Wondering what most dirt bikes actually weigh? Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first dirt bike or want to find the lightest off-road motorcycle, I’ll share with you the TRUTH about dirt bike weights.
In this article, you’re going to learn that the listed weights aren’t always accurate, what they actually weigh for each size of bike, why the weight doesn’t mean much, and how to choose the right dirt bike for you.
Dry weight vs wet (curb) weight of a dirt bike
First, you need to know that not are weights are created equally, meaning 250 lbs for one dirt bike brand may not be 250 lbs for another manufacturer.
How can this be, though?
Well, there’s an actual difference between a “dry weight” and a “curb weight” – AKA wet weight.
A dirt bike dry weight is how much it weighs with no fluids in it, while the curb weight/wet weight is how much it weighs with all of the fluids so it’s ready to ride.
These ‘wet’ fluids may include:
- Engine/transmission oil
- Coolant (liquid-cooled dirt bikes)
- Gas in the fuel tank
- Fork & shock oil (may or may not be included)
How do you compare dry and wet weights then?
Maybe a manufacturer only lists the dry weight, which isn’t the most helpful because you’re not going to ride a dirt bike with no engine oil or gas – so how do you compare it to other brands or bikes?
While it’s hard to make an exact guess, you simply have to estimate how much the “wet fluids” will add to the overall weight. So, for most liquid-cooled dirt bikes, you can add roughly 15-25 pounds to the dry weight to get the actual curb weight when it’s ready to ride.
The biggest difference will be how much gas it holds. The fuel capacity can make a 5-10 pound difference in final weights because gas weighs over 6 pounds per gallon. This is even greater if you add an oversize fuel tank.
Why the weight of a dirt bike doesn’t always tell the truth…
There’s also another factor to consider when comparing dirt bike weights that will affect how it handles. It mainly comes down to the engine size, even if the curb weight is the same.
Yes, a 450cc four-stroke motocross bike that weighs the same as a 250cc four-stroke trail bike will still feel heavier even if they both weigh 260 lbs ‘wet’ with all of their fluids.
First, the rotating mass
While the engine mass is the ‘main factor’ that gives you a lighter or heavier feeling dirt bike, the physical size also makes a difference. A longer wheelbase will steer slower, making it feel heavier, but it will also be more stable.
Bigger is heavier…
The seat height, as well as the center of gravity will also play a role. A taller bike will be heavier when it comes to handling, and when the weight is up higher, such as a 4-stroke or if you have an oversized gas tank, it will feel “top-heavy” and harder to handle – especially balancing at low speeds and cornering.
What’s the weight limit of a dirt bike?
Most dirt bikes don’t come with a “weight limit” stamped on them, but there are reasonable limits that each dirt bike has. Generally, the bigger dirt bike size you go with, the higher the weight limit is, but it has more to do with the suspension, frame, and how you ride.
For example, a Honda CRF50F kids dirt bike is made for little kids that weigh 30-60 lbs. It doesn’t have an actual weight limit, but if you weigh over 100 lbs, you’re going to bottom out the suspension easily.
When you bottom out the suspension, whether it’s from jumping or you’re just too heavy for what the forks and shock can handle, you are much more likely to break parts. The suspension will wear out more quickly, and you can actually break the frame – the weld joints are usually the first place to start cracking.
Average weight limit for adult size dirt bikes
Just to give you a heads up or ‘caution’, most full-size dirt bikes for teens and adults are made for riders that weigh 150-180 lbs. That means if you weigh more or less than that, you might need to change the springs and internal valving for the best comfort and performance.
With that said, it depends on the type of dirt bike and how you ride it – a trail bike has softer stock suspension for slower trail riding, while a motocross bike has stiffer suspension for fast and aggressive riding on jumps and whoops.
How much does a 50cc dirt bike weigh?
There are a few different 50cc dirt bikes to consider. The Yamaha PW50 is a smaller 2-stroke, while the Honda CRF50F is a bigger 4-stroke, and the Yamaha TTR50E has electric start added.
