Best Electric Motorcycle 2017 – Top 8 Reviewed
The electric motorcycle is any vehicle that has two or three wheels and is powered by a rechargeable battery.
As opposed to the traditional gas-powered bikes, the electric ones are more eco-friendly. We are here to see which one is the best electric motorcycle on the market.
The origin of electric motorcycles can be traced back to 1895, but they were most popular during the World War II. Today, the electric vehicles are giving to the gas-powered ones a run for their money.
The new lithium-ion batteries are extremely light and very efficient. The use of this kind of batteries to power your vehicle gives you a fast and quiet ride and it can be recharged quickly.
There are many electric motorcycles in the market and if you are interested in buying a one this guide will help you decide which model is best for you.
Best Electric Motorcycle: TOP 8 Comparison Table
Product Name | Maximum Speed | Run Time | Battery |
---|---|---|---|
Razor MX350 DIRT Rocket Electric Motocross Bike | 14 mph | 30 minutes | 24V (two 12V) |
Razor MX650 Rocket Electric Motocross Bike (Editor's Choice #1) | 17 mph | 40 minutes | 36V (three 12V) |
Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike | 15 mph | 40 minutes | 36V (three 12V) |
Razor Pocket Rocket Miniature Electric Bike | 15 mph | 30 minutes | 24V (two 12V) |
MotoTec MT-03 36 Volts Electric Pocket Bike | 20 mph | 25 minutes | 36V (three 12V) |
Razor Pocket Mod Miniature Euro E-Scooter | 15 mph | 40 minutes | 24V (two 12V) |
XB-502 X-Treme Scooters Electric Bicycle | 20 mph | 40 minutes | 48V (four 12V) |
Razor SX500 McGrath Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike | 15 mph | 40 minutes | 36V (three 12V) |
Benefits of Electric Motorcycles
The electric motorcycles are gaining more and more popularity and it is not for no reason. Electric bikes have its benefits over the gas powered ones. I will try to explain what some of the benefits are and why the worldwide sales are constantly increasing.
Performance
People usually think that electric vehicles will never be able to perform as well as the gas powered ones. Well, that is not really correct. The best example is that any of the Tesla vehicles can perform as good as gas-powered ones.
When it comes to motorcycles, Road and Track magazine claims that the best electric motorcycles, in fact, are faster and much better at handling than old-school bikes that use gas as a fuel.
The electric motorcycles do not use clutches and because of that, they develop torque almost instantly, resulting in quicker acceleration time.
Maintenance
Other than occasional brake pad and tire changes, electric vehicles require almost no maintenance at all. The gas-powered ones need to be adjusted, lubricated, and tuned plus the aforementioned maintenance.
Just take a look at some of the repairs you don't have to do on the electric motorcycle:
- No fuel filter changes
- No oil checking
- No oil changes and no oil filters
- No spark plug replacements
- No clutch replacements
- No clutch cable adjustments
- No fluid level checks
- No timing belt replacements
- No throttle and idle speed synchronizations
Fuel costs
This is one of the benefits that first come to mind when electric motorcycles are mentioned. The cost of electricity for a mile is approximately one or two cents. Just for the comparison, the gas powered bike will give you around 400 miles and the electric one will give you 1700 miles for the same cost.
Noise
Same as all electric vehicles, the electric bikes produce far less noise than the traditional gas-powered ones. It is most likely that the pedestrians won’t even be aware that there is an electric vehicle in their close proximity. They're that quiet.
Some of these eco-friendly vehicles are able to make artificial noise to create awareness of their presence for the safety reasons.
Great for short rides
To be honest, we are probably years away from the electric bikes that we will be able to put the saddlebags on and go for a road trip. But they are perfect for short rides and daily transport to work and back.
The average electric bike can give you around 50 miles with fully charged battery and that is more than enough for use in urban environments.
Things to consider before buying
So now you know the benefits of the electric motorcycles. If you are convinced that you need one before you buy yourself an electric bike, here are some things you need to consider first.
Top speed
This is the maximum speed that the vehicle can achieve. If you consider yourself a speed freak, this is a very important thing for you. Consider that the faster you go the more electricity will your bike consume and because of that you will need to recharge it sooner.
If you need a bike for urban commuting and you don’t have the need to go very fast, then the top speed is not that important factor for you.
Power
When we say vehicle power, we usually refer to horsepower. One unit of horsepower is the power that will move 33000 pounds for one foot in the time span of one minute. The higher the horsepower is, the more powerful the engine is.
Range
The range is one of the factors that the gas-powered vehicles are leading in. The batteries just can’t store as much energy as the gas tanks can. Maximum mileage per one charge for the “long-range” electric bikes is 130 miles tops.
This is the reason why electric motorcycles are best for daily urban commuting where the range of the ride is fixed. The range is getting shorter if you are traveling faster.
Weight Capacity
This is one thing that you have to pay a lot of attention to because electric bikes are not the bikes that will fit everyone and it is very important that you choose a bike that can carry your weight.
Battery type
It’s important that you know that the lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries are NOT the same even though they sound similar. The lithium-polymer batteries are thinner and much lighter, but they don’t have the energy density of the lithium-ion ones. Additionally, they cost a lot more to make and because of that most of the manufacturers go with lithium-ion ones.
