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It’s something we get asked about from time to time: What is the “best” electric motorcycle on the market?
“Best” is a highly subjective term, and one that can be bent into submission for some rather dubious claims. Like a pizza joint claiming to have New York’s best pizza. We are a bit… skeptical. Plus, some electric motorcycle startups have made ambitious performance claims that would have put them into contention for the title of best bike, but then later they went out of business or produced products that didn’t measure up to their promises. So instead of declaring a single winner, we put together a list of electric motorcycles that are truly in production (no vaporware here) and noteworthy (we do include a few prototypes as honorable mentions), and we’ll leave it to you to decide which is best for you.
Best electric sport bike contenders
If our disclaimers about “best” weren't enough, how about a healthy debate on what actually makes a sport bike a “sport” bike? Since there isn’t enough time in the day to argue all the nuances of the sport bike category, we have basically narrowed it down for the sake of this article as electric bikes that have an emphasis on performance and speed and have either full-fairing or “sporty” aesthetics.
With that in mind, topping the electric sport bike category is the Energica Ego. Energica claims that the Ego is “the world’s most powerful and advanced electric motorcycle” and when it comes to sport accolades it does have the distinction of being the select manufacturer for Dorna’s FIM Enel MotoE World Cup from 2018 to 2022 (though Ducati is now taking over the role with its MotoE prototype starting in 2023). The Energica Ego is outfitted in full-fairing race-inspired bodywork, has an aggressive sport bike riding position, and produces a claimed 169 horsepower and 164 foot-pounds of torque. Energica claims the Ego can do 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and has a “combined-use” mileage range of 160 miles. The Energica Ego’s MSRP is $25,600.
Next on our list is the Zero SR/S. Though not quite as “racy” as the Ego, the SR/S is deliberately a sport bike with a more casual nature. The SR/S may have full fairings, but Zero has made adjustments to the riding ergonomics so it is more comfortable and upright. Zero also puts a bit more emphasis on street rider concerns, such as a 60-minute fast charge time (with optional accessories) and a claimed range of 187 city miles. The SR/S still brings decent performance numbers to the table however, with 140 foot-pounds of torque and a claimed 110 horsepower. The zero SR/S will set you back a few extra pennies with an MSRP of $23,995.
Rounding out our top three picks for an electric sport bike is the LiveWire ONE. The LiveWire ONE isn’t purpose built to be a “sport bike,” per se, but it did impress us with its handling capabilities and in the landscape of electric motorcycles it does have more “sport” leanings than most electric motorcycles on the market. The LiveWire ONE has a “sport naked” aesthetic and pretty comfy rider ergonomics to match. The Livewire ONE has modest performance numbers compared to the other two, putting out 84 foot-pounds of torque and a claimed 100 horsepower. It has DC fast-charging capabilities so it can juice up in 60 minutes and has a claimed city range of 150 miles. For a real-world range test, check out our long-term test of the LiveWire and if you are wondering how it stacks up against the Zero SR/S, then you will want to check out our comparison test, too.
In our “honorable mentions” category for electric sport bikes, Damon Motorcycles and Lightning Motorcycles have made promises of impressive performance and have shown prototypes, but until they actually deliver motorcycles to customers, we can't say if they'll live up to those promises.
Best electric off-road motorcycle contenders
Ah, the wondrous world of off-road. Just like street bikes, the off-road segment can be cut up into a variety of niche applications when it comes to a motorcycle. Enduro, cross-country, motocross, dual-sport, and adventure are all different styles of off-road bikes that have their own pros and cons, depending on where your journey in the dirt lies. We strove to pick a diverse set in our top three picks to show a range of what’s available in the off-road electric motorcycle space.
Our first noteworthy off-road e-moto is the Zero DSR. Truth be told, Zero offers several off-road-capable models, such as the newest adventure-inspired DSR/X and the lightweight, trail-focused FX. The DSR is one of the best examples we have seen, however, of a dedicated dual-sport electric motorcycle. The DSR has Showa suspension front and rear with a respectable seven inches of travel, shod in dual-purpose tires and has a claimed 163 city miles of range. The DSR is arguably one of the best on-or-off-road e-motorcycles on the market to date and prices at $17,995.
