Energica Ego Electric Motorcycle | FIRST RIDE

Electric bikes are cutting edge, and arguably none are more exotic than the Energica Ego. The Ego (and the Energica brand) is the product of Italian company CRP, a Modena-based CNC-machining and 3-D-printing firm that manufactures parts for Formula 1 and the aerospace industry. Although the Ego is still in late-stage prototype form, we hopped at the chance for a brief test ride in the hills outside Los Angeles.

The claimed 560-pound weight seems pretty accurate judging by the effort to pull the Ego off its sidestand. Once turned on and whirring, the Ego balances well and carves through corners admirably. Surely that’s thanks in part to the high-end componentry typical of any Italian sportbike, including a 43mm Marzocchi fork and Öhlins shock plus forged-aluminum Marchesini rims that reduce unsprung weight. Four-piston, radially mounted Brembo calipers squeeze 320mm rotors up front, delivering lots of stopping power and good confidence considering the Ego’s mass.

Speed, energy output, and regenerative charging information is displayed prominently on a 4.3-inch color LCD screen when riding, and once stopped the rider is free to dive into menus to adjust ride modes and regenerative braking manners. Energica claims about 134 hp and 145 pound-feet of torque from the oil-cooled, brushless motor (the battery pack is air-cooled, while the inverter is liquid-cooled). Range depends on riding intensity and environment, but the Ego’s 11.7 kWh battery is said to last nearly 100 miles with a normal mix of riding.

If this exotic electric tickles your fancy, be prepared to spend about $34,000. That’s a lot to fork over for a 560-pound sportbike, but at least there’s a reverse gear. After all, if you pay that much for a motorcycle, you don’t want to break a sweat backing it out of the garage.