Electrics Go The Distance

Limited range is the electric motorcycle’s one obvious drawback. Sure, they have low emissions, minimal maintenance and mountains of torque – but will one ever be the best choice for a long distance tour?

- Peter Henshaw

Turns out it already has been for some – over the last few years, people have crossed the US on electric bikes, done Land’s End to John O’Groats and ridden around the world as well as setting a handful of new of distance records.

The most recent is German cycle shop owner Remo Klawitter, who set a new European 24-hour record for distance ridden on an electric. Riding a Zero DSR ZF14.4, he covered 691.8 miles – 9.5 hours of the 24 were spent charging, when Klawitter took the chance to eat and get some rest. The Zero was standard, though with the optional Charge Tank to allow quicker charging from Level Two public charging points, plus the accessory quick charger which allows a full charge in one hour. He rode 90-mile stints at normal road speeds, and his average, with stops, was 28.8mph.