There are plenty of benefits to riding an electric motorcycle. Thanks to the use of modern motor technology, electric bikes enjoy instant power, thrilling acceleration, and hair-raising performance.
And since many motorcyclists ride their bikes in pursuit of high speeds and two-wheeled excitement, electric motorcycles appeal to a wide range of riders, both current and new motorcyclists alike.
Although electric motorcycles are not quite the environmental halo we may like to hope for, as they still have an impact, they are definitely the future. Cleaner air and less noise are big plusses, and gas motos aren’t as green as you might imagine, even when compared to automobiles.
Even the racing world sees the electric value. Supporting the MotoGP since 2019, the MotoE World Championship is a racing class that uses only electric motorcycles. That shows just how exciting electric motorcycles can be.
The Isle of Man TT has been promoting electric motorcycles for years — and if the most successful rider of the race, John McGuinness, can get a kick out of riding an electric motorcycle, then you probably will, too.
Editor’s note: We updated the models, technical specifications, performance specifications, and prices for 2024.
At the moment, the industry has two kinds of electric motorbikes for adults: the smaller electric mountain bike style and more heavy-duty e-motos equipped with powerful acceleration and a more conventional rider experience.
For this article, as we look at the best electric motorcycle models, we will focus on the latter: the best electric motorcycle models that resemble the classic bikes we already know and love.
If you’re not clued in about the state of the industry (who the big names are, what models they have, and what the regular price for one of them is), then this article should help you brush up. Electric motorcycles are here to stay.
Let’s take a serious look at the best electric motorcycles on market now. Here are some of our favorites worth considering.
KTM Freeride E-XC
Stark Varg
Zero DSR-X
Energica Ego+
Harley-Davidson LiveWire One
Zero S
Lightning LS-218
Tacita T-Cruise Urban S
Italian Volt Lacama
The first thing you need to decide is how you plan to use your electric motorcycle. For daily commuters, a 100-plus-mile battery range isn’t necessary. But if you’re planning on touring across the country, you’re going to want a longer range. If you’re more of an adventure rider or track racer, higher power, torque, and speed will be a factor.
Once you’ve figured out the above, it’s time to dial in your range. If you want to use your bike primarily as a daily commuter, sub-100 miles per charge should be plenty. If you want your bike to be your road-tripping machine, shoot for higher mileage per charge.
These three factors will determine the “wow” factor of your ride. On electric bikes, power is usually listed in kilowatts. To determine a bike’s horsepower, multiply the kilowatts by 1.34. As far as torque goes, the higher the torque, the faster the acceleration.
Speed is self-explanatory and usually determined by the bike’s power and weight. Decide how fast you want to go, and then choose accordingly.
It doesn’t matter how awesome your ride is if it’s plugged in most of the time. Most bikes will charge to at least 80% in a few hours, and many will be fully charged in 13-16 hours at the lowest charge setting. This means you can plug it in at the end of the day and your bike should be good to go by morning.
This is common to every motorcycle, electric or not, but it is still worth considering. Make sure the bike isn’t too heavy for you to handle and that the seat height and riding position fit your preferences. Smaller people should opt for small motorcycles, and vice versa for taller people.