The Top 10 Lightest Motorcycles

There are all kinds of reasons to obsess about the weight of a motorcycle. Lower weight breeds confidence, facilitates and enhances skill, and helps push back time for older riders.

It is generally the case that the biggest source of weight on a motorcycle is the thing that makes it go, eg, the engine. The bigger the engine, the greater the weight. That’s why you won’t find any 1923cc Harley-Davidson motorcycles on this list.

The very lightest bikes, of course, will be those with the tiniest engines. For example, a 50cc Rieju 50 SM weighs just 85kg. But I feel this list will be more helpful to readers if we insist upon machines with a capacity greater than 125cc.

While I’m splitting hairs, I might as well mention that being 100-percent sure of the weights mentioned here is tricky. I’m aiming to tell you how much the bike weighs “wet,” which means that it’s got all its essential fluids and is ready to ride. But manufacturers don’t always give those numbers, or, if they do, they give them in different ways. Some imagine a wet weight as a bike with a full tank of fuel, others as with only a partial tank of fuel, others with no fuel.

And so on and so on. Point is, I’ve done my best but if you were to roll one of these machines onto a scale and get a different number I wouldn’t shudder in disbelief.
 

10. CFMoto 450MT – 175 kg

The CFMoto 450MT, known as the Ibex 450 in North America, has been hugely popular since its introduction back in 2024. Discussion abounds as to exactly how adventure-ready this machine is but it’s probably the most “big bike” machine on this list, capable of big-miles touring. 

At 175 kg fully fuelled, the 450MT gives you the rugged aesthetics and feel of a bigger ADV without the fear of being crushed when you inevitably drop it trying to do one of those cool ‘spin the back wheel’ U-turns that are so prevalent on my Instagram feed.

Learn more: CFMoto 450MT Review: Seriously Good Value ADV Ridden

9. Kawasaki Ninja 500 SE – 171 kg

The first “big” bike I ever rode was a Ninja 500. It was my buddy’s and I borrowed it from time to time to go ride around Minneapolis’ lakes Harriet and Bde Maka Ska (known as Calhoun at the time), hoping that pretty girls would notice. When none of them leapt from their picnic blankets to chase after me I gave up and went home - still feeling pretty pleased with myself.

That was a different Ninja 500, known as the GPZ500R in the UK (1987-2004), but the opportunity for a young man or woman to feel super cool astride the Ninja 500 SE (first introduced for 2024) remains the same. It has the look of a bigger, more powerful Ninja without the weight, intimidation, or cost.

At 171 kg, it is reasonably light, corners well, and features a forgiving parallel-twin engine that’s capable of fun.

8. Triumph Speed 400 – 170 kg

I was at the EICMA 2015 launch of the BMW G 310 R - a bike that is not on this list only because it no longer appears to be for sale in the UK. A Triumph executive happened to be standing behind me as the bike was revealed and I heard him mutter to a colleague: “What a terrible idea.”

Less than 10 years after that, Triumph introduced the Speed 400 and it’s been one of the best ideas the brand’s had in decades. Built in partnership with India’s Bajaj (who are the majority owner of KTM) it takes all of Triumph’s premium retro styling cues and shrinks them into a 398cc, 170kg package. 

Why buy it? Because you want a motorcycle that looks authentically old-school, sounds fantastic, and doesn't require a second mortgage. It handles well, the finish is good if you know how to apply ACF-50, and outside of a heavier and slower Royal Enfield Bullet 350 (195kg and 20bhp) it’s one of the most affordable ways to take part in a Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

You may also like: Triumph Speed 400 Review

7. Yamaha MT-03 – 168 kg

The MT-03 has been Yamaha’s entry-level "Master of Torque" since the manufacturer realised naked bikes were vastly cheaper to crash than fully faired ones. Evolving from the R3 platform, it ditches the plastics in favour of an upright riding position and styling that looks a bit like a startled insect. 

Reasons to buy include a dependable, 321cc parallel twin that thrives on being completely abused in urban traffic. It weighs 168 kg, meaning you can muscle it through gaps that would make a big ADV rider wince. It's also fun on a tight B-road, and holds its value better than it has any right to. And from observation of other riders on the road (definitely not me, officer), it seems more wheelie-happy than some of the other bikes on this list.

You may also be interested in: Yamaha MT-03: First Ride Review

6. ZXMoto 500RR – 168 kg

Never heard of ZXMoto? You're not alone. It was formed in 2024 by Zhang Xue, one of the founders and former frontman of Kove. The brand has only just recently arrived in the UK but it’s generating a lot of interest, thanks in no small part to the success of its 820RR sportbike in WorldSSP racing.

Looking very much like its bigger brother and bragging track authenticity of its own, the 50RR is a 470cc inline-four sportbike screaming to 13,500 rpm, where it claims a peak power output of 84bhp. Yes, a small, high-revving four-cylinder engine in 2026. 

Buying a brand-new sportbike from a Chinese company that is so new and so full of unknowns is certainly a choice, but based on all we’ve heard about this bike so far, it might just be the best bad decision you make this year.

