The Progressive International Motorcycle Show was held at the Javits Center in New York City this year from January 18 to the 20.  During this year’s show, most motorcycle companies featured their new model lines with some demos and interactive displays.  the show also featured many aftermarket parts and tuning companies, as well as schools for learning how to ride motorcycles.

Perhaps the most innovative motorcycles at the show were those that are fully electric.  Zero Motorcycles showcased this design.  These designs are the next step for motorcycles, bringing highly efficient electric motors to a lightweight frame.  Though this top-of-the-line model has a range of only 137 miles, it is a start for a cleaner world.  Also, these motorcycles are intended for city transportation, meaning their small range should be no problem if only used on city streets.  In fact, city riding is optimal for these electric motorcycles, as they have the highest range and battery life for city riding, which includes constant stopping and going around city streets. Recharging the battery would only cost thirty cents for the smallest battery size model, and a little more than a dollar for the largest battery size.

However, charge time could influence the potential buyer’s decision.  The larger batteries take more than seven hours to get to 95 percent battery charge.  Although, users can overcome this by buying an optional charging accessory that can decrease the charging time to one hour for a 95 percent charge, which may be a necessary expense.

These bikes look like a great purchase for a city-dweller until he sees the price.  The cheapest model on the line is the MSRP at 7,995 dollars.  That is pricier than most internal combustion engine motorcycles that have larger ranges and take minutes to fill up with gas.  However, for an environmentalist, it will seem like a fair trade-off, and perhaps in a few years, the range and recharge times will be improved.

The most exciting motorcycles at these shows are usually the superbikes.  These are motorcycles that are given very powerful engines, and sacrifice comfort for pure performance.  Though all motorcycles may not exceed 186 miles per hour for their top speeds, these bikes only take seconds to get to that barrier.  One bike that falls under this category is the Kawasaki ZX-14R.  It has a 1.4-liter inline-four producing about 190 horsepower.  It accelerates to what some call “terminal velocity” for a motorcycle.

Another impressive superbike is the BMW HP4.  It has a smaller engine than the Kawasaki—just one liter—yet it produces about the same amount of horsepower as the Kawasaki.  This won’t set one back a million dollars either, though it costs as much as a small family sedan.  These bikes deliver astounding performance, but also take a lot of courage to ride, as they have double or even triple the power of most motorcycles.

Though only superbikes and electric motorcycles were highlighted in this article, there were many other interesting things at the show.  There was something for everyone there, be it finding somewhere to learn how to ride, or just simply admiring the motorcycles.  Though the next show in New York is not until next year, it is something interesting to do and can spark an interest in motorcycles that could lead to a purchase for one’s self one day.