Getting electric motorcycle insurance can be difficult, because many insurers still see them as unusual, though they’re slowly warming to the idea. Some electric bikes are also considered high risk because they’re silent, which means pedestrians may not hear you coming. However, there is legislation coming soon that should mean all EVs must make a noise, which will get around this problem.
Electric motorbikes are mostly used in urban areas, which means they’re often more at risk of theft and accidents with other road users. But while these factors could make your insurance more expensive, there are other benefits of going electric that mean you could still save on your pennies.
Why buy an electric motorbike?
There are plenty of reasons to buy one right now. It costs hardly anything to ‘fill one up’ with electricity – many are only a handful of pounds to charge – and there are some neat tax incentives for those willing to take the plunge.
However, while most are silent, they’re also tremendously exciting to ride too, because unlike a petrol-powered bike, full electric power and torque is there from zero revs, meaning instantaneous and often completely linear acceleration.
As with electric cars, the biggest drawback is technology, and how quickly we’re able to build up a reliable fast-charging network in the UK. You might find your bike fully charges in an hour, but if you have to queue up for longer then it’s going to get boring pretty quickly.
The other major problem is how heavy this technology is. Lithium-ion battery packs and metal-laden motors weigh a lot, and this can affect the bike’s handling dramatically. Builders are finding answers to such questions, but it’s a slow process.
Range anxiety was a problem for many when the first electric vehicles were announced, but mainstream ranges above 100 miles have meant this is less of an issue now. Even at the low-cost end of the market the £4k Super Soco TC Max will do 60 miles with few worries.
Do you need insurance for an electric motorcycle?
An electric motorbike is still a motorcycle, so if you plan to ride it on the road you’ll need the correct licence and you’ll also need insurance. The level of cover you chose for the road is up to you: you can get quotes forComprehensive Cover;, and as with any other motorcycleThird Party insuranceis the minimum cover you require to be road legal.
What does electric motorbike insurance cost?
As with all insurance, the price depends on you, your bike, your location and a whole host of other factors. We could give you a range of prices, but it honestly wouldn’t be that useful to you, as quotes can vary considerably, so the fastest way to get an idea of your range of prices is fill out our quick online form.
Can I get my electric motorbike insured?
Yes! MCN Compare allows you to compare insurance quotes for your electric motorbike, but due to less insurers offering the service, it just means you will see less insurers displayed on the results page.
The good news is that we compare all the top insurers in one place you can rest assured you will still be getting the most comprehensive results available!
Can I ride an electric bike?
This depends on the power output of the bike. Some electric scooter and bike models can be ridden on L-plates by 16-year-olds because they’re restricted to 30mph, but other electric bikes can require full motorcycle licences because of their power output. Electric motorcycles are not to be confused with electric bicycles, which can be ridden by anyone with no licence requirement. All electric motorbikes require thesame licence as petrol bikes.
Popular electric motorcycles
It’s still relatively early days for this type of bike, but already we’ve tested theHarley-Davidson Livewireand that’s proven a real talking point. And that’s not all, because you can have an electric sport bike like theEnergica Ego, motocross machine like theHonda CR-E, and even Triumph are known to be working on anEV project that you can see below. How does an electric retro Bonneville sound to you?
You can find a list of our favourites by checking ourbest electric motorbikes article.
We’ve also laid out what we know about thefuture of electric motorcycling.
Popular electric scooters
Of course, not everyone wants a big battery-powered behemoth. There are plenty of lower-cost electric scooters or mopeds available that are perfect for commuting or traffic-busting and the latest breed are refined and practical, plus mainly boasting cheap insurance.
For example, probably the best-known scooter brand, Piaggio, have a model called the Elettrica.
Cake offer two funky, lightweight electric scooters, the Cake Kalk INK and the Cake Kalk&. They are £8k and £12k respectively so you’ll need to be hungry for Cake to make that commitment.
Super Soco are also making waves and the TC-Max is a top-selling electric motorcycle in the UK. For around the £4000-mark you get a practical machine that can cover 80 miles between charges, It’s not really a scooter, but a funky 125 equivalent roadster. Super Soco’s CUx, by Ducati, is definitely a scooter and will appeal to the fashion conscious. After the UK government grant, the CUx in Ducati colours costs just £2299, while a standard CUx is £2099 after the grant.
Then there’s the new electric Sur-ron LBX which effectively bridges the gap between bicycles and motorcycles. Available in two versions, there are no pedals and all the power control comes from a proper twist grip, while the rest of its cycle parts, like the suspension (which is adjustable), brakes, wheels and tyres are all built specifically for a bike of this size.
The result is that it weighs just 50kg but doesn’t feel flimsy like an up-specced push bike. For those wanting purely off-road, there is the X model (that can only legally be ridden on private land) and there is also a road-going L1E model (£4495).
Revved up to get your electric motorbike insurance?
Compare electric motorcycle insurance quotes now and start your EV journey today.
Edited by Gareth Evans, MCN online editor.
Updated by Sian Daly, MCN Compare content editor April 2022.
