Electric Motorcycles: Why My Early Experiences Felt Like the Future… and Why I’m No Longer Sure

When I first rode an electric motorcycle back in 2019 — the Zero SR/F, generously arranged via English Electric Motorcycles — it completely rewired my perception of what electric bikes could be. Up to that point, I’d subconsciously judged every electric bike by what it wasn’t: loud, mechanical, petrol-powered, visceral.

The SR/F forced me to stop doing that.

Instead of focusing on what was missing, I found myself absorbed by what electric riding added. It was fun in a different way — instant torque, seamless acceleration, and a quietness that made the ride strangely relaxing. Electric didn’t feel like a compromise; it felt like a new flavour of motorcycling altogether.

A year or two later I rode the Zero SR/S, and again, the ride characteristics stood out: smooth, fast, unintimidating yet addictive. Yes, even then I had concerns around charge times, infrastructure, and long-distance practicality — but the core experience of riding the thing was brilliant. It genuinely felt like the beginning of something big.

The Boom Before the Bust

Around 2021–22, sales of “big” electric bikes were accelerating. The stars had aligned:

• Government subsidies

• Strong finance residuals

• Low interest rates

• A general sense that electric mobility was the future

  
  

It looked like the UK and Europe were finally ready to embrace mainstream electric motorcycling.

And then, almost overnight, the bottom fell out. As the Conservative government quietly stepped away from aggressive electrification policy, demand evaporated. The moment the political winds changed, banks slashed residual values, insurance premiums skyrocketed, and dealers were left holding £20k electric bikes that later had to be dumped for half their original price just to escape the stock.

The casualties piled up.

Energica wobbled. Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire division stalled. Kawasaki’s early electric and hybrid experiments fizzled. Damon — one of the most hyped EV motorcycle start-ups ever — still hasn’t delivered mass-production bikes despite enormous investment.

Even MotoE — the electric racing class that was supposed to prove the future — has been dropped and replaced with a bagger series. If that isn’t a symbolic pivot, I don’t know what is.

The Paradox: More Manufacturers, Fewer Buyers

What fascinates (and confuses) me is that even with demand dropping and second-hand electric motorcycles being sold for pennies, more manufacturers continue to launch new models. EICMA this year was full of them.

But why? Who are they selling to?

Take Can-Am: huge hype, huge brand equity, big PR push… and yet I’ve not seen a single one on the road.

Zero themselves — arguably the pioneers — have had to pivot into the lightweight off-road Surron/Talaria segment just to stay alive. Verge, with its sci-fi hubless-wheel superbike, will have an even harder time surviving if demand remains this low.

Battery tech is improving, yes — but not where it really matters for motorcycles. My 2019 Zero SR/F had a real-world range of around 100 miles. Honda’s upcoming WN7, due in 2026, can barely exceed that — despite being marketed as the breakthrough big-brand entry.

So if range isn’t improving, demand is low, disposal/recycling channels barely exist, and used values continue to collapse…Why are companies still throwing money at electric motorcycles?

Is it:

• A PR exercise?

• A requirement to meet corporate CO₂ offsetting?

• A strategic placeholder until the next propulsion tech arrives?

• Or simply a tax-efficient R&D necessity to keep shareholders happy?

  
  

Whatever the reason, the market reality isn’t matching the marketing spin.

Is Electric Still the Future? I’m Not So Sure Anymore

Fast forward to today: I still enjoy riding electric motorcycles. For commuting, urban journeys, short blasts — they’re brilliant. Calm, fast, drama-free, and fun in a very pure way.

But can they truly be the future of motorcycling?

Right now… I can’t see it.

Not at the big-bike level. Not without:

• Major breakthroughs in battery energy density

• Faster charging

• Lower weight

• A stable used market

• Government support that isn’t pulled at a moment’s notice

  
  

And none of those things look imminent.

If Not Electric, Then What?

The alternatives aren’t exactly inspiring either.

Hydrogen?

No one in motorcycling is seriously moving the needle here. Infrastructure is non-existent.

Hybrid?

Kawasaki tried — and flopped. Motorcycles don’t have the packaging space or weight allowance cars do.

Synthetic fuel?

This might be the most realistic “middle ground”. If we could switch to clean-burning synthetic fuels in the same way we went from leaded to unleaded, most internal-combustion bikes could keep running with minimal modification. Classics could use additives. Modern bikes could adapt quickly.

But synthetic fuel production is tiny, expensive, and politically inconsistent. Will governments back it? Will they tax it to death? Or could it actually become the long-term answer for enthusiasts?

Mixed signals everywhere.

Looking Ahead: Honda’s WN7 and the Next Chapter

Honda entering the big-electric space with the WN7 is a huge moment — the first Japanese giant to do so in a serious way. And at around £12k, it massively undercuts Zero, which could be the final nail in the coffin for the smaller brand.

Will the WN7 change the game? Or will it become another slow-selling, policy-dependent experiment?

I’ll reserve judgement until I ride it — but at least the price point makes more sense.

The Honda WN7 will be available in a learner legal AND A2 variant.

Where I Stand Today

Electric bikes absolutely have a place. For many riders, for many journeys, they’re fantastic. And my early experiences on the SR/F and SR/S still remind me why the concept is so appealing.

But as a future for all motorcycling? I’m struggling to believe that now.

Without clarity from governments, stability in finance, realistic pricing, and genuine technological leaps — electric motorcycles will remain niche, inconsistent, and risky for both buyers and manufacturers.

I’ll keep riding them. I’ll keep enjoying them.

But I no longer think they represent the destination. They’re just one possible chapter in a much bigger story — and right now, no one seems to know what the final chapter looks like.