The Flying Flea C6.

Over the years, EICMA, the industry trade show that takes place each November in Milan, Italy, has hosted the debuts of a tremendous number of exotic, promising, and outright outlandish electric motorcycles. If the initial flurry of excitement over electric mobility has somewhat dwindled as its adoption has become both oh-so mainstream and not-so-cataclysmic, perhaps that’s a sign that the sector is entering a stage of maturity. At this year’s EICMA, the most compelling electric motorcycles didn’t indulge in fruitless futurecasting, promising performance and sustainability that would soon make ICE-powered motorcycles obsolete; rather, they were the most conventional ones—motorcycles designed and produced by major OEMs, positioned at corners of the market that can actually take advantage of the virtues of electric power.

The Pierer Mobility Group, Zero, and CFMoto each unveiled different takes on off-road motorcycles, while Royal Enfield and Honda showcased urban mobility solutions. Given the use cases of the motorcycles in both categories, limited range isn’t a deal breaker, while quiet running, simplicity, and maintenance-free use are major boons. Are any of them as cutting-edge as the BST Hypertek we saw five years ago? Maybe not. But at least you’ll be able to find them at a dealership near you—and for a reasonable price.

Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6

The original Royal Enfield Flying Fleas, commissioned by the British War Office, were air-dropped into combat zones in World War II. Here’s hoping no such fate awaits the new C6.

The world’s oldest continually operating motorcycle producer is going electric: Royal Enfield is announcing its Flying Flea all-electric sub-brand. The C6, its first production model, planned for release in 2026, looks like the utopian idyll of the urban runabout. If it had been unveiled at the world’s fair 70 years ago, we would have happily left a space for it in our imaginations right next to our flying cars and robot butlers. But it’s no mere fantasy. Royal Enfield has made a significant investment in the EV space. In 2022, parent company Eicher Motors invested in Stark Future, the Barcelona-based e-dirt bike brand; now it’s ramping up for the production of its own machines, developing an EV manufacturing plant at its home in Chennai, India. While details about C6′s powertrain are scant, Royal Enfield says it plans to incorporate lean-angle-sensitive ABS, cruise control, and a touchscreen TFT display.

Husqvarna Pioneer

The Husqvarna Pioneer brings unique styling to the Freeride E platform.

Ten years after the original KTM Freeride E debuted, Pierer Mobility Group is reinvigorating its electric offering with a ground-up design and street-legal trim. Alongside the all-new KTM Freeride E, PMG is also showing the nearly identical Husqvarna Pioneer. Weighing less than a Husqvarna FE 350 and boasting a range of 85 miles or “up to three hours of running time,” the Pioneer has closer parity to an ICE dual sport than its orange predecessor. The Pioneer uses a new 11kW electric motor that Husqvarna claims is capable of producing 25.6 peak horsepower and 27.7 lb.-ft. of torque. Should its 5.5kWh Li-ion battery die mid shred-sesh, it can be swapped out for a fresh one in under 10 minutes. Or it can be fully recharged in eight hours using the included 660-watt charger and a standard 110-volt power supply. Traction control, ride modes, and regenerative braking sweeten the deal.

CFMoto CF-X Concept

The CF-X uses fully-adjustable suspension from WP. WP is owned by the Pierer Mobility Group with whom CFMoto has strong ties.

CFMoto looks poised to have its own entry to the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup, the electric motocross world championship (think: MotoE for MX) currently dominated by Stark Future. Last year, CFMoto revealed the EVMX concept, which looks to have evolved into the production-ready CF-X, using the same powertrain but with more fully resolved bodywork and chassis. The Chinese brand says performance will be on par with ICE 450cc MXers, but hasn’t revealed power figures. However, it does say that it uses a 400V electrical system, suggesting it will offer rapid-charging—a good thing considering its 276 pounds likely precludes the use of a large battery. Ben Purvis, CW’s resident prognosticator, predicts production will likely be in 2026.

Zero XE and XB

Zero’s new entry-level X line are electric playbikes.

The XE and XB are Zero’s new entry-level off-road-only motorcycles. At a level of seriousness beneath the likes of the Husqvarna Pioneer, they’re a welcoming entry into the world of two-wheeled off-road exploring—plus, they don’t require a license to operate. The XE ($6,495) uses a swappable 4.3kWh lithium battery good for a claimed range of 65 miles at 31 mph (Zero claims top speed is 53 mph). The XB ($4,195) has a claimed 40-mile range at 31 mph with a top speed of 47 mph. Both models have  three ride modes (Eco, Sport, Rain), switchable traction control, and hill hold settings that can be accessed via a 2.4-inch full-color TFT display.  At 223 pounds (XE) and 139 pounds (XB), they aren’t exactly featherweights. Even still, it’s exciting to see Zero cater to a new market, giving riders steppingstones to its larger, pricier offerings.

Honda EV Fun Concept

The EV Fun concept uses CCS2 charging, a common standard in Europe that allows both rapid DC charging and slow AC charging similar to the NACS (North American Charging Standard).

Over the years, Honda has teased loads of intriguing concept models that never materialized beyond the trade show stage, but Honda promises the EV Fun Concept is destined for production. In fact, according to a press release, it’s scheduled to go on sale in 2025. Honda compares the EV Fun to a “naked sports model equivalent to a mid-sized internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycle,” which could hardly be more ambiguous. After all, a 250cc Hero is considered midsize in India, while a KTM 890 Duke is midsize in the US. Despite apparent big-bike aspirations (look at those lovely Nissin radial-mount brake calipers!), Honda says the EV Fun’s range is “sufficient for city use,” with a cruising range of over 100 kilometers (62 miles). Calling it an electric equivalent of, say, a CB650R, therefore, is a bit of a stretch. So OK, if the Flying Flea C6 is a midsize-in-India city bike, maybe the EV Fun Concept is Honda’s idea of a midsize-in-America city bike.