Electric motorcycles in 2026: does it make sense to ride them on track yet?

2026 has been a year of clear expansion for electric motorcycles: brands like Kawasaki, with the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1, or Honda, with its first larger street electric, are expanding a range that was almost anecdotal until recently. The question many track day riders are asking is direct: does it already make sense to ride an electric motorcycle on track?

What changes on track: instant torque, no gears

An electric delivers all its torque from zero rpm and has no gears to shift, which greatly simplifies cornering: all your attention can go into braking and line. For beginners, it's a different — and in some ways simpler — learning curve than a combustion bike.

Range: the real handbrake

The main limitation is still range under hard use: riding flat out drains the battery far faster than street use, and a full recharge between sessions isn't always feasible with current circuit infrastructure. That's why, for now, most organizers don't offer dedicated electric-only sessions.

Silence: an advantage, and also a cultural shift

An electric motorcycle on track is nearly silent, which completely changes how you perceive other bikes approaching from behind — your ears stop being a useful reference — and forces you to rely more on your mirrors and the habit of checking behind you on the straights.

Still a niche, but growing fast

Today, the vast majority of track days are still ridden on combustion bikes, and that will remain true until range and charging infrastructure improve further. But the trend is clear and worth following closely.

Keep riding, whatever bike you have

Check the available track day calendar regardless of whether your bike is combustion or electric.