ABS 386 175Suzuki BOULEVARD S40 381 173Yamaha YZF-R3 375 170Yamaha YZF-R3 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition 375 170Yamaha YZF-R3 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition 375 170Yamaha MT-03 373 169Honda REBEL 300 ABS 370 168Suzuki DR650S 366 166Kawasaki NINJA 400 ABS 366 166Kawasaki NINJA 400 ABS KRT EDITION 366 166Honda REBEL 300 364 165Honda CBR300R ABS 364 165Kawasaki Z400 ABS 364 165BMW G 310 R 362 164Suzuki BURGMAN 200 359 163Honda CBR300R 357 162Honda XR650L 346 157Honda CRF300L RALLY ABS 337 153Honda CRF300L RALLY 333 151Yamaha SMAX 328 149Yamaha V Star 250 324 147Suzuki DR-Z400SM 322 146Suzuki DR-Z400S 317 144Honda CB300R ABS 317 144Honda CRF300L ABS 311 141Honda CRF300L 309 140Kawasaki KLX300 SM 304 138Kawasaki KLX300 302 137Kawasaki KLX230 S 298 135Honda ADV150 294 133Kawasaki KLX230 ABS 293 133Honda CRF450RL 291 132Yamaha XT250 291 132Honda PCX 288 131Kawasaki KLX300R 282 128Yamaha Zuma 125 282 128Suzuki DR200S 278 126Yamaha TW200 278 126Honda CRF450X 275 125Suzuki RMX450Z 272 123Honda CRF250F 265 120Yamaha WR450F 262 119Honda TRAIL125 ABS 259 117Yamaha WR250F 254 115Yamaha YZ450FX 254 115Kawasaki KLX230R 254 115Kawasaki KLX230R S 254 115Honda CRF450RX 251 114Yamaha TT-R230 251 114Honda CRF450-S 247 112Suzuki RM-Z450 247 112Kawasaki KX450 X 246 112Yamaha YZ250FX 245 111Yamaha YZ450F 245 111Yamaha YZ450F MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RACING EDITION 245 111Honda CRF450R 244 111Honda CRF450RWE 244 111Kawasaki KX450 243 110Kawasaki KX450 SR 243 110Husqvarna FC450* 242 110Kawasaki KX250 X 240 109Honda SUPER CUB C125 ABS 240 109Honda SUPER CUB C125 ABS 240 109KTM 250 SX-F Troy Lee Designs* 240 109KTM 450 SX-F* 239 108Honda CRF250RX 238 108Husqvarna FC350* 238 108Gas Gas MC450F* 237 107Kawasaki KX250 237 107KTM 350 SX-F* 236 107Gas Gas MC350F* 236 107KTM 250 SX-F* 235 107Husqvarna FC250* 235 107Gas Gas MC250F* 235 106Yamaha YZ250F 234 106Yamaha YZ250F MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RACING EDITION 234 106Suzuki RM-Z250 233 106Honda GROM ABS 231 105Honda MONKEY ABS 231 105Honda CRF250R 229 104Yamaha YZ250X 229 104Husqvarna TC250* 229 104Gas Gas MC250* 228 103KTM 250 SX* 228 103Yamaha YZ250 227 103Yamaha YZ250 MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RACING EDITION 227 103Kawasaki Z125 PRO 225 102Kawasaki KLX140R F 218 99Kawasaki KLX140R L 209 95Gas Gas MC125* 209 95KTM 125 SX* 209 95KTM 150 SX* 209 95Yamaha YZ125 209 95Yamaha YZ125 MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RACING EDITION 209 95Yamaha YZ125X 209 95Kawasaki KLX140R 205 93Honda CRF125F BIG WHEEL 199 90Yamaha TT-R125LE 198 90Suzuki DR-Z125L 196 89Honda CRF125F 194 88Honda RUCKUS 194 88Honda CRF150R 185 84Honda METROPOLITAN 179 81Honda CRF110F 170 77Honda MONTESA COTA 4RT RACE REPLICA 170 77Kawasaki KX100 170 77Kawasaki KX112 170 77Honda MONTESA COTA 301RR 169 77Kawasaki KLX110R 168 76Kawasaki KLX110R L 168 76Kawasaki KX85 165 75Yamaha YZ85LW 165 75Gas Gas MC85 19/16* 162 73Husqvarna TC85 (19/16)* 162 73KTM 85 SX 19/16* 162 73Suzuki RM85 161 73Suzuki RM85 161 73Yamaha YZ85 161 73Gas Gas MC85 17/14* 159 72KTM 85 SX 17/14* 159 72Yamaha TT-R110E 159 72Yamaha YZ65 134 61Kawasaki KX65 132 60Yamaha TT-R50E 128 58Gas Gas MC65* 125 57Husqvarna TC65* 125 57KTM 65 SX* 125 57Suzuki DR-Z50 119 54Honda CRF50F 110 50Gas Gas MC50* 97 44Husqvarna TC50* 97 44KTM 50 SX* 97 44KTM 50 SX Mini 94 43Yamaha PW50 90 41Motorcycle seat heights comparison table (Source: Manufacturers’ websites) Where there is an "*" next to the motorcycle model name, the curb (wet) weight was calculated from the dry weight by adding the weight of the gas, engine oil, and coolant. The capacities if each fluid were looked up in order to determine the quantities. Some motorcycle brands were not included (e.g. KTM, Triumph, Ducati) due to the information not being readily available from the manufacturers' websites. Weights of Different Types of Motorcycles Touring motorcycles and cruisers are the heaviest types of bikes, while dirt bikes and