Electric Motorcycles
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It’s not often we get to applaud a legacy motorcycle manufacturer for doing what so many still haven’t: actually bringing an electric motorcycle to market. So credit where credit is due – Kawasaki didn’t just make one electric motorcycle, they made two: the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1.
They’re sleek, affordable, and surprisingly refined machines that show real promise in design and execution. But once you get past the glossy panels and respected nameplate, there’s still one glaring issue that we can’t ignore.
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The Honda Ruckus has earned cult status thanks to its minimalist styling, exposed frame, and seemingly endless customizability. The scooter, also known in international markets as the Honda Zoomer, has spent years being seen as a blank canvas for scooter tuners, urban commuters, and anyone who just wanted something simple, small, and kind of weird to zip around town. A few years ago, Honda finally answered the call for an updated version by announcing and producing the “Zoomer e:”, which was an electric version of the Honda Ruckus. So where is it?
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BMW Motorrad’s futuristic electric scooter just got its first real refresh since beginning production in 2021. The BMW CE 04, already one of the most capable and stylish electric maxi-scooters on the market, now gets a set of upgraded trim options, new aesthetic touches, and a more robust list of features that aim to make this urban commuter even more appealing to riders looking for serious electric performance on two wheels.
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The HappyRun G300 Pro is the epitome of an out-of-class electric bike. That is to say, it has many of the components of an electric bicycle, key among them the functional pedals, but its extremely high power and speed place it well outside the limits of traditional e-bike classifications. The result? Basically, an electric motorcycle with pedals. And I’ve got some thoughts about that.
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I know, it sounds like clickbait math, but it’s real: you can cover 6,000 miles for just $160 in fuel. There’s a catch, though. It’s not gasoline. Oh, and it’s not even in a car. You’ll need to trade in your four wheels for two. Specifically, you’ll need something like the Ryvid Anthem, a lightweight, street-legal electric motorcycle that was purpose-built for efficient urban commuting.
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ONYX Motors has just announced the second version of its storied RCR electric moped launched since the brand’s revival late last year. The new ONYX RCR 80V pushes the bike to its highest performance yet, breaking new power and speed records for the company while simultaneously raising questions about how to properly classify these fast electric motorbikes with pedals – and just who they’re for.
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General Motors may be better known for its lineup of full-size trucks and SUVs, but a recently published patent shows the legacy automaker has at least considered something much smaller and nimbler: an electric motorcycle.
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The SONDORS electric bicycle company infamously went bankrupt in 2023, yet it now appears to be attempting a rise from the ashes. The company’s founder and former CEO Storm SONDORS is back at the helm and pre-selling a new electric motorbike with a somewhat familiar name – the Meta AT.
But will riders be once bitten, twice shy?
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The electric motorcycle market is a small and highly interconnected one, with a limited amount of suppliers and an even smaller number of actual honest-to-goodness motorcycle manufacturers. While Covid-era progress led to a series of highly-funded rapid advancements and flashy announcements, the last few years have been hard on the industry as funding and excitement have both dwindled, resulting in a smaller number of big releases. So it makes sense that people would jump at news that Honda is now producing its first electric motorcycle and that you can already buy it. The only problem is that none of that is true – finally some real fake news.
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Year after year, a seemingly endless raft of all-electric concept bikes wearing Honda badges have made their way across the motor show stage without ever making it onto the dealer showroom. But now, it’s here: this unmissable, cafe racer-inspired electric Honda motorcycle is the company’s first – and you can buy it!
UPDATE: No, it didn’t.
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Brazil, a nation renowned for its vast landscapes and vibrant urban centers, is a fascinating case in the worldwide adoption of electric two-wheelers. Despite a robust two-wheeler market, with sales reaching approximately 1.9 million units in 2024, the adoption of electric motorcycles has been relatively modest. However, recent developments signal a shift towards electrification is gaining momentum and that the country is on the cusp of a significant transformation in its transportation sector.
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Royal Enfield’s eagerly anticipated electric motorcycles, unveiled late last year under the Flying Flea brand, are now confirmed to hit the market early next year. Eicher Motors Managing Director B. Govindarajan narrowed down the release window, confirming that the two models currently in testing, the FF-C6 and S6, will debut in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2026, corresponding to January through March 2026.
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Electric motorcycles may be the future, but most major Western companies still haven’t figured out how to make money from them. Not true for Barcelona-based Stark Future though, one of the only electric motorcycle makers outside of China to have reached profitability.
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Zero Motorcycles has announced that its newest line of electric motorbikes will see a price increase in the US due to the Trump Administration’s tariff policy. But the saving grace is that the company is allowing reservations made in the next few weeks to secure pre-tariff pricing.
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LiveWire, the electric motorcycle brand spun out of Harley-Davidson, has officially launched a new line of electric motorcycles tailored for law enforcement and security use. The move marks another example of electric two-wheelers expanding beyond consumer markets and into professional and government fleets.
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California is set to shake up how out-of-class electric two-wheelers are regulated, as a newly proposed bill, SB 586, aims to clarify the status of electric bikes without pedals, officially dubbing them “eMotos” and classifying them as off-highway vehicles.
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The Trump Administration’s 25% tariffs are set to hit the auto industry today, targeting imported sedans, SUVs, vans, pickups, and even the parts required to keep existing vehicles on the road. But, crucially, the tariffs do not impact motorcycles.
So, if you’ve been searching for an excuse to buy a new motorcycle, The God Emperor Donald J. Trump might have just handed you one!
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On my most recent trip to China, I had the pleasure of visiting NIU’s factory and showroom to see the wide range of electric mopeds, scooters, e-bikes, and more produced by one of the world’s leading smart electric mobility companies. As an electric mobility journalist and enthusiast (and as an owner of my own NIU e-moped since 2020), it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to peek behind the curtain and see where the magic happens.
And now after such an eye-opening visit, I’m even more excited to share that experience with you!
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In yet another new example of an industry defying progress out of preference for “the old ways”, X Games riders and fans are going to be seeing a lot fewer electric motorcycles in the air this year. That’s after a new rule change has quietly banned electric motorcycles from competing. And the reasoning? It’s not fair to the gassers who are trying to keep up.
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There’s riding in style, and then there’s over 80 Dallas Cowboys all cruising around on the same electric motorcycles. Thanks to a generous gift from team quarterback Dak Prescott, that’s exactly what the football team will be doing on over 80 new CAKE Makka electric mopeds.
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The Tauranga, New Zealand-based electric motorcycle maker UBCO has entered receivership, marking dim prospects for the mobility company that had only recently announced a major partnership with Australia Post.
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LiveWire, the electric motorcycle brand spun out of Harley-Davidson, has just announced its latest electric motorcycle model. The new LiveWire S2 Alpinista is built on the same platform as the brand’s last two models, leveraging the Arrow platform as a versatile foundation for several diverse bikes.
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As powerful electric motorbikes such as those from brands like Sur Ron and Talaria become more popular, especially with teens, police departments in the US are increasingly cracking down on their use on public roads.
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In an end-of-the-year miracle to close out 2024, the often-lauded ONYX moped maker has announced its return after shutting down operations earlier this year. The company’s return kicks off with the release of 100 limited edition electric mopeds.
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