Nowadays, the niche market for motorcycles is crowded with options. From ATVs to dirt bikes, it can be difficult to pick the vehicle that’s best suited for you.
The main characteristics to keep in mind, though, are the speed and power of the bike you’re planning to choose. Our focus today will be on 200cc dirt bikes, so stick around to learn more about them.
In this guide, we’ll answer all of your burning questions regarding 200cc dirt bikes, such as how fast does a 200cc dirt bike go and what factors affect their speed in the first place?
Let’s begin!
How Fast Does a 200CC Dirt Bike Go?
First things first, you should know that the speed of any motorcycle is never set in stone. There are multiple design elements and external factors that play a role in how fast the vehicle can go and what top speeds it’s able to reach.
While we go through the external factors in the next section, let’s focus on the few design characteristics that affect the speed of a 200cc dirt bike.
For starters, the engine’s horsepower is one of the main motorcycle features to look out for. A 200cc dirt bike typically has an HP that ranges from 5 to 10, depending on the model of course.
The next element to keep in mind is the engine size, which is measured in cubic centimeters (cc) and tells the consumer how much space or volume the engine takes up. A 200cc engine is quite powerful but isn’t as roaring as a 300cc or a 500cc engine.
The 10 HP and 200cc engine allow a 200cc dirt bike to easily reach 90 km/hr (55 mph). This makes the average velocity of this vehicle between 40 and 50 km/hr (25 to 31 mph).
That said, there are more design features that can alter the speed of your 200cc dirt bike. The number of cylinders in your engine, for instance, highly impacts the motor’s overall performance.
Motorcycle engines can have as many as six cylinders. The more combustion cylinders you have, the stronger the vehicle is, and in turn, the faster it’ll be on the road. A high cylinder capacity also boosts the bike’s horsepower.
Factors That Affect How Fast a 200CC Dirt Bike Goes
As promised, we’ll now take you through other factors, besides the aforementioned design components, that affect how fast a 200cc dirt bike will go.
Motorcycle Style and Model
Each type of motorcycle has a speed of its own because each one is designed with different purposes in mind. Professional dirt bikes, for example, typically have an engine displacement of 230cc to 450cc. Such bikes can reach 145 km/hr (90 mph) in no time.
While 200cc dirt bikes can reach 90 km/hr (55 mph), they’re still slow in comparison. They’re not particularly designed for racing, unless you’re going against similar or lesser engine sizes, such as 150cc or 55cc.
The motorcycle’s style also determines how much the vehicle weighs, thus influencing how it operates on various tracks. Take a 200cc dirt bike, for instance. This vehicle’s weight varies from 93 to 115 kgs (205 to 250 pounds), depending on its model, rendering it pretty light.
Payload Capacity and Weight
Any automobile can only carry so much, and a motorcycle is no different. Depending on the engine size and the kind of bike you have, the weight limit will vary. A rule of thumb, however, is that for every pound of weight, one cubic centimeter (cc) is needed to carry it.
That’s why it’s recommended that you stick to dirt bikes within your weight range. A 200cc dirt bike, for example, is best suited for riders under 190 pounds. Heavier drivers, on the other hand, will end up straining the bike’s suspensions as well as its rear wheels.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that whether your engine is two-stroke or four will make a difference as well. Four-stroke engines are able to handle a bigger weight capacity than two-stroke ones, but they take more time to reach top speed.
Road and Weather Conditions
The first thing you learn before operating any kind of ATV, including dirt bikes, is that you need to always check road conditions beforehand. This is an essential part of the safety regulations motorcycle drivers should abide by.
How does this factor in when it comes to speed, though? Well, a 200cc dirt bike might be lightweight compared to more powerful ones, but that only makes it more susceptible to inner damage.
Other weather conditions affect how fast a 200cc dirt bike will go too, including altitude, wind exposure, rain, cold temperatures, and humidity—all of which should be considered before operating an ATV.
Distance and Terrain Type
The terrain you’re going to take, much like the surrounding environmental conditions, is just as important to know. For instance, the wheels of most dirt bikes are made specifically for off-terrain tracks. As a result, they have less traction on asphalt-covered roads.
A golden rule to go by is that the less traction your wheels have, the harder it becomes to control your vehicle, and in turn, the more difficult it is to reach top speeds. Not only that, but you risk severely damaging your tires too.
Additionally, dirt bikes aren’t made to cover long distances, especially the ones with a small engine size like the 200cc dirt bike. With a limited combustion capacity of 200cc, the vehicle isn’t able to sustain the same speed for too long since it’s designed for maneuverability and nothing more.
Conclusion
How fast does a 200cc dirt bike go? At top speed and optimal conditions, a 200cc dirt bike can easily reach 90 km/hr (55 mph). That means this vehicle averages a speed of 40 or 50 km/hr (25 to 31 mph).
What’s important though, is that you factor in other elements that play a part in how fast a 200cc bike will operate on the open road. The model you have, its engine size, horsepower, and weight capacity are just a few examples to mention.
Keep in mind ATVs’ safety regulations when driving a dirt bike!