Finally! There’s an easy way to experience the thrill and beauty of riding the Tail of the Dragon and the Great Smoky Mountains on an electric motorcycle.
eMoto Powersports recently opened at 165 North Main Street, Robbinsville, NC; offering Energica and Zero EV motorcycles for rent, ranging from two hours to two weeks.
At the time of this post’s publication eMoto’s fleet included a Zero SR/F, SR/S, DSR/X and Energica Eva Ribelle.
EV Rider headed up from Florida to North Carolina to check out the new business and spend a glorious day on a Zero Motorcycles SR/S and Energica Eva Ribelle; hugging beautiful mountain roads filled with creeks, curves and a canopy that was just beginning to show a few peaks of fall color.
eMoto Powersports Owner Austin Ammarell started riding in the area in 2018 and got the idea for his business after so many fellow motorcyclists started approaching him with questions about EVs. “Every time we’ve come here, half the time we can’t leave on time because people are bombarding us with questions about bikes. What they do, how far they go on a charge,” said Austin.
He originally owned a 2018 Zero S, putting close to 80,000 miles on it. “It paid for itself in three years,” he said, referring to the money he saved as compared to what he was spending in gas for his previous car.
Austin’s idea blossomed as the years went by when he and his partner were able to save enough to purchase a building perfectly suited for EV motorcycles rentals. It had recently been renovated and includes lots of wood and stone flourishes that produce a nice backdrop for the bikes.
eMoto Powersports has an onsite Level 2 charger for EV motorists of all types traveling through Robbinsville. Austin and his partner are also willing to offer their expertise to help other area businesses install chargers in the region to help grow the electric vehicle tourism industry.
While I was visiting, EV Rider YouTube channel viewer Rory Danner rode up from Atlanta on his 2020 Zero Motorcycles SR/S to check out eMoto Powersports. Atlanta is about 140 or so miles away. Rory has already put about 30,000 miles on his SR/S.
“The only maintenance I’ve done is tires, and every day I get up, I go down to the garage, I have a full tank. It’s ready to go,” said Rory. He says out of the 30 motorcycles he’s owned over his lifetime, the SR/S is his favorite. The two Kawasaki Concours that Rory owned are probably the most directly comparable to his Zero.
The highlight of the greater Robbinsville area for motorcyclists is US 129, which is affectionately known as the Tail of the Dragon. The stretch of road passes through Deals Gap, NC and beyond. It’s known to automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts for its 318 curves in 11 miles.
The heart of the Dragon includes what’s called “the Tree of Shame,” which is a collection of motorcycle parts that some riders have lost in curves that they couldn’t quite handle.
Electric motorcycles offer a big advantage in those sharp curves for several reasons. The Zeros and Energicas have high levels of regen, which quickly slow down the bikes when heading into turns. Because there are no gears, coming out of the turns is also easier since there’s no need to worry about shift points. The EVs don’t have manual transmissions.
The EV motorcycles include ABS and stability control to increase the odds that a rider won’t lose traction at any point in a turn. The bikes have a variety of riding modes to accommodate the varying skill levels of motorcyclists.
While riding at the Tail of the Dragon, the Historic Tapoco Lodge just up the road hosted me. The local landmark has nearly 100 years of history behind it.
The lodge been hosting motorcyclists, auto enthusiasts and adventurers since 1930. It’s nestled on the banks of the Cheoah River, offering a wonderfully picturesque spot to stop for a drink, lunch or dinner; even if you’re not spending the night or weekend.
The lodge offers modern amenities such as wifi, microwaves and is EV motorcycle friendly with four Level 2 j-plug and Tesla destination chargers on site for guests.
I’d highly recommend both eMoto Powersports and Topoco Lodge to any motorcyclist considering a trip to the area. The riding experience is among the best you’ll find anywhere and renting an electric motorcycle is a great way to get a feel for where the motorcycling industry is headed.
Words can only do so much to express the beauty that the Robbinsville and Deals Gap areas have to offer.
To get a better feel, be sure to watch the video at the top of this post, and if you enjoy it, please be sure to give it a like and subscribe to the EV Rider YouTube channel so I can continue to bring you more adventures in EV motoring.
