What are the categories of motorcycle displacement?
3 Answers
Motorcycle displacement can be divided into the following five categories: Ultra-light displacement: Below 100cc, 50-90cc, including displacements such as 50, 70, 80, and 90. Light displacement: Small displacement 100-150cc, including displacements such as 100, 110, 125, and 150. Medium-small displacement: 200-400cc, including displacements such as 200, 250, 300, and 400. Large displacement: 500-900cc, including displacements such as 500, 600, 750, and 900. Super-large displacement: Above 1000cc, including displacements such as 1000, 1100, 1250, and 1300.
I've been riding motorcycles for over a decade, and displacement classifications are mainly divided by usage. Typically, 50cc to 125cc are small-displacement bikes, like light scooters, which are fuel-efficient and easy to park, making them perfect for urban commuting, with fuel consumption as low as 1-2 liters per 100 kilometers. 250cc to 500cc are considered mid-displacement, such as Honda's CB series, balancing speed and handling, making them safer for beginners to learn on. Above 600cc is large-displacement, like the Kawasaki Ninja, with powerful performance suited for high-speed riding or mountain roads, but they consume more fuel and are harder to control, requiring specialized training for licensing. Small displacement doesn't mean weak—many 125cc bikes in Europe can handle highways, depending on design. Different displacements correspond to different license requirements. For example, in China, bikes under 50cc don't require a license, while those above 250cc need an E-class license. Check the regulations before buying.
As an office worker, I'm most familiar with small-displacement motorcycles. Those with 50cc to 125cc are the most practical, like Yamaha scooters, which can be bought for just a few thousand yuan. They have ultra-low fuel consumption, making them perfect for replacing subway commutes or grocery runs. Mid-range motorcycles above 125cc are suitable for short weekend trips but are slightly more fuel-consuming for daily commutes. A 250cc bike might consume about 3-4 liters per 100 kilometers. Large-displacement bikes above 600cc, like Harley-Davidsons, are stylish but heavy on fuel, impractical, and expensive. Electric vehicles don't have displacement, but those equivalent to 125cc motorcycles are becoming popular—they're cheaper to charge and eco-friendly. Nowadays, most city shared bikes are equivalent to 50cc models. When choosing displacement, consider your license: small-displacement bikes can be ridden with just an A1 license, and maintenance is simple.
