Motorcycles’ top speed varies with displacement and types of motorcycle it is. There are more than ten types of motorcycle and each are designed with their purpose. So, the top speed will be different for the same 800cc motorcycle between sports and cruiser. In this post, I will be discussing the average top speed of motorcycles of all CCs in detail.
So, How fast can an average motorcycle go? An average motorcycle can reach a top speed of 70 mph to 158mph. The top speed of the motorcycles will vary depending on CCs, horsepower, torque, etc.
Here is the list of a top speed of the most common and popular motorcycle displacements:-
| Motorcycle displacement | Top speed |
| 125cc | 60mph – 70mph |
| 250cc | 80mph – 110mph |
| 300cc | 70mph – 116mph |
| 600cc | 100mph – 158mph |
| 800cc | 105 mph – 165mph |
| 1000cc | 130 mph – 200mph |
The top speed of the most common and popular motorcycle displacement are as follows:-
Motorcycle top speed table chart by CCs:-
The minimum number of cc motorcycles allowed to go on the highway is 50cc. So, I will start from the 50 cc top speed and go upto the highest displacement motorcycle made till now.
| Motorcycle Displacement (CCs) | Top speed (mph) |
| 50cc | 30mph – 50mph |
| 100cc | 50mph – 70mph |
| 125cc | 60mph – 70mph |
| 150cc | 60mph – 75mph |
| 250cc | 80mph – 110mph |
| 300cc | 70mph – 116mph |
| 400cc | 80mph- 125mph |
| 450cc | 85mph – 160mph |
| 500cc | 90mph – 118mph |
| 600cc – 650cc | 110mph – 158mph |
| 700cc – 750cc | 75mph – 138 mph |
| 800cc – 850cc | 105mph – 165mph |
| 900cc | 100mph – 170mph |
| 1000cc | 130mph – 200mph |
| 1200cc | 118mph – 165mph |
| 1800cc | 115mph – 150mph |
| 2000cc+ | 100mph – 145mph |
Infographics for Average motorcycle Top Speed
What is motorcycle Displacement? How does it affect the speed?
Generally, motorcycle displacement refers to the engine size and is denoted in cc (cubic centimeter cm3). Motorcycles top speed and accelerations are considered in terms of CCs like 50cc, 250cc, 600cc,1000cc,etc.
So, What is motorcycle Displacement? Motorcycle displacement refers to the amount of volume pistons displaces per cycle. It is a way to measure the volume of its cylinder ex- 1cc = 1ml. So, a 600cc motorcycle has 600 ml volume.
A motorcycle engine has pistons that move up and down to make power by burning the gasoline and air in the cylinder. And, the bigger the piston the more gasoline and air they can burn at a time in the cylinder, generating more power. That’s why the bigger the engine the higher the power. But, it’s only true to some extent, for example, a 650cc motorcycle the Kawasaki ninja 650 produces more power than a 2000cc motorcycle Yamaha VX 1900.
To know the actual speed or power of the motorcycle you can’t only rely on its displacement. There are other things needed to take into consideration like horsepower, torque, power to weight ratio, etc.
You may also like:- Average Top Speed of Dirt Bike
How fast can a 50cc motorcycle go?
50cc motorcycle can easily reach around 25mph – 55mph. The top speed of 50cc is restricted in scooters and mopeds, so it can reach the top speed of 30 mph with the restricted engine which with an unrestricted engine 50cc engine can go upto 55mph.
Scooters and mopeds are most common in the 50cc engine range to design it economically, and environment-friendly vehicle. 50cc motorcycles are the beginning point for most people and also among students of age 16 years and above.
The major benefit of 50cc, these are designed light-weight, and easy to maneuver can be ridden with no experience.
But 50cc vehicles such as mopeds, scooters are not legal on streets in most states because of the limiting speed of 30mph. For more information, you can check the laws here.
The top speed that I have mentioned of 50cc also includes dirtbikes. Although dirtbikes are faster than scooters, these are made for off-roading. So, these are also prohibited from riding on the streets.
