Electric motorcycles are inevitably the future of motorcycling. With the government hoping to reach zero emissions by 2050 and banning the sale of petrol and hybrid engines from 2030.
Sooner or later motorcyclists will need to convert to electric bikes and whilst there may be less torque and very little sound, there are a number of positives to switching to electric.
Will I still need to get an MoT and tax an electric bike?
Yes. Just like your petrol bike, you still need to ensure your bike has had an MoT, regardless of the fact less can go wrong with it (more on that later). You will also need to have valid road tax, however the price of the tax is £0, so you will not need to pay anything for it.
The government details that to be exempt from tax your vehicle must “use an external source or an electric storage battery not connected to any source of power when the vehicle is moving.”
Will I save on servicing costs?
Yes, yes and well yes. Because the engine is electric, there will be less that can go wrong with your bike. You’ll have no spark plugs, air filters, timing belts, clutch, gearbox or oil that needs checking.
In fact the only thing you need to maintain in-between services will be your brake pads, tyres and the hydraulic fluid. However, the brake pads and fluid should in most cases last longer than a standard bike, as the engine provides most of the braking power.
Unlike petrol they’ll have no time needing to tinker with your bike or get your hands dirty, which means you can spend more time, well, riding.
Tyre, brake and belt wear is the same as any other motorcycle. A new belt is required every 20,000 miles at a cost of £140. Meanwhile a new battery should only be needed after 230,000 miles.
Running costs are approximately 1.5p per mile, a typical petrol motorcycle with an MPG of 50 is 12p per mile. Add in the minimal servicing costs and you are onto a winner. You should factor in that the above takes into account you paying for the electricity to charge, when the reality could be that a charging station is free (many of them) or the bike is charged at work which is also usually free.
Insurance for an electric bike
As well as a good electric bike you’ll need the right level of insurance cover. That’s where the team at Bikesure comes in handy with a wide selection of motorbike insurance deals for learners and experienced riders.
This post was adapted from a post on theBikesure Blog
