Electric cars have been shaking things up in the past few years. Why not go all-in with electric bikes, too? The plan for all-electric motorcycles nearly fell off the radar for years, but, believe it or not, this idea seems to be on the precipice of a renaissance.

There’s this article, for example, about the Evoke Urban S, and this one regarding the newest line of Zeros poised to hit the market. Plenty of folks are licking their chops to get their hands on these new models.

The new options are a far cry from the electric bikes of old, and an important question must be asked: Is all-electric worth it this time around? Here’s a closer look.

Why Would Someone Want An Electric Bike?

The obvious arguments are the same ones that people make for electric cars. Owners can say “bye-bye” to the gas station, they don’t need to worry about polluting the atmosphere with exhaust fumes, and they don’t have to get their hands dirty changing the oil. All fine upsides, but how do these bikes ride? Poor performance from a bike is an instant turn-off, so it might be beneficial to gain a firsthand perspective before committing.

For the Zero, at least, opinions seem positive. In Cycle World’s review of the Zero DSR, they laud the speed, throttle action and ease with which riders could flow with the rhythm of the road. They also feel that the Zero has plenty of juice to get around on daily commutes, and that charging times are more than reasonable.

When combined with the reduced cost of maintenance, there appear to be more than enough incentives to go electric.

There Are Some Drawbacks to Electric Bikes, Though

Perks are all well and good in the heart of the city. Riders in areas that are less “plugged in,” on the other hand, still have to carefully consider whether the range on an all-electric bike will be enough for their purposes. They also need to consider the initial investment of an electric bike, which, even when offset by tax credits, could be a fair bit higher than what most might be willing to pay.

So, Is It Worth It?

Here at MotoJustice, we believe the future looks promising for electric motorcycles. Electric bike technology is already progressing at an outstanding rate. If more people get hip to the idea of riding all-electric (and the infrastructure to support it nationwide becomes commonplace), it might well become a viable, perhaps even preferable, option for a good majority of bike enthusiasts.