While many riders still favor gas-powered motorcycles, the Reload Land Electric Motorcycle Festival celebrates the innovated leaps being taken in the realm of electric motorcycles. (Photos by the author) After participating in this year’s Moto Giro d’Italia – well known for its glorious array of petrol-powered classic motorcycles – I travelled to Berlin for a very different type of event: Reload Land – The Electric Motorcycle Festival, which was held June 7-8 at the Napoleon Komplex.  I lived in West Berlin back when the wall still cut through this part of the city, so this would be a homecoming of sorts, allowing me to revisit my old stomping grounds while immersing myself in the sights – and silence – of the electric motorcycle scene. Until now, this world had been mostly unfamiliar to me. While the switch from warm Italian sunshine to Berlin’s unseasonably chilly air and looming rainclouds wasn’t ideal, my excitement for the weekend didn’t waver. The Napoleon Komplex had been transformed with banners and manufacturer displays, unified under the event’s slogan: Fahre elektrisch – Tanze aus der Reihe, or “Drive electric – dance out of line.”  Test riding the LiveWire Del Mar. It was a fitting motto for a thoughtfully curated event brought to life by festival founder Maximilian Funk and his team. Their aim? To show that life on two wheels without engine noise can be just as thrilling as its petrol-powered counterpart.  To the right of the main entrance was a dedicated demo fleet area. To the left, a large Can-Am display stood alongside LiveWire’s offering, both adjacent to an outdoor bar and seating area. A modest stage was set up for the evening’s entertainment: electronic music, naturally. Notably absent was Zero Motorcycles – at least officially. The only appearance of a Zero came courtesy of German YouTuber Paddy Lectric, whose privately owned Zero DSR/X was parked nearby. Paddy also runs a website called “Stecker Biker” (Plug Biker).  Also making a charming appearance in the forecourt was Revive’s classic VW Bulli van and a Citroën 2CV coffee cart – both, of course, converted to electric.  Can-Am Pulse Inside the Electric Kingdom  Inside the darkened hall, spotlit stands created a moody, theatrical vibe. Photography was a challenge until the daylight improved later in the day. Near the entrance, in front of the main stage, stood a striking electric Porsche 911, converted by the firm Revive. Yours for a tidy $100,000 and change.  Sharing stage space were custom bikes from Crooked and Loose Screw. Crooked’s E-Type – built on an RGNT No. 1 Scrambler SE – merges the looks of their petrol-based customs with an electric powertrain, illustrating how the two worlds can coexist.  Crooked E-Type Nearby was a practical electric cargo bike from Fat Albert, seemingly designed with crate-of-beer transport in mind. Can-Am’s electric offerings, the Pulse and Origin, were not only displayed in the main hall but also available for test rides outside. RELATED: Major Price Drop on 2026 Can-Am Electric Motorcycles Maeving, a British manufacturer, showcased two bikes in their minimalist-retro style: one in cool white with racing stripes and another in a more understated gray. Test rides were on offer too.  Maeving showed two bikes and offered test rides. Black Tea Motorcycles, a Munich-based firm, displayed their signature model sans faux fuel tank to highlight the battery arrangement. Meanwhile, Metorbike from Hamburg leaned into nostalgic vibes, designing their frames around the 1970s Puch Magnum moped.  A Black Tea Motorcycles bike without the faux fuel tank. Enverotricity – quite the tongue-twister – offered an off-road platform that could be configured into five different versions depending on rider preference.  From India to Estonia  Emco scooters, from Lower Saxony, were also on display, including their sleek black Unu scooter. Their fleet-focused electric scooters have ranges of 50 to 130 km (31-81 miles) and top out at 45 km/h (28 mph).  Emco scooter A major international highlight was Ultraviolette, an Indian electric motorcycle brand that launched its F77 Mach 2 Recon and F77 Superstreet Recon models in Europe at the event. With aerospace-inspired engineering, the F77 boasts 40 hp, 74 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 155 km/h (96 mph). Acceleration is equally impressive: 0-60 km/h (37 mph) in 2.8 seconds and 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.7. A five-year battery warranty and regenerative braking (up to 30% energy recovery) make this a very compelling option.  Ultraviolette’s F77 Mach 2 Recon For 2026, Ultraviolette plans to launch two more models: the Tesseract e-scooter and the Shockwave, a lightweight motorcycle promising the thrill of old-school 2-stroke bikes in futuristic form.  