Most Interesting Electric Motorcycles of 2023

Range anxiety, extra weight, steep pricing, the dearth of charging infrastructure, etc, etc. The swell of complaints about electric motorbikes never seems to recede, but believe it or not, those oft-repeated concerns are continually being addressed by current manufacturers (albeit slowly), and the sheer diversity of electric models available in 2023 should signal to many riders that an oncoming era of battery-powered motorcycling isn’t going to slow its roll anytime soon.

Whether you embrace or dismiss them, there’s no denying that electrics are creeping into almost every segment of our sport; this list alone runs the gamut from motocrossers to utility mopeds to tourers and scooters, so really there’s something for everyone in the brave new electric world. If you’re a fan of swappable batteries, stylish designs, cutting-edge electronics, and silent commuting, read on.

2023 Cake Makka | 1.3–3.75 hp | From $4,170 (Flex shown)

Part short-haul commuter, part workhorse, the new street-legal Makka stands out from the rest of the two-wheel e-crowd by sheer virtue of its funky aesthetics. But it’s not all window dressing; Cake’s most compact and lowest priced model to date can also serve as an excellent short-range commuter. The light yet robust e-moped is available in two versions, the Flex and the Range, both rolling with an aerospace-grade aluminum chassis on 14-inch motorcycle rims and powered by a permanent magnet hub-mounted motor designed for short-haul errands in tight city environs.

Per Cake, the more powerful Makka Flex trim has a top speed of 28 mph and can squeeze 34 miles out of its 31Ah battery (in mixed city riding), while the Makka Range has a top speed of just 15 mph but a longer range of 41 miles. (There’s also a Work trim, which doubles battery capacity and range, but that version is only available in Europe.) Cake says you can completely charge the removable battery in three hours with the provided 10a external charger, and weight for both versions is 154 pounds with the battery. MSRP starts at $4,140.

2023 UBCO 2X2 Adventure | 3.2 hp | Starting at $4,999

UBCO and Cake have more in common than weird names; their designs also reveal a shared sense of purpose. UBCO’s 2X2 Adventure, however, takes things farther on the utility front, with the electric moped boasting a 1kW hub motor in each wheel and 19 built-in lugs on the frame to secure your gear to.

While the bike’s estimated 3.2 hp won’t win any drag races (top speed is 30 mph), two-wheel drive means you can claw your way over almost anything. Decent suspension travel—5.1 inches in front and 4.7 inches rear—helps smooth out most bumps, and hydraulic disc brakes with regenerative braking easily slow the 145-pound machine (with 2.1kWh battery). The ADV is on/off-road ready and features 17-inch spoke wheels and multiuse tires, a headlight plus turn signals and a license plate mount attached to a rugged alloy frame. UBCO says the ADV will go 43 miles with the standard 2.1kWh battery; the bigger 3.1kWh unit will add 11 pounds, but you’ll also get 75 miles of range.

The ADV’s biggest sticking point used to be its $6,999 MSRP, though the company recently dropped that to a palatable $4,999, which feels reasonable for the only two-wheel-drive vehicle here.