The cheapest batteries are nickel metal hydride. These are heavier than the lithium-ion batteries but they hold the same amount of power. They can last longer than the lithium-ion batteries and these are more fitting for the areas with hotter climates.
Best Electric Motorcycle: Top 8 Reviewed
There are tons of electric motorcycles on the market and finding the best electric motorcycle for you can be very exhausting and last for months. This is why we picked out the best 8 bikes on the market and reviewed them.
Razor MX350 DIRT Rocket Electric Motocross Bike
This particular model is made for the younger bikers, ages twelve and higher who want to eat hills for breakfast. The maximum weight it can carry is 140 pounds. It’s powered by two 12V rechargeable batteries which will give you around 30 minutes of the ride and the maximum speed of 14 mph.
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The chain motor is supplied with a twist grip mechanism which gives increased throttle control, while the tires are large and knobby, connected to a rear brake. If the speed is what you want, this motorcycle can give it to you – it can accelerate at the pace of 12 miles/hour without pedaling. All in all, an amazing product.
Razor MX650 Rocket Electric Motocross Bike
Another fine Razor motorbike we’re going to review is the MX650 model. It is extremely powerful, equipped with a 650-watt motor which allows it to accelerate at amazing speeds. The maximum acceleration it can reach is 17 miles per hour, which is more than enough for youngsters and teenagers.
Another thing which is great about this bike is the durability – it is designed with dual suspensions, riser handlebars, and large, knobby tires. The suspensions and handlebars provide a great comfort rating. Finally, it can support a maximum of 220 pounds.
Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike
There is a reason why people like Razor motorbikes so much – they are powerful, reliable, and every model offers different useful features. This particular model is scaled down, as it is common with Razor bikes, and it possesses a motor that is decently powerful, outputting 500 watts. It accelerates a bit slower than his cousins and is able to speed up at 15 miles per hour.
The dual suspensions were also installed, complemented by riser handlebars, which makes this bike as comfortable and durable as the other Razor products. It can be said that they set the standard with this setup. The main difference between this model and other Razor products is the weight limit and outlook. It can endure 175 pounds, making it a bit faster.
Razor Pocket Rocket Miniature Electric Bike
Don’t be fooled by its looks – the Razor Pocket Rocket is very powerful, despite its miniature appearance. It’s perfect for young teenagers as it is scaled down, and isn’t capable of driving too fast. It has a chain motor that is capable of running at variable speeds, and the maximum of acceleration it can reach is 15 mph.
The tires are very stable, but they’re quite small when compared to regular sized bikes – they’re only ten inches large, but they’re pneumatic, so the safety and comfort are guaranteed. The only downfall is that the battery does not last too long – only 45 minutes, and it takes a lot to recharge (four to six hours). All in all, a bike with very decent capabilities.
MotoTec MT-03
36 Volts Electric Pocket Bike
If this bike was any bigger you would think that it's a premium quality one – it "looks" like a full-fledged motorbike, it feels like one, but it’s very small – perfect for teenagers who are over twelve years old.
Concerning the motor, it operates on 36 Volt batteries, and it can be said with certainty that this is one of the fastest miniature bikes on the market with the incredible 20 miles per hour. This doesn't seem like much, but for a miniature bike, this is a lot. A beautiful bike with great capabilities.
Razor Pocket Mod Miniature Euro Electric Scooter
A very classy model with the vintage-style design makes this bike unique – behind the old-school look lies the electric motor that is capable of driving decently fast. The chain motor allows for incredible power transfer, and the distance it can travel on just a single battery charge is more than most models can achieve.
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Keeping in mind that these motorbikes are miniature models that replicate the full sized ones, the Razor Electric Scooter is quite capable. It is comfortable and can carry people that are just below 170 pounds. Very stylish and valuable bike.
X-Treme Scooters XB-502 Electric Bicycle
This is not a motocross or a motorcycle bike, this is a scooter – and a very good one for that matter. It is phenomenal for people that travel small distances a lot, as it can drive 20 to 25 miles with a single battery charge.
If you do not have your driver’s license, this is a perfect alternative, as it is classified as being an electric bike. However, if you get bored of the pedals, you can easily remove them. Its main advantage is that it provides nearly all the advantages that regular motorbikes possess. It is very appealing and quite capable. However, it can’t drive too fast and too far.
Razor SX500 McGrath Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike
The last Razor model that we’re going to review is certainly very special – it was inspired by Jeremy McGrath, the famous motocross rider, making this bike particularly famous. This bike is outfitted with authentic graphics and design that feature McGrath logos and initials, and it is quite capable, so it earned its salt.
You can drive the SX500 for 40 minutes before running out of gas at speed of 15 miles per hour. The famous Razor dual suspensions and handlebars are supplied, along with large, knobby tires. The new features are the retractable kickstand, along with the hand operated disc brakes. It can withstand 175 pounds with ease.
Conclusion
Electric motorcycles have evolved significantly over the years and are constantly evolving and becoming better. Who knows, maybe someday they will completely replace the traditional gas-powered ones.
If you are interested in buying a one, make sure that you consider top speed, range, weight capacity, power and battery type. We hope that you will find our reviews helpful and that after reading them you can decide which one is the best electric motorcycle that will fit your needs.