Electric motorcycles are great. They don’t make noise, they offer max torque right off the bat, and they convert a majority of their stored energy into useful work. The more expensive and advanced ones also manage to recover energy through regenerative braking, thus extending range. The downsides are well-known, though. Batteries and electric motors are heavy, and the former cannot compare to the energy density of fossil fuels. These problems can be taken care of when weight isn’t a big factor, like in a car, but they get exacerbated in motorcycles, which thrive on weight reduction.
Add long charge times and full-charge ranges that cannot compare to a gas-fueled bike, and electric bikes are at a disadvantage today. However, a lot of electric bikes are getting better with charge times and especially range, with battery and charging technology getting better at an accelerated pace. They have come far, so to speak, and here are ten best electric motorcycles with the most range available today.
From the stable of the well-known powersports manufacturer, the Pulse is Can-Am’s first electric motorcycle, alongside the Origin. Unlike the latter, however, the Pulse is an agile street bike featuring an 8.9-kilowatt-hour liquid-cooled battery, which offers a range of up to 100 miles in the city and 80 miles in combined conditions.
It pairs that range with 47 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque, resulting in a top speed of 80 miles per hour and a 0-to-60 time of just 3.8 seconds. It’s not the highest-performing bike, but at $10,999 and backed by Can-Am, it is one of the most sensible and best electric motorcycles out there.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rotax E-Power |
47 HP |
87 LB-FT |
8.9 kWh |
50 min (20 to 80%) |
Landmoto has a strange e-moto-esque, not-quite-a-motorcycle, not-quite-a-moped product called the District, with three versions: a street bike, a supermoto, and a scrambler. From what we can tell, they have different tires on them. No details about the engine are published on the site, but the standard Li-ion battery pack offers 40 miles on a full charge.
The optional pack offers a much better 110-mile city range, but you do need to load up two batteries and physically switch the plug from one to the other when the first one runs out. These are swappable batteries, so you could also take them out and charge them at home or in the office; the standard battery takes 2.5 hours to charge. Look out for discounts when you’re buying one!
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
22.8 HP |
236 LB-FT |
4.8 kWh Li-ion, swappable |
5-6 hours (0 to 100%) |
LiveWire is Harley-Davidson’s foray into the electric world, and surprisingly, the motor company managed to surpass expectations with some of the best electric motorcycles in the market. The S2 Del Mar is a result of that; it’s a flat-tracker-inspired electric bike, harking back to the motor company’s legendary flat-tracking days. Thanks to its 10.5-kilowatt-hour battery, it delivers 84 horsepower and a respectable 194 pound-feet of torque, with quick acceleration and an 113-mile range. It also supports Level 2 charging and comes with adjustable Showa suspension and Brembo brakes.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arrow platform electric motor |
84 HP |
194 LB-FT |
10.5 kWh Li-ion |
78 min (20 to 80%) |
Based on the same Arrow platform as the Del Mar, the S2 Alpinista is a sport-naked version that’s designed for urban practicality and agility. It features a lower, sportier design with 17-inch wheels and a more accessible seat height, while sharing most of the underpinnings and powertrain with the Del Mar. Where it differs is the front wheel, which is a 17-incher here shod in street rubber, resulting in a slightly better range of up to 120 miles. The Alpinista starts at $12,999 and is ideal for those looking for a capable electric street bike.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
84 HP |
194 LB-FT |
10.5 kWh Li-ion |
78 min (20 to 80%) |
The S2 Mullholland is a performance cruiser that can hit 60 MPH in 3.3 seconds and on to a top speed of nearly 100 MPH. It has a more upright rider triangle compared to the S2 Del Mar, thanks to a higher handlebar. It also gets premium components like Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart tires, fully adjustable Hitachi suspension with inverted front forks, and a Brembo M4.32 monobloc brake caliper. The safety suite is also quite comprehensive, including lean-sensitive dual-channel ABS, drag torque slip control, and lean-sensitive traction control with three levels of intervention.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
