The simplest way to think of engine ccs is in terms of overall power. Generally, motorcycles with higher cc numbers tend to be faster and more powerful due to a higher engine capacity that allows for a larger overall mixture of fuel and air in the combustion process. It’s a big reason why the maximum speeds between 50cc and 125cc motorcycles are so different (about 30 to 40 mph and 60 to 70 mph, respectively).
However, the flip side of this is that the increased power typically comes with a reduction in fuel efficiency and mileage. Insurance premiums tend to be higher with higher cc motorcycles, too, and most of the time, it’s more expensive to repair higher-capacity engines.
So basically, motorcycle engines with lower cc values aren’t as powerful, but you don’t have to spend as much to maintain and use them, while larger cc values mean better speed and torque but are more expensive to live with. Whether or not one is better than the other comes down to what a rider wants in their motorcycle’s performance.