I have compiled the list of top 50cc motorcycles with their top speed to provide you with real data.
| 50cc motorcycle model | Top speed of 50cc |
| Honda CRF50F | 25mph |
| KTM 50 SX | 45mph |
| Aprilia SX50 | 55mph |
| Yamaha TTR | 32mph |
| Mash fifty | 28mph |
| Aprilia Rs 50 | 50mph |
| AJS JSM 50 | 28mph |
| WK Colt 50 | 45kph |
| Lexmoto Hunter 50 | 28mph |
How fast can a 100cc motorcycle go?
Most 100cc motorcycles can reach the top speed of 58mph (93 kmph). While there are 100cc dirtbikes that can reach the top speed of 60mph to 70mph. Such as Kawasaki KX100 can reach the top speed upto 68mph easily while most street-legal 100cc can go upto 60mph only.
100cc motorcycles are uncommon in USA, Europe, but it’s very popular in developing countries like India. There are many motorcycle manufacturer that produces 100cc segments like Hero, Honda, TVS, Kawasaki, Bajaj, etc.
| 100cc motorcycle model | Top speed |
| Hero splendor plus | 57mph |
| Bajaj CT100 | 56mph |
| HF Delux | 56mph |
| TVS sport | 56mph |
| Hero passion pro | 56mph |
| TVS Star city | 56mph |
| Honda XR100 | 55mph |
| Kawasaki KX100 | 68mph |
How fast can a 125cc motorcycle go?
125cc motorcycles can reach the maximum top speed of 80mph (128 km/h) while the average speed of 125cc motorcycles ranges between 60mph – 75 mph.
Kawasaki Ninja is one of the fastest 125cc motorcycles that can hit the top speed of 80 mph (128 km/h). A 125cc motorcycle makes about 10 hp to 15 hp, which makes enough power to be ridden on highways.
| 125cc motorcycles | Top speed |
| KTM Duke 125 | 75 mph |
| Husqvarna Svartpilen 125 | 75 mph |
| Honda CB125R | 75 mph |
| Kawasaki Ninja 125 | 80 mph |
| Honda MXS125 Grom | 68 mph |
| Aprilia RX 125 | 75 mph |
| Yamaha MT-125 | 80 mph |
| Yamaha R125 | 75 mph |
| Suzuki GSX-R125 | 85 mph |
| Sinnis Terrain 125 | 71 mph |
How fast can a 150cc motorcycle go?
A 150cc motorcycle can reach the top speed of 84mph (135 km/h). While the average top speed of a 150cc motorcycle ranges between 70mph to 80mph.
150cc motorcycle can generate a horsepower of 10hp to 18hp that can easily provide upto 1000 rpm. Let’s talk about 150cc bike usability and purpose.
150cc motorcycles are easy to ride and are fuel-efficient which makes you save money. These are fast enough for daily commuting and purposeful bikes for students.
Apart from this, Yamaha R15 is the best sport motorcycle in this segment which is a perfect example of design, power, and cost-effective bike. But unfortunately, R15 V3 is only available in India.
| 150cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Yamaha YZF R15 v3 | 84 mph |
| TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | 71 mph |
| Hero Xtreme 160R | 72 mph |
| Suzuki Gixxer SF | 80 mph |
| Yamaha MT-15 | 80 mph |
| Suzuki Intruder 150 | 71 mph |
How fast can a 250cc motorcycle go?
A 250cc motorcycle can easily hit the top speed of 110 mph while the average top speed of a 250cc motorcycle ranges between 80 mph to 110 mph. These 250cc motorcycles produce a horsepower of 15hp to 25hp.
250cc motorcycles are considered a perfect choice for teens because of their power. These motorcycles are a good choice as a beginner for commuting or use for short distances.
