ELECTRIC MOTION MOTORCYCLES | CHARGE AND RIDE | News
Electric Motion Motorcycles are the combination of power, adventure and sustainable technology and are now available in Australia.
The French manufactured Electric Motion Motorcycles are a combination of power, adventure and sustainable technology – and are now available in Australia.
Check out the capabilities of the 2022 range of Electric Motion Trial/Free Ride electric motorcycles.
Electric Motion have been developing electric motorcycles for international off-road motorcycle competitions for the last 10 years. They have been steadily advancing the capabilities of these trial/free ride machines which have now been made available in Australia.
There is an increasing demand for environmentally sustainable motorcycles.
The electric vehicle market is still in the early stages in Australia, but with the rising cost of fuel and consumer demand for environmentally sustainable fuel sources, we are seeing an increasing popularity in EV’s and electric motorcycles.
Early 2022 has seen state governments release a number financial incentives for new Electric Vehicle owners – these only apply to electric cars for now, but who knows what the future holds.
Electric Motion launched their first electric motorcycle in 2012 with the goal of taking on gas powered bikes in elite off-road trial competitions. Two years after the release of their first competition bike, Electric Motion secured top-step in the French Trials Championship.
In 2016, after finding national and international success, EM launched their first publicly available electric motorcycle – the EM Escape. The EM Escape was designed for riders who want to get away from busy city life and enjoy the great outdoors.
Whether you are an experienced rider or a beginner, the performance and technology of the EM range may surprise you.
Epure
The Epure is a mix of performance and ease of use, aimed at all those who wish to ride in trial, do touring, with a silent bike requiring almost no maintenance.
The 2023 model has “Anti-Reverse” technology, in addition to Traction Control.
MAX SPEED: 70KM/H RANGE: 43KM WEIGHT: 73KG TORQUE: 600NM
Epure Race
The 2023 Epure Race has a diaphragm clutch, Reiger 2-way shock absorber and “Anti-Reverse” technology which blocks the rear wheel in extreme conditions for safety.
MAX SPEED: 70KM/H RANGE: 43KM WEIGHT: 75KG TORQUE: 600NM
Escape
The Escape is the touring model of the EM family, equipped with Traction Control and the new “Anti-Reverse” system, the Escape is full of riding assistance technology.
MAX SPEED: 75KM/H RANGE: 61KM WEIGHT: 83KG TORQUE: 600NM
Escape R
The Escape “R” is the ultimate weapon for touring and extreme freeriding and is more geared towards off-road riding.
The 2023 model also comes with the TKO (Tick Over) as standard, the latest performance innovation made in EM, but also the PRB ”R” (optional).
MAX SPEED: 75KM/H RANGE: 61KM WEIGHT: 85KG TORQUE: 600NM
Charging ahead: Can the new Electric Motion Epure Race match its petrol trials bike rivals?
If there was ever a sector of motorcycling made for electric bikes, it is trials. As a discipline trials is all about slow-speed control, explosive-yet-useable power and light weight.
E-bike tech is improving fast, but its biggest weakness on the road remains range but trials is different, with riders rarely using 100% throttle and even if they do it’s only for very short periods, which means there’s plenty of time for the batteries to recover.
Power delivery
The Epure Race is the top of the range model for serious competition. It has three modes which in conventional petrol terms equate to 200cc, 250cc and 300cc – and there is a definite difference between the three.
In 250 mode, the power is strong and completely linear with its relentless acceleration capable of taking you by surprise. Unlike its petrol rivals, with the Epure Race there are no dips in the power or torque curve.
Weight and range
After ridng the Epure for two hours, with frequent stops (as you would in a trial) the bike still had 65% battery charge remaining, meaning you would have more than enough capacity for a club trial.
Weight is another area where electric bikes have historically been compromised. At a claimed 70kg ready to compete, the Epure Race is heavier than the 67.5kg dry claimed weight of a 300cc GasGas for example. But the Epure Race requires no fuel, coolant or engine oil, putting it on level with its fully-fuelled petrol-burning competition.
It’s all in the clutch
Because it’s electric and only has one gear, the bike can be ridden without using the clutch – it’s essentially a twist and go. But successful trials riding requires extensive use of the clutch to dial in the right amount of power to fire up a step or search for grip over wet slippery climbs.
In what is arguably the biggest single breakthrough in electric trials technology, the Epure Race features a high performance diaphragm clutch, meaning you have control of the relationship between the engine and back wheel – just like you do on a petrol bike.
The verdict: MCN Sports Editor, Michael Guy
It’s hard not to be seriously impressed by the Epure Race. Building a bike that is a match for its rivals in a competition market and not just in a leisure sector is ground-breaking.
During the first hour of riding I would have readily swapped back to a petrol bike as I didn’t feel I had the same level of control, but by the end of the day, having understood the motor and the clutch, I didn’t want to go back.
The weight of the bike is comparable to its petrol rivals, but its power is superior and the clutch gives the control necessary in such a demanding yet controlled discipline. The price isn’t prohibitive either. At £7995 it’s on par with its top end petrol rivals meaning there really is a serious decision to be made.
Front suspension
Charging ahead: Can the new Electric Motion Epure Race match its petrol trials bike rivals?
