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.
Meet the new LiveWire S2 Del Mar—a bike so hotly anticipated, the first 100 sold out in 18 minutes. Then peruse a tasty club style BMW R18 from California, a Kawasaki KLR from Colorado, and a race-ready Honda GB350 from Japan. We finish things off with a bonafide 1960s motorcycle safety video.
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We all know about hybrid cars, with petrol engines and electric motors sharing powertrain duties. And Kawasaki is promising hybrid motorcycles in its showrooms by 2025. But the Japanese giant has been beaten to the punch by a couple of blokes in London, and an ancient Velocette that’s almost a century old. Because Rex Martin…
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Cake’s electrical motorcycles look exactly like you’d expect high-end products from Swedish designers to look: slick, utilitarian and minimalist. So who better to customize one than Germany’s Hookie Co.? The Dresden-based custom house is known for their sharp eye and fresh style—and they’re familiar with Cake’s drivetrains. Their otherworldly Tardigrade moon rover concept is Cake-powered,…
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This week’s edition of Speed Read is loaded with new releases from major OEMs. We’re looking at Honda’s new Dax and Hawk 11, Yamaha’s new electric scooter and the Royal Enfield Scram 411. But first, a tasty Yamaha XSR700 flat tracker from Mellow Motorcycles.
Read more »We’ve had our eye on Super73 for a while. The Californian company’s electric bikes are cheeky and fun, bridging the gap between…
Read more »Honda goes electric—sort of—and Indian launches a limited edition FTR to celebrate its flat track successes. We also take a look at…
Read more »We’ve gone global this week, with two-wheeled goodness from France, South Africa, Portugal and the USA. Our list includes a Triumph Bobber,…
Read more »This week we’ve got a limited edition machine from the German car tuner Brabus, a delightful R nineT cafe racer from Switzerland,…
Read more »We’ve got them in all shapes and sizes this week—from a Yamaha SR500 that’s gone electric, to a BMW R nineT built…
Read more »We’re beyond debating whether or not the future of personal transportation is electric. Government bans on internal combustion engines are no longer…
Read more »Australia’s Grid Cycles know electric bikes are a blast. They know they’re damn quick, they know they’re simple, and they know they’re…
Read more »Ever wondered what it would be like to ride a motorcycle on the moon? Meet the Tardigrade—a conceptual electric lunar vehicle, named…
Read more »Any conversation about electric motorcycles will eventually turn to gripes about range and charging times. But if you just want to hoon…
Read more »This week we’ve got a pair of very different classic Hondas: a CB550 rebuilt in lockdown, and a feisty lil’ NSR50 pocket…
Read more »As the electric motorcycle market continues to grow, so does the custom electric scene. But it’s forcing builders to change tack. Electric…
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