dual sports are the lightest. Modern adventure bikes are also getting heavier as the technology advances. The graph below shows the average, maximum and minimum weight of each type of motorcycle. Average, maximum and minimum weights by motorcycle type The weight of a motorcycle is more of a distinguishing factor than seat height. From the graph above it is clear that different types or categories of bikes differ greatly by weight. The difference if you compare the seat heights of various bike types is not that pronounced which can be seen in this post I wrote on motorcycle seat height. Let’s have a brief look at the weights of each type of motorcycle, starting with the heaviest of them all: Touring Motorcycle Weight Touring motorcycles are by far the heaviest of all the different types of bikes. Touring bikes weight so much because of their large capacity engines (usually at least 100 cubic inches or 1 600 cc) and all the accessories fitted to them. These motorcycles are designed to keep you comfortable and protected from the elements at highway speeds. That requires large fairings and a tall windscreen, plush seats for the rider and passenger, and luggage systems. The average touring motorcycle weighs a porky 804 lbs (365 kg). The heaviest touring motorcycle is the 1 863 cc Yamaha Star Venture that tips the scales at 963 lbs (437 kg). At only 474 lbs (215 kg), the Yamaha Tracer 900 GT is the lightest touring bike, thanks to a smaller engine and being more of a street bike with a hard luggage system as standard. Cruiser Weight Cruiser motorcycles are also heavier than most other categories of bikes. Cruisers are not designed for speed or handling, but instead go after mean looks, lots of bling, and a growling sound. Most cruisers share their looks with the original cruiser, the Harley Davidson. That means, large capacity, air-cooled motors with big transmissions that can handle the torque. The average cruiser motorcycle weighs 593 lbs (269 kg) which is exactly the same as the heaviest street bike, the Kawasaki ZX-14R. The heaviest cruiser is the massive BMW R 18 Classic at 805 lbs (365 kg) and the lightest cruiser is the little Yamaha V Star 250 at only 324 lbs (147 kg). The BMW R 18 Classic is the heaviest of all the cruiser motorcycles (Image: BMW USA) While the weight range of cruisers vary greatly thanks to a host of small, entry level cruiser bikes, most big cruisers need big, torquey engines to get going. To find out why most cruisers are so heavy, check out this detailed post I wrote on cruiser weight. Adventure Bike Weight Adventure bikes are meant to be as good in the dirt and on gravel roads as they are on the highways. Unfortunately, modern adventure bikes have favored the latter, as that's where they spend most of their time. Bigger engines are used to deliver more power and higher top speeds. To make these fast machines more ridable for new riders, and to ensure your safety when you do take them off-road, more and more technology is crammed into the bikes like ABS, traction control, cruise control, and a host of other (mostly electronic) features. All of these developments comes at a price. A heavy one. More weight. The average adventure bike weighs 498 lbs (226 kg) which is heavier than 88% of all street motorcycles. Not surprisingly, the big BMW R 1250 GS Adventure is the heaviest adventure bike, tipping the weigh bridge at 591 lbs (268 kg), while the Suzuki DR 650 S is the lightest at 366 lbs (166 kg). The Yamaha T7 is one of the few adventure bikes without electronic rider aids. That's why I love it so much! If you feel the DR does not count as an adventure bike (some feel it's a dual sport), then the Kawasaki Versys X-300 is the lightest adventure bike at 386 lbs (175 kg) along with the BMW G 310 GS. For everything you need to know on adventure bike weight, check out this comprehensive post. Street Bike Weight Street bikes vary greatly in weight due to the wide range of different bike models included in the list. Incidentally, the average street bike