If there was ever a sector of motorcycling made for electric bikes, it is trials. As a discipline trials is all about slow-speed control, explosive-yet-useable power and light weight.
E-bike tech is improving fast, but its biggest weakness on the road remains range but trials is different, with riders rarely using 100% throttle and even if they do it’s only for very short periods, which means there’s plenty of time for the batteries to recover.
Power delivery
The Epure Race is the top of the range model for serious competition. It has three modes which in conventional petrol terms equate to 200cc, 250cc and 300cc – and there is a definite difference between the three.
In 250 mode, the power is strong and completely linear with its relentless acceleration capable of taking you by surprise. Unlike its petrol rivals, with the Epure Race there are no dips in the power or torque curve.
Weight and range
After ridng the Epure for two hours, with frequent stops (as you would in a trial) the bike still had 65% battery charge remaining, meaning you would have more than enough capacity for a club trial.
Weight is another area where electric bikes have historically been compromised. At a claimed 70kg ready to compete, the Epure Race is heavier than the 67.5kg dry claimed weight of a 300cc GasGas for example. But the Epure Race requires no fuel, coolant or engine oil, putting it on level with its fully-fuelled petrol-burning competition.
It’s all in the clutch
Because it’s electric and only has one gear, the bike can be ridden without using the clutch – it’s essentially a twist and go. But successful trials riding requires extensive use of the clutch to dial in the right amount of power to fire up a step or search for grip over wet slippery climbs.
In what is arguably the biggest single breakthrough in electric trials technology, the Epure Race features a high performance diaphragm clutch, meaning you have control of the relationship between the engine and back wheel – just like you do on a petrol bike.
The verdict: MCN Sports Editor, Michael Guy
It’s hard not to be seriously impressed by the Epure Race. Building a bike that is a match for its rivals in a competition market and not just in a leisure sector is ground-breaking.
During the first hour of riding I would have readily swapped back to a petrol bike as I didn’t feel I had the same level of control, but by the end of the day, having understood the motor and the clutch, I didn’t want to go back.
The weight of the bike is comparable to its petrol rivals, but its power is superior and the clutch gives the control necessary in such a demanding yet controlled discipline. The price isn’t prohibitive either. At £7995 it’s on par with its top end petrol rivals meaning there really is a serious decision to be made.
Front suspension
We’ve broken down the top picks of electric dirt bikes currently available in Australia for off-road enthusiasts
Australia is a dirt bike rider’s playground. Endless stretches of mountains, desert and bushland provide the ultimate landscape to push off-road bikes (and their riders) to their absolute limit. So naturally, one of the most popular EV markets in Australia is the electric dirt bikes category.
There are already several incredible electric dirt bike manufacturers that are importing to Australia and in this article we’re going to take a look at some of our favourites – from dirt bikes that are redefining motocross to chook chasers of the 21st century, here’s everything you want to know about electric dirt bikes in Australia
Stark Future
The Stark VARG is an electric dirt bike we get very excited about for a number of reasons. We will be receiving our first demo bike from them in the coming months, and they are unquestionably the most powerful dirt bike in the world. Note that we didn’t say the most powerful electric dirt bike, the most powerful dirt bike over all – that’s an insane accomplishment.
This Spanish manufacturer has been redefining what’s possible when state-of-the-art EV engineering and pure dirt bike fun come together. The two models of the Stark VARG separate into a 60HP and 80HP model, with the 80HP model giving you up to 30% more power than the top performing 450CC gas powered dirt bike.
Earlier this year the worlds media had a chance to go to the Stark Future factory to see what all the fuss was about, so check out this video to see what the world’s best dirt bike can do
Sur Ron Talaria
Sur Ron and Talaria have been producing electric dirt bikes out of China since 2014 and we probably have to thank them for pushing a lot of mountain bike riders over to the electric dirt bikes side of things.
Sur Ron initially released their off-road only Light Bee electric dirt bike around 7 years ago. It was a hybrid full suspension mountain bike/motorcycle with a powerful mid-drive electric motor. Unlike a lot of dodgy electric motors, bikes and batteries that were coming out of China at the time – the build quality of Sur Ron’s bikes was decent for the price point, which meant they quickly gathered a following in and out of China – USA being their biggest export market. But we’ve also first-hand seen their popularity in the UK. English Electric Motor Co sells these Chinese electric motorcycles and they are their most sold bike – demand actually outstrips supply every year.
Sur Ron Storm Bee – added to the range in 2022 this more powerful Sur Ron is much more traditional dirt bike and less mountain bike.
The reason we have bundled Talaria into this section are rumors that some of the top engineers at Sur Ron weren’t happy with the way product development was going so they broke away and launched Talaria. The bikes look pretty much identical but Talaria have fitted their models with slightly different components which they claim produce better performance and reliability. What we can say about both brands are – they make pretty impressive products for the price range.
The only downside is longevity – we’ve had a lot of owners complaining that they have killed their motor/controller/battery by pushing the bike too hard. There doesn’t seem to be the same limits on performance that premium brands Zero and Energica employ to safeguard the bikes damaging themselves when being pushed hard.
UBCO
When we think of electric dirt bikes you can imagine we’re mostly talking about off road adventuring and MotoX models built