EDITOR'S NOTE: Susan Carpenter's "Along for the Ride" segment appears regularly on "Inside the Issues" on Spectrum News 1. Click the arrow above to watch a video of this segment.
It’s confusing enough that bicycles and motorcycles are both shortened to the word “bike.”
But things are about to get even more muddled as electric bicycle makers start getting into the electric motorcycle business. All of them are e-bikes. Some of them just have a lot more power and will require riders to get a motorcycle license before hitting the road.
With a fresh crop of startups capitalizing on the pandemic-induced success of plug-in bicycles of all kinds and the need for speed they often inspire, we take a look at some of the new electric motorcycles they’re making that are born to be wild — and green.
Super73 C1X
A dominant player for the past five years with its lineup of electric bicycles that blur the line between vintage mopeds and dirt bikes, Irvine-based Super73 introduced a concept electric motorcycle in March called the C1X. Gone are the pedals of the R, S and Z series bikes since the C1X is a fully powered motorcycle.
Specifics on the battery and motor have not yet been released, but Super73 estimates the top speed at 75 mph and range to be about 100 miles per charge. To handle the higher speeds, the C1X wheels are also increased to 15 inches, with Bridgestone providing the rubber, and disc brakes providing the stopping power. Pricing has not yet been announced, but reservations can be had for $73. The C1X will be a 2024 model and should be available in late 2023.
Sondors Metacycle
Based in Malibu, Sondors began as an electric bicycle company in 2015, adopting the namesake of its founder: Storm Sondors. Now the company is poised to bring its first electric motorcycle to market. Called the Metacycle, the battery-electric motorcycle can travel up to 80 miles on a single charge at speeds up to 80 mph.
Designed for people who have never ridden a motorcycle before, the Metacycle is powered with a hub motor in its rear wheel and a 4-kilowatt-hour battery. The wheels are 17 inches and stopped with hydraulic brakes. In the spot that would normally be occupied by a gas tank, there’s a wireless cellphone charger. The Metacycle costs $6,000 and can be preordered with a $100 down payment.
Land Moto District
A startup based in Cleveland with a shop in Escondido, Land Moto makes an electric bicycle that can be scaled up to a motorcycle with an over-the-air software update. Keep it in ride mode one and it’s an e-bicycle that gets people comfortable with the idea of riding a motorized two-wheeler. Mode two is a street-legal moped, and modes three and four unleash its power to reach a motorcycle speed of 65 mph.
Equipped with DOT-approved wheels, tires, lights and brakes, the Land District comes standard with a 1.8-kilowatt-hour battery but can be upgraded to a 5-kilowatt-hour pack. Regardless of battery size, the pack can be removed from the bike and brought inside for charging or used at a campsite to power lights or cellphones. Land’s bigger battery packs have enough energy to keep a refrigerator running. The District starts at $7,800 and is eligible for a 10% federal tax credit.