These are the best 50cc dirt bikes and their weights:
| 50cc Dirt Bike | Wet Weight (Curb) |
| Yamaha PW50 | 90 lbs |
| Honda CRF50F | 111 lbs |
| Suzuki DRZ50 | 119 lbs |
| Yamaha TTR50E | 128 lbs |
110cc dirt bike weight
These are the weights of the best 110cc dirt bikes:
| 110cc Dirt Bike | Wet Weight (Curb) |
| Kawasaki KLX110R | 167.5 lbs |
| Honda CRF110F | 169 lbs |
| Yamaha TTR110E | 159 lbs |
| Kawasaki KLX110R L | 167.5 lbs |
125cc dirt bike weight
There are two main kinds of 125cc dirt bikes – a 4 stroke trail bike and a 2 stroke motocross bike. While they have the same size engine, they’re completely different bikes, so the weight doesn’t tell a lot about them.
Here’s the average weight of a 125cc dirt bike:
- 125 4-stroke: 198 lbs
- 125 2-stroke: 209 lbs
*These weights are taken from Yamaha’s website
250cc dirt bike weight
There are even more options when it comes to 250cc dirt bikes, so it depends on your preferences and how pick you are. First, what kind of riding will you be doing?
The common types of 250 dirt bikes are:
Then you have to choose if you want a 2 stroke or 4 stroke engine. Remember that the actual weight doesn’t always tell the whole story if you’re comparing different kinds of off-road motorcycles, and a few pounds isn’t going to mean much unless you’re a professional racer.
With that said, these are the average weights of different 250cc dirt bikes:
| 250cc Dirt Bike | Wet Weight (Curb) |
| 2-stroke motocross bike | 227 lbs |
| 4-stroke motocross bike | 234 lbs |
| 2-stroke enduro bike | 230 lbs |
| 4-stroke enduro bike | 245 lbs |
| 4-stroke trail bike | 265 lbs |
Why is a trail bike for beginners so heavy?
A 250cc trail bike, such as the Honda CRF250F, is 20 lbs heavier than the taller and longer 250F enduro bike, but why? First, that doesn’t mean you should buy an MX or enduro bike because they’re lighter than a trail motorcycle – they’re much harder to control due to the power, tall seat height and stiffer suspension.
The trail bikes are heavier because they’re made with cheaper materials, which are heavier, to make them affordable for you. You won’t notice the extra weight unless you have to pick it up after falling – that’s why you should practice your balance skills so that you stay on the bike!
300cc dirt bike weight
Most 300cc dirt bikes are in the 2-stroke enduro bike category. However, you also have the Beta XTrainer and Kawasaki KLX300R, which are a little more beginner-friendly if you’re a bigger rider.
These are the dirt bike weights of the 300 cc bikes:
| 300cc Dirt Bike | Wet Weight (Curb) |
| KTM 300 XC | 221 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Sherco 300 SE | 225 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| GasGas EX 300 | 223 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Beta 300 RR | 228 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| KTM 300 XCW | 228 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Husqvarna TE 300 | 235 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Beta 300 CrossTrainer (XTrainer) | 216 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Kawasaki KLX300R (4-stroke) | 282 lbs (w/ full tank of fuel) |
350cc dirt bike weight
The number of 350 cc dirt bike options has grown, so now you can choose an MX, enduro, or dual sport type of motorcycle.
This is the weight chart of the 350cc dirt bikes:
| 350cc Dirt Bike | Wet Weight (Curb) |
|---|---|
| KTM 350 SX-F (MX) | 225 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Husqvarna FC 350 (MX) | 225 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Gas Gas MC 350F (MX) | 219 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| KTM 350 XC-F (Enduro) | 226 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Beta 350 RR(Enduro) | 237 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Husqvarna FC 350S (Dual sport) | 235 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| Beta 350 RR-S (Dual sport) | 241 lbs (w/out fuel) |
450cc dirt bike weight
With a 450 being the most common “biggest dirt bike”, there are quite a few different options. You can choose a:
- Motocross bike
- Cross-country enduro bike
- Off-road enduro bike
- Dual sport motorcycle
Each type generally goes up in weight because there are more parts and accessories needed to function properly or stay legal, such as lights, horn and signals on a dual sport bike.
These are the average weights of each kind of 450cc dirt bike:
- 450 motocross bike bike: 240 lbs
- 450 cross-country enduro bike: 254 lbs
- 450 off-road enduro bike: 262 lbs
- 450 dual sport motorcycle: 290 lbs
Dirt bike weight chart
Just want a master list?
