Top 10 Electric Bikes To Buy
Rank Model Category
0.1 Introduction
1 Energica EGO+/ RS Overall Best
2 Zero SR/S Best Value
3 Harley-Davidson LiveWire Best Premium
4 Lightening LS – 218 Fastest Motorbike
5 Arc Vector Most Stylish
6 Damon Hypersport Best for Commuting
7 Pursang E-tracker Best for Offroad
8 Gogoro Smartscooter 2 Best for Varied Terrain
9 Damon Hypersport Pro Best Range
10 Tarform Best For Tech Lovers
With gas at an all-time high, this is probably the best time to go electric
Love them or hate them electric motorcycles are fast becoming a reality. From daily commuters to enduro and race bikes, we’ve seen all kinds of electric bikes hit the road over the past couple of years and it’s about time we accept that we’ll have to eventually switch to one soon too.
Lucky for us, there’s a vast array of electric bikes catering to riders of all shapes, sizes, and kinds. But before we tell you our top 10 picks in the e-motorcycle space, here are some reasons why switching to an electric motorcycle isn’t such a bad idea.
-Noise-free: As much as we love the vroom of a gas-powered bike, it does contribute to noise pollution and not everyone around you is a fan. In contrast, electric motorcycles provide a quieter experience (barring the whirring sound) that will probably keep your neighbors a lot happier.
-Pollution-free: Duh! The biggest pro of an electric motorcycle (or any EV) is almost zero carbon emissions which, in the long run, will have a positive impact on our planet.
Widely considered the best full-production electric sports bike available on the market today, the EGO+ / RS boasts a mammoth battery, supporting an out-of-this-world range of 261 miles (420 km). For perspective, that’s just shy of the mileage between Paris and London. Cool, right? Thanks to the new EMCE motor (new for 2022), the already-impressive range has increased by 10%.
And, not only will you travel far, but you’ll get there fast. Yes, with a max speed of 150 mph (240 km/h), you’ll be leveling with the Porsches on the highway. Just as good for zooming to work as it is for racing (safely, please), the Energica EGO+ / RS ticks every single one of our boxes a thousand times over.
2: Zero SR/S: Best value electric motorcycle
While the near-$20K price tag on this motorcycle doesn’t necessarily render it the cheapest of the bunch, the collection of features, impressive stats, and skillful manufacturing represented by the Zero SR/S make it a valuable buy for anyone looking for a good electric motorbike.
The previous model SR/F was a ‘halo product’ for Zero Motorcycles; the brand meant it to present the height of the company’s capabilities – and to lead the way for EV motorcycles of the future. As such, they poured all of their knowledge and expertise into it. This premium motorbike has a ZF15.6kWh lithium-ion battery, as well as a ZF75-10 enhanced thermal efficiency motor. This lends the bike class-leading power (as claimed by Zero Motorcycles) and extremely competitive range.
An acceleration of 0-60mph (0-100 km/h) of less than 3.5 seconds; a top speed of 124 mph (just under 200 kilometers per hour). Joining this bike’s impressive stats is instantly intriguing styling. The bike looks sleek and nimble, despite weighing slightly more than its predecessor at 518lb. And, its classic look lets this bike blend in with high-performance gas-powered bikes with ease. An electric motorcycle for sale below $20,000 is a great deal too.
3: Harley-Davidson LiveWire: Best premium ev motorcycle
It is, perhaps, no surprise that an e-motorcycle from such the popular-yet-fabled brand Harley-Davidson makes it into the top three. Its street bikes are known to offer top quality and outstanding performance.
Its electric motorcycles for adults are no different. The LiveWire cycle, powered entirely by batteries, has the same ability to accelerate as any of Harley Davidson’s gas-powered equivalents – a hugely important factor in a motorcycle, a vehicle purchased often for the thrill and the fun of high-powered speed. With the LiveWire, you amp up your sustainability, without sacrificing your bike’s stats.
Easy to handle, comfortable, well-built: This motorbike offers something for everyone. It’s got excellent suspension and shocks, which makes for as safe a ride as an electric cruiser motorcycle can provide.
With an acceleration of 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) of 3 seconds, the electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire measures up to many of this year’s hypercars. The electric Harley offers a range of 146 miles (235 km) and a top speed of 95 mph (153 km/h). And it’s on sale for less than $40,000.
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Lightning LS-218: Fastest electric motorbike in the world
The purr of a high-grade motor, that feeling of sprinting down a straightway: The reason you get a motorcycle, electric or otherwise, is to feel the intensity of free speed when the rubber hits the road. If you’re looking for the fastest electric motorcycle of 2021, look no further.
Meet the Lightening LS-218. It’s built specifically for speed (and that build, in our opinion, was a smashing success). Its top speed is 218 mph (350 km/h). It can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.2 seconds.
With that kind of power, you’d expect this ev motorcycle to have won awards. It has. In 2011, this bike blazed around the Bonneville Speedway in Utah, breaking all previous electric motorcycle speed records. In the over-a-decade since that event, no other motorbike on the market has challenged its title.
Lightning bikes are known for speed, durability, and power. However, their LS-218 (in addition to being the fastest production electric motorbike in the world) also has an elegant, lightweight style. When considering electric motorcycles that offer both quality workmanship and electrifying speed, the Lightning LS-218 has to rise to the top of the list.
And yet, there’s another contender in the running: the Stark Varg serves up insane performance, but you’ll have to wait—is just coming out of prototype testing and scheduled for full-scale production in 2023. So, watch this space.
5: Arc Vector: Most stylish electric motorbike
We’ve seen what a value-based bike can do. What about the other end of the spectrum? When money is no object, what can a luxury electric motorbike do?
