You may not have heard of Brammo, but now is an excellent time for an introduction. The Oregon-based company makes acclaimed electric motorcycles in three models of varying price point, range, and performance. All three models are getting steep discounts for the end-of-summer season.
The cheapest Brammo, the Enertia Plus, is a commuter bike that has had its price slashed from $10,995 to just $6,995 on 2013 models. The Enertia Plus is powered by a 17-hp electric motor that can send up to 30 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheel through a single-gear drivetrain. Its remarkable efficiency of 313 MPGe combined allows it to manage 80 miles of range in the city or 45 on the highway (at 55 mph) despite a petite lithium-ion battery of just 6.2 kWh.
Brammo’s flagship bikes are the Empulse and Empulse R. The 2014 Empulse is marked down from $16,995 to $11,995, while a 2013 version can be had for $9,995. The higher-performance Empulse R has been reduced from $18,995 to $13,995 for a 2014 model, and just $11,995 for a 2013 bike.
The Empulse and Empulse R both send 54 horses through a 6-speed gearbox. The Empulse uses a standard permanent magnet AC (PMAC) motor that makes 45.5 lb-ft of torque while the Empulse R upgrades to an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor that makes max power at a lower RPM and is capable of 66 lb-ft of torque.
Both performance bikes can reach a top speed of 110 mph and are capable of 128 miles of range in the city and 58 miles on the highway (at 70 mph) thanks to a 10.2-kWh lithium-ion battery. They also come with a 3-kW charger and are J1772 compatible, so any public Level 2 charging station can bring the battery from 20% to 80% in just 2 hours.
If you’re worried that these discounts could signify hard times for Brammo, rest assured the Oregon outfit is doing just fine. And if you have any interest at all in motorcycles, particularly the electric variety, we’d suggest looking into this deal soon. Brammo is one of the best in the business, and those bikes are going to sell fast at those prices. They may be range-limited, but I hear they’re an absolute blast to ride.