What Does CC Mean On A Dirt Bike? Easyly Explained!

When getting your first dirt bike, the first thing you want to decide on is the CC. There is a lot of misinformation when it comes to CC on a motorbike, engine power being the most popular one. However, that’s far from the truth.

So, what does CC mean on a dirt bike?

CC stands for cubic centimeter and goes to show the displacement of the engine pistons in one stroke. CC shows the motorcycle cylinder volumes. More displacement allows for more space for fuel and air to mix, therefore, more fuel burning.

More displacement can mean more engine power since a lot of fuel is burning. However, CC is not everything that indicates bike performance. Join me as I discuss what CC on a bike means, its significance, and how to calculate it.

What Does Cc Mean On A Dirt Bike?

CC on a dirt bike stands for cubic centimeters. It’s a term used to measure the displacement of the motorcycle engine with each piston move. And it’s measured in cubic centimeters. You’ve probably heard people discuss the term CC when discussing bike performances.

But the question is: Does cc equal dirt bike performance? Before we go into details, let’s get to understand what displacement means.

What Is Displacement on a Dirt Bike?

Displacement is a measure of the amount of space the engine pistons take with a single stroke. When we say a motorcycle’s displacement, we are referring to the volume of the motorcycle cylinders.

In a way, more displacement can equal more power. When an engine provides more displacement, it creates more room for air and fuel to mix. Dirt bikes with more displacement can burn more fuel at once, hence more power.

So when people talk about CC, they are talking about displacement and not power. However, you’ve seen how displacement and power relate. Apart from standing for cubic centimeters, CC can also mean cubic capacity.

A dirt bike with a 250cc has a fuel capacity of 0.25 liters. The volume inside the engine is crucial in determining the amount of fuel burned at once. In a short while, I’ll show you how engine capacity impacts mileage and performance.

Below is a table showing a dirt bike CC and ideal age.

Child Age (YEARS)	Height	Seat Height (INCHES)	Engine size (CC)
3-7	2’7” -3’7”	17-21	50
7-12	3’7” – 4’7”	21-25	50-110
12-14	5’ -5’2”	31-35	125
14-16	5’2”-5’8”	35-38	125-250

The table above can guide you in choosing the right dirt bike to match the correct age bracket.

What Is The Significance Of Cc On A Dirt Bike?

The CC of a dirt bike plays a crucial role in its performance, speed, and fuel consumption. This is why you need to understand your dirt bike’s CC before making any purchase. So, what’s the significance of CC on a dirt bike?

If a dirt bike has a higher CC, then it means it has more cylinder volume to burn fuel. A dirt bike power output increases with the increase of fuel-burning inside the tank. More fuel can burn only when the cylinder volume is high. In a way, we can say that more CC equals more fuel consumption and more engine power.

That’s why pro racers use high CC bikes and have extra fuel arranged for quick refueling.

However, on the downside, more CC means less mileage. Your dirt bike will tend to consume more fuel over short distances. Are you looking for engine performance or mileage? A 250cc dirt bike will have pretty short mileage compared to a 100cc dirt bike.

CC is a great indication of a bike’s performance. However, this does not mean it’s the only measure of a bike’s performance. The dirt bike tire, suspension, control, and a ton of other things work as performance factors. Let’s talk about a few factors that affect a bike’s performance?

Other Factors That Affect a Bike’s Performance

Apart from CC, a bike’s weight and horsepower affect performance. If you have a heavy bike, then you need a strong engine and a more powerful engine. A combination of a bike’s cc and weight is what gives us torque and horsepower.

Torque and horsepower are better measurements of a bike’s performance than CC. Torque simply refers to the force applied over a specific distance measuring the combustion of the cylinders.

Horsepower on the other hand is multiplied by the torque by the rotations per minute, RPM. Horsepower measures how fast an engine works. When deciding on the right measurement to determine performance, horsepower stands out. You also need to choose a dirt bike that fits your body size and weight.

How Do You Calculate The CCs Of A Motorcycle Engine?

You can calculate the CC of a motorcycle by following simple set out steps. The CC measurement is determined by the piston distance and engine’s cylinders. You need to know the bore and the stroke. Stroke refers to the distance the pistons move. The bore on the other hand refers to the chamber size in the engines. Below are steps to follow:

Find out the bore and the stroke

The bore and stroke can be found on the bike’s manual. Under technical specifications, you will find the listed bore and stroke. For example, a dirt bike with a bore and stroke of 78 mm by 78 mm. The piston from the top to the bottom is 78 mm. These two units will help us find the CC.

Multiplication

In the next step, multiply the bore against itself before multiplying against the stroke. Using the example bike above, we can calculate as follows. 78 (bore) X 78 (bore) X 78 stroke X 3.141593 equals to 1490849.24.

Division

You can then divide the results by the number of cylinders in the dirt bike engine. For example, if the bike has a 2-cylinder engine, the results will be 1490849.24 divided by 2 equals 745424.62. Dividing the result by 1000 will give you the dirt bike CC. In our example above, the dirt bike’s CC will be 745CC. The result is usually rounded to the nearest whole number.

How Many CCs Do You Need A Dirt Bike?

The amount of CC you need in a dirt bike depends on your specific needs for the bike. Do you need a fuel-efficient dirt bike or a more powerful dirt bike? If you’re looking for your first dirt bike, a range of 200-300 cc is recommended. However, everything comes down to personal preferences. If you’re looking to hit longer mileages, then a 100CC dirt bike works fine.

However, if you need a heavy machine that goes faster, then go for a 450cc dirt bike or even higher, like a 740cc one. However, remember cc does not give the full picture of a bike’s performance. You still need to consider other factors like horsepower weight, and height. If you’re a short rider, you’ll need a suitable dirt bike for your height.

Final Words

Hopefully, you now know what a dirt bike CC means and how it matters in your ride. While a dirt bike’s cc is a great factor to consider, you need to look beyond cc. If you’re a tall and big person, choosing a bigger cc is highly recommended.

However, remember a high cc will mean more fuel consumption. Make sure you understand the main purpose for the bike and choose accordingly. And if you’re into racing and intense riding, don’t forget to have your dirt bike hydration pack with you.