weight of 434 lbs (197 kg) is very close to the overall average weight of all types of motorcycles which is 430 lbs (195 kg). The heaviest street bike is the super fast Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R at 593 lbs (269 kg). The lightest street bike is the entry-level Kawasaki Z125 Pro at only 225 lbs (102 kg). That's even lighter than the toy bikes from Honda, i.e the Grom and the Monkey (both weighing only 231 lbs). Scooter Weight With only 10 scooters on our list, averages are rather meaningless. That said, the average scooter weighs 327 lbs (149 kg) with the heaviest being the Suzuki Burgman 400 at 481 lbs (218 kg). The Burgman 400 weighs more than 83% of all the street bikes in our table above. The lightest scooter is the Honda Metropolitan weighing only 179 lbs (81 kg). The quickest and heaviest (518 lbs) scooter I've ever ridden is the Gilera GP 800 (not on my list above) Dual Sport Motorcycle Weight Classifying motorcycles are not always easy and no other category of motorcycle is as controversial as the dual sports. Depending on where in the world you ride, a dual sport motorcycle might mean something different for you. If you are unsure what we think, check out this post on the difference between an adventure bike and a dual sport. Dual sport motorcycles are bikes that were designed to go off-road as well as on the street. They are generally much lighter than adventure bikes, but due to being road legal, heavier than dirt bikes. The average dual sport motorcycle weighs 303 lbs (137 kg). The Honda XR 650 L is the heaviest dual sport motorcycle at 346 lbs (157 kg). That's light compared to the competition in the 650 cc thumper class, but definitely a handful compared to a dirt bike. The lightest dual sport is the Honda Trail 125 at only 259 lbs (117 kg). Check out my YouTube Channel where I feature the heavy Honda XR 650 L quite extensively (Click on the image above) Dirt Bike Weight Dirt bikes are primarily designed to be light. These bikes are used for racing or riding through very technical terrain. A dirt bike needs to be able to accelerate very quickly out of tight turns and land massive jumps without falling apart. Riders also often drop their dirt bikes when riding in difficult terrain and a lighter bike is easier to pick up again. In order to make a bike faster, you can either add more power - with a bigger and therefore heavier engine - or you can make the whole bike lighter. Every component on a dirt bike is designed with the latter strategy in mind. Dirt bikes need to be light in order to shred like this (Image source: Yamaha USA) Thanks to modern technology and materials, the average dirt bike only weighs 202 lbs (92 kg). That is lighter than the lightest street bike which we mentioned earlier. The heaviest dirt bike is the Kawasaki KLX 300 R at 282 lbs (128 kg). It is more of a trail bike than a racing machine, but is still quite a bit lighter than your average dual sport. The lightest dirt bike is, unsurprisingly, the little Yamaha PW 50 kiddies bike at only 90 lbs (41 kg). How Much Does Motorcycle Weight Matter? The weight of a heavy motorcycle can be very intimidating, especially for new riders. If you stand the bike upright, it will be perfectly balanced, but tipping it just a few inches too far to either side will reveal its weight. Shorter riders may have an even harder time on a heavy motorcycle, where both feet can't be planted firmly on the ground on either side. My wide was not able to plant both feet on the ground, which made the heavy BMW F650 intimidating Once a bike starts moving faster than walking pace, it will self-balance due to the rake of the front fork. Even the heaviest motorcycles will feel light when you're on the move. I remember the first time I got onto the liquid-cooled BMW R 1200 GS when it was launched. Even though it weighed 525 lbs (238 kg) it was easy to maneuver at crawling speed thanks to the low center of gravity. While even the heaviest bikes can feel light and perfectly balanced while riding, certain