Buying an Electric Motorcycle

David Humphrey
Authored by David Humphrey
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2020 - 10:55am

Are you tired of gas motorcycles? That's easily understandable because after riding gas motorcycles for a long time, some people feel the need for a change, while others may need to switch things up a bit. You may even be on the brink of buying your very first bike, and electric motorcycles are a desirable option. One common myth about these beauties is that they're not easy to buy. However, you can always find good electric motorcycles from different great brands if you look at the right places.

The significant difference between electric motorcycles and gas motorcycles is that electric motorcycles are powered by electricity while gas motorcycles are powered by petrol or gas. This means that you would be charging an electric bike instead of refueling it. And without a doubt, this is an eco-friendly option too. 

This article, therefore, tells you everything you need to know about getting an electric motorcycle.

Why Electric Motorbikes?

Something has to explain the increasing demand for electric motorcycles in the market. These are some reasons that keep coming up;

  • Performance: Electric motorcycles have repeatedly proven to have better performance than gas motorcycles. Electric motorbikes easily reach peak power and torque, unlike their gas counterparts, which require a longer time. More than that, the electric motorbikes maintain consistent power and torque through their RPM range.
  • Comfort: Most people find electric motorbikes more comfortable than gas motorbikes. Many people find it incredible that they do not vibrate when riding, and they don't have to worry that they could get burnt by the hot exhaust header.
  • Updates: With the electric motorcycle, keeping your bike up to date with current improvements and changes requires less work and stress. All you need to do is update your bike's software to the most recent version. This is preferred to getting your hands all greasy because you need to change or modify your motorbike parts in gas-powered motorcycles.
  • Cost-Efficient: Electric motorcycles are more expensive to buy; however, that's all you need to worry about. If you use a gas motorcycle, you already have a good idea of how much it costs to maintain your bike. Electric motorbikes cost much less to maintain. Oh, and you may find it interesting to know that the government pays for a certain percentage of the cost of new electric motorcycles. The cost of charging is also far less than the cost of refueling and recharging a gas motorcycle, which may require multiple visits to the gas station. Let's not even mention the leaking tanks.

Where Can I Buy Electric Motorbikes?

Finding electric motorbikes for sale is not a difficult task at all. You can visit websites like Zecycles, Amazon, Cycle Trader, Auto Trader, Motorcycle Trading Post, eBay, Craiglist, and several other platforms. These websites feature different brands and models of electric motorbikes. Thus, you can always visit any of these websites to take a look and find your dream motorbike.

Top Brands of Electric Motorcycles In The Market

This is a list of some of the best rated electric motorcycles you will find in the market

  1. Harley-Davidson LiveWire: Has a battery capacity- 15.5kWh. Top speed- 95mph. Range- 146miles
  2. Zero SR: Battery capacity- 14.4kWh. Top speed- 102mph. Range- 179miles.
  3. Energica Ego: Battery capacity- 13.4kWh. Top speed- 149mph. Range- 93miles.
  4. Brutus V9: Battery capacity- 18.8kWh. Top speed- 115mph. Range- 280 miles.
  5. Lightning LS-218- Top speed- 215mph. Range- 100miles.
  6. Johammer J1.150 and J1.200: Range- 93miles and 186miles, respectively. Top speed- 75mph. 
  7. Vespa Elettrica: Top speed- 18.6mph (ECO mode) and 30mph (Power mode)
  8. Honda PCX ELECTRIC: Battery capacity- 4.2kWh. Top speed- 59.7mph. Range- 25.5miles.
  9. Damon Hypersport Premier: Battery capacity- 21.5kWh. Top speed- 200mph. Range- 200miles+
  10. Cake Kalk: battery capacity- 2.6kWh. Top speed- 56mph. Range: 83miles

These bikes differ in their performance. While looking for an electric motorcycle to buy, it is essential to check out the different specifications and go for the bike that best suits your needs.

Cost of Electric Motorcycles

Finding an electric motorcycle to buy can get frustrating when you set eyes on the price tags. It is no longer news that electric motorcycles cost more than gas motorcycles and so you should keep this in mind when making your budget. The amount of money you'll spend depends on the type of motorbike you are looking for. However, on average, you can purchase an electric bike for as low as $10,000 in the market. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Electric Motorcycle for You

  • Your purpose for buying the bike: You want to explain why you need the bike before any other thing. For example, your choice of bike for touring will differ from your preferred choice of bike for commuting. 
  • Consider the total distance the bike can travel per charge. This is referred to as the range. Range varies from one model to another. So, depending on the average distance you need to cover daily, you can decide to go for a Harley Davidson, which offers one of the best ranges compared to other brands with a lower but acceptable range. 
  • Comfort: some features of the bike like its weight, seat height, and position can determine how comfortable you'll be on your bike.  It would help if you always went for a bike with comfortable dimensions and weight.
  • Technology: some electric motorcycles come with additional features that promote easy maintenance and updates, which ensures the rider's safety.
  • Recharge time: this refers to the time it takes for the motorcycle to charge fully. You would want to go for a bike that charges faster.
  • Cost: reserving the important for last. You already know that you should be looking for a motorcycle with a price that is within your budget.

The future of automobiles is here. Several companies produce electric motorcycles these days, so they're not as rare as they used to be. And you can always find an electric bike for sale at an affordable price.
 

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