Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
Electric motorcycles are the next big thing. The market is currently dominated by cheap scooter imports from China, but boutique electric motorcycle companies such as Zero and Brammo are making better-quality products. They are about to be challenged by the established motorcycle companies such as BMW, Harley-Davidson, Victory, Yamaha and KTM. We bring you the latest developments in battery technology, government subsidies and other news about electric motorcycles. We have also ridden several electric motorcycles and review them for performance, handling, range, comfort and styling.
A week after Ducati unveiled their second electric bicycle, the e-Scrambler, they have added three folding e-bikes showing they are now serious about electric power. There is still no word on an electric motorcycle. However, their move in this direction will give them vital technical expertise that they can apply to a full-size electric motorcycle. …
The New Zealand Army is now testing two-wheel-drive UBCO electric motorcycles with 120km of range and a top speed of 50km/h. What could possibly go wrong! Electric motorcycles are certainly coming, not just for commuters, but also for police forces, security services and even the military. We can see some advantages for the army in …
Kawasaki is moving closer to producing its EV Endeavor electric motorcycle with new patent drawings showing a removable battery and motor. Their electric prototype was shown at the EICMA motorcycle show last November. Since then, Kawasaki has released teaser videos. The first official video from the company shows the work they put into the project. …
Former Czech motorcycle company Jawa is now developing an electric motorcycle in India that could have the longest range yet. There is hardly a motorcycle company in the world that is not developing an electric motorcycle, so it comes as no surprise that rumours have surfaced that the now Indian manufacturer is also working on …
Harley-Davidson’s electric LiveWire has arrived in Australia for testing ahead of its media launch in August and market release in early September. The Tesla Model 3 Australia Facebook Group has published the above photo of a LiveWire being charged in Australia. Harley-Davidson Australia/New Zealand marketing guru Keith Waddell confirms the photo was taken “while we …
The Tarform Luna electric motorcycle is claimed to be more environmentally sound as it uses non-toxic, biomaterials such as flax for body panels and pineapple material in the seat. It was unveiled last December with the special Founder Edition costing from $US42,000 (about $A61,200). Now the standard Racer and Scrambler models are available for pre-orders …
Imagine an electric motorcycle that could emulate the sound and feel of any past or present sportsbike, whether thumper or multi-cylinder. It’s called the Emula (short for emulate) and it promises to be a thousand bikes in one. Emulate with McFly The prototype bike is the product of Italian company 2Electron. It uses what they call …
A fully enclosed electric motorcycle is being developed by American company Lightning Motorcycles to overcome the inherently poor aerodynamics of bikes. Recently the company applied for a patent for the design and now online electric vehicle site Electrek has pictured a model in a scaled-down wind tunnel and videoed a prototype on the street. Lightning …
Spanish design student Iago Valino imagines an electric future with a BMW outfit with a batteries house in the sidecar for long-distance riding. His BMW concept drawing is not sanctioned by BMW Motorrad, but they must surely be paying some attention. One of the biggest problems with electric motorcycles is fitting a big enough battery …
Italian motorcycle company Soriano Motori is making its first electric motorcycle with twin motors arranged in a twin-opposed “boxer” fashion like BMW’s famous engines. The motors of the EV Giaguaro (Jaguar in English) work together for full power or independently for optimum range. Soriano Design and Product Development Director Sergio Moroni says the project is a …