The Electric Motorcycle World Is Split In Two - Here's Why

I ride an e-bike, 12 months a year, on Canada’s West Coast. It’s sometimes cold, and often wet, but it keeps me fit, is good for my mental health, and saves me a tonne of money.

I rode motorcycles for almost 50 years until recently when, being elderly and having had Polio, I'm just not able to. But for most of those years I rode in Minneapolis or Duluth, MinneSNOWta 12 months of the year. I've ridden several times at -30f. I've had almost 50 motorcycles and most of them have been ridden in winter, including 5 two-wheel-drive Urals and even an electric Vectrix. For many years I commuted all year. One of the coolest experiences of my life was at a winter motorcycle show at the Duluth Arena Auditorium and I and a buddy on Urals walked outside at -20f, and with a flock of people watching, we both kick-started our bikes on the first kick. Riding across ice and snow covered lakes is an experience every rider should have. I loved the Vectrix, but it just was not yet the time for it, being prior to Li-ion batteries.

I used to be a year-round rider even in Norway, using two wheelers as utilitarian daily transport. I could carry as much groceries on a scooter or a Trans Alp than I could in a small car. But when I look at light electric bikes being introduced these days, especially by manufacturers in the western world, they tend to be totally devoid of luggage solutions. Not even a few extra inches of rear frame to attach a rack to. I think the designers are missing a great opportunity there. The smaller ones are not very attractive as joy rides, but they could do a very useful job if they were able to carry things.

Energica Ego owner here. They do make incredible bikes. I mostly use it as a commuter. Not the cheapest option to buy, but the running costs are basically nothing and its so fun to drive. Was a no brainer for me.

I remember having to wait at work for a colleague because my fingers were too cold to take my helmet or gloves off. Also my tears were frozen to my eyelashes. Happy days.

In Taiwan, the main roads all have scooter/moped lanes. I think I would be a lot more open to the idea of riding one if we had those.

Another well written and well delivered presentation. Thanks Nikki

Except for about a dozen days of the year due to rain(Or when I need to carry more than myself), my daily transport is two wheels.. Bicycle for short(Half an hour) trips, motorcycle for longer. The car only gets used when we need to move two or more people /and/ a lot of stuff. Or it's POURING rain for a week. But as all of my machines are sub $1500 second hand bikes that I can repair myself, I've got a few years to go before I'll get an electric one. :)

12:10 did you forget to post that link? i can't find it.

I see 3 wheeled styled designs becoming the common place in America. After all where I live (NC) which is a rainforest. Motorcycles are going to remain niche vehicles and scooters no matter the size are regarded as only being driven by people who have lost their license to drive a car. Aptera and vehicles like it are best case for my area.

Ahhh! Hi Nikki ^-^ No kidding! ATGATT, all-year rider here (tho much more recently than Nikki). Battery swap isn't really compatible with our freeways; if you're going over 50, the battery capacity is being used up massively quick. Which makes a swappable size just... Unlikely. It would have to be a really big battery! Luggable, maybe? Even so, that's not a size of bike really being made today. Metacycle?

You mentioned ebikes, rentable escooters seem to take some of the place of mopeds in cities despite being generally hated by nonriders

Love the experience of commuting on my 2022 Zero S7.2. I frequently extend the trip and have never been concerned about the limited range. My primary vehicle is VW ID4… amazing to drive!

Long time no comment - here’s to give Uncle Algo a bit of rhythm: Your style of presentation is calm and considered and that makes these videos an actual resource, not just entertainment! You and Kate are my favourite source of EV thoughts!

I commuted by motorcycle in Seattle except the rare below freezing day where there could be ice. That changed when my work commute started to coincide with beep and creep traffic hours and being on the clutch became painful. And I got an electric car. The EV became the commuter and the motorcycle was sold

Where I worked 15 years ago, I tended to use bicycle if the weather was nice, but motorcycle if it was raining. My driving suit was much better against rain, but not usable with bicycle.

When battery energy density triples and can 80% charge in 15 min, I will be very interested. What's out there now are mainly suitable for daily commutes. And, barely enough for my 120mi commute. When I did have a motorcycle, I mainly used it for weekend or week long group trips. I don't think people would want me stopping so often. I rarely used it for commuting here in the northern US. The previous summer I travelled to Sturgis on a group ride with my Model 3 and it wasn't that bad since I could go just a bit further per charge. I rented a bike when I got out there to participate with the group.

Silence (based in Spain) have been making scooters with a removable battery pack for several years, it even has wheels on it. They've started selling a Citroen Ami-class Smart Car-styled car that uses 2 of their batteries.

For those long months of winter storage, the Energica motorcycle has a long-term storage mode where it can be left plugged in and the electronics will tend to the needs of the battery.

I would love a company like Gogoro to set up in US cities. It would be be a huge sudden expansion for them, but if I lived in a country that they were in, I would get one of their scooters. I would be supportive of the four Japanese motorcycle brands using a common battery for swapping, but I don’t know how serious they are. I hadn’t known that Roam was going to come to the US or EU, but that would be cool. A lot of the EV bikes so far have been adventure bikes while they are often too tall for me, so a standard would be great