Electric Bikes reviews

Zero Motorcycles maintains its position at the cutting edge of the rapidly-burgeoning EV motorcycle market with its revised and improved for MY22 SR/S sportbike. It maintains the same sporty looks, but backs them up with a more efficient drivetrain and remarkably fast recharge times. The new Cypher III+ operating system manages it all, and comes ready to receive downloadable performance upgrades that let you tune up without ever touching a wrench.

The Bayerische Motoren Werke Motorrad USA has taken the next step in its journey into electric urban-mobility territory with the announcement of its new CE 04 model. This all-electric scooter has the range, speed and charging options you need for convenience and practicality, plus it rocks an electronics suite with an infotainment package that together have the potential to embarrass much pricier machines.

Piaggio is committed to the progression of EV scooters, and the Group proved it yet again at 2019 EICMA with its Vespa Elettrica 70 KM/H model. As the devilishly clever name suggests, the top speed has been raised to a more useful max for increased utility as an around-town commuter/grocery-getter. The range increase pairs well with the beefed-up output and higher speed to complete the improved drive package, and of course, it comes clad in that timeless Vespa body style that evokes images of the machines that once mobilized a post-war Italy.

Damon Motorcycles commands some pretty impressive technology, and the factory brings that to bear in the EV bike market with its new Hypersport HS. The bodywork will look familiar to fans of the Big Four, same with the brakes, but it’s the stuff under the hood that really sets this bike apart. Performance- and safety-based electronics combine to deliver a potentially safer riding experience and a more thrilling one at the same time. Could this be the bike to pull in that all-important Millennial buyer base?

EV bike builder Zero Motorcycles beefs up its street-centric offerings ahead of the 2020 model year with its new SR/S. This ride carries a bit more in the way of bodywork than usual to break new ground for the marque, but the grunt-tastic performance remains in line with its super-naked sibling, the SR/F. As with most of the rest of the on-road lineup, the factory has a full line of accessory goodies that let you mix and match for just the right combination of range and recharge times to suit your riding style.

Blurring the lines between mountain bikes and motorcycles, the Kalk series of machines from the Swiss made “Cake” intends “to speed up the journey towards a zero-emission society while enhancing excitement and fun.” They are walking the path that will change the future of riding with the focus on off-road performance and innovation in terms of weight and simplicity of riding.

Their newest entry is the Kalk INK. It takes on the KALK OR with the same powerful drivetrain with slightly heavier and stable wheels and a simplified and sturdier suspension derived from motocross machines. This is a black rendition of the KALK OR as a casual offroader for a thrilling backcountry exploration.

Showing the world how to do it right all this while, the folks upped their game for 2020 when they unveiled a brand new streetfighter, the SR/F. The bike features a new “Cypher III” operating system that brings in Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control and a multitude of data onto the TFT dash. USB charging ports, LED lighting, storage space, a fly screen, heated grips, and aluminum bar ends adds to the oomph factor.

Now, the same guys have taken that and slapped aerodynamic fairings, taller handlebar, lower footpegs, and a windscreen to create their exciting new entry into the sports-touring territory. This is the Zero Motorcycles SR/S, unveiled at an event in New York. And honestly, I love how it carries a hint of retro on it.

Italian EV bike builder Energica rolls into the 2020 model year with something a little different; the new Eva Ribelle. This newest offering rocks a naked-sportbike look in a bid to expand its footprint while it acts as an ambassador for the electric sector in general – a genre that’s still scrabbling for mainstream acceptance. The Eva Ribelle relies on a new 21.5 kWh powerpack to deliver an impressive range, and it comes complete with a full ride-quality electronics suite and surprisingly fast recharge capacity along with safety equipment that should make it competitive against the current smoker bikes.

Kawasaki hit 2019 EICMA with a number of interesting items, but I think the most notable entry may be the sleeper-hit of the year; the EV Project. That’s right sports fans, Kawasaki Heavy Industries is showing us that they are looking at displaced-carbon/electric motorcycles, and the “Electric Concept” gives us our first glimpse of what the concept is like moving forward.

Zero Motorcycles has been at the cutting edge of EV bike development ever since it hit the scene in 2006, and the marque expands its footprint into adventure-bike territory with its new DSR “Black Forest” model. The Black Forest builds on the Zero DS “Dual Sport” adding long-distance comfort items and ample dry storage to lend it a level of utility that could only be had from the accessory catalog before now. Long-distance power capacity and the usual snappy torque delivery round out the package to make this EV at home almost anywhere.

Arc falls under the Jaguar-Land Rover umbrella via the “InMotion Ventures” fund, and its first limited-production model, the Vector, hits the streets next year. The Vector is an all-electric ride with some serious performance on tap – I’m talking about a potential range of 270 miles from a single charge and top speeds over the 100-mph mark – and it may be just the push the EV-bike industry needs to be accepted into the mainstream as a viable commuter model.

Energica expands into naked-streetfighter territory with its all-electric Eva 107 that strikes a balance between the stripped-down Eva EsseEsse9 and the full-bodied Ego. The Eva 107 has the same power and drive system as the Ego, and as usual for this Italian marque, the Eva 107’s looks would fit right in with a crowd of comparable smoker-bikes. In addition to its performance, it also has an array of ride-quality and regenerative modes that let you dial in to suit the conditions and your personal taste.

Tempus Electric Bikes burst onto the green scene back in ’17 with its freshman entry, the CR-T1, and the Ontario-based builder reprises its effort with the Titan family. The new model comes with much of the same café-tastic look that made the first a hit, but with more in the way of performance at the top end. Like the original, it rocks a pedal-assist drive system offered in a 500 Watt hub-type motor on the “C” model or 1,000W on the “R” variant. Top speeds and range vary according to motor size/model to give the platform an outsized footprint in an ever-expanding market.

Zero Motorcycles ramps up its streetbike game yet again with the all new SR/F model slated for 2020 that brings even more of the yummy-goodness to the table that made them the world’s top EV bike builder. Top-shelf tech rides on a new chassis with — you guessed it — a new electric drive motor and power-storage unit deliver more performance and range than its previous top-line naked streetbike, the SR. Best of all, the SR/F’s looks are comparable to the smokerbikes in the naked genre, so it’s even more palatable to the masses in general who have yet to embrace the EV bike technology.

Arcimoto expands its Fun Utility Vehicle (FUV) footprint in 2019 with its new Evergreen Edition. The “EE” serves as the flagship for the Oregon-based builder as it seeks to drive a new type of commuter market; the plug-n-play urban rider. Yeah, I say “rider” because the two-up seating is arranged in tandem and the main control is a handlebar, not a wheel, but the thing doesn’t lean so it’s similar to Can-Am’s Spyder in that regard. A 100-mile range and interstate-capable top speed makes it suitable for most commutes, and since the charging system’s power requirements are so user-friendly, you can easily plug up away from the house without benefit of charging station.