When you are sitting on a motorbike, you think about the feel of the seat under you, the way your legs touch the floor, or the position of your hands. A quality that often goes unnoticed is the overall weight of the bike. However, this is a potentially cumbersome feature, pun intended, that can make or break your enjoyment while driving. A well-balanced heavy bike is easier to maneuver and doesn’t remind you of how heavy it is with every turn. These 10 bikes are the heaviest currently on sale, but you wouldn’t know how fun they are to ride.
10/10 Suzuki Hayabusa – 582 pounds
Suzuki
Action shot of a black Suzuki Hayabusa
The Suzuki Hayabusa is a performance hyperbike. It doesn’t have all the fairings and luggage that other bikes have. Most of the weight comes from the frame and the big engine. However, because of this, the majority of the weight is centralized and low to the ground. When sitting on the bike, it is comfortable and smooth to lean over with the bike. As long as you can put your feet on the ground, you can confidently control the weight of this bike. Because the majority of the weight is in the engine, you don’t have much leeway when it comes to reducing weight.
9/10 Yamaha Super Tenere ES – 584 lbs.
Yamaha
Image of a black Yamaha Super Tenere ES facing right against a white background.
Get out there and start your next adventure on the Yamaha Super Tenere ES. This rugged and durable motorcycle is perfect for long-distance adventure rides. The powerful 1199cc liquid-cooled inline-twin engine provides ample power to help you roll easily over any terrain. What’s nice about this bike is the positioning of the engine. The bike has a typical high stance for plenty of ground clearance. However, the engine is placed low to keep the center of gravity down. This helps make the bike easier to control when riding over loose or rough terrain. If you’re not afraid to add weight, add luggage to bring supplies or personal effects with you.
8/10 Triumph Rocket 3 GT Chrome Edition – 648.2 lbs.
Triumph
2004 Triumph Rocket lll in Black
The Triumph Rocket 3 GT Chrome Edition is a unique addition to this list. This is not a grand touring or sport touring motorcycle. Instead, it’s a cruiser built for stunning performance. It is equipped with the largest production motorcycle engine in the world, a 2500 cc 165 horsepower triple engine. The truly massive size and mass of the engine significantly increases the overall weight of this bike. It’s surprisingly nimble and responsive despite tipping the scales at over 600 pounds. The majority of the weight is in the front and center of the bike, making it easier to lean over while riding and become one with the bike.
7/10 Indian Challenger Dark Horse – 805 lbs.
Indian
Shot of a red Indian Challenger Dark Horse on the road
The Indian brand was once a leader in the American motorcycle market. He disappeared, disappeared, then came back with a vengeance. Indian Challenger Dark Horse is a product of this renaissance. This touring motorcycle has lots of fairings and large saddlebags. This adds to the luxury of the bike but also adds to the weight. Despite the large size and weight of this bike, it’s not a tough job to ride. Indian has equipped it with Smart Lean technology that helps you stay grounded and in control. Carve corners with confidence thanks to the frame-mounted fairing.
6/10 Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS – 690.2 lbs.
Kawasaki
Studio shot of a black finished Kawasaki Concours 14
The Kawasaki Contest 14 ABS is the sport-touring version of the Kawasaki ZX-14. Both bikes have essentially the same motor but with different tuning. The Concours’ 1352cc engine improved low- and mid-range tuning. It also has a rigid monocoque frame. The Concours also has a heavier weight as it comes with a different riding position and luggage. There are two hard saddlebags and a top bag that you can securely load with your stuff. When you consider that the engine itself also weighs a ton, the result is a motorcycle that weighs a lot of weight.
5/10 Honda Gold Wing – 804 lbs.
Honda
2022 Honda Gold Wing in Blue
The Honda Gold Wing is the queen of touring motorcycles. It comes with a ton of heavy duty fairings and backrests. The result is a bike that looks like a Cadillac even when you sit on it for hours while navigating US highways. The whole body structure also increases the weight of the bike considerably. If you opt for the full chest of drawers with the fold-down rider backrest, full passenger and luggage backrest, you have a bike that easily weighs 800 pounds. Combine the weight of the driver and personal effects, and you can easily pass the 1,000 pound mark.
4/10 BMW K 1600 Grand America – 809.1 lbs
BMW
Image of a black BMW K 1600 Grand America sports touring motorcycle parked facing right.
Bring your sports touring dreams to life on the BMW K 1600 Grand America. It is equipped with extra wide running boards, a padded backrest for the top box and an extra wide windscreen. Propelling this smooth-navigating beauty is a six-cylinder engine. This bike is a BMW car transformed into a motorcycle. With that, you can expect the bike to weigh almost as much as a car. Fortunately, BMW has talented engineers who can make the bike feel like half its weight. The result is a surprisingly nimble and responsive bike that’s a joy to ride, even when fully loaded.
3/10 Indian Roadmaster Limited – 877 lbs.
Indian
Image of a red 2022 Indian Roadmaster Limited facing right against a white background.
The Roadmaster Limited is Indian’s answer to Harley’s complete touring bikes. It features classic American craftsmanship with plenty of luxury features, technologies and touches. The advantage is that you ride in style and comfort. The downside is that all those little touches and features add up to the overall weight of the bike. The bike is powered by a 116 V-twin engine that produces 126 pounds of low-end torque. It’s a must-have if you ever hope to get this bike rolling after stopping at a red light. Then there’s a whopping 36 gallons of cargo space, giving you plenty of storage but also creating the potential for a significant increase in weight.
2/10 BMW R 18 Transcontinental – 942 pounds
BMW
Image of a blue 2022 BMW R18 Transcontinental touring motorcycle facing left against a white background.
Take the BMW R 18 Transcontinental across the United States and even internationally. Despite its incredibly heavy weight, it doesn’t feel like a heavy bike when riding it. The Transcontinental is a complete grand touring motorcycle that comes with a large front fairing, hard saddlebags, full backrest and luggage. BMW succeeds where Harley tends to drop the ball. The balance of this bike makes it a pleasure to ride. Despite hours in the saddle, you won’t feel tired or like you’re dragging close to 1,000 pounds of metal. Even when fully loaded with two riders, this bike handles well and corners beautifully.
1/10 Harley-Davidson CVO Limited – 963 pounds
Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
2019 Harley-Davidson CVO Limited 2 Riders Promotional Image
Harleys have a reputation for being incredibly heavy and not very agile. The Harley-Davidson CVO Limited has the honor of being the heaviest in the lineup and this list. It also happens to be one of the most expensive. This CVO bike is luxurious, carefully handcrafted and features a unique paint scheme. However, the large front fascia, oversized front wheel, hard saddlebags, rear luggage and chrome add to the overall weight of the bike. Depending on the features you choose, the weight continues to increase. Because the CVO line offers the highest degree of customization, that means you could end up with a bike that gets into 1,000+ pound territory.
