Stephen McBee, who owns Pacific Northwest Motorcycles in Ferndale, stands next to one of the electric Zero Motorcycles that his business is sellilng.

Stephen McBee, who owns Pacific Northwest Motorcycles in Ferndale, stands next to one of the electric Zero Motorcycles that his business is sellilng.

Dealer sees future for electric motorcycles in Washington

  • By Jim Davis The Herald Business Journal
  • Friday, April 1, 2016 3:17pm
  • Business

FERNDALE — Stephen McBee waited and watched on electric motorcycles for several years before he felt ready to sell them to his customers.

The owner of Pacific Northwest Motorcycles in Ferndale became convinced when he saw improvements to the 2016 line of what he calls the premier brand of electric bikes, Zero Motorcycles. His business started carrying the motorcycles just before the new year.

“Everybody who we let ride them — and these are experienced motorcycle riders — they’ve been impressed with them,” McBee said.

His store at 5100 Pacific Highway in Ferndale carries two demo bikes for Zero Motorcycles, a company started in 2006 by a former NASA engineer in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Pacific Northwest Motorcycles is only the second motorcycle dealership in the state to carry the brand; the other is Triumph of Seattle.

“The response to our motorcycles is phenomenal, and the appeal reaches beyond the (electric vehicle) audience and now resonates with traditional riders,” said Mike Cunningham, Zero’s North American director of sales and dealer development. “We look forward to bringing new customers into Pacific Northwest Motorcycles.”

The motorcycles retail for $15,999, but customers get a 10 percent federal tax credit, which was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on Dec. 18. Zero Motorcycles offers a 10 year or 50,000 mile warranty on the batteries for the electric bikes.

The motorcycles have a range of about 100 miles, but that can be extended to 175 miles with an additional battery pack, McBee said. The cost to run a gas-powered motorcycle is about six cents per mile. An electric motorcycle costs about a penny a mile.

Unlike some electric cars, the electric motorcycle plugs straight into a 110-volt outlet and recharges about 10 percent of its battery every hour. With an adapter, the bikes can charge faster. Another adapter allows the motorcycles to charge at public electric vehicle charging stations.

Riders can test drive the two demos — a red and a black model — at Pacific Northwest Motorcycles. Then the customers order the motorcycle they want to be built with the desired accessories, color and style.

“Anybody who’s into motorcycling has heard of them,” McBee said. “Zeros have been getting the best publicitiy as far as industry press.”

McBee owned several motorcycle dealerships in the Bay Area, but sold them in the 1980s and retired to Whatcom County. About 20 years ago, he started Pacific Northwest Motorcycles and focused on uncommon brands of motorcycles like the Ural, a Russian brand that all come with sidecars.

Four years ago, he moved the dealership to the currrent location, which offers excellent visibility off I-5. He owns the shop with partners Ben Erickson and Mark Watson.

The dealership stocks between 60 to 75 motorcycles at a time and offers eight brands including popular brands BMW and Indian. But McBee said he has always been attracted to the novel motorcycles.

That’s why he’s been watching Zero Motorcycles. He said that he believes with the rise of electric cars and the concern for the environment that electric motorcycles will become a significant part of the market within 10 years.

He said he’s been impressed with the increase in range. Just a few years ago, the electric motorcycles only had a 30-mile range and now they can go more than three times that distance.

He’s also been impressed with the design and driveability of the motorcycles. Another interesting aspect is how quiet the motorcycles are while riding. McBee noted that some police agencies have been buying the bikes to patrol parks and outdoor trail areas in part because they’re so quiet.

“When you stop, it’s silent,” McBee said. “You can hear the birds chirping. You can hear everything around you. It’s a different kind of riding experience. It’s a very pleasant kind of ride.”

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