Electric motorcycles in Australia: what to look for, and what licence you need

Electric motorcycles have gone from curiosity to a real second-hand category in Australia. They are quiet, cheap to run and mechanically simple. They also raise questions a petrol bike never does — and the licence one catches people out most.

The licence question comes first

An electric motorcycle is a motorcycle. You need a motorcycle licence to ride one on the road, and the bike has to be registered. What changes is how learner restrictions are worked out.

Petrol bikes qualify for the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) on engine capacity and a power-to-weight limit of 150kW per tonne. Electric bikes cannot be measured in cc, so in New South Wales they are handled separately: an electric motorcycle with a power output not exceeding 25kW is LAMS-eligible without the power-to-weight calculation.

The catch is that LAMS lists are maintained state by state, and a model approved in one state has not always been added in another. Before you buy, check the current LAMS list published by your own state road authority for that exact model and variant — not a manufacturer's claim, and not a forum post.

Range is the number most likely to disappoint

Advertised range on an electric motorcycle is usually a city figure measured at low speed. Sustained highway riding is the worst case for an electric bike — there is no gearbox to drop into and air resistance climbs steeply. A bike quoting 150km of city range may do closer to half that at 100km/h.

Ask the seller what they actually get on their normal ride, and what the display reads after a full charge. Compare that with the original specification.

Charging: the detail that decides if it suits you

• Onboard vs external charger. Some bikes charge from a normal power point with an onboard charger; others need a brick you have to carry. Confirm the original charger is included — a replacement can be a significant fraction of a cheap bike's value.
• Fast charging. Only some models support DC fast charging, and it is often an option rather than standard.
• Removable battery. Useful if you park in an apartment building without a power point. Ask whether it can be charged off the bike.

Battery health and what is left of the warranty

The battery is most of the value. Ask for state of health if the bike reports it, how it has usually been charged, and whether the traction battery warranty is still running and transfers to a new owner. Many manufacturer battery warranties are longer than the vehicle warranty and are worth confirming in writing.

Parts and service

Several electric motorcycle brands sold here are small importers. Before buying a used one, check that someone in Australia still supports the model — a bike whose distributor has left the market can be very hard to repair, whatever its condition.

Browse what is listed now under e-Motorbikes, and see our rules and battery safety page for the certification marks worth checking.