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 EV customs so far.
It isn’t only regular Joes who keep the grinder sparks flying in custom workshops. A small but generous group of brands are also happy to commission bikes—because they’re a darn sight more interesting than most promotional vehicles or stunts. The German sportswear label and retailer BSTN is one of those farsighted brands, and this is…
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Electric motorcycles still seem like a brave new world in some quarters, but the technology is maturing fast and the novelty is wearing off. Shanghai-based Kiwi expat Matthew Waddick has been building street-legal electric customs for years now, and knows this well. “Electric bikes are not new anymore,” he says. “You can’t wow people just…
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It’s common for custom builders to develop a signature aesthetic, but few maintain it as zealously as Droog Moto. The husband and wife team of Max and Erica Droog are hell-bent on leaving their hallmark on every bike they build. So much so, they even once refused a client’s request for a brown seat, because…
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There are always a few surprises at the EICMA motorcycle show. This year, one of the biggest was the launch of this radical electric bike from the carbon wheel specialists BST—otherwise known as Blackstone Tek. BST are at the high-tech end of the wheel market, but even so, an electric motorcycle is a huge leap…
Read more »There’s a term that was fashionable in MotoGP racing a few years ago: ‘Aliens.’ It referred to the small group of factory…
Read more »Truly great motorcycle design requires a human touch. That’s why, in a world of digital design and 3D rendering, traditional crafts are…
Read more »Long before ‘bike build off’ competitions became popular with manufacturers, Deus held one every year—in the car park next to their original…
Read more »Walt Siegl builds dream machines. They’re analog fantasies on two wheels: limited edition European thoroughbreds packed with unobtanium components and clothed with…
Read more »This week we’ve uncovered a classic Garelli converted to electric power, a Suzuki SV650 with an endurance racer vibe, and a trio…
Read more »Right now, it’s hard to judge Harley-Davidson’s tactics without framing them against the stiff challenges the company is facing. If it’s not…
Read more »A few short months after Zero Motorcycles revealed its newest SR/F model, the California electric motorcycle manufacturer has unveiled the Zero XP,…
Read more »We’ve got an electrifying selection this week, with the debut of the £90,000 Arc Vector and a look at BMW’s surprise Vision…
Read more »A limited edition version of the beautiful Saroléa Manx7, a Honda FMX 650 built for the Scram Africa event, and a rare…
Read more »The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb always delivers the thrills, but this year an especially amazing bike will join Colorado’s ‘Race To…
Read more »Elegant is not often a word used to describe electric bikes, but this pared-down tracker is both petite and beautiful. It’s from…
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