Okay, so I’ve been seeing these “Washington Superbike” things popping up all over my feeds, and I finally decided to bite the bullet and see what all the fuss was about. I’m not gonna lie, I’m a total newbie when it comes to motorcycles, let alone electric ones, but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?
First things first, I needed to figure out what exactly a “Washington Superbike” is. Turns out, it’s not really a specific brand, but more like a general term for high-performance electric motorcycles that are popular in, you guessed it, Washington state. So, I’m basically diving into the whole scene, not just one bike.
My Deep Dive (aka Google Search)
My journey started, like most things these days, with a good old-fashioned Google search. I typed in “Washington Superbike” and…wow. A whole bunch of stuff came up: forums, articles, dealership websites, even some YouTube videos of people ripping around on these things.
I spent a solid afternoon just clicking through links, trying to get a feel for the different models and what people were saying. I felt like I was drowning in information, honestly. It’s like, there’s Zero Motorcycles, and then there’s Energica, and some others I’d never even heard of!
Getting My Hands Dirty (Or, You Know, Slightly Less Dirty)
Reading online is one thing, but I knew I needed to see these bikes in person. So, I found a couple of local dealerships that seemed to specialize in electric motorcycles.I ended up checking those out.
Walking into the first dealership was a little intimidating. All these sleek, futuristic-looking machines lined up, and me, feeling like I didn’t belong. But the guy working there was super chill. I told him I was just starting to learn about electric bikes, and he was happy to walk me around and point out some of the popular models.
He showed me a Zero SR/F, which he said was a good all-around bike, and an Energica Ego, which looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie. He even let me sit on them (engine off, of course!), just to get a feel for the size and weight.
The Test Ride (Almost!)
Now, I wasn’t quite ready to actually ride one of these things. I mean, I’ve ridden a regular bicycle, but that’s about it. But the dealership guy told me they offer test rides once you have your motorcycle permit. So, that’s my next step! I grabbed a booklet about the permit test and figured I’d start studying.
What I Learned (So Far!)
- These things are FAST. Like, seriously fast. We’re talking 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds. That’s faster than most cars!
- They’re quiet. Almost too quiet. I guess that’s a good thing for noise pollution, but it also means you gotta be extra careful around pedestrians and other vehicles.
- They’re expensive. Yeah, not gonna lie, these bikes aren’t cheap. But I guess that’s the price you pay for cutting-edge technology.
- The community is awesome. From what I’ve seen online and in the dealership, the people who ride these bikes are super passionate and helpful. There are tons of online forums and groups where people share tips, advice, and ride reports.
What Next?
I’m feeling pretty stoked about this whole “Washington Superbike” thing! It’s definitely a learning curve, but I’m excited to keep exploring.
My plan is to:
- Study for and get my motorcycle permit.
- Take a test ride on a few different models.
- Maybe even join a local riding group!
I’ll keep you guys updated on my progress. Wish me luck!
