There was a time when electric motorbikes were no fun.
They were slow, required endless charging times and while they were good for the planet, they weren’t that much fun for their owners.
But these days you no longer need to feel like your electric motorcycle is a drag. They’ve got strong motors, long-lasting batteries, and enough oomph to make you feel like a master of the road.
Our picks for the best electric motorcycles include a range of options from classic electric bikes to those that are still only available for pre-order.
The one thing that you can be sure of all of with these electric motorcycles is that there will be no emissions.
Though none of these best electric motorcycles are quite as fast as the Voxan Wattman, which should come as some relief.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire®
Yes, indeed, a Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle. It can do 0 to 60 in just seconds!
You can travel for 146 miles on a charge and it doesn’t take too long to charge either. Electric motorcycles are much better in this regard than they used to be.
With a top speed of 95 mph, you won’t be able to legally max it out in the USA but we won’t tell anyone if you do.
You can find the Harley-Davidson LiveWire® at Harley Davidson online.
Is it the best electric motorcycle?
Maybe, maybe not but it's the best electric option from Harley and this electric motorbike makes our pulse race just thinking about it.
Energica Eco
Energica are neighbors to Vespa the scooter company but they don’t make scooters.
This is a motorcycle, and it can do 0 to 60 in 3 seconds too. Electric motors really are turning electric bikes into something incredibly competitive on the road. It's certainly no electric scooter, right?
It has an incredible top speed of 150 mph and it charges super-fast.
The only downside is that the range is only 93 miles per charge.
We wish that electric motorcycles like this could cover a bit more ground, the good news is that because electric vehicles are much more popular now, it's not too hard to find a charging station when you need one.
You can find the Energica Eco at Energica Motor.
Johammer J1.200
If you want something that makes you feel like the future has already arrived, then check out the Johammer J1.200.
Not only is it striking to look at, but it will happily travel 124 miles per charge.
The top speed of 75 mph is fine for most uses too.
Pay close attention to the rear view mirrors because they’re awesome.
It's not the cheapest electric motorcycle but it might be the most stylish.
You can find the Johammer J1.200 at Johammer online.
Damon Hypersport Premier
This is a serious bad boy of the electric motorcycle world.
Serious bikers are going to want to give the Damon Hypersport Premier a test driver.
It can go over 200 miles on a charge and at the same time, it’s capable of doing 200 miles an hour!
You will need to order one in advance though, they’re collectors items with a queue of interested buyers.
You can find the Damon Hypersport Premier at Damon online.
Gogoro Smartscooter S2 Adventure
OK, on to a scooter but not the old underpowered nightmares of yesteryear, if you want a speedy about town runaround you can do much worse than the Gogoro Smartscooter S2.
The suspension is as smooth as smooth can be and it has loads of storage space.
You can get 105 miles from a charge and the 57 mph top sped isn’t embarrassing either.
You can find the Gogoro Smartscooter S2 Adventure at Gogoro online.
Lightning Strike
This was once the world’s fastest electric motorcycle and can do 0 to 60 in just 2.2. seconds.
At the top end, it can reach 218 mph which is faster than we can ever imagine needing anything to go.
The range is a bit limited at 120 miles given that top speed but you can upgrade the battery pack to get even more distance out of this solid performer.
You can find the Lightning Stike at Lightning Motorcycle.
Tarform
Nurture your inner hipster with this magnificent beast.
The Tarform is more than just a bike, it’s a work of art.
You can customize every option on these unique machines, and they don’t just provide a ride, they can also tell you when they’re about to break down and monitor your health while you ride!
Best of all, they’re super affordable and you won’t break the bank for this stylish ride.
You can find the Tarform at Tarform online.
Arc Vector
If the movie Tron was set in real life, then the Arc Vector would be the bike they used.
This is a super-futuristic model which will go 270 miles on a charge and from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds flat!
With a top speed of 125 mph, you’re unlikely to find a trip on the Arc Vector frustrating. The downside? The price tag – it’s almost as expensive as a house!
You can find the Arc Vector at Arc Vehicle.
Cake Kalk OR Race
You’re not going to buy this for its performance which given an 83-mile range and a top speed of 56 mph is nothing to write home about.
You buy it because you love the style and you want to be able to putter around town being seen because it’s so eye-catching.
You can find the Cake Kalk OR Race at the Ride Cake website.
Vespa Elettrica
Yes, the folks at Vespa have brought their iconic styling to the electric bike market.
Sadly, it’s top speed of 32 mph really does limit its practical value but as always with Vespa, it’s gorgeous, so you probably want to go slow so that people will stop to stare as you go by.
You can find the Vespa Elettrica at Vespa online.
Last Word on Electric Motorcycles
We hope that our picks for the best electric motorcycles for this year have given you some inspiration.
It’s always important to buy a motorcycle that meets your needs and you probably don’t need a Harley for short in town journeys, in the same way that a Vespa may not be the best choice for traveling from one end of the country to another.
We're just waiting for the perfect electric cruiser motorcycle now, we'll update you if it arrives. And don't forget you can always opt for something else with an electric motor if motorbikes aren't your thing – there's everything from an electric bicycle to an electric car now.
If you do intend to do some long trips on your electric motorcycle, you might want to consider checking out one of our picks for the best portable solar panels so that you can get some power for your devices on the road.
If you're not sure an electric motorbike is right for you then maybe start with an electric skateboard or electric scooter!