If you are interested to know about 250cc motorcycles more, you should read my article where I have discussed 250cc motorcycles in detail.
| 250cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Suzuki GSX250R | 99 mph |
| Kawasaki Ninja 250 | 88 mph |
| Yamaha V-Star 250 | 85 mph |
| Honda CRF250L Rally | 90 mph |
| Kawasaki KLX250 | 80 mph |
How fast can a 300cc motorcycle go?
A 300cc motorcycle can reach the top speed of 116 mph (187 km/h). While the average top speed of a 300cc motorcycle ranges between 60 mph to 116 mph.
Yamaha R3 is one of the fastest 300cc motorcycles that can reach the top speed of 116mph and reach 0-60 in 5.10 seconds. 300cc motorcycle produces a horsepower of 18 hp to 42 hp with the claimed 10,750 rpm.
f you are interested to know about 300cc motorcycles more, you should read my article where I have discussed 300cc motorcycles in detail.
| 300cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Kawasaki 300 | 112 mph |
| Honda CBR300r | 99 mph |
| Royal Enfield Bullet 350 | 68 mph |
| Yamaha R3 | 116 mph |
| Honda Rebel 300 | 85 mph |
| Kawasaki Versys-X 300 | 82 mph |
| TVS Apache RR310 | 100 mph |
How fast can a 400cc motorcycle go?
A 400cc motorcycle can achieve the top speed of 118mph while the average top speed ranges between 80mph to 125mph. Kawasaki ZXR 400 is the fastest 400cc motorcycle that can go fast as 118 mph.
It was one of the first and most popular motorcycles in the 400cc segment in sports bikes. It was first introduced in 1989 but later discontinued in 1999.
f you are interested to know about 400cc motorcycles more, you should read my article where I have discussed 400cc motorcycles in detail.
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| 400cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Kawasaki 400 | 118 mph |
| KTM 390 Duke | 104 mph |
| Bajaj Dominar 400 | 102 mph |
| Husqvarna Viptilen 401 | 105 mph |
| Benelli Imperiale 400 | 81 mph |
| Kawasaki ZXR400 | 125.5 mph |
How fast can a 450cc motorcycle go?
A 450cc motorcycle can reach the top speed of 160 mph. While the average top speed of a 450cc motorcycle ranges between 80 mph to 120 mph. Kawasaki KX450F is the fastest 450cc motorcycle that can hit the top speed of 160 mph (258 km/h).
| 450cc top speed | Top speed |
| Honda CRF450R | 87 mph |
| Husqvarna FC450 | 98 mph |
| Kawasaki KX450F | 160 mph |
| Yamaha YZ450F | 98 mph |
| KTM 450SX-F | 123 mph |
How fast can a 500cc motorcycle go?
500cc motorcycles can reach the top speed of 102 mph (164 km/h). The average time it takes for 500cc motorcycles to reach 0 – 60 mph is 4.8 to 5.0 sec. A 500cc motorcycle makes 45 hp to 60 hp and comes with one or two cylinders 4-stroke engine.
Generally, a 500cc motorcycle equipped with a single-cylinder makes 40 horsepower and has a top speed of 105 mph. The speed can vary depending on the motorcycle type and engine type provided on it.
I have discussed 500cc motorcycles in detail, read about 500cc motorcycles in detail.
| 500cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Honda rebel 500 | 118 mph |
| Honda CBR500R | 114 mph |
| Honda CBR500F | 114.9 mph |
| Harley Davison street 500 | 99.7 mph |
| Benelli TRK 502X | 99.5 mph |
| Benelli TRK 502C | 108 mph |
| Honda CB500X | 113 mph |
| Benelli Leoncino 500 | 108 mph |
How fast can a 600cc-650cc motorcycle go?
A 600cc motorcycle can reach the top speed of 158mph (254 km/h). The average top speed of a 600cc motorcycle ranges between 120 mph to 175 mph. The fastest 600cc motorcycle is the Yamaha YZF-R6 which the Kawasaki Vulcan S is the slowest that has a top speed of 112mph.
