What is CC in Bike? A Complete Guide

Posted on: Sep 16, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

What is CC in Bike? A Complete Guide

No matter how stylish or cutting-edge a bike is, it is nothing without its engine. The engine is the heart of your motorcycle, and the more powerful it is, the deeper its thump will be. The power of the engine is dependent upon its cubic capacity (CCs). And understanding CC is super important to choose the right bike for your needs. Even when you buy motorcycle insurance online or offline, the CC of your bike’s engine will determine how high or low the premium will be. So, read on to understand it better.

What is the CC of a bike?

The engine of the bike is made up of combustion chambers where the fuel is burnt in the cylinder. CC is the capacity of an engine cylinder in terms of air and fuel mixture that will burn in one stroke. Modern engines are four stroke combustion, so the higher the CCs of an engine, the more power it can generate in one go. So, you need to know that the higher the cubic capacity of the engine, the more it will cost you. Naturally, you should also buy motorcycle insurance online or offline for such high CC bikes,since if it gets damaged in an accident, fire or natural calamity, or gets stolen, your financial loss can be a major one.

Impact of CCs of a bike on its performance

There is a direct relation between the engine capacity of a two-wheeler and its performance. The higher the cubic capacity of the engine, the better it will perform. As you increase the cubic capacity of the engine, it will accelerate faster and will also be able to achieve higher top speeds. This is the reason why most sports and performance bikes come with very high cubic capacity engines.

Relation between the CCs of a bike’s engine and its mechanical performance

Since more engine CCs imply greater overall bike performance,it indicates high mechanical performance as well. High CC bikes also need to be equipped with stronger mechanical components and brakes with deep bite so they can stop the vehicle and easily dissipate its high level of kinetic energy in case of emergencies.

Impact of engine CCs on the pricing of third-party insurance cover

The third-party liability cover for two-wheelers is priced based on the CCs of the engine. This is as per the pricing guidelines issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. Whether you buy third party bike insurance online or offline, the prices for the 2021-22 fiscal will be the same for the cover.

• Rs 506 for insuring two-wheelers with engine of less than 75cc

• Rs 769 for insuring two-wheelers with engine of more than 75cc but less than 150cc

• Rs 1301 for insuring two-wheelers with engine of more than 150cc but less than 350cc

• Rs 2571 for insuring two wheelers with engine of more than 350cc

Impact of engine CCs on the bike’s fuel consumption

Remember that the fuel consumption of a bike is directly impacted by its engine capacity. As the engine capacity of a bike goes up, its fuel consumption also increases. This is the reason why most commuter bikes are incorporated with low engine CCs like 90 to 110cc. Since fuel efficiency is a key concern in case of commuter bikes meant for daily usage, bike manufacturers try to use every engineering trick they can to maximise the power of the bike while keeping its engine CCs in the 90 to 110 range.

How to Calculate a Bike CC?

Usually, the user doesn't need to calculate bike CC because it is mentioned by the company. However, if you still want to calculate bike CC, you will have to know a lot of factors. Some of the common things you need to know about the engine to calculate bike CC are as follows:

• Stroke: length of the piston stroke (mm)

• Number of cylinders: total number of cylinders that are there in the engine.

• Bore: Diameter of the cylinder (mm)

As soon as you have figured out these components, you will have to follow the steps given below to calculate bike CC:

Step 1: Check the bore and stroke specifications of the vehicle.

Step 2: Multiply the bore diameter with itself and then against the stroke.

Step 3: The result that you achieved must be divided by the number of cylinders.

Step 4: Again, divide the achieved results by 1000. Round the number achieved to the closest whole number.

If you are planning to buy a third party bike insurance make sure that you know what the CC of your bike is.

How to Choose the right CC while Buying a Bike?

The CC of your bike will have a significant impact on your two wheeler insurance premium. Therefore, it is extremely important that you choose the right CC while buying the bike so as to pay adequate charges and nothing extra.

Here are some of the key tips for choosing the right CC in bike:

1. Budget: Bikes with higher CC usually are priced at a higher rate in the market. Moreover, managing these high CC bikes in the long run can be slightly expensive because of maintenance, two wheeler insurance and fuel consumption.

2. Riding Experience: If you are just learning how to ride or have limited experience in riding, it is advisable to opt for bikes with lower CC. This ensures that you have better control over riding. However, if you have a good riding experience, you can explore more options.

3. Physical appearance: Bikes with higher CC are big and more complex to maintain because of their heavy size. Therefore, you will have to consider your physical build as well. You also need to manage your comfort zone while choosing the CC of the bike. It is advisable that you go on test rides and understand which one fits your needs before making a choice.

4. Purpose: Why are you buying the bike? Always ask yourself this before making the decision. If you are planning to use the bike for daily regular commutes, it is advisable that you go for a low-range to mid-range CC in bike. On the other hand, if you need a bike for long, adventurous rides, you should choose a high CC bike with increased power. Therefore, these high CC bikes tend to offer extra comfort.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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