Brammo reduces price of electric motorcycle

Electric motorcycle manufacturer Brammo has announced a $4,000 price reduction for its recently introduced Enertia. A company representative said the new price is $7,995, and that a ten percent federal tax credit brings the final cost to $7,200.

Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher said that the price reduction was possible due to increases in engineering and supply chain efficiencies as production has ramped up. He added that more than 100 Enertias have been shipped.

With a weight of 324 pounds and a top speed of 60 mph, the Brammo is fun to ride and feels much like a 250cc conventional motorcycle, with similar performance. But even with the reduced price, it still costs considerably more than a 250cc Honda Rebel, which starts at about $4,000. For the price of an Enertia, riders could opt for a larger cruising bike like the $7,000, 745cc Honda Shadow Aero and still have $200 in change for gas.

Still, the Enertia may appeal to some of the urban commuters the company is targeting, who may find its simplicity to ride and maintain appealing, and for whom the 42-mile range isn’t a problem.

The Enertia is sold through Best Buy stores in California and Oregon, and Oregon-based Brammo will sell directly to customers in other states.

Also read: Brammo Enertia electric motorcycles go to Washington, D.C. on road trip.

See our motorcycle and scooter buying advice and ratings.

—Jim Travers  

Comments

[Cale]

I'll bet those first 100 customers feel like "suckers" with this sudden price reduction.

[Buck]

If you don't mind riding a bike that looks like it is wrapped around a giant orange egg then this is the bike for you. I test drove an Enertia and if you have been reading the raving reviews of the pre-production models, keep in mind the actual production model is not the same bike. The production model now has an aluminum frame instead of carbon fiber and a power curve that moves away from power and toward preserving battery charge. It claims 60mph but I could only get 48mph out of it on a dead flat road with no headwind. For comparison I rode a gas Yamaha scooter that got up to 70mph quite easily. For motorcycle enthusiasts, the Enertia is not going to make any converts, for the moped fans and uninitiated biker hopefuls, they will feel like a superhero on this bike. A 48mph superhero with limited range. Don't get me wrong, I like this battery-bike for what it is, an electric townie. But beware the reviews from sources who's idea of a street bike is the Honda Rebel.

[Corndog]

What? That bike definitely goes over 60 mph and is improved over the pre-production models (not least of all in the style changes; I wasn't a fan of the old orange egg style -- but that's no longer the case). You can see a pic of their bike at their website. Wish it was still carbon fiber, but for under 8 grand!? :)