84 HP |
194 LB-FT |
10.5 kWh Li-ion |
78 min (20 to 80%) |
The Livewire One was Harley-Davidson’s first effort at an electric motorcycle and remains its halo product of the EV range. The price reflects that, but you also get a stonking 3-second 0-60 MPH bike. There is no shortage of quality components either, with a Showa SFF-BP inverted front fork, a Showa BFRC rear monoshock, lean-sensitive ABS and traction control, drag torque slip control, and Brembo monobloc front brake calipers. A 4.3-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity offers call and music control, voice recognition for Android phones, and navigation.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Revelation |
100 HP |
84 LB-FT |
15.4 kWh Li-ion |
1 hour (min) |
The SR/F is Zero’s flagship naked motorcycle, based on the standard S, but it dials things up to eleven in terms of performance and range. And this bike brings some of the best tech Zero has to offer: adjustable Showa suspension, J.Juan brakes, Bosch MSC that allows lean-sensitive rider aids, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III rubber. In terms of performance, the bike uses a 17.3-kilowatt-hour Z-Force Li-ion battery that delivers 111 peak horsepower and a maximum range of 176 miles, which is among the highest for an electric street bike.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Z-Force 75-10 |
111 HP |
140 LB-FT |
17.3 kWh Z-Force |
1.6 hours (min) |
Zero is the first electric vehicle manufacturer to market a product as an adventure bike: the DSR/X. It uses the same motor and battery pack as the SR/S and SR/F, but has slightly different suspension. The motor is also in a slightly different state of tune, with less horsepower and more torque, as befits an ADV.
It gets an additional ‘off-road’ traction mode, and hill hold assist from the Bosch MSC in addition to the standard features. The most interesting thing, however, is that Zero allows the DSR/X to be ‘overcharged’ by 20 percent occasionally if you’re setting off for a long ride. If you add the optional PowerPack that boosts the battery to 21 kWh, that should give you a theoretical maximum range of 260 city miles, or 155 highway miles!
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Z-Force 75-10X |
100 HP |
169 LB-FT |
17.3 kWh Z-Force |
1.6 hours (min) |
Beyond the Zero DSR/X, you enter premium halo-bike territory that pushes the boundaries of electrified two-wheeled performance. And the Lightning LS-218 is among the best you can find out there, as it’s the fastest street-legal electric bike, with a top speed of 218 miles per hour (hence the name) and a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of just 2 seconds. This performance has enabled the LS-218 to set multiple land speed records, win at Le Mans, and win at Pikes Peak against gas-powered sports bikes.
Apart from its mind-blowing performance, the LS-218 (and its cheaper Strike R sibling) offers excellent range. However, for the 335-mile range, you’ll have to upgrade to the 28-kilowatt-hour battery and Lightning-Fast Charge System. The motorcycle is listed at $38,988 for the base model, but expect the actual price to be considerably higher if you want the longer range.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IPM liquid-cooled 180 kW+ |
224 HP |
220 LB-FT |
28 kWh |
12 minutes (to 80%) |
The Verge TS has the Tron look nailed to the T, with the hubless rear motor driving the wheel. This Finnish manufacturer is so cool; it has had input from Mika Häkinnen during development. The headlining feature of the TS Pro is the 737.6-pound-foot motor, which is not just powerful but also incredibly efficient. Step up to the more serious TS Ultra, and that number jumps to 885 pound-feet, giving you a 0-to-60 miles-per-hour time of 2.5 seconds. Strangely, the highway range is the same as the TS Pro despite the larger battery pack, and other similarities include suspension options from either Wilburs or Öhlins, Brembo M4 calipers up front, and ride modes.
|
Engine Type |
Max Power |
Max Torque |
Battery Pack |
Charge Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
In-wheel hubless integrated rim motor |
136.8 HP |
|
|
35 min (min) |
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