NEW YORK—It's like the EV motorcycle equivalent of Ford vs. Chevy. Two short months ago, we swung a leg over the new Zero S electric street bike. Now, we've spent some time with Brammo's Enertia—an electric two wheeler that just might steal some of Zero's eco-friendly thunder.

Check the specs and the Brammo Enertia isn't very impressive, taken strictly as a traditional motorcycle. After all, it makes just 18 hp and it tops out at a barely adequate 55 mph. But Brammo doesn't want the Enertia to compete with other bikes; it wants the electric cycle to attract new riders to the sport. Equipped with friendly looks, zero emissions and an impressive distribution channel—sales begin at select Best Buy outlets on July 5—it could do just that. —Wes Siler

The Specs

Despite the scooter-like performance numbers, the Enertia is equipped with very motorcycle-like components. The 40mm upside-down Marzocchi forks and Brembo two-piston front brakes anchor the front end. In the rear you'll find single-piston Brembo caliper, horizontally mounted Fox shock and chain final drive. The Enertia comes with full-size 17-inch wheels and Avon radial tires too. And an extruded aluminum beam frame holds it all together.

All of that is positively overkill for the 3.1 kWh battery pack and its 18 hp, 28 lb-ft of torque motor. Unlike cheaper motor competitors, the Enertia's electric motor is brushless, which should prove more reliable over the long haul, especially in damp or dirty conditions. The batteries on Enertia are expected to last 50,000 to 75,000 miles, more than many motorcycles cover in a lifetime. The batteries can also be fully recharged in just three hours using a standard outlet—one hour faster than the Zero.

That overbuilt nature, unfortunately, rears its head when it comes to the weight, range and price. The Enertia weighs 280 pounds, has a range of 45 miles and costs $12,000. In comparison, the 2009 Zero S weighs 225 pounds, costs $9,950, claims a 60 mph top speed and 60-mile range thanks to its 4 kWh battery.

The Ride

Slide onto the comfortable seat, plant your feet on the low foot pegs and twist the throttle to set off. It's that simple. Like a gas-powered bike, the Enertia mounts its front brake on the right handlebar and rear brake on the right foot peg, but there's no clutch or shift lever.

The real motorcycle brakes and suspension, wide handlebars and upright riding position lead to incredible control and a lot of confidence. The Enertia feels light, but stable, making it a great ride for around town.

Off-the-line acceleration is adequate for escaping a pack of cars, but unlike other electric motorcycles, the Enertia doesn't appear to deliver its maximum torque until you're up to speed. Brammo quotes a 5.88 second 0-40 mph time, but acceleration from 15 to 55 mph feels slightly quicker. It also appears that Brammo is being conservative about the Enertia's top speed, the instruments on this prototype weren't connected, but a chase bike indicated a 65 mph top speed while traveling uphill on a bridge over the East River.

In fact, the entire riding experience defies initial disappointment with the quoted numbers. Riding through lower Manhattan's congested streets, there's just enough acceleration and more than enough handling potential to move rapidly through traffic. When tourists try and cross the road, the strong brakes haul the Enertia down to a stop quickly.

As an added bonus, the motor on this bike and on the ones that'll leave Best Buy sales floors are operating at only 80 percent power. The idea is that experienced riders will be able to tune their electric motorcycles at the push of a button.

Brammo is currently looking for a start-up tone for the Enertia. Something that will let riders know that the totally silent electric motorcycle is on after they've pressed the computer power switch mounted prominently in the middle of the vestigial fuel tank.

The Bottom Line

The Brammo Enertia is more of an electronic gadget that looks and works like a motorcycle than it is a motorcycle with electric guts. Luckily, there are many more people that understand, use and get excited about smart phones and mp3 players than there are bikers. For the average person who's looking for a better way to get around an urban area, the fuel-free, easy-riding transportation offered by the Enertia could prove a revolution on par with being able to send and receive e-mail from anywhere or listening to music on the go.

For more info on Brammo's electric street and race bikes check out Hell For Leather.