The off-road purist who wants an electric motorcycle without a license plate on it should check out the KTM Freeride EX-C. KTM also offers the SX-E5, which is a great option for youth riders, but if you are an adult “young-at-heart” rider, then the Freeride EX-C may be what you are looking for. Whether you want to shred backyard motos, visit your local MX track, or do some trail riding at the OHV park, the Freeride EX-C is purpose-built for strictly off-road environments. Featuring WP suspension and a claimed 24.5 horsepower, the Freeride EX-C is in a class of its own when it comes to size, power and performance for e-motorcycles. Though it used to be sold in the United States, it appears to only be available in Europe, where the 2023 model prices at 14,361 euros. For us Americans, head to the used market if you want to add this electric dirt bike to the stable.
If you are an adventure rider looking to go electric, the pickings have been pretty slim until recent years. The Energica Experia is one of the latest adventure bikes to take on the challenge and rigors of the long-distance off-road machine. Fully kitted with panniers for your luggage, pillion seat for a passenger and a claimed 261 city miles, the Experia prioritizes comfort and range above all else. Energica made the Experia capable of Level 3 fast charging so you can venture further from home, which is where most adventures happen, after all. Like all the other flagship ADV bikes out there, though, you will pay a premium for the luxury, as the Experia's MSRP starts at $23,750 in the United States.
Honorable mentions for the off-road e-motorcycle category go to the sadly defunct Alta Motors Redshift MX, the promising Stark VARG motocross bike, and the CAKE Kalk.
Best electric motorcycles under $5,000
Finding any new motorcycle under $5,000 is a feat of its own, but to find an electric one? Near impossible, we say, but, it turns out there are a few options out there if you are willing to blur the line between “e-bike” and “e-motorcycle.”
The Super73 RX has been dubbed a “modern moped” and since it can push 28 mph and has a claimed 40-to-75-mile range, depending on what mode you ride in, it truly does push the boundary of what an “e-bike” really is. We’ve tested out the Super73 S1 before and our own Zack Courts has even put the RX through all its paces on Daily Rider. How much will it ding you? The top-of-the-line RX prices at $3,845 while the most inexpensive Super73 model of the Z1 is only $1,645. Though it is still in development and pricing is not confirmed, the Super73 C1X might be a model to keep your eye on, too.
The CSC City Slicker is a pint-sized electric motorcycle that has an MSRP of $2,795 and fits right in with the aesthetics we have seen of other “pocket bike” models like the Honda Grom or Kawasaki Z125. It has a claimed top speed of 46 mph and a claimed range of 20 to 50 miles.
The Sondors MetaCycle just misses this list. It was originally priced at $5,000 but has since nudged up to $6,500. The MetaCycle is currently in the clutches of none other than Zack Courts so a Daily Rider episode is likely in the near future. With a claimed top speed of 80 mph and claimed “real world range” of 60 to 80 miles, the MetaCycle certainly piques our curiosity at this price point. Sondors has just recently begun delivering the MetaCycle to customers nationwide, so stay tuned for more info on this model.
For honorable mentions, we focused on machines that are firmly in the “full-size motorcycle” genre but were just a touch too pricey to make the cut here. The CSC RX1E is an ADV-inspired e-motorcycle at a modest price of $8,495, and the Ryvid Anthem is still in the prototype phase but is currently estimated to cost $7,800. Currently not yet in the United States (pre-orders are being accepted), but available in Europe is the Kollter TS1, which costs an estimated $5,995.
So that is the round up of some of the “best” electric motorcycles on the market at the time of writing in January 2023. The e-mobility ecosystem is in a constant state of evolution, and what is “best” today might be tomorrow’s old news. If that’s the case, we look forward to updating these lists in the near future.
