The Rise of Electric Vs. Gas-Powered Motorcycles

As futuristic as the future may one day be, I’ll be the guy hoarding all the loud, leaky, inefficient, fossil-fueled motors that most of the world will consider to be boat anchors and giant paperweights – call it my Redneck 401k. One day they might be considered old-fashioned, but there’s just something extremely gratifying about an internal combustion engine that an electric motor could never replicate. Mostly it’s the sound and feel, obviously, and it used to be about the performance, but electric motorcycles have evolved and come a long way in recent years.

One company that’s leading the charge (get it? …charge?) is Alta Motors with its Redshift line of bikes that includes an Enduro, Motocross and Supermoto variant. All three bikes feature the same water-proof battery that crams 5.8 kWh into 30.8 kilos (67.9 lbs) with a maximum of 350V providing a claimed 40 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque. Range varies with output map selection, but Alta says to expect approximately three hours of continuous use depending on how hard you’re twisting the throttle. Recharging is said to take four hours at 120V and just two and a half at 240V. From there, the weight, suspension, wheels and geometry differ from model to model to tailor the bikes to perform best for their respective purposes.

With companies like Toyota, BMW and Tesla changing the four-wheel landscape of the personal transportation industry, it comes as no surprise that two-wheel manufacturers are following suit. As a result of increased demand and a growing appetite for electric motorcycles, Alta Motors just announced that the company is expanding its dealer network this year in the U.S. by adding 36 new dealer partnerships in 16 new states, bringing the grand total to 41 dealers in 18 states. Now, this may not seem like a lot, but a company has to learn to crawl before it can walk. With ever-growing environmental consciousness at the forefront of many federal laws and regulations, manufacturers like Alta Motors might be running before they’ve graduated from diapers. But only time will tell…

I wouldn’t call myself an environmentalist, but I’m all for the preservation and sustainability of our home planet. And while I find the natural world absolutely stunning, I still prefer to view it from atop a rumbling motorcycle. Electric motorcycles have their obvious advantages that come not only in the form of environmental-friendliness, but also in the sense that there’s much less maintenance. No more air filter or oil changes, or stops at the gas station – all of these aspects will ultimately save you money in the long run, as long as you’re willing to make the initial investment, which whistles to the tune of $14,995 for the Motocrosser and $15,495 for both the Enduro and Supermoto.

Aside from initial cost of ownership, there are other factors that could limit or influence a potential electric motorcycle customer’s interest, such as: battery range, recharge time, access to recharge points and/or lack of noise. I include lack of noise because let’s face it, often times a fellow motorist is more likely to hear you before they see you, which, no doubt adds to the risks of riding an electric bike on the road, but that’s a can of worms to open another day.

I can see the benefits of an electric motorcycle in two main facets: as a play-bike, (as most dirt bikes are) where you can fly under the radar and not disturb noise-sensitive neighbors, and as a commuter, where you can completely cut out fuel costs from your budget – even better if you can charge it while at work before the return journey home. And then there’s also an e-bike’s ability to deliver 100% instant torque at any speed, which frankly, I can’t argue against. But running out of juice and having to wait several hours, unlike stopping for a few minutes at a gas station, does turn me away.

For decades, gasoline motorcycles have been steadily refined, while electric motorcycles occasionally popped up as novelty one-offs. However, this might be changing. But out of curiosity, I ask our fellow MO readers, how do you feel about electric motorcycles? With the options available from Alta and other brands like Zero and Energica, what kind/type would you buy and why, and how would you use it?

Here’s a few electric bike tests and shootouts we’ve done in the past:

Electric vs. Gas Supermoto Shootout
Dual-Sport Shootout: Electric vz. Gasoline!
Victory Isle of Man TT Zero Racer on a Dragstrip + Video
2013 Brammo Empulse R vs. Zero S ZF11.4 Video
2015 Alta Motors RedShift MX and SM Preview + Video
Victory Isle of Man TT Zero Racebike Test
2016 Zero DSR First Ride Review
2016 Victory Empulse TT First Ride Review
The Life Electric: Next-Gen Hot Rodding + Video
2017 KTM Freeride E-XC First Ride Review

Begin Release:

Since commercializing its Redshift platform, Alta’s bikes have attracted a diverse following of riders, from motocross professionals like Josh Hill to highly experienced lifelong riders to complete newcomers looking for a commuter bike. Alta’s performance maps and software enable Redshift riders of all levels to change the bike’s power delivery and amount of regenerative braking with the flick of a thumb. This turnkey solution provides each rider the ability to tailor his or her experience in real time and over time, without upgrading the bike. By designing and manufacturing the Redshift to compete head to head with gas bikes, and enable riders to go where gas bikes have never gone before, Alta has set a new performance standard. Watch nimble Alta riders stealthily maneuver through unimaginable conditions, moving from the street to soft sand and rocks to water.

“In 1974, I got my first off-road minibike, and have been riding and racing motocross ever since. This summer, I purchased Alta’s Redshift MX, and have already logged over 65 hours on it. It’s become my favorite bike to ride for a number of reasons. Namely, it’s faster, quieter and easier to maintain. I can ride any time of day around my track in Rochester without disturbing our neighbors,” said Ben Atkinson, Redshift MX rider.

Aligned with the global electrification market movement, Alta’s new dealers, and record sales this year comes as the company solidifies its dominance in the electric lightweight vehicle sector while eying entry into international markets next year. The latest dealerships emerge in diverse geographies ranging from Arlington, Texas to Neptune City, New Jersey, signifying the bourgeoning shift to go electric across the U.S.

“After demonstrating the Redshift’s ability to compete head to head with combustion, we’re excited to scale our dealership base across the U.S., offering more riders the opportunity to hop on for an initial joy ride,” said Alta Motors CEO, Marc Fenigstein. “No doubt, there are still hurdles to educating this market on the thrills and combined benefits of riding an electric bike, but we’re seeing a promising future with a 18x increase in sales this year.”