Honda Throws in the Towel on Gas-Powered Two-Wheeled Fun

Image Credit: Honda.

Well, folks, it's official. Honda, the undisputed king of two-wheeled mayhem, has decided to ditch good ol' gasoline in favor of electrons by 2040. That's right, no more rumbling V-twins, no more screaming inline-fours, just the gentle whir of electric motors and the sound of crickets.

Now, before you grab your pitchforks and torches, hear me out. I'm as nostalgic as the next gearhead for the smell of burnt rubber and the symphony of a well-tuned engine. But let's face it, the writing's been on the wall for a while now. Electric cars are already giving their gas-guzzling counterparts a run for their money, and it was only a matter of time before the two-wheeled world followed suit.

Image Credit: Honda.

Honda's not exactly leading the charge on this one, though. They haven't even released an electric bike in the U.S. yet! But hey, at least they're setting some ambitious goals, like powering their future electric scooters with a fancy new "Mobile Power Pack e:" (MPP) thingamajig. I did try the Honda EM1e while on holiday in Europe, and I was pleasantly surprised by this electric scooter. Surprised, not blown away. While Honda has been tip-toeing around electric riding, competition has been having a party.

If you want to say: "But electric bikes are boring! They're slow, they're silent, and they have all the personality of a toaster oven," then, my friend, I'm here to tell you that's not necessarily the case. Sure, some electric bikes are about as exciting as watching paint dry, but there are plenty of others that can give even the most seasoned rider a thrill.

Take the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, for example. It's got neck-snapping acceleration, a top speed of 110 mph, and a range of 146 miles. Or how about the Zero SR/F, with its 140 ft-lb of torque and 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds? These bikes aren't just toys for tree-huggers; they're serious machines that can hold their own against any gas-powered competitor.

Image Credit: Honda.

Of course, electric bikes aren't perfect. They're still more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts, and range anxiety is a real concern for some riders. But as battery technology improves and charging stations become more widespread, these issues will become less and less of a problem.

So, what does the future hold for Honda and the rest of the motorcycle industry? It's hard to say for sure, but one thing is certain: electric bikes are here to stay. And while it's sad to see the end of an era, I'm also excited to see what the next generation of electric motorcycles will bring.

Who knows, maybe we'll even get an electric Gold Wing that can cross the country on a single charge. Now that would be something to see!