Enter: The Arc Vector. From its nostalgic, trendy neo-cafe racer design to the innovative tech it offers, there’s something awe-inspiring about this premium motorbike for everyone. Everything that’s used to build the Arc Vector is high-quality, and its performance speaks to that fact: The Arc Vector can accelerate from 0-60mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds, and it has a top speed of 125 mph / 200 kilometers per hour.
Lovers of classic motorcycles will appreciate that, while the Arc Vector has neither clutch nor gears, it does have variable power modes and cruise control that owners can manipulate. With a sophisticated chassis and impressive shocks, this bike is truly a pleasure to ride. The Samsung battery that powers it gives it longevity and boast-worthy performance.
(And, if you’re interested in accessories, look no further: The Arc Vector comes with its own stylish, tech-enabled helmet and jacket.)
6: Damon Hypersport: Best electric motorbike for commuting
While we all dream of hightailing around the globe atop our motorbike à la Mad Max, chances are we’ll do a lot more commuting than bombing across continents. If you plan on using your electric motorbike as a regular run-around, there’s no better option than the Damon Hypersport:
With a maximum range of 200 miles (321 kilometers), you can whip to work even if you live in Monticello and work in NYC—no extra charge necessary. Not to mention, the incredibly lightweight design will see you accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in as little as three seconds, so it’s truly a case of power-up and hasta la vista baby.
Of course, if you’re zooming to and from work, you’ll value reliability. Fortunately, the Hypersport has it by the truckload—featuring an (almost) zero-maintenance design, those not hot on DIY can skip the oily hands and endless tinkering, and enjoy fuss-free travel on every journey.
7: Pursang E-Tracker: Best offroad electric bike
Call Europe home? It’s your lucky day. The Pursang E-Tracker electric bike is already in full production on the continent, ready to propel you off the beaten track and to the wildest and most beautiful places on Earth—or, just down the local dirt tracks—but you do you.
Made in Barcelona, the long-awaited Pursang E-Tracker retains the quintessence of a classic motorbike, but with all the cutting-edge mod-cons suiting the demands of a 21st Century market.
Comfortable to ride whether you’re hitting rocky trails, teetering mountain paths, or winding hill paths, the E-Tracker is going down a storm in terms of off-road performance. Given the max range of 75 miles (120 km) and a top speed of 68 mph (110 km/h), it’s a little steep price-wise. But then, so are those climbs you’re itching to conquer, and the E-Tracker will certainly see you there in comfort and panache.
8: Gogoro Smartscooter 2: Best for varied terrain
HTC, one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world, owns subsidiary Gogoro. The same attention to detail and high-quality engineering process that makes HTC’s phones renowned the world over is found in their electric motorbikes – including the Smartscooter S2 Adventure. With this bike, Gogoro took their best-selling standard S2 and replicated the best features of the beloved model – adding, this time, features to make the Smartscooter S2 Adventure the perfect motorcycle for any terrain.
The idea? That, with this ev motorcycle, you can (very simply) go where you please. Adventure is yours; the world is your oyster.
The Smartscooter S2 Adventure has a 68-mile (109 kilometers) range, a top speed of 57 mph (92 km/h), and a 2.5-hour recharge time. This places it in a distinctly different category than the high-performance vehicles above, but its rugged suspension and impressive braking technology make it perfect for casual off-roading and amateur adventuring.
This electric motorbike performs extremely well in wet or muddy conditions, comes with waterproof storage bags and remote servicing, and even has fingerprint authentication. If you’re looking for a sustainable sidekick for your off-the-beaten-path investigating, the Smartscooter S2 Adventure was made for you.
9: Damon Hypersport Pro: Best electric motorbike for range
The future of motorcycling: Canadian startup Damon has a bold claim for their electric motorbikes, but, perhaps, they have a point. Motorcycles are widely regarded as dangerous. With an impressive portfolio of truly innovative safety tech, Damon’s Hypersport Pro has also been called the safest electric motorcycle in the world.
It’s also one of the most practical. This electric motorbike has a claimed range of 200 miles highway + 300 miles urban driving, or 321 and 482 kilometers, respectively.
200 is a lucky number for this motorcycle: the Hypersport Pro can also reach a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h).
More than range and stats, Damon has equipped the Hypersport Pro with a co-pilot safety system. By using a comprehensive system of cameras, radars, non-visual sensors, and AI to monitor the speed of the bike and the direction, speed, and velocity of everything moving around the motorcycle, the Hypersport Pro can be more aware than you are of your surroundings. If the AI co-pilot senses a collision, the bike will alert you via haptic vibrations in your grip, as well as visual warnings on a 6-inch LCD screen.
Safety, high-tech, high-speed, high-range. Sounds like the perfect electric motorbike to us!
10: Tarform: Best electric motorbike for tech lovers
The motorcycle of tomorrow: Tarform’s self-chosen title for its flagship electric motorbike reflects its ease of manufacturing and its ultra-sustainable focus. Each Tarform motorcycle is made of parts that have mostly been 3D printed; the remaining components are upcycled from kombucha-derived leather and pineapple-leaf fibers.
With its intriguing make and origin, it’s hardly surprising that tech lovers are interested. However, the Tarform’s tech features definitely don’t stop there. This electric motorbike comes with impressive power and stats, including 120 miles of range, a top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h), and a 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration time of 3.8 seconds.
For all of its features, the Tarform doesn’t look overly complicated or overwhelming: It manages to have a sleek look and aesthetic elements, such as a leather seat and a bronze ring around the instrument panel.
For our part, we’re interested in the bike’s AI programming. The Tarform is built to be aware of its surroundings, allowing riders an almost omniscient real-time picture of impending obstacles or dangers. The bike communicates with the rider via haptic signaling, giving riders the information, they need to keep themselves safe in an ultra-intuitive way.
