Is the future electric? In most countries, electric bikes haven’t made the same impact as their four-wheeled counterparts. But despite the odd hiccup—such as the closure of Alta Motorcycles in 2018—the electric motorcycle is here to stay.
It’s likely to be the preserve of city slickers, due to battery pack range limitations when compared to the internal combustion engine. But the average price tag is likely to come down, and the local charging station will become a more common sight.
Custom builders are already looking at battery-powered motorcycles, with Zero models likely to be the most common platforms until the Harley-Davidson LiveWire builds up sales. And Honda Cub conversions are making waves in the East.
Here’s an up-to-date selection of the best custom electric bikes so far.
Dropping an electric drivetrain into a classic motorcycle is hardly a new concept, but it’s still an endeavor largely reserved for outliers. The automotive electric ‘crate’ motor industry is huge—but in the bike world, options are few and far between, and most electric motorcycle conversions are one-offs. That’s slowly changing though. A while back, Luuc…
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My gateway into motorcycling was a 50 cc moped that could barely manage 25 mph. But for the next generation, it’s more likely to be small electric bikes that blur the lines between bicycles and motorcycles. E-bikes like the Volcon Brat. The Volcon Brat is a compact e-bike sporting a 750 W pedal-assist hub motor,…
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If you have an old motorcycle stashed in your garage, backyard or basement, waiting for its turn on the workbench, you’re not alone. Old bikes can spark joy—but they can also take a lot of time and patience to get them to where they can spark joy. Jürgen Becker, a comedian and actor from Cologne,…
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We’re firm believers that electric drivetrains work best for smaller motorcycles that blur the lines between bikes and scooters. One look at the hip new BMW CE 02, and it’s crystal clear that the Bavarian marque feels the same way. The BMW CE 02 is the company’s second electric motorcycle release in as many years,…
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There’s much debate around the aesthetics of electric motorcycles. Should they follow traditional motorcycle design norms, or should they take advantage of…
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We’re feeling both retro and futuristic this week, so we’ve rounded up bikes that cover the full spectrum. Leading the charge is…
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Most conversations about electric motorcycles revolve around how they stack up against their petrol-powered counterparts. But there’s really no need to pick…
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First released last year as a limited edition, Cake’s new Bukk electric off-road motorcycle is now ready for mass consumption. And, as…
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If the design of most electric motorcycles leaves you cold, a pair of young engineers from Hamburg might just have the answer.…
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Retrorides By Lourenço is well-known in custom BMW K-series circles. The Brazilian workshop has built some of the sharpest K-series café racers…
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There’s an unavoidable disconnect between a concept motorcycle, and the final production version of it. By the time you’ve added all the…
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If you think that electric bikes aren’t ‘real’ motorcycles, avert your eyes now. But if you love vintage BMX bikes, and believe…
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The flexor carpi radialis muscle is one you never thought you needed for motorcycling. This workhorse of your forearm is what does…
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We tend to be afraid of what we don’t understand, shying away from things that are ‘different’ or ‘foreign.’ Even something as…
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What’s the hardest part of converting a classic motorcycle to electric? You might think it’s sourcing an appropriate drivetrain, or wedging it…
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