Verge Motorcycles, with roots in Estonia and an innovation hub in San Francisco, had jaws dropping with their TS Pro – delivering an earth-moving 738 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). Its massive rear tire is like that of Triumph’s Rocket 3 and Ducati’s XDiavel.  Verge Motorcycles TS Pro East German Classics and Swiss Speed  Czech designer Ladislav Jecminek presented the Havoc, a futuristic dual-purpose e-motorcycle capable of 43 hp and a range of around 130 km (81 miles).  A Simson converted to electric by Second Ride. Berlin-based Second Ride brought something special: converted Simson mopeds and scooters from East Germany. These 2-stroke classics, once the most produced two-wheelers in the country, have been reborn as low-maintenance, zero-emission machines. Over 800 conversion kits have already left their facility. I took a black version of the S51 for a spin around the block and was surprised by its pep.  The author rode this converted Simson. Coopop, a brand developed in South Korea and refined in Germany, had a tidy line-up of city-focused e-bikes, including bobber and scrambler styles with 11 hp, 120 km (75 miles) of range, and top speeds of 45 km/h (28 mph).  A Coopop e-bike. Bold Concepts & Silent Power  Around the corner, another space featured interviews with exhibitors and hosted the Reload Custom Electric Bike exhibit – dramatically lit and full of boundary-pushing design.  Danish startup Diem showed off its X-01, a striking concept featuring a single-beam frame, single-sided swingarm, Brembo brakes, Showa forks, and an axial flux hub motor rated at 47.5 hp.  Diem X-01 From Sweden came the Polestar Exö, a concept designed by industrial design graduate Joel Wengström. Inspired by biomimicry and featuring a bio-composite exoskeleton shaped like a scorpion’s tail, it was one of the show’s more avant-garde entries.  Switzerland’s Hush Cycles stunned attendees with their Superior GT – a 200-hp hubless electric motorcycle with a range of up to 400 km (249 miles), acceleration from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds, and a whopping 50-liter trunk. Only 300 units will be built.  Hush Cycles Superior GT Electric Shock & Chopper Cool  Proving electric vehicles can still pack a punch, Volto – a yellow custom electric car based on a Volvo 850 – was transformed by JP Performance into a beast with 1,000 hp and selectable drive modes.  To close the loop between old school and new school, Sine Cycles presented the King Current – a chopper-style electric bike built around a 2016 Zero FX drivetrain. With exposed backbone, cantilever suspension, and 43 hp on tap, it made a statement without making a sound.  Sine Cycles’ chopper-styled King Current Riding the Silence  Later in the day, I suited up for a booked test ride on the LiveWire Del Mar. A group of four riders was led through Berlin’s streets. This was my first proper ride on an electric streetbike. At first, the silence was unnerving – until I opened the throttle on a clear stretch of road and felt the instant torque. I was hooked.  Traffic stops were slightly comical – a group of silent machines idling at red lights, no exhaust notes to be heard. Some of the roads we travelled had already seen rain, and with more on the way, I made a quick dash to the Can-Am area for another test ride.  First up was their Origin dual-sport bike. While the power delivery was great, I found the seat height a bit too tall for comfort. Halfway through the ride I swapped to the Pulse, and by then, the heavens had opened. We were soaked, but I found the lower-slung Pulse much more enjoyable. RELATED: 2025 Can-Am Pulse and Origin Video Review Can-Am Origin Both bikes feature a Rotax E-Power system that cleverly combines the battery, inverter, charger, and motor into a single liquid-cooled unit – helping manage heat even during fast charging. With 47 hp, 53 lb-ft of torque, and a sub-4-second 0-60 mph time on the Pulse, performance was more than adequate.  I returned drenched and opted to skip Sunday’s program due to worsening forecasts. I missed the launch of the Ichiban electric bike, which was prominently featured on the Reload poster, and also the Saturday Night Silent Ride, which reportedly drew over 100 electric bikes and scooters – a signature moment for the event.  A Simson converted to electric by Second Ride. Final Thoughts  As I rode the LiveWire Del Mar through Berlin, silently speeding along on an open stretch of road, I couldn’t help but wonder: What if a pedestrian stepped out, unaware of my presence due to the lack of sound? Fortunately, some brands are addressing this concern – Metorbike, for example, offers eight sound modules for its bikes.  Finally, it’s worth noting that Reload Land is expanding its footprint: The first Silent Ride Paris took place on June 28, 2025, cruising through the French capital’s iconic landmarks. Next up is Milan, Italy, on September 13, 2025. Spread the volt!  The post Reload Land Electric Motorcycle Festival: Dance Out of Line  appeared first on Rider Magazine.