Where our data comes from
Every bike on Bike Picker has its specs cross-referenced against multiple sources. Here's the tiered methodology, ranked by how authoritative each source is:
Manufacturer official US sites
Our primary source for MSRP, displacement, bore & stroke, compression, fuel system, transmission, suspension travel, brakes, tires, wheelbase, seat height, fuel capacity, and weight. We pull directly from:
- BMW Motorrad USA, Honda Powersports, Yamaha Motorsports USA, Kawasaki USA, Suzuki Cycles USA
- KTM USA, Husqvarna Motorcycles USA, GasGas USA
- Triumph Motorcycles, Ducati USA, Aprilia USA, Moto Guzzi USA, Harley-Davidson
- Royal Enfield USA, CFMoto USA, Beta USA, Sherco, Kove USA, AJP USA, TM Moto USA
Authoritative third-party spec databases
Used when manufacturer sites lack pricing or full specs:
- Motorcycle.com spec database — primary fallback for less-documented brands
- Cycle News — pricing and spec articles for new/announced models
- Total Motorcycle — first-look spec sheets
Dyno test publications (HP/torque)
Manufacturers rarely publish HP for dirt bikes, so we rely on independent rear-wheel dyno tests:
- Dirt Rider's in-house Dynojet 250i — primary source for 2026 MX, cross-country, and enduro HP figures
- Dirt Bike Magazine's Pro Circuit dyno — used for cross-reference
- Cycle News dyno reports for 2-strokes
Reviews and previews (new/announced bikes)
For bikes where specs aren't fully published yet:
- ADV Pulse, Cycle World, Ultimate Motorcycling
- Adventure Rider, RevZilla Common Tread
- Visordown, RideApart
Where data still has confidence gaps
A few bikes still rely on informed estimates rather than direct manufacturer or dyno verification:
- TM Racing US MSRPs — TM USA says "contact dealer" for several models; our prices are class-comparable estimates
- Kove 250 / 450 Enduro — Kove hasn't published final 2026 numbers; using EICMA reveal estimates
- 2-stroke HP — manufacturers don't publish 2-stroke HP figures; we use Dirt Rider dyno where available, otherwise class-norm estimates
- Kawasaki KX250X / KX450X MSRPs — dealer prices vary widely; we use the lower end of the range
How we handle "wet weight"
Manufacturers use different weight conventions — some publish dry weight, some "kerb weight without fuel", others full wet weight. For consistency we convert everything to wet weight with full fuel. Where the manufacturer only publishes dry weight, we add ~6 lb per gallon of fuel tank capacity to estimate wet weight.
How we handle horsepower (crank vs. wheel)
The ADV / Dual Sport page uses manufacturer crank HP figures (what the engine produces before drivetrain loss). The dirt bike page uses rear-wheel dyno HP figures from Dirt Rider's Dynojet 250i (typically ~15% lower than crank). The two numbers aren't directly cross-comparable across pages, but within each page the figures are consistent.
Updates
Pricing and specs change throughout the model year as manufacturers release variants and adjust MSRPs. If you spot something out of date, the easiest way to flag it is through the source page — we re-verify against manufacturer sites periodically.