Here’s a dirt bike weight chart of all the average weights for each size and type:
| Dirt Bike Size & Type | Wet Weight (Curb) |
| 50cc 2-stroke (MX) | 90 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 50cc 4-stroke (Trail) | 120 lbs |
| 65cc 2-stroke (MX) | 130 lbs |
| 85cc 2-stroke 17/14 small wheel (MX) | 160 lbs |
| 85cc 2-stroke 19/16 big wheel (MX) | 165 lbs |
| 150cc 4-stroke (MX) | 185 lbs |
| 110cc (Trail) | 165 lbs |
| 125cc 4-stroke (Trail) | 198 lbs |
| 125cc 2-stroke (MX) | 209 lbs |
| 250cc 4-stroke (MX) | 227 lbs |
| 250cc 2-stroke (MX) | 234 lbs |
| 250cc 4-stroke (Enduro) | 230 lbs |
| 250cc 2-stroke (Enduro) | 245 lbs |
| 250cc 4-stroke (Trail) | 265 lbs |
| 300cc 2-stroke (Enduro) | 228 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 350cc 4-stroke (MX) | 225 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 350cc 4-stroke (Enduro) | 230 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 350cc 4-stroke (Dual Sport) | 240 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 450cc 4-stroke (MX) | 240 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 450cc 4-stroke (Enduro) | 255 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 450cc 4-stroke (Dual Sport) | 290 lbs |
| 500cc 4-stroke (Dual Sport) | 240 lbs (w/out fuel) |
| 650cc 4-stroke (Dual Sport) | 355 lbs |
How to convert lbs. to kg for dirt bike weights
Maybe you’re researching dirt bike weights and you can’t understand the numbers that we use in the United States of America. You can take the number in lbs and multiply it by “0.453592” to get the weight in kilograms. You can round that number to 0.45 and you’ll be close enough.
Best dirt bike for heavy rider
Since most dirt bike suspension is made for 150-180 lb riders, if you weigh over 200 lbs then you’ll probably need to get the forks and shock tuned for your weight to get the best comfort and performance. This includes stiffer spring rates and possibly a re-valve.
With that said, having a little extra power may be necessary if you’re a heavy dude.
So, these are the best dirt bikes for heavy riders:
- Kawasaki KLX300R – Beginner 4 stroke trail bike
- Yamaha YZ250FX – 4 stroke cross-country enduro bike
- Beta 300 XTrainer – 2 stroke enduro bike for novice riders
- KTM 300 XCW – 2 stroke enduro bike
- Yamaha WR450F – 4 stroke enduro bike
- KTM 500 EXC-F – 4 stroke dual sport enduro bike
Best dirt bike for lightweight rider
Maybe you’re on the other end of the scale… In that case, having a lightweight and smaller dirt bike will be easier to handle so that you don’t get exhausted quickly.
These are the best dirt bikes for lightweight riders:
- Honda CRF125F (194 lbs) – for short beginners
- Kawasaki KLX230R (253 lbs) – for beginner adults
- KTM 125 SX (203 lbs+fuel) – for motocross
- KTM 150 XC-W/EXC (213 lbs+fuel) – for enduro
What motorcycle brand makes the lightest dirt bikes?
The leading off-road motorcycle manufacturer in lightweight dirt bikes has been KTM for quite a few years. When the Japanese brands were conservative with weights, the Austrian-made manufacturer has been riding a fine-line between reducing weight and reliability.
This has caused problems at times – the new lightweight parts breaking and requiring a recall. But they quickly figure out what parts can be lighter and which can’t.
This is good, because it’s caused the other brands to develop better and lighter dirt bikes as well.
Remember when everyone thought adding a battery and electric start to all dirt bikes would add “too much weight” to their dirt bike? Now look who’s talking…
The problem with making a dirt bike lighter
Whether you’re doing weight reduction mods or the dirt bike company is making the OEM parts lighter, this can be both good and bad. The positive is obvious – less weight usually means better handling and easier to control.
However, when you make certain parts lighter, they’re also not as strong unless you spend more money to make it out of a stronger and lighter material.
How to ride with more control off-road on any bike
Riding a lighter weight dirt bike will teach you better balance because it requires less input from you, but you still need to learn what the proper techniques are to have complete confidence. I want to show you how to master the fundamentals so that you can become a better & safer rider for the rest of your life – Grab my free basic techniques guide here.