Are you a Harley-Davidson enthusiast looking to buy a new bike, but aren’t sure how much a Harley-Davidson bike weighs? If so, then you’ve just found yourself at the right place.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles weigh between 500 to 900 pounds, depending on the model. Touring models like the Road Glide can weigh up to 900 pounds, while lighter models like the Sportster weigh around 550 pounds.
In this article, you’ll get to know all about the weight of Harley-Davidson bikes, how much does a Harley-Davidson weigh, which are the lightest Harley-Davidson bikes, which are the heaviest Harley-Davidson bikes, how to reduce the weight of your Harley-Davidson bike, and more. Continue reading to get all the answers that you’re looking for.
How much does a Harley-Davidson weigh
On average, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle weighs around 700 pounds. However, this number doesn’t actually have a lot of meaning. At a weight range of 450lbs to 950lbs, Harley-Davidson has a reputation for being among the heaviest motorcycles on the market. There are three reasons for that – larger engine size, the weight of high-quality components, and the emphasis on designing cruising and touring motorcycles.
As a result, Harley-Davidson bikes tend to land at the upper end of any breakdown of motorcycle weight classes. Harley-Davidson motorcycles have attained notoriety for designing some powerful beasts that weigh close to 800-900lbs.
Which are the lightest Harley-Davidson bikes
Smaller riders usually tend to need lighter motorcycles that are designed to be easy to handle, especially for newbies. Certain models can be altered to make them more appealing to smaller riders and female riders.
Experience plays a key role in climbing up the weight ladder. There is no reason smaller riders cannot eventually handle a heavier motorcycle. However, it takes a certain level of skill and numerous miles before you feel comfortable moving to a larger bike.
Skill level aside, here are some of the lightest Harley-Davidson motorcycles available in the market –
- Harley-Davidson 500 and 750 (455lbs)
- Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 SuperLow (536lbs)
- Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom (554lbs)
- Harley-Davidson Softail Low Rider (633lbs)
- Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe (693lbs)
It’s important to know the right way to read the weight numbers that the manufacturers quote for the given bike. The companies typically list the weight by the term “Dry Weight”, which means that the figure doesn’t include any gas or equipment.
This is especially important if your primary hobbies are cruising, touring, and long-distance riding. If this is the case, you’ll need to factor in whatever gear you’re adding and then weigh it against your specific needs.
Which are the heaviest Harley-Davidson bikes
Harley-Davidson bikes are high-power machines, and with the extra power comes extra weight. Still, since most Harley-Davidson motorcycles are cruising or touring bikes, this extra weight will not hinder the riding experience. If you’re looking for a motorcycle that packs extra power and weight, here are some of the heaviest Harley-Davidson motorcycles available in the market. The heaviest options include –
- Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special (818lbs)
- Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide (833lbs)
- Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra-Classic (868lbs)
- Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited (877lbs)
- Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Ultra (930lbs)
Reasons why Harley-Davidson motorcycles are so heavy
1. Harley-Davidson bikes have big engines
A part of the Harley-Davidson heritage is the company’s air-cooled twin-cylinder engines with push-rod valve trains. It’s mostly a look thing, as there are big cooling fins and no radiator or fan. The motor will not be able to rev very high because of the design of these motorcycle engines. Since power is a function of engine RPMs and torque, without RPM, Harley-Davidson bikes will need a lot of torque.
2. Harley-Davidson bikes have luxury and comfort
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are primarily designed to look good. Moreover, in the case of touring bikes, they have to be super comfortable. Every additional part that is fitted into the bike adds to the overall weight of the motorcycle. Harley-Davidson bikes tend to have long twin chrome pipes, multiple big headlights, wide handlebars, and large gas tank covers.
Heavy touring motorcycles also feature massive fairings for wind protection, with hard luggage cases on either side of a fat, comfy seat. There are safety features like ABS brakes, cruise control, and traction control standard on all high-end Harley-Davidson bikes. Every extra component will add to the already high reading on the weighing scale.
3. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a lifestyle bike – Cruising and touring
It is no secret that Harley-Davidson bikes aren’t made for racing up a mountain or around a track. Instead, Harley-Davidson bikers cruise the highways or up the boulevard to the nearest saloon or bar. Meanwhile, the tourers are designed to comfortably sit at the freeway speed limit, mostly in straight lines or gentle bends.
There is no need for shedding weight or being nimble. You aren’t going to race your riding buddies around the twisty backroads competing on who will get there first. Everything comes at a compromise. If you’re looking for quick handling and a fast top speed, you’ll have to sacrifice comfort. However, if comfort and good looks are what you’re after, who cares how heavy or slow your bike is.
4. Harley-Davidson motorcycles have extras
The Harley-Davidson website is full of custom accessories that can be easily fitted with extras. On heavier, high-end touring motorcycles, most of these parts are standard equipment. These include mod-cons like integrated speakers and radio, floorboards for your feet, a back seat for the passenger, and a large trunk on the back with a luggage rack.
5. Lightweight materials are expensive
Harley-Davidson is a brand that makes use of steel tubing for its chassis frame, whereas most Japanese motorcycles have aluminum frames. Aluminum is comparatively lighter but a lot more expensive. Performance bikes, like dirt bikes and sportbikes, are purpose-built for speed and agility. Every part of these motorcycles is designed with weight-saving as a priority. Harley-Davidson prioritizes strength and great looks instead.
Harley-Davidson also makes extensive use of chrome. Mudguards, tailpipes, wheels, and handlebars, everywhere you look, you’ll be able to see your rugged face reflecting back at you in the chrome piece. These sleek-looking components are significantly heavier than the plastics on most other motorcycles. If Harley-Davidson preferred to use the same lighter alloys and materials all over the motorcycle, it could make the already expensive bikes unaffordable.
How to reduce the weight of your Harley-Davidson bikes
There are a few ways that you can lower the total weight of your motorcycle, whether you currently own a Harley or you’re looking for one but want to reduce its weight.
If weight is a major consideration, you should remember to account for the weight of the gear, as well as a full tank of petrol when you’re searching for a Harley-Davidson bike. You should keep in mind that the listed weight of your bike is the dry weight, the weight of the bike without any gas or accessories. With a lighter motorcycle, you will be able to enjoy advantages like quicker steering response, better brake efficiency, and optimum speed without needing to settle for a motorcycle you don’t necessarily like.
1. Get rid of any extra weight onboard
Backrest, saddlebags, windscreens, and other custom accessories could end up adding unnecessary weight to your Harley-Davidson bike. It makes total sense to cut down your motorcycle to its bare essentials, especially if you’re looking to improve gas efficiency. You can even take off the pillion footrest in case there aren’t any passengers.
2. Replace other high-performance components
If you’re thinking of upgrading the exhaust or sprockets, now is the right time to do so. Removing the exhaust and replacing the steel sprocket with a performance alternative could drastically improve the heft and appearance of your motorcycle. You can even replace other parts like the fasteners or the wheels with lighter ones.
3. Enhance the bike’s battery
Even though motorcycle technology has evolved significantly, many motorcycles still use lead-acid batteries. Investing in a lithium-ion battery is a great way of reducing the weight of your motorcycle. Lithium-ion batteries only weigh a third of what regular batteries do. It makes them a simple, albeit pricier, solution for minimizing the weight of the bike.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading. Hopefully, now you know a lot more about the weight of Harley-Davidson bikes, how much does a Harley-Davidson weigh, which are the lightest Harley-Davidson bikes, which are the heaviest Harley-Davidson bikes, how to reduce the weight of your Harley-Davidson bike, and more.
A Harley-Davidson bike weight around 700 pounds, but the range of weighs of these bikes is between 450lbs and 950lbs. Harley-Davidson Sportbikes and Street bikes usually define the lower end of the weight scale, as they’re around 450 lbs region. It’ll take a fair bit of skill and experience to handle larger, heavier bikes. If you’re a beginner, it’ll probably take you a lot of miles before you feel it’s safe to switch to a heavy Harley-Davidson machine.