Are Electric Motorcycles the Future of Biking?
gas powered bikes have been the king of the road for well over a century but what if the future of biking didn’t rumble it hummed the question is are electric bikes just a phase or are they about to change the game completely let’s take a real look at where biking may be headed [Music] imagine this you twist the throttle and the bike launches forward like a rocket but there’s no engine roar no vibration just the wind in that instant whoosh of silent speed sounds crazy right but electric motorcycles are actually doing this right now and some of them they’ll smoke your gas bike off the line without even trying now before you roll your eyes and say “Come on electric bikes aren’t real bikes.” Hold up that’s exactly what we’re diving into today what’s real what’s hype and whether electric motorcycles are about to take over the future of riding or if they’re just a passing buzz and spoiler alert there’s way more going on here than most riders think so let’s get into it all right so why are we even talking about electric motorcycles right now why does this even matter more today than it did say 5 years ago well a few things have shifted big time first off agree with it or not we have got this massive global shift towards sustainability countries all over the world are setting deadlines to phase out gas powered vehicles some as early as 2035 even right here at home California has set a goal of 100% zero emission vehicle sales by 2035 with 35% required by 2026 just next year and 68% by 2030 are you serious and whether we like it or not motorcycles are part of that conversation now then there’s gas prices we’ve all felt it one month you’re filling up for cheap and next month it’s like paying a cover charge at a nightclub just to get to work and that unpredictability it’s making a lot of riders think twice about combustion engines and let’s not forget the tech boom ev technology is moving fast like faster than a caffeinefueled Moto GP pit crew fast what used to be clunky underpowered electric bikes are now high performance machines with real muscle and real range and it’s not just startups anymore harley-davidson has been in the game for a while now bmw Honda Yamaha they’re all exploring or producing electronic platforms now and that is a huge signal that things are shifting but here’s the kicker and I bet you’ve noticed this too riders are starting to talk forums group rides even at the gas station you hear it hey have you seen that new Harley Alpineista that’s just been released or man the torque on that new Zero is wild well maybe not so much about the Harley EVs but I have heard it the conversation is already happening out there so yeah this isn’t just some trendy topic for tech nerds it’s something that’s creeping into the real world biker scene and fast that’s why we’re having this conversation today because the future it’s not just coming anymore it’s already rolling up in the side view mirror so the question is what’s actually out there and available on the road right now i mean we’re all hearing the buzz but let’s talk specifics what can you actually buy today if you even wanted to go electric well first up we’ve got Zero Motorcycles these guys have been in the game for over a decade now and they’re kind of like the Tesla of the two-wheel world their SRF is a beast i mean look at this thing it’s pretty hot looking and it cranks out 110 horsepower and a ridiculous 140 foot-lbs of torque that’s instant torque by the way no revving no lag just twist the throttle and blast off let’s look at and comment on another one because then there’s Harley-Davidson Livewire now spun off into its own brand since 2022 look at this LiveWire 1 it’s no joke it does 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds flat no gears no clutch it just goes and sure it’s not cheap but Harley didn’t build this to compete with budget bikes they built it to make a statement we’re in this and they just recently announced this new S2 Alpineista spice Corner recently did an in-depth ride and review of this Alpineista and look regardless of how you feel about ebikes or Harley’s recent financial and political wos it’s good there’s also the Enerico lineup Italian-made track capable electric sport bikes these things are legit fast they’re being used in Moto E the electric version of Moto GP which shows you how serious the performance potential really is i mean check out these highlights from the 2024 Moto E San Marino GP race all of these bikes they’re all electric bikes it kind of blows my mind and for the everyday rider there’s a lot of companies out there companies like Sondors Riyad and even Super Soo are building urban emotes or city zipping lightweight lowmaintenance and most of them you can charge in your garage with a regular outlet now let’s talk numbers most e motorcycles today get anywhere from 70 to 150 mi per charge depending on how you ride and which model you got i mean not bad right and some of the newer bikes with larger battery packs yeah they’re pushing 200 miles of range under the right conditions plus charging is getting faster some can juice up to 80% in under an hour if you’re using a level three fast charger and here’s something a lot of folks don’t realize the riding experience is different but in a good way it’s smoother more controlled you don’t have to worry about shifting or clutch work or stalling at a light it’s almost like riding a giant torque fil scooter but with sport bike performance bottom line these aren’t prototypes or sci-fi concepts anymore electronic motorcycles are here they’re real and they’re already giving gas motorcycles a real run for their money all right let’s get into the good stuff what’s actually awesome about electric motorcycles because spoiler alert it’s not just about being echofriendly first off instant torque if you’ve never ridden an electric bike this part will blow your mind the second you twist the throttle the bike responds no revving up no gear shifting it’s just go go go you feel all the power immediately and I can see how that could be kind of addictive honestly there are a lot of great reviews out there from content creators like Spikes Corner and Chase on Two Wheels some of these latest ebikes they really pack a punch i mean take this Zero SRF again it’s pulling 0 to 60 in under 3.5 seconds and it does that without making a peep i mean look at this it’s like being launched by a ninja now let’s talk about something that every rider can appreciate that’s low maintenance no oil changes no clutch cables no spark plugs no exhaust system and no transmission fluid it’s a massive win for anyone tired of spending weekends wrenching when they could be riding just tires brakes belt and go and fuel forget about it some of these plug it into a standard outlet at home let it charge overnight and boom you’re ready to ride in the morning that means you’re saving cash every time you skip the gas pump depending on where you live charging up could cost you pennies per mile that’s huge if you’re commuting daily or racking up miles and another big one the obvious one no emissions now whether you’re in it for the planet or not cities are starting to get pretty serious about air quality i mean noise ordinances low emission zones stuff like that yeah i mean it’s coming and electric bikes are already in the clear you’ll be able to ride in places where gas bikes might get kicked to the curb and if you ride in the city electric is quiet like stealth mode quiet you’re not shaking windows or setting off car alarms that makes you way less of a target for noise complaints and honestly it’s kind of peaceful oh and regenerative braking that’s another cool feature every time you slow down or go down a hill the bike recaptures a bit of that energy and feeds it back into the battery it’s not magic but it is efficient so yeah it’s not just about being green how dare you it’s about a smoother ride fewer hassles lower costs and having that sweet torque whenever you want it all right let’s flip that coin over because electric bikes are cool and all but they are still not perfect and depending on what kind of rider you are some of these just may be dealreakers first up range anxiety this is a big one while top tier electric motorcycles can push 150 or even 200 m on a single charge that’s under pretty ideal conditions if you’re cruising city streets then you’ll probably be fine but if you’re out ripping twisties doing highway speeds or carrying a passenger that range can drop really fast and once that battery is low you can’t just pull into a gas station top off in 5 minutes and be back on your way charging takes time a level two charger might get you to 100% in 4 to 8 hours level three fast charging is way quicker maybe 30 to 60 minutes but those stations they’re not everywhere yet especially in rural areas which you know that’s where all the great motorcycle roads are and even if they were everywhere charging for an hour every 120 mi could turn a pleasant afternoon ride into an all day slog and realistically it makes taking a long trip on one simply not feasible then there’s that initial cost electric bikes aren’t cheap a brand new zero or livewire model can run you 20,000 bucks or more that’s premium sport touring territory sure you save money over time with lower running costs but the sticker shock up front is real speaking of price battery degradation is a big concern over time just like with your phone or your laptop battery starts to lose capacity most companies say you’ll get about eight to 10 years out of a battery but replacing a battery pack could cost you thousands that’s not pocket change and here’s something the old school crowd simply will not let slide the sound or rather the lack of it electric bikes are nearly silent which is great for sneaking around town but let’s be honest for a lot of riders the sound is part of the soul of the bike that deep rumble the downshift pops the throttle blip it’s all gone you’re not going to get that visceral mechanical experience with an electric motor another thing is limited models right now if you want a cruiser a dual sport or an ADV style electric motorcycle you got like maybe one or two options in each category it’s not like with gas bikes where you’ve got a multitude of choices in every possible niche the electric space is still catching up and finally charging infrastructure unless you live in a city with a strong EV network you’ll need to plan your rides around where you can plug in and that kind of planning doesn’t exactly scream freedom so yeah while the the tech is exciting it’s just not quite replace your gas bike tomorrow ready for everyone it all depends on your riding style and your budget and how much range and recharge time you’re willing to work with all right let’s put them headto head electric versus gas motorcycles because the real question isn’t which one is better it’s which one is better for you so let’s break it down by what actually matters to most riders first of all performance gas bikes have always ruled this space raw horsepower crazy top speeds that visceral feeling of shifting through gears but here’s the shocker electric bikes aren’t just catching up they’re leaping ahead in some areas instant torque electric wins smooth acceleration electric again but if you’re a fan of that mechanical connection gear shifts engine braking engine feel yeah gas still delivers that in a way electric hasn’t quite replicated then there’s range and refueling and gas takes the win here hands down for now you can get 200 to 250 m on a tank and refill in under 5 minutes anywhere in the country whereas electric bikes you’re looking at 100 to 150 miles if you’re lucky and then a longer weight to recharge and only in specific places that you need to have located ahead of time for city commuting that’s fine but for touring or long day rides gas still has the upper hand maintenance no contest electric wins no oil changes no spark plugs no air filters no clutch no gearbox just brakes tires and the occasional software update that’s a huge plus for riders who they just want to ride not wrench and then for cost yeah this is a tricky one electric bikes cost more on average upfront but then they save you money over time fewer maintenance costs cheaper fuel and in some places you also get tax incentives and rebates gas bikes on the other hand are more affordable upfront again on average but those little costs like oil changes fuel and tuneups they add up over the years electric might come out ahead in the long run but only if you keep it long enough to see those returns and when you put these up against some of the pricier options from brands like Harley and Indian or premium sport brands like Ducati and BMW electric might even be cheaper right off the bat now for the environment yeah this one’s obvious electric bikes produce zero emissions while running gas bikes not so much but it gets a little nuanced when you talk about how that electricity is generated or what happens to those batteries at the end of their life we’re not going to veer off into politics here but a lot of people are going to make the argument here that you’re just creating one scarce earth material for another and lithium and cobalt mining still has huge environmental impacts and at least in present day under very harsh and exploitive human conditions still in terms of actual tailpipe impact electric bikes are cleaner period now when it comes to riding experience this one’s personal preference if you love the sound the smell of fuel and the ritual of starting up a gas engine electric bikes might feel sterile but if you’re into smoothless torque on demand and just cruising without changing gears or stalling then you’ll love what electric offers it’s like going from a manual stick to a Tesla and as far as availability options go yeah gas wins this one hands down again for now tons of models types sizes and price points electric still has a pretty small catalog and no true electric cruisers as far as touring and distance goes they’ve got limited ADV models although the ones that they do have out already look pretty damn cool and unless you’re in a big city demo rides and dealerships for electric bikes could be pretty hard to come by so yeah it’s not a clear-cut winner on either side really depends on how you ride where you ride and what kind of experience you’re after for some people electric is already a perfect fit for others it’s not even anywhere close so here’s the part that really gets interesting what’s coming next for electric motorcycles because what we’re riding right now is just version 1.0 and the stuff coming on the horizon it’s pretty wild first up solid state batteries if you hadn’t heard of these yet this is the next big leap in battery tag they promise way more range faster charging and a lot more safety than the current lithium ion batteries that we’re using today and we’re talking potentially 400 to 500 m on a single charge and then you recharge in just 15 minutes companies like Honda and BMW are already investing heavy in this tech and it’s not science fiction it’s being tested in the real world right now if you could go 500 miles on one tank of an electric motorcycle and then refuel in just 15 minutes would that change your mind about electric motorcycles it’s something to consider then there’s wireless charging yeah like how you charge your phone but for bikes imagine parking your bike on a charging pad in your garage or at a coffee shop and it just starts to up without you having to plug up anything that’s already in pilot programs in Europe and Asia and swappable batteries are another game changer that’s coming brands like Gagoro and Honda they’re already testing out systems where you just roll up to an exchange point hand them your drain battery and get a fresh one no line no waiting no long charging think of it like pulling up to your local Lowe’s or Home Depot for a propane tank exchange except for motorcycles yeah that would be especially useful for urban commuters and check this out AI powered ride tuning as electric bikes get smarter we’re going to start seeing customizable performance profiles we’re talking realtime learning and apps that adjust your bike’s behavior based on how and where you want to ride want smoother throttle response in the rain more aggressive regen braking in the mountains it’ll all be tweakable from your phone and on the brand side legacy giants are diving in head first yamaha is launching new ebikes kawasaki has new hybrid models and Harley-Davidson already spun off LiveWire into its own brand and they just dropped a lowerric street bike in the S2 Alpineista this isn’t a one-off experiment anymore this is a long-term strategy and here’s the kicker it may not be there right now but EV infrastructure is scaling hard charging networks are popping up in more rural areas in national parks at roadside rest stops and even in remote touring routes the gaps that used to hold ebikes back they’re slowly getting filled in bottom line what feels almost there right now could feel completely normal in just a few years we’re not just watching evolution we’re riding it all right let’s take a second and take a step back let’s forget about the tech and the torque and the range let’s talk about the culture of riding because let’s be real here bikes aren’t just machines their identity they’re about rebellion freedom community and therapy so the real question here is are electric bikes part of that world or are they just a trendy gadget right now the biker scene is kind of split some riders look at electric bikes and go “Cool science project but where’s the soul?” They miss that rumble the smell of fuel the way a gas bike talks to you through every little vibration and that’s a fair assessment riding a Harley soft tail and riding a Livar are vastly different experiences but here’s the other side there’s a growing wave of younger tech Ford riders who see electric bikes not as a compromise but as an upgrade these are folks who grew up with smartphones and Teslas and AI for them riding electric isn’t less it’s just different it’s cleaner quieter and in some ways for them more connected and honestly we’ve seen all this before remember when fuel injection hit the market old school riders are like “No carb no way.” Or when ABS started showing up that’s for cars not bikes but over time both of those things became standard and it might be the same with electric resistance now acceptance later plus you’ve got influencers and YouTubers taking electric motorcycles on serious adventures people are favorably reviewing them they’re racing them and modding them there’s even entire ride clubs formed around specific electric models the shift isn’t hypothetical it’s already happening just not everywhere at once that said it’s still a very long way to go before electric bikes feel normal in every corner of the motorcycle world i mean roll up to a small town bike night on an SRF and people might look at you like you just pulled up on a spaceship but you know what that’s how every revolution starts a little weird a little different until it’s not so is it a niche yeah right now but is it staying a niche forever not very likely the culture is bending slowly maybe but it’s bending so after all of that are electric motorcycles the future well yeah but maybe not how you think if you’re expecting every rider to suddenly ditch their gas bike for something silent sleek and software driven overnight yeah not not going to happen gas power bikes aren’t going away anytime soon they’re too good too embedded in the culture just too much fun but electric motorcycles they’re not just a phase they’re here they’re growing and they’re getting better fast we’re talking cheaper faster charging longer range better features it’s not just about saving the planet it’s about performance convenience and yes for some people curiosity what we’re seeing right now isn’t the death of gas bikes it’s the birth of a second lane parallel universe where riding still means freedom it still means fun and it still means hitting the road and forgetting your worries but done differently will it be the only way to ride in the future maybe will it be your way that’s the real question because whether you’re wrenching in your garage or leaning hard into a mountain curve or silently cruising through city streets we’re all chasing the same feeling and in the end it doesn’t matter what powers the bike as long as it powers your soul all right gang that’s it for this one i hope it gave you something to think about the next time you fire up your bike or plug it in and I’d love to hear your take on this are you curious about electric bikes or are you totally against them maybe you already made the switch drop it in the comments i try to read every one and I usually reply and if you got some value out of this video then hit that like button it really helps more riders find the channel in the meantime we’ll keep bringing you along for our rides whether it’s gas or electric and until then we’ll see you in the next one
Are Electric Motorcycles the Future of Biking? ⚡🏍️
Gas-powered beasts have ruled the road for over a century… but there’s a new kind of machine silently slipping into the scene. In this video, we dive into the rise of electric motorcycles—what they offer, where they fall short, and whether they’re really the future of two wheels… or just a passing trend. From torque-happy speed demons like the Zero SR/F and Harley-Davidson LiveWire, to the culture clash between roaring V-twins and whisper-quiet EVs—we’re unpacking it all.
Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or just want to know what’s coming next in the motorcycle world, this video lays it all out in plain language—with a little humor, a little grit, and a whole lot of two-wheeled passion.
🔋 What’s the real range on these things?
🔧 Do they actually save you money?
💭 Are they fun to ride—or just weird?
🏍️ Can they ever replace the feeling of a real gas bike?
👇 Sound off in the comments:
Would you ride electric… or is it gas for life?
☑️ Subscribe for more: https://tinyurl.com/3yzjdxe9
📌 Chapters:
00:00 King of the Road
01:08 Why Now?
03:19 Current State
06:22 Pros
08:57 Cons
11:59 Head to Head
15:58 Innovation
18:52 Culture
21:17 Future?
Special Thanks to those Fellow Creators allowing Footage Used under
the YouTube Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zYCPEOW1to Best Electric 2024
Visit These Full Videos That Inspired Our Fair Use Commentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLdqXbLmiEw MotoE Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BDBs5uvIOU Zero Model Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDFMKMe7mSA Zero SR/F
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gljI5JVrmQc LiveWire ONE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ti4MVK9rQ LiveWire S2 Alpinista
#ElectricMotorcycles #EVBikes #ZeroMotorcycles #LiveWire #MotorcycleCulture #FutureOfRiding #SaltyOldBiker #GasVsElectric #MotorcycleTech #BikerTalk
