Is an Electric Motorcycle Worth It?

We are on the cusp of a significant change in the motorcycle industry. Electric motorcycles are slowly making their presence known as more manufacturers try their hand at these modern machines. However, while these new machines are exciting, not everyone is sold on their performance possibilities. As new models emerge, you may be convinced to give an electric motorcycle a chance.

Before you decide that an electric sportbike or electric Harley Davidson motorcycle is for you, consider these pros and cons.

Pro: Impressive Torque Feel

If you’ve never ridden an electric bike, you are in for a fun surprise. These bikes are not like riding an electric bicycle or scooter. Instead, they are tuned for performance with a surprising torquey feel. Twist the throttle, and you will feel the adrenaline-pumping pull. For many, this feeling of harnessed power is what people love about motorcycles.

Don’t be fooled by smaller electric motorcycles; they can be tuned for more torque than a similarly powered internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycle. For example, the Yamaha YZF-R3 has 42 horsepower and 21.8 lbs of torque. We can compare this with the Electric Zero FXE that has 46 horsepower and 78 lbs of torque. Both motorcycles are close in horsepower, but the electric sportbike has three times as much torque. The result is a much punchier bike that will feel faster.

Pro: No More Vibration

Some people will claim an appreciation for the motorcycle shake. However, all of that vibration negatively impacts your circulation and ride quality. Electric motorcycles do not have this vibration because the engine doesn’t have all of the movement that a combustion engine has.

Pro: Advanced Performance Technology

Performance improvement traditionally required the replacement of mechanical parts and hours spent fine-tuning. The best electric motorcycle changes this. With a few finger taps in an app, you can completely transform how your electric sportbike performs. You can adjust things like top speed, throttle response, and traction control. This lets you make changes faster to instantly change the bike’s performance for the changing riding conditions.

Pro: More Reliable

Electric motorcycles have fewer parts and components than ICE motorcycles. When there are fewer parts, fewer things can break, malfunction, or simply stop working. This makes electric motorcycles more reliable than combustion-engine motorcycles. The increase in reliability also means reduced repair costs over the bike’s lifetime.

Pro: Less Maintenance

ICE motorcycles have a list of routine maintenance tasks required to keep them running in top condition. Electric motorcycles are far superior when it comes to maintenance. Because there are fewer parts in the construction, there are also fewer maintenance requirements. For instance, you never have to worry about oil changes. You never have to deal with clutch, transmission, camshaft tensioning, or valve adjustment issues. Outside of the engine, chain-drive motorcycles require routine cleaning, lubricating, and tension adjustments. You do not have to worry about any of this with an electric bike. Essentially, the only regular maintenance you have to worry about is replacing your tires or a headlight bulb that goes out.

Con: Advanced Technology

This con may seem contradictory to what we previously talked about. However, there is a beauty to riding a traditional combustion engine motorcycle. Traditionalists sing their praises of feeling at one with the machine. Electric motorcycles lack this mechanical simplicity and do not have the same feeling.

In addition, electric bikes also come with a lot more technology. If you aren’t tech-savvy, this can be a major hurdle. Do you really need another app on your phone? If you have an electric bike, you may need an app to operate your motorcycle. This creates a big learning curve just to take a ride.

Con: No More DIY Maintenance

If you love to turn a wrench, you may find electric motorcycle ownership disappointing. Unlike a combustion engine motorcycle, an electric bike isn’t very DIY friendly. In addition, most electric bikes have a fully encased system, so you can’t access the bike’s inner workings, let alone work on them.  

This lack of DIY capability means you also won’t be able to do DIY aftermarket customizations. Because of this generally small market size, there are limited aftermarket part options. However, as the market grows, the custom parts available should also increase.

Con: Long-Term Reliability Untested

Electric motorcycles are not old enough to determine their reliability. Because the entire industry is in its infancy, it will take time and use to compile reliability data. Decades from now, we will be able to look back and accurately assess the performance reliability of specific electric motorcycle models.

Con: Initial Purchase Price

The biggest hurdle with electric motorcycles is the initial purchase price. Unfortunately, the best electric motorcycles are priced noticeably higher than comparable ICE motorcycles. As of 2023, you won’t find an electric motorcycle for less than $10,000. This is disappointing when you consider there is a large motorcycle market that falls into this affordable price range. Most electric bikes have a new purchase price of $12,000-$30,000. This price range is too expensive for a large segment of riders. However, it does put electric bikes in the same range as ICE super sports. They are also more affordable than some full-dresser bikes that can easily hit $50,000 or more.

The natural lifetime of new technology shows us that as innovative technology becomes more prevalent, it also becomes more affordable. With time, these new purchase price points are likely to come down. For example, there are boutique motorcycle brands that do produce affordable electric motorcycles. However, these brands are not established enough to support owners nationwide.