circumstances will reveal their obesity. In a parking lot for instance, even a seasoned rider may have trouble moving a 787 lbs Honda Goldwing around. At least it has a reverse gear, but you still need to keep it upright. Adventure bikes also suffer from weight problems. Yes, a 551 lbs KTM 1290 Super Adventure R feels nimble racing around the dirt and can even take some serious jumps, but try picking it up more than once on a hot day, playing in thick sand. Between the right legs, these heavy ADV bikes can go nearly anywhere, but for mere mortals like me, they are pigs in the dirt due to their weight. For any type of off-road riding, weight is not your friend. And if you are just starting out (road or dirt), learn to ride on the lightest bike you can find. Not only will you have a lot more confidence and stress less, you will also learn a lot quicker and become a better rider faster. My wife learned to ride on a 155 lbs Yamaha MR 50 and only later got herself a 420 lbs BMW F650. She dropped that BMW so many times (we often rode dirt and sandy roads) that she got fed up. So when we travelled from Cape Town to Cairo for three months, we decided to do it on two 245 lbs Chinese delivery bikes. They were slow, but so easy to keep upright in any condition. And my wife (at 5 ft 3) could pick up her own bike multiple times a day. Picking up a small 250 lbs bike is so much easier than a porky BMW R 1250 GS Adventure If you are new to riding and you recently purchased a heavy motorcycle, the best you can do is to learn the bike's balance point. There's no use in muscling a heavy motorcycle into line. You'll just tire yourself out and start to resent the machine. Start by standing next to the bike and taking it off the side stand. Get a feel for the balance point around the upright position. Once you are comfortable where the bike feels balanced, start by walking around the motorcycle holding it at different spots like the mirrors, handlebar tips, and rear luggage rack. As you gain confidence that the bike can balance mostly on its own, start using only one hand at a time. By getting used to the bike's balancing point, you'll learn that you don't need a lot of strength to keep a very heavy motorcycle upright. Next, you can start by practicing slow moving balancing. Ride figures-of-eight or tighter and tighter circles. The more you practice balancing the bike in different situations, the lighter it will feel. Weight Reduction Tips and Techniques There are many ways to reduce the weight of your bike. On some types of motorcycle it is more important and significant than others. Dirt bike and racing bike riders are always looking to shed some weight to get faster. Adventure bike riders want to reduce weight to make their machines (often loaded with luggage) easier to control in off-road situations. The first place many riders start shedding weight is swapping the stock exhaust for an aftermarket free-flowing pipe like an Akrapovic exhaust (available on Amazon). Another quick and easy weight saver is switching to a lithium-ion battery. Just those two modifications will save you several pounds. From there, the diet depends on the weight of your wallet. You can swap out a host of steel parts for aluminum alternatives, from foot pegs to sprockets. Although every little bit helps, I prefer shedding a few pounds around my waist as a cheaper and healthy option. Conclusion Motorcycle weight can be very intimidating to beginner riders, but as you gain confidence it matters less and less. An experienced rider that understands the balance of his or her motorcycle, will barely notice the weight (until he/she drops the bike and have to pick it up alone!). Personally, I prefer the lightest bike I can find for off road and technical riding. On the street, it is much less of a concern. Regardless of what bike you are looking to buy, the most important thing you can do before you part with your cash is to go and sit on a few different motorcycles and ideally, take them for a spin. Happy riding!