Electric Motorcycles Under $10K
If you were to ask 100 people which is the best electric motorcycle for less than $10,000, you might get 100 different answers. Whether you want a calm and quiet commuter or a face-melting torque monster, you’re bound to love the low-maintenance, easy and inexpensive recharging, and stealthy operation offered by each of the vehicles in this wildly competitive segment of two-wheeled riding. Despite dozens of affordable electric bikes flooding the market, there’s really only one choice if you want a highway-legal machine that doesn’t cheap out on the drivetrain, and lightweight enough to be fun to ride. I might be biased, but the only choice in this segment is the LAND Moto District.
Below you’ll find a pretty comprehensive list of the highest-profile electric motorcycles on sale today, running the gamut from urban electric-assist pedal bikes and fancy European brand scooters. Whichever of these machines you deem your favorite, it’s definitely an exciting time in the electric motorcycle market. We’re just at the beginning of a new generation of electric motorcycles, and there’s something here for everyone. For the purposes of this guide, we’re excluding anything you have to pedal.
BMW CE-02 - The urban runabout powered by an alternator
Falling somewhere between a scooter and a traditional motorcycle, the $8,194 BMW CE-02 uses fat 14-inch wheels but has a more upright motorcycle riding position than your average scoot. Using a BMW parts bin electric motor, itself a repurposed 3-series car alternator, this machine cuts some corners in an effort to remain inexpensive. This 291-pound bike makes use of about 15 horsepower, which is good enough for a 60-mile per hour top speed, but only has enough battery (about 3.92 kWh useable) to go 59 miles on a charge.
Ryvid Anthem - The battery on wheels
California-based Ryvid launched the Anthem in late 2023 with a 4.3 kWh rolling suitcase-style battery. “Ryvid was born from a necessity of downsizing how people get around, with the intention of making it not boring,” says founder Dong Tran. The bike is defined by its rear wheel integrated hub motor, which helps keep costs on the aggressive-looking $7,995 bike down, though might hamper some of the riding fun. Ryvid claims it is the most efficient bike in its class, but can manage no more than 75 miles in city riding.
Maeving RM1S - The showy British throwback
Overseas import Maeving combines vintage motorbike visuals with electric propulsion to some effect, pressing the painted “fuel tank” into service as a convenient storage area. Starting at $9,995, the RM1S is much heavier than it looks at 311 pounds in ready-to-ride configuration. With a pair of 2.73 kWh batteries onboard, the Maeving RM1S is also less efficient than it looks, achieving just 90 miles of range with its somewhat anemic ~15 horsepower rear wheel integrated hub motor.
Zero XB, Sur Ron Lightbee, and Talaria Sting R - Off-road riding for the masses
Relatively new to the electric motorcycle market is an influx of inexpensive Chinese-built electric off-roaders, somewhere between a downhill mountain bike and a small dirtbike. With prices ranging from $4,000 to $7,000 these lightweight machines have grown quite popular. Some owners have been turned off by the deleterious quality and lack of spare and repair parts here in the U.S. market, though many still love the riding experience enough to overlook. With small batteries to keep weight down, these bikes can’t go very far at all, but that doesn’t really matter, as none of them are street-legal anyway.
LAND Moto District - The bike that does just about everything for everyone
Cleveland, Ohio-based LAND Moto has been building its inexpensive street-legal electric motorcycles since 2021. Starting at just $6,995 the District is the perfect blend of high-quality components and stripped-back simplicity to deliver the ultimate answer in lightweight and longevity. With a standard 2.2 kWh battery, the District tips the scales at just 200 pounds, and the larger optional 5.5 kWh battery adds just 35 pounds to that total. Being around 100 pounds lighter than the competition comes with some perks, including up to 120 miles of super efficient city range.
That lighter weight also aids in rapid acceleration from the 23-horsepower electric motor. LAND mounts its electric motor in a mid-drive configuration to avoid the excess unsprung weight of a hub-style motor, giving the bike unparalleled handling. Combined with larger 17-inch diameter wheels than any other bike in its class, the Distric is also among the best in the field at handling the pockmarked city streets of the nation’s crumbling pothole-filled roadways. It’s easy to see why the LAND DIstrict is the best choice in modern electric motorcycling.
With dozens of bikes to choose from in the world of electric motorcycling, only one can be dubbed the least expensive highway-legal electric vehicle available in the U.S. market.