5. KTM 390 Duke – 165 kg

Another Bajaj bike makes the list. This time in the form of the ever-popular KTM 390 Duke. It’s been the king of the A2 hooligan class since it first appeared in 2013. The latest generation is lighter, sharper, and packed with so much electronic wizardry it feels like cheating. Weighing in at 165 kg wet, it possesses the frantic energy of a terrier that’s just found a stash of energy drinks. This is a bike that constantly goads you into poor life choices.

Why buy it? Because you have absolutely no interest in blending in. And because you want to arrive everywhere looking like you're late for a street fight.

You may want to check out: KTM 390 Duke: First Ride Review

4. Hero XPulse 200 Pro - 161 kg

You’re going to start noticing a trend. The remaining bikes on this list are off-road machines, or derived from off-road machines. This particular machine is very old-school and very cheap. For that reason, it has a place in my heart over other, arguably “better” alternatives (eg, Voge 300 Rally).

Hero is one of India's largest motorcycle manufacturers, churning out two-wheelers by the millions. It didn’t hit the UK market until 2025, however. 

The oil-/air-cooled XPulse Pro 200 has a kickstarter (should its electric starter fail) and no ABS in the rear wheel. Its 19 bhp is anemic and its gear shifter pedal is made of butter but it’s got a charm that’s hard to resist and a price that’s even more difficult to turn away from; you almost can't afford not to buy one. 

Weighing 161kg fully fuelled, it has a fully adjustable long-travel suspension and can take a pretty good beating (well, most of it can - be sure to carry an extra gear shifter or two). It won't break any speed limits on a dual carriageway, but for mindless, low-speed trail riding or bouncing over urban kerbs without a care, it is stupid levels of fun.

You should also check out: Hero XPulse 200 Pro Review: Too Cheap To Ignore

3. Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono – 151 kg

This is the largest-capacity bike on the list. Usually, more cubic centimetres means more kilograms, but Ducati’s dipped its psycho supermoto in magic sauce.

Powered by a 659cc single-cylinder engine, the Hypermotard 698 Mono offers 78bhp and the opportunity to get yourself in all sorts of trouble - as any supermoto should. It’s not practical, it’s not comfortable for more than 45 minutes in a stretch, and it’s definitely not cheap - but it is also utterly, beautifully unhinged. 

It comes with a "Slide By Brake" system that helps you drift into corners like a supermoto god. Bye-bye clean license…

Intrigued? Learn more: Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Review: The Best Single-Cylinder Bike?

2. Suzuki DR-Z4S – 151 kg

The original DR-Z400S (2001-2009) was the stuff of legend. Motorcyclists still sing folk songs about it in the hills. It left the European market due to emissions regulations, but riders didn’t stop singing its song. Fifteen years later, Suzuki brought the indestructible dual-sport back.

Now known as a the DR-Z4S, it’s still powered by a 398cc single-cylinder engine - that Suzuki says is new but which conveniently sports the same five-speed transmission and boasts the same power outputs. 

Do you want a motorcycle that you can drop in a river, drag out, and ride home without shedding a single tear? This is the machine you want. Put it in your will; it will last longer than you.

1. Honda CRF300L – 142 kg

Taking the crown as the lightest road-legal machine over 125cc is the Honda CRF300L. Born from the CRF250L, it received a slight displacement bump not so many years ago to help it haul modern adults up moderate hills. It is essentially a dirt bike with mirrors and a number plate. 

You buy this because the UK's roads now closely resemble the surface of the moon, and having 10 inches of suspension travel is the only way to save your spine. At just 142 kg wet, it is the ultimate lightweight trail-explorer. Yes, taking it on a dual carriageway feels like sitting on a paint shaker in a hurricane, but point it down a muddy, rutted byway, and you'll suddenly feel like an absolute hero. It is cheap, cheerful, and virtually indestructible.

Honourable Mention: Aprilia RS 457 – 175 kg

Aprilia’s RS 457 was designed to plug the gap between their 125cc learner bikes and the fire-breathing 660s. Built around a XXcc parallel-twin engine, it brings Italian superbike aesthetics to the A2 category. 

You want this because you desire the prestige of an exotic Italian sportbike, but you only have the bank account of a middle-manager. At 175 kg wet, it keeps weight down in part thanks to an aluminium frame - a rarity in this class. It’s got the look and comes with a suite of electronics to make you feel like a much better rider than you actually are.

You may also like: Aprilia RS 457 Review: The Most Exciting Way To Use An A2 License?

Light makes right

The point of this list is to remind you that you do not need to wrestle a quarter-ton, £30,000 behemoth to have fun on two wheels. In fact, you will probably have considerably more fun gleefully abusing a lighter bike thanks to the confidence and ease that come as a result.

Lighter motorcycles forgive mistakes and will not require the assistance of three passing strangers to pick back up when you inevitably forget to put the sidestand down at a scenic overlook.

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