600 CCs are considered a popular engine size for a Japanese motorcycle. Kawasaki Ninja 650, has two cylinders and a maximum engine speed of 11,000 rpm which makes 70 horsepower. While Kawasaki ZX6R comes with four cylinders, a maximum engine speed of 15,500 rpm, and makes 103 horsepower. That’s the reason Kawasaki ZX6R is faster than Ninja 650.
| 600cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Kawasaki ZX6R | 158 mph |
| Kawasaki Ninja 650 | 131 mph |
| Kawasaki Vulcan S | 112 mph |
| Suzuki GSX R-600 | 149 mph |
| Honda CBR 600RR | 155 mph |
| Benelli TNT 600i | 136 mph |
| Yamaha YZF-R6 | 175 mph |
| Triumph Trident 660 | 132 mph |
| Suzuki SV650 | 124 mph |
How fast can a 700cc – 750cc motorcycle go?
A 700cc motorcycle can hit the top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h). The 700cc category is slower than the 600cc because these are cruisers that are made to cruise comfortably. So, these motorcycle top speed ranges 108 mph to 137mph.
| 700cc motorcycle | Top Speed |
| Triumph Trident 660 | 132 mph |
| Suzuki GSX-S750 | 108 mph |
| Triumph Street Triple R | 137 mph |
| Honda NC750X | 125 mph |
| Suzuki GSX-R750 | 108 mph |
| BMW F 750 GS | 118 mph |
| Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 | 125 mph |
How fast can an 800cc – 850cc motorcycle go?
An 800cc motorcycle can reach the top speed of 165mph (265 km/h). The average top speed of an 800cc motorcycle ranges between 105 mph to 165 mph.
The fastest motorcycles in the 800cc range are the MotoGP racing bike. These bikes produce 220 horsepower and have a top speed of about 220mph.
| 800cc – 850cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer | 125 mph |
| Ducati Monster 821 | 140 mph |
| Kawasaki W800 | 110 mph |
| Moto Guzzi V85 TT | 105 mph |
| Honda VFR800 | 165 mph |
| MV Agusta Rivale 800 | 152 mph |
| MV Agusta Brutale 800 | 152 mph |
| Ducati Streetfighter 848 | 150 mph |
How fast can a 900cc motorcycle go?
900cc motorcycle can hit the top speed of 149 mph (240 kmph). The average top speed of 900cc motorcycles ranges from 100 mph to 150 mph.
Generally, cruisers or touring motorcycle in this category has lower top speed than smaller CCs. So, you will find that even some 600cc motorcycles are faster than 900cc.
But, I have already explained above that only motorcycle displacement cannot decide the top speed. You should not consider CCs to measure the top speed of motorcycles.
| 900cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| BMW F900R | 124 mph |
| Triumph Bonneville T100 | 100 mph |
| KTM 890 Duke | 149 mph |
| Kawasaki Z900 RS | 121 mph |
| Triumph Tiger 900 | 125 mph |
How fast can a 1000cc motorcycle go?
1000cc motorcycle can reach the top speed of 200mph (322 km/h). The 1000cc motorcycle top speed ranges between 130 mph to 200 mph.
The motorcycle coming under the 1000cc range are insanely fast. One of the fastest and popular motorcycles, the Suzuki Hayabusa has a top speed of 312 km/h (194 mph). It can reach 0-60 mph in only 2.6s.
1000cc is not a suitable motorcycle for beginner riders as it requires a lot of skills. So, you should first practice on some lower displacement motorcycle. And, if possible you should take a motorcycle course for safe riding.
| 1000cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Kawasaki Ninja 1000 | 155 mph |
| Kawasaki Versys 1000 | 150 mph |
| Ducati Scrambler 1100 | 130 mph |
| BMW S1000 XR | 188 mph |
| Triumph Speed Triple | 137 mph |
| Kawasaki ZX-10R | 186 mph |
| Aprilia RSV4 | 186 mph |
| BMW S1000RR | 188 mph |
| MV Augusta F4 | 188 mph |
How fast can a 1200cc motorcycle go?
