Cubic Capacity (CC) in Bikes: What It Is & How It Affects Performance

What is Cubic Capacity (CC) in a Bike and its Importance?

Cubic Capacity (CC) refers to the cubic capacity of the bike’s engine. It determines the overall power output of the two-wheeler. It refers to the volume of the engine's combustion chamber, which is measured in Cubic Centimeters (cc). It measures the amount of fuel and air mixture that can be combusted inside the two-wheeler’s engine. To simply put, Higher CC means Higher Capacity meaning more power whereas Lower CC means less capacity meaning less power but more fuel efficiency.

The CC of a motorcycle also affects insurance premiums. Higher CC denotes higher speeds and accident potentials. This would increase premiums in the insurance policy. Higher CC motorcycles tend to cost more than lower CC versions, causing premiums to cost more as well. Also in India, a MCWG licence is required to drive two-wheelers having 50 CC or higher.

The Different Ranges of CC in a Motorcycle are:

Following table shows the different range of Cubic Capacity or CC in a motorcycle.

What is the Role of CC?

Cubic Capacity (CC) of a bike directly denotes the amount of fuel-air combustion done in the engine. This directly affects bike performance, fuel-efficiency, riding experience, etc.

• Performance: The most obvious effect of CC is the bike's performance. Higher CCs burn more and thus provide more power, whereas lower CCs are ideal for smooth and day-to-day riding as they do not require much power.
• Power Output: CC has a strong influence on horsepower (HP) and torque (Twisting Power). Larger engines generally produce higher horsepower, allowing the bike to accelerate faster and carry more load. Torque improves with CC as well, which helps in pulling power that is useful during slopes or uphill riding.
• Fuel Efficiency: Lower CC bikes tend to be more fuel-efficient, making them ideal for daily commuters. Higher CC bikes consume more fuel per km, especially when ridden at high speeds.
• Riding Experience: Lower CC vehicles are generally light weight and easy to control, best for daily commuting and in traffic whereas higher CC vehicles offer more power and stability suitable for highway riding or long rides.
• Vehicle Cost: Higher CC motorcycles tend to cost more than lower CC motorcycles. The price of maintenance also increases as Higher CC motorcycle parts are more expensive.

Different CC Motorcycles Available in India

In India, Motorcycles come under this CC Categories:

NOTE: Two-wheelers with 500+ CC in India required a specific licence in order to ride on Indian Roads.

How CC Impacts on Two Wheeler Insurance?

When buying or renewing a two wheeler insurance policy, engine cubic capacity (CC) is one of the key features of a bike that an insurer considers. Here’s how a two-wheeler’s CC influences various aspects of two-wheeler insurance.

1. CC Impacts on Third-Party Insurance

Having a third-party insurance is mandatory in India for two-wheelers. The third-party insurance premium rates go high with the increase in CC of the bike.

• Up to 75cc: Lower premium
• 76cc to 150cc: Moderate premium
• 151cc to 350cc: Higher premium
• Above 350cc: Highest premium

2. CC Impacts on Comprehensive Insurance:

A comprehensive insurance covers both, third party and own vehicle insurance. Higher CCs have higher repair costs, and CC is a major factor in determining premium rates for comprehensive insurance as well. Higher the CC, higher the premium rates.

3. CC Impacts on Add-on Covers

While add-ons like zero depreciation, engine protection, or roadside assistance are optional, the cost of these also changes with CC. As Higher CC bikes have more expensive parts and repairs, their add-ons also cost more.

4. CC Impacts on Insured Declared Value (IDV)

A CC of a bike does not directly influence the IDV rate of the vehicle. A Higher CC bike typically costs more than a lower CC bike, thus indirectly affecting the IDV of the motorcycle. As premium rates are partially calculated by IDV, premium rates go high with an increase in CC of the motorcycle.

Impact of CC on Bike’s Cost

The overall price of the vehicle is heavily impacted by the bike engine’s CC. Higher CC bikes generally have more powerful engines, making them more expensive than lower CC bikes. Other expenses like the insurance policy, maintenance costs, repair costs also increase with a rise in CC. Bikes above 350cc also fall into higher tax and insurance brackets. So, while higher CC offers better performance and riding comfort, it comes with a higher cost price.

How to Calculate the CC of Your Bike?

Generally, the CC of the bike is already calculated by the manufacturer and mentioned in the specifications of the bike. However in order to manually calculate the CC of your bike, use this formula.

• Displacement (cc) = (π/4) x bore² x stroke x number of cylinders
• Value of π = 3.14
• Bore = diameter of each cylinder in millimetres
• Stroke = length of the piston stroke in millimetres
• Number of cylinders = total number of cylinders in the engine
• Divide the final result by 1000 to get the result in CC.

What is the Advantage of Higher & Lower CC in a Two Wheeler?

Advantages of higher CC bikes are as follows:

• Better acceleration and high speeds
• Better for long rides
• Remains smooth and stable at high speeds
• Comes in premium and sports bikes
• Has better load handling

Advantages of lower CC bikes are as follows:

• Provides fuel efficiency
• Has lower maintenance costs
• Cheaper than higher CC bikes
• Lightweight and easy for daily commuting

Summary

Understanding the CC of a bike is a necessary knowledge for new purchasers. Selecting the right CC bike is essential to avoid unnecessary purchases. CC also affects out of vehicle expenses like insurance premiums, licences, and maintenance cost. Higher CC bikes provide speed and luxury whereas lower CC bikes provide fuel efficiency and easy handling. More importantly, having a two-wheeler insurance policy is important for riding in the streets of India, regardless of having a High CC bike or a Low CC bike. Ride Safely, Ride smartly.

Frequently Asked Questions