Electric motorcycle touring: it doesn’t work in England, so imagine here!

Is the electric motorcycle ready for touring? In England, riders seem to have answered, and for now, it’s pretty much a no. But over there, distances are short and there are chargers almost everywhere. So what about here in Canada, with our long roads and our winters? That’s the question I’m putting to you today!

In England, electric isn’t taking off

At the end of June 2026, the UK had about 1.49 million licensed two-wheelers (motorcycles and scooters combined, since the official statistics don’t separate them). Only 13,598 were electric, or 0.9%, according to the UK Department for Transport. And it’s not a lack of interest in motorcycling: in the second quarter, new two-wheeler registrations went up by almost 13%. The British are buying, just not electric. Electric’s share of new two-wheelers even dropped, from 3.0% to 2.5% in a year.

For long distances, the problem is obvious. Take the Honda WN7, Honda’s first real electric motorcycle. It sells for £12,999 over there, or about CA$24,600 (£12,999), and Honda quotes up to 140 km of range. Perfect for commuting. But for a 300 km ride through the Scottish Highlands, you’re looking at at least two charging stops.

And charging isn’t always easy. Britain’s network was designed for cars: bays that don’t suit motorcycles, heavy cables, rarely any shelter from the rain. The WN7 can fast-charge from 20 to 80% in about 30 minutes, according to Honda. Better than before, but still a long way from a five-minute fill-up! Add to that the end of the £500 government grant (about CA$950) in spring 2026. No surprise that in a survey published in June 2026, 81% of riders questioned said they wouldn’t consider electric for now.

What about here at home?

Let’s run the numbers on a trip many of us know well: the Gaspé Peninsula loop in Quebec. The Route 132 loop from Sainte-Flavie is about 885 km. With a bike that does 140 km per charge, that’s six or seven charging stops, not counting the ride to get there!

Even an electric bike built for adventure, like the Zero DSR/X, has its limits. Zero quotes about 290 km in the city, but only about 137 km on the highway at 113 km/h (70 mph). And on the Trans-Canada, that’s pretty much the speed we ride.

As for chargers, Quebec is fairly well equipped: about 2,860 fast-charging points as of March 31, 2026, according to the provincial government. The catch is that many electric motorcycles can’t even plug into them. Zero, for example, won’t add fast charging to its bikes until 2027. Without fast charging, you’re looking at a few hours on a regular charger. That’s a long lunch!

We also have to think about our reality. Cold weather cuts battery range, and our May and October mornings are pretty chilly. Our season is short: in Quebec, riding on public roads is banned from December 1 to March 15. And once you leave the main highways, on the North Shore or in Abitibi, fast chargers get scarcer.

There is some good news. Quebec still offers a $500 Roulez vert rebate on a new electric motorcycle, while British riders have lost theirs. And for city riding, with a charger at home and predictable trips, an electric bike can already do the job very well. As for the Honda WN7, no Canadian price or date has been announced.

What do you think?

When I head out on a trip, I like not planning everything and taking the little road that catches my eye. With an electric bike, for now, you have to plan every stop. But the technology is moving fast, and I’m curious to know what you think.

Have you ever done a trip on an electric motorcycle in Canada? Would you ride the Gaspé loop on electric? Or are you sticking with gas for a few more years? Let me know in the comments!

Ride safe!

Photos

Main photo: the Honda WN7 on display at a motor show in Thailand, March 2026. Photo: Chanokchon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

• UK Department for Transport, “Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2026”.
• eMotorcyclist, “Why Are Electric Motorcycles Struggling to Win Over British Riders?” (November 2026; end of the purchase grant, Warranty Solutions Group survey).
• Honda, Honda WN7 announcement (CCS2 charging).
• Tourisme Gaspésie, map and distances (885 km loop).
• Electrek, Zero DSR/X launch (claimed city and highway range).
• Motorcycle.com, “Zero Motorcycles Announces Level 3 DC Fast Charging Arriving in 2027”.
• Government of Quebec, public charging (2,860 fast-charging points as of March 31, 2026) and Roulez vert rebate amounts (in French).
• Converted to Canadian dollars at about CA$1.89 per £1 (November 2026).