My Transition: I'm Switching from My Gasoline Motorcycle to an Electric One

Since the parking for gasoline-powered two-wheelers became paid in the capital, motorcyclists working in Paris have had to adapt. Either by paying a fortune for parking or switching to electric. Jérémy, owner of a large displacement bike, tells us about his week riding the Zero FXE.

Let’s abandon the usual social codes and get straight to the point. My name is Jérémy, 27 years old, I love motorcycles, speed, noise, and all I need now is a Johnny Hallyday tattoo on my arm to be the archetype of an experienced biker. I live about fifteen kilometers from my workplace, located in Paris, and my means of transportation is also my daily pleasure. It has become much less enjoyable since the very dear Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of the capital, decided that bikers now had to part with half a month’s salary to park their motorcycle on the street. The solution? Apparently switching to electric. But do electric motorcycles really exist?

Monday

The Zebécane shop kindly entrusted me with a Zero FXE to give me a taste of what my possible life tomorrow could be like. In restricted version, it can be ridden with a simple 125 training and a B license. As for me, switching from a 650cc to a 125 and exchanging 75 horsepower for 15 is, on paper, not very exciting. Yet, I admit, handling it is very amusing. It must be said that this is the most powerful bike on the market in terms of weight-to-power ratio. After the strange feeling of feeling like I’m on a large ATV, the first acceleration on avenue de la Grande-Armée makes me think that the week might not be so bad after all. It accelerates strongly and brakes hard! After greeting a fellow rider on avenue Hoche with a biker sign, I am surprised not to receive any response… I guess I’ll have to get used to it!

Tuesday

First commute, and discovery of the machine on the périphérique. The first feeling is quite strange. The bike is playful, which is nice, but I feel vulnerable. Used to lane splitting in rush hour, the absence of noise is certainly relaxing, but I am not reassured. How will drivers be warned of my presence? The main advantage of the noise of a thermal motorcycle, besides intentionally disturbing the neighbors, remains the fact of being heard by drivers. I need to be extra vigilant.

Wednesday

Almost starting to have fun! After a day of using Eco mode, I switch to Sport mode. And there, everything comes even faster and more forcefully. At red lights, I take a mischievous pleasure in easily overtaking Parisian scooters that wait for the green like Lewis Hamilton would leap at the start of a Grand Prix. Beyond the fun, I feel less tired by the end of the day. There are fewer horses to manage, no gears to shift, and the electric motorcycle, given its characteristics, is perfectly suited to city riding. Even more so than my previous motorcycle.

Thursday

The range is about 110 km in Eco mode, a little less in Sport mode. It’s time to recharge the beast. Head to the nearest station near work: a Belib’ station. You just have to scan your contactless bank card to start charging. Well, normally. My first VISA card isn’t accepted. The second one either. And AMEX, although compatible, as well. I try at the Indigo parking lot just nearby. Again, failure. A badge is required. Clearly, it’s better not to be an occasional user… I cheat a little by asking a friend’s badge for recharging. In 5 hours and 30 minutes, the battery goes from 25% to 70%. It’s an extra stress, but with good organization and functioning stations, it’s not so painful.

Friday

And what about the wallet? I take advantage of the last day of the week to do a financial comparison. My monthly gas budget for my bike is about 50 €. If I owned a Zero FXE, I would need about 6 to 7 recharges per month. By charging at home or at work (if possible, since the battery isn’t removable), the cost of recharging is estimated at 2 euros. At a station, if I were a Belib’ subscriber, I would pay between 0.75 and 0.85 euros per hour. About 50 euros as well… but with the inconvenience of being less free to move about. Everything is a question of compromises.

Summary of my week riding an electric motorcycle

I had initial prejudices because I couldn’t imagine sacrificing my large engine for a pragmatic means of transport. I ended up very happy, largely thanks to the quality of the motorcycle provided. Beyond ecological considerations, this electric bike gave me a lot of pleasure and proved to be perfectly suited for my urban commutes. For the sake of argument, a motorcycle with a removable battery would be more practical for someone like me. For now, the biggest obstacle preventing me from making the switch is the price. About 15,000 euros. That’s twice the price of my new Yamaha MT-07. When prices drop, I’ll be there.