One of the biggest deliberations that beginners and advanced riders have is how much cc engine of a motorcycle they should get, while the most common types are 600cc and 300cc. These two engine types are the ones mostly deliberated on, especially by the beginner riders who do not know what they should get for their first motorcycle.
Which motorcycle should I get, 300cc or 600cc? – These two types of motorcycles are completely different. While 300cc motorcycles would be the best choice and perfect for beginners because of the relatively weak engine, the 600cc motorcycles are designed for racing and riding at a very high speed, so they are designed for advanced or intermediate riders who have at least a few months of riding experience.
If you are a beginner rider who doesn’t have the budget to buy 2 motorcycles, first buy the 300cc and then the 600cc. Also, if you want a 600cc motorcycle for your first bike as a beginner, take into account that it is more dangerous for you and prepare for a severe injury in case of an accident.
There are lots of different features and things about these two types of engines (300cc and 600cc), which I have prepared to clearly show and explain to you in this guide, including their differences and which is the best choice for you.
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So, let’s get started.
300cc motorcycles & who are they recommended for
300cc motorcycles are by far the best choice for the beginner riders. They are light in weight, compact, cheap, and affordable, and most importantly, they are safe enough for riding and at the same time comfortable to ride. They are safe enough for riding because they are less dangerous and don’t lead to serious and complicated injury in case of having an accident with them compared to 600cc motorcycle engines that are much more dangerous.
Also, 300cc motorcycles are less recommended for advanced or intermediate riders because it will be bored to them in my opinion, but if you a beginner, trust me, 300cc motorcycles will not be bored to you and it will even take you at least a good few months before you start getting tired of them.
In general, in my opinion, if you are a beginner rider, get a 300cc motorcycle first, even if it is a used one and learn how to ride it for at least 3 months before you switch to a 600cc motorcycle because you need understand that you must start gradually, from a relatively weak motorcycle to strong ones so that you can properly develop your skills as a rider.
However, if you have a budget range for a motorcycle on a level that cannot even allow you to buy used 300c motorcycle, the best option is to switch and go for a 600cc motorcycle but take into account that it is not as easy as a 300cc engine and you need to be very careful with it.
In summary, 300cc motorcycles are the best choice for beginner riders and not 600cc or 1000cc motorcycles.
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Advantages of 300cc motorcycles
- Very cheap (twice as less as 600cc motorcycle)
- Compact and lightweight
- Great performance to suit beginners
- Very reliable
- Safe and secure during accidents
- Don’t require a lot of maintenance
Disadvantages of 300cc motorcycles
- Boredom after a few months
- Inability to provide you with strong power and performance
- Boring for advanced riders
600cc motorcycles & who are they recommended for
When I am talking about 600cc motorcycles, I mean ranges between 500cc and 700cc which are equally powerful and are very popular with most riders. They are designed for racing and can reach crazy speeds. They are not recommended for beginner riders because they are overly powerful and can reach crazy speeds dangerous for beginner riders that can lead to a very dangerous and fatal accident.
It is important to understand that a beginner rider can learn how to ride with a 600cc motorcycle, even 1000cc or 2000cc motorcycle, that does not matter, what you should know is that it will be harder to learn with it and will take a lot of time, maybe up to a year before you can really accelerate at high speeds in a 600cc motorcycle.
In addition, 600cc motorcycles are twice as expensive and bigger as 300cc motorcycles. They are also more powerful that you have to press the throttle gently when riding them.
In general, I would recommend 600cc motorcycles only for advanced or intermediate riders who have at least a good few months of experience on a 300cc motorcycle. But I know a lot of beginner riders who chose to buy a 600cc motorcycle because they did not want to buy 2 motorcycles, are willing to take the risk, and did not want to start from 300cc which is less recommended. Again, it is your choice.
Overall, 600cc motorcycles will be best suited for advanced or intermediate riders who have experience and not for beginner riders.
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Advantages of a 600cc motorcycle
- Very powerful and suitable for advanced riders
- Not boring
- Has a more impressive design
- Better for racing than a 300cc motorcycle
Disadvantages of a 600cc motorcycle
- Expensive (twice as much as 300cc bikes)
- Not safe during accidents
- Not suitable for aggressive riding
- Heavier and comes in medium size
- Requires a lot of maintenance
Differences between 600cc and 300cc motorcycles
300cc motorcycles are cheaper than 600cc motorcycles
600cc motorcycles are very expensive and in most cases cost at least twice as much as 300cc motorcycles and even more. This is as a result of the expensive components used for 600cc motorcycles which cannot be compromised.
The average price of 300cc motorcycles is only $5,000, which is very cheap and the used models are even cheaper because they are sold for as low as $1,000; this compared to 600cc motorcycles is inexpensive because 600cc motorcycles cost on an average price of $10,000.
In case of a budget, it can be a problem for a lot of people. So, you can buy a 600cc motorcycle if you have the budget and even as a beginner, but as a beginner, make sure you don’t accelerate faster and at high speed. However, if your budget is limited, a 300cc motorcycle is better for you, but always know that as a beginner, the best option is to first buy a used 300cc motorcycle, and after a few months, you then upgrade to a 600cc motorcycle.
Examples:
| Brand | Price of the 300cc motorcycle model | Price of the 600cc motorcycle model |
| KMT | KTM 390 Duke costs $5,499 | KMT 690 Duke costs $ 8,999 |
| Kawasaki | Kawasaki Ninja 300 costs $5,299 | Kawasaki Ninja 300 costs $9,999 |
| Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-R3 costs $4,999 | Yamaha YZF-R6 costs $12,199 |
| Honda | Honda Rebel 300 costs $4,749 | Honda Rebel 600 costs $6,199 |
| Suzuki | Suzuki GSX250R costs $4,499 | Suzuki GSX-R600 costs $11,399 |
600cc motorcycles are bigger than 300cc motorcycles
An average 300cc motorcycle is very compact, slim, light in weight and small in size due to its small engine. 300cc motorcycles are suitable for low or average riders and most 300cc motorcycles weigh between 220 pounds to 330 pounds (100 to 150 kg). So, they are perfect for beginner riders.
However, 600cc motorcycles weigh averagely between 400 to 430 pounds (180 to 195 kg), which is considered heavier and will fit high riders superbly but can be quite intimidating to control for beginner riders. The height and weight of a 600cc motorcycle is a disadvantage for beginner riders because it will take them a lot of time to learn and control, but for advanced riders, it is much easier for them.
In general, the weight and height of these two types of motorcycles don’t change and it doesn’t make you choose one motorcycle over the other, but the weight and height differences can sometimes be a very significant factor when you are very short or tall.
If you are very tall, that is, if you have a height of over 1.90 meters (6 feet), then you would probably prefer a 600cc motorcycle while if you are very short, that is, a height of 1.55 meters or below, a 300cc motorcycle is definitely your choice. In any case, I would advise you to consult the seller or someone that can help you in any subject of height and weight before choosing a motorcycle.
600cc motorcycles are faster and more powerful than 300cc motorcycles
600cc motorcycles are crazier and a lot faster and more powerful than 300cc motorcycles which makes them more fun in the long run for most riders, but in my opinion, they are very daunting.
You need to understand that 600cc motorcycles are especially daunting because they can reach very high speeds of up to 170mph which is crazy compared to 300cc motorcycles that can reach speeds of up to 118mph. Forget the fact that a 600cc motorcycle acceleration is much faster and crazy.
However, bear in mind that 600cc motorcycles are very fast and powerful, especially if you are a beginner who wants to start with a 600cc motorcycle. As a beginner, note that a 600cc motorcycle will be less enjoyable for you because you have no riding experience, so you won’t have the guts to reach the speeds that the 600 motorcycle presents and even in most cases, you won’t reach one-third of the speed until after a few months; this compared to a 300cc motorcycle where you’ll have a lot more confidence to accelerate the throttle and get to very high speeds that will benefit you.
For advanced riders, a 300cc motorcycle will be boring for them because they have some sort of riding experience, so it would be better for them to get a 600cc motorcycle because they will be able to enjoy and reach high speeds that a 600cc motorcycle offers. So, take that into account.
Examples of speed differences between 300 and 600cc motorcycles
| Brand | Max speed of the 300cc motorcycle model | Max speed of the 600cc motorcycle model |
| KMT | KMT 390 duke has a max speed of 167 km/h (104 mph) | KMT 690 duke has a max speed of 188 km/h (117 mph) |
| Kawasaki | Kawasaki Ninja 300 has a max speed of 180 km/h (112 mph) | Kawasaki Ninja 600 has a max speed of 206 km/h ׂ(128 mph) |
| Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-R3 has a max speed of 180 km/h (110 mph) | Yamaha YZF-R6 has a max speed of 257 km/h (160 mph) |
| Suzuki | Suzuki GSX250R has a max speed of 141 km/h (88 mph) | Suzuki GSX-R600 has a max speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) |
| Honda | CBR300R has a max speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) | CBR600rr has amax speed of 204 km/h (127 mph) |
A 600cc motorcycle is more dangerous than a 300cc motorcycle
It is quite clear that 600cc motorcycles are dangerous since they are very fast, have a lot of power and can reach very fast speeds in a very short time. In general, they are mainly designed for racing.
But for 300cc motorcycles, they are much safer since they do not reach crazy speeds and even if you have an accident with them, it cannot be a serious and a life-threatening accident.
Also, as a beginner, you must understand that you will have at least one accident during your first few months of riding as a result of your mistakes which is normal for a starter. But the danger there is that if you start with a 600cc motorcycle, the accident will be very dangerous and severe compared to a 300cc motorcycle which is considered safer. So, it is your decision, you either consider your safety as more important to you or you get started with a 600cc motorcycle and risk yourself.
A 600cc motorcycle requires more money on maintenance than a 300cc motorcycle
There is no clear and accurate answer on the price differences between the maintenance for 300cc and 600cc motorcycles because it varies between models, but with whatever model you choose, you will see that there are differences in investment that you will need to make on the maintenance between these two models.
A 600cc motorcycle requires a lot of maintenance. Everything between its engine is very large, the highest quality tires and brakes or any part of a 600cc motorcycle that is higher in quality than that of a 300cc motorcycle are what makes a 600cc motorcycle require more investment in maintenance. And sometimes, the price differences can be several hundred to thousands of dollars a year.
So, yes, guess what? A 600cc motorcycle is not only more expensive than a 300cc motorcycle at first but also more expensive in the long run. So, think twice before buying a 600cc motorcycle and make sure you have the necessary budget.
A 600cc motorcycle is better for racing than a 300cc motorcycle
600cc motorcycles are much better and great for racing than 300cc motorcycles because 600cc motorcycles have much faster speeds and faster power and there are higher chances that you will lose if you ride a 300cc motorcycle against a 600cc motorcycle.
So, which should I get, a 600cc or 300cc motorcycle?
Having explained about each model to you in detail by considering their features, differences, advantages, and disadvantages, it is time for you to figure out the type that will suit you most.
Very simple. Just understand that a 300cc motorcycle will fit for beginner riders while a 600cc motorcycle is suitable for medium or advanced riders.
Again, if you are a different case, that is, if you have the budget for a 600cc motorcycle or if you do not want to start with a 300cc motorcycle as a beginner, then no problem because you can also learn how to ride with a 600cc motorcycle. But you need to take it seriously because it is dangerous for you and know that it will take you twice as much time to learn how to ride. Also, it will most likely take you over a year to reach even half of what a 600cc motorcycle is ready to give.
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Thanks for reading, until the next post.