Generally, 1200cc motorcycles can achieve a top speed of 162 mph. While the average speed ranges from 118 mph to 165 mph. The Suzuki Hayabusa is the fastest motorcycle on the list although its displacement is 1,340cc. Suzuki Hayabusa can reach the top speed of 194 mph (312 km/h).
| 1200cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| BMW R 1250 GS | 124 mph |
| Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS | 165 mph |
| Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE | 135 mph |
| Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 | 118 mph |
| Ducati Monster 1200 | 162 mph |
| Suzuki Hayabusa | 194 mph |
How fast can a 1800cc motorcycle go?
1800cc motorcycle can hit the top speed of 150 mph (242 km/h). The average top speed of a 1800cc motorcycle ranges between 115 mph to 150 mph.
Most of the motorcycles in the 1800cc category are cruisers and touring motorcycles. That’s the reason their top speed is lower than other CCs.
| 1800cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Triumph Thunderbird Storm | 124 mph |
| Victory Freedom V-Twin | 120 mph |
| Suzuki M1800 | 124 mph |
| Suzuki Boulevard M109R | 128 mph |
| Honda VTX1800 | 134 mph |
| Indian Chief | 115 mph |
| Honda Goldwing | 140 mph |
| Yamaha VMAX | 150 mph |
How fast can a 2000cc motorcycle go?
The 2000cc motorcycle can hit the top speed of 145 mph (234 km/h). While the average top speed ranges from 100 mph to 145 mph.
You may be thinking as the displacement of the motorcycle increases so does its top speed. But it’s not always the case because it totally depends on the type of motorcycle it is.
These higher displacement motorcycles are even slower than 600cc motorcycles. Because these 2000cc range motorcycles are heavy cruisers and touring motorcycles. As these are heavy and intended for comfortable cruising and riding so these motorcycles don’t go as fast as sports motorcycles of even smaller displacement.
| 2000cc motorcycle | Top speed |
| Yamaha VX 1900 | 120 mph |
| Kawasaki VN 2000 | 125 mph |
| Triumph Rocket III | 145 mph |
| Kawasaki VN2000 | 120 mph |
| Honda Goldwing 1800 | 135 mph |
Factors on which motorcycle Top speed depends
There are many factors that can affect the speed of motorcycles, but in this list, I have talked about the major ones:
Weight of the motorcycle
The primary factor that affects the speed of the motorcycle is the weight of the motorcycle itself. Most of the manufacturers are trying to cut out the weight of the motorcycle. Every year they release a new model where the key message is about how much lighter it is than before without compromising the performance.
To achieve the light-weightiness in the motorcycle, most of the part has been replaced with the lighter and durable ones that can cut down the weight.
Thus, if you are looking to reach maximum speed, you must consider the motorcycle’s weight. This is the reason most sports motorcycles are made lightweight.
While cruiser and tourer motorcycles are heavier that makes them slower than the sports motorcycle even if their engine displacement is bigger.
If you buy a lightweight motorcycle, then you can easily reach the maximum top speed of the heavy ones with the same engine configuration.
Motorcycle types (Ergonomics)
The third important factor affecting the speed of the motorcycles is their types of it.
You may have noticed that sports motorcycles are faster than a cruiser and naked. The root reason for this is their chassis design and engine.
It’s all because of the different body designs of the motorcycle and ergonomics.
In ergonomics, the handlebar position also plays a significant role, and its position can affect the motorcycle’s speed.
If you have noticed, then all the racing and sports motorcycle comes with an aggressive forward-leaning riding position.
At high speed, the position of the sports and super sports motorcycle helps the aerodynamics to be maintained and the air to not become resistant to the speed.
While if you look at cruisers or heavy touring motorcycles, you will notice that they are slower than sports even if their engine displacement is bigger.
So always look at the chassis design and windshield because it will help you achieve the maximum top speed on your motorcycle.
Engines used in the motorcycle
The last and the most crucial factor affecting the whole motorcycle performance and speed is the engine itself. As we are talking about motorcycles’ top speed, we will also consider the strokes and cylinders.
Because even if the engine displacement is the same but if the strokes and cylinder configuration vary, then the whole performance, speed, and life of the engine changes.
As I don’t want to bore you with engine specifications, so I will just give you a little insight to help you make your initial decisions and know how these affect the performance.
First, let’s talk about the strokes of the engine, and then we will talk about the cylinder configuration in the motorcycle.
Two-stroke vs Four-stroke engine
First, let me clarify that the stroke is not an engine type of motorcycle. It is just the engine design for Automotive engines in motorcycles, cars, etc.
So, we have two types of engine design, namely Two strokes and Four strokes. Let’s talk about it separately and get to know the way it affects motorcycle performance.
Two-stroke engine
The two-stroke engine provides more speed and RPM than Four-stroke engines. Thus, Two-stroke engines are more powerful than Four-stroke engines.
So, if you are looking for speed, then Two-stroke engines will provide more speed and RPM than the comparable cc with the Four-stroke cylinder design.
But one thing to know here is Two-stroke engines are cheaper, less reliable, and less durable than Four-stroke engines.
Apart from this, the two-stroke engine starts to vibrate and create a loud noise when driving at high speed.
The two-stroke engine produces a lot of pollution because by releasing burnt oil and fuel into the air than four-stroke.
Four-stroke engine
Although Four-stroke is not as fast as a Two-stroke engine, it has other advantageous factors.
A four-stroke engine is more reliable, durable, and efficient than a two-stroke engine. It is generally quieter than the Two-stroke engines, thus making it environment friendly.
Typically, four-stroke engines have more parts than two-stroke; thus, it is expensive, and maintenance costs are high.
Four-stroke engines don’t require pre-mixing of oil and fuel like two-strokes. Also, Four-stroke engines are environmentally friendly because it doesn’t release burnt oil in the air along with burnt fuel like Two-stroke engines.
Thus, the final verdict is that you can go with the Two-stroke engine if you are looking for speed. But if you are looking for reliability, durability, and efficiency with then go with Four-stroke engines.
Numbers of cylinder
Cylinders are the power unit of the engine; it is the place where fuel burns and turned into power.
The number of cylinders directly affects the speed and RPM of the motorcycle. An engine with more cylinders will have better performance and speed than fewer cylinder engines.
But the more cylinder, the more fuel consumption is also likely to be increased. At the same time, an engine with fewer cylinders is expected to be fuel-efficient.
Thus if your primary goal is speed, then go for more cylinder motorcycles like four-cylinder engines. Or you can go with fewer cylinder engines also if you are looking for fuel-efficient motorcycles.
Weight on the motorcycle (Rider, Pillion, Luggage)
The last that you should be aware of is the weight on the motorcycle. This is also a cause (not a big one) that can prevent the top speed.
If you are concerned about top speed then make sure to put as less luggage required if you are going for a long ride. Apart from this, make sure to ride alone if you are concerned about speed.
I think reaching the top speed on any motorcycle is mainly required by the racers, but if you are a regular rider whose aim is to ride while enjoying nature and experiencing the ride. Then, the variation in speed doesn’t matter that much.
Conclusion
So, In this post, I have thoroughly discussed every motorcycle displacement and we got to know the average motorcycle top speed.
The average motorcycle top speed ranges from 70 mph to 158 mph. The most popular motorcycle ranges from 125cc to 1000cc.
Here are the top speed of popular motorcycle displacements (CCs):-
- 125cc motorcycle :- 60mph – 70mph
- 250cc motorcycle :- 60mph – 110mph
- 300cc motorcycle :- 70mph – 116mph
- 600cc motorcycle :- 100mph – 158mph
- 800cc motorcycle :- 105mph – 165mph
- 1000cc motorcycle :- 130mph – 200mph
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