Chinese electric motorcycles are attractive for importers because a 72 V, 3,000 W model covers most urban riding and can be ordered in mixed containers alongside e-bikes and scooters. They are also the category where a wrong assumption is most expensive: road approval, battery choice and container count all differ from e-bikes and scooters. This guide sets out what to check before you order.
Short answer: Before ordering Chinese electric motorcycles, confirm four things: the legal category the model will need at your destination, the battery chemistry, the exact configuration behind the listed speed and range, and how many units fit in one container. A typical 72 V, 3,000 W model listing 70–80 km/h is a motorcycle under EU rules, not a moped, so plan for approval and registration. BG EBIKE produces and assembles electric motorcycles in its own factory in Taizhou and offers lead-acid or lithium versions on many models, with a flexible MOQ and mixed models.
What are Chinese electric motorcycles, in specification terms?
In export catalogues, an electric motorcycle usually means a full-size two-wheeler with a 60–72 V system, a hub motor of 1,500–3,000 W or more, 12- to 17-inch wheels and a listed top speed above 45 km/h. They are larger and faster than seated electric scooters, and sit below high-performance brand motorcycles in price and power.
BG EBIKE’s electric motorcycle range illustrates the spread:
| Model | Listed motor and system | Wheels | Listed speed or range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer No.1 | 1,500 W; 72 V 60 Ah lithium | 17 in (90/90-17, 110/80-17) | 100 km range |
| M5 | 3,000 W; 72 V, lead-acid or lithium | 12 in (120/70-12) | 70–80 km/h |
| YZB | 3,000 W; 72 V, lead-acid or lithium | 17 in | 70–80 km/h |
| RZ (sport) | 3,000 W; 72 V, lead-acid or lithium | 17 in (110/70-17, 140/70-17) | 70–80 km/h |
Figures are as listed on each product page. Speed and range depend on the battery fitted, rider weight and terrain, so confirm them against the quoted configuration rather than the headline.
Which legal category will the motorcycle need?
Most 3,000 W Chinese electric motorcycles are motorcycles in law, not mopeds or e-bikes, because of their design speed. In the EU and Great Britain, a two-wheeler with a maximum design speed of up to 45 km/h and up to 4,000 W continuous rated power can be a moped (category L1e-B); a two-wheeler that cannot be classified as L1e is a motorcycle (category L3e).
A model listing 70–80 km/h is therefore an L3e vehicle in Europe. That means type approval or an individual approval, registration, insurance and a motorcycle licence for the rider. Other markets have their own categories, but in many of them the principle is similar: above moped speed, the vehicle is treated as a motorcycle.
What this means for an importer:
- Plan the approval route first. Find out which documents your approval body or homologation agent needs, and ask the factory which of them it can provide before you order.
- Decide whether you need a moped version. If your channel sells to riders without a motorcycle licence, you need a model and configuration that stays within moped limits, which is a different specification, not a setting.
- Do not rely on catalogue wording. “Electric motorcycle” in a product name does not tell you the legal category; listed speed and rated power do.
BG EBIKE does not claim certifications for its vehicles. MSDS and UN38.3 test summary supplied for lithium battery shipments.
Lead-acid or lithium: which battery should you order?
Order lithium when weight, range per charge and battery life matter most to your customers; order lead-acid when purchase price and simple local replacement matter more. Many BG EBIKE motorcycles list both options on a 72 V system, so the choice is made per order line.
| Factor | Lead-acid | Lithium |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle weight | Heavier | Lighter for the same voltage |
| Purchase price | Lower | Higher |
| Local replacement | Widely available in many markets | Usually from the supplier |
| Sea shipping | Different transport rules from lithium | Dangerous-goods container; harder to book, more documents |
The full comparison is in lead-acid vs lithium batteries. If you choose lithium and need delivery before Chinese New Year, allow 45–50 days rather than the usual 30–35.
How many electric motorcycles fit in a container?
Expect roughly 20–40 large vehicles per 40HQ container, depending on the model and packing. Motorcycles take far more space per unit than e-bikes (about 140 small e-bikes fit in the same container) or mid-size scooters (80–100), so freight per unit is higher and the mix matters.
Ask the factory to confirm the count for your exact mix before production. If space is the constraint, ask whether the model can be supplied semi-knocked-down (SKD) or as a kit (CKD) for local assembly. BG EBIKE supplies complete vehicles as standard and agrees SKD or CKD by model; see CKD and SKD kits and packaging and shipping.
How should you plan a first container of electric motorcycles?
Plan the first container around two or three body styles and one battery decision per model, rather than many single units. A focused mix is easier to sell, to stock parts for and to compare after the first season.
A practical way to build it:
- Pick the riding segment. 12-inch models such as the M5 and M6 suit urban riders who want a compact motorcycle with smaller wheels and a shorter wheelbase; 17-inch models such as the YZB and RZ suit riders who expect a conventional motorcycle stance and longer wheelbase.
- Choose one battery per model. Mixing lead-acid and lithium versions of the same model doubles your parts list and complicates pricing. If you want to test both, do it on different models.
- Limit colours. Two colours per model are usually enough for a first order; each colour you add splits your stock further.
- Check the container count early. Send the planned mix and ask the factory how many units it actually loads before you fix quantities.
- Add parts to the same container. Parts that travel with the vehicles arrive with them and cost far less than express shipments later.
Because BG EBIKE’s MOQ is flexible by model, a dealer can combine, for example, a handful each of two motorcycle models with seated scooters or e-bikes in one container. Our guide to MOQ by model, colour and configuration explains how to set quantities per line, and pre-shipment inspection covers what to check before the balance payment.
What should you plan for after-sales service?
Motorcycles carry heavier loads and higher speeds than e-bikes, so brakes, tyres and suspension wear faster and customers expect parts to be available. Plan a spare-parts list with the first order rather than after the first claim.
- Wear parts: brake pads, tyres and inner tubes, cables and lights. BG EBIKE supplies wear parts with orders as appropriate.
- Electrical parts: a small stock of controllers, chargers and throttles avoids long downtime.
- Warranty: BG EBIKE gives a one-year warranty on the vehicle. Agree how claims are documented before the first shipment.
Our guide to spare-parts planning shows how to size the first parts order, and the parts category lists components sold separately.
What are the order terms for Chinese electric motorcycles?
At BG EBIKE, electric motorcycles follow the same terms as our other vehicles:
- Minimum order: flexible by model, and motorcycles can be mixed with e-bikes, scooters or tricycles in one container.
- Production: about 30–35 days per full container once the configuration is confirmed.
- Payment: 30% deposit; 70% after inspection and before loading; shipped from Ningbo.
- Inspection: to your requirements, by your own staff or a third-party inspector.
- Customization: colours and accessories by model; handlebars and seats on most models; frames are not modified.
These are summarised on the wholesale page. For choosing between suppliers, see how to compare electric motorcycle manufacturers in China.
Models to compare
Three listed models show the main body styles and wheel sizes.
- Pioneer No.1 1500W Electric Motorcycle: 1,500 W motor, 72 V 60 Ah lithium battery, front and rear disc brakes, listed 100 km range.
- M5 3000W Electric Motorcycle: 3,000 W, 72 V system, 12-inch wheels, 124.5 cm wheelbase, listed 70–80 km/h.
- RZ 3000W Electric Sport Motorcycle: 3,000 W, 72 V system, 17-inch wheels, full-fairing body, listed 70–80 km/h.
See the full electric motorcycle category, or compare smaller models in the electric bike category.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to other questions importers ask about Chinese electric motorcycles.
Can a 3,000 W electric motorcycle be limited to moped speed?
Sometimes a lower speed setting is possible, but it does not automatically make the vehicle a moped. Legal category also depends on continuous rated power and on how the approval body assesses the vehicle. If you need a moped, start from a model and configuration designed for that class and confirm the speed and power against the quoted configuration before ordering.
Can I order one electric motorcycle as a sample?
Yes. BG EBIKE sells samples at the unit price and credits the cost against the bulk order; lead time depends on the model. Motorcycles with lithium batteries are difficult to send alone, so many buyers add the sample to a consolidated sea shipment, or take it without the battery when that is enough for their evaluation.
Can I put my own brand on the motorcycles?
Yes, from one full container. BG EBIKE prints customer logos by screen printing or water transfer printing, with no extra charge once the minimum is met, and printing adds up to about a week to the lead time. The logo must be your own, such as a registered trademark or design patent, or another design that infringes no one’s rights.
Basis of this guide: BG EBIKE’s listed motorcycle specifications and order terms, and the L-category definitions of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 as summarised by the UK government.
Related guides
- Electric motorcycle manufacturers in China: how to compare suppliers
- Chinese electric mopeds: how dealers build a model range
- Moped vs e-bike: the differences that matter for buyers
- Rated vs peak motor power
Send the models, battery choice, quantity per model, destination and supply format. BG EBIKE replies within 24 hours on working days.
Sources
- L-category vehicle classification under Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 (GOV.UK annex)
- GOV.UK: Riding an electric bike – the rules
