An electric motorcycle buyer's guide

By

Electric_Motorcycle_Buyers_Guide.jpgPhoto: Grant Ray

With electric motorcycles becoming viable mainstream products and benefiting from huge tax incentives, now could be the time to buy one. I assembled 12 of the most popular models into a buyer’s guide for Popular Mechanics.

Popular Mechanics

  • Woody

    Looks like you linked the second page, and it takes some hunting to get to the first.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Should be fixed now, thanks.

  • Nick

    which one are you buying Wes?

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Sadly I currently live in a city that legally precludes motorcycle commuting, so our bikes are strictly weekend toys. If I lived somewhere that didn’t arrest me every time I left the house, I’d get the Brammo or the Zero DS. Tough choice.

      • Peter

        how does nyc preclude motorcycle commuting?

  • fazer6

    Dang Wes, what city is that? Personally I’m excited about the KTM supermoto, but for now my 500W bionX will do (for my commuting needs anyway).

  • http://www.r1engineering.com Jason

    Is HFL attending Infineon next month?

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Yep, we’ll be there.

  • http://plugbike.com/ skadamo

    Hey, that Ultra Motor A2B Metro is available without pedals. I rode the A2B and it is not as hard to pedal as you would think. It is fun but you can’t wheelie (long wheel base) and the motor cuts out if you cover the brakes with the lightest of pressure.

    If Ultra Motor can make a bike that can help you get the front wheel up and keep it there that bike would be more of a blast. More batteries on the rack!

  • brian

    electric motorcycles: yuck

  • http://www.emotorules.com Harry Mallin

    Hey Wes, glad to hear you’ll be at Infineon. Hope to see you there. Is Grant coming, too?

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Grant Ray

      Yep, I’ll be there.

  • Gene

    I’d take a street legal Zero X (100 lbs less than the Zero DS!!!). There’s no way lights and blinkers should add that much weight.

    For $7,500 (with Ca & fed incentives) I’m interested, if it was $5,000 I’d be an owner tomorrow!!!

  • FABS

    Thanks for the wealth of information please do keep it coming on the electrics – Please if you get a chance to review the KTM freeride – that be awesome!

    Cant wait to get my hands on one in Australia

  • http://www.r1engineering.com Jason

    Are there any performance specs for the Zero DS yet? 0-30, 0-60, Top Speed? I haven’t been able to find them.

  • http://www.r1engineering.com Jason

    No acceleration numbers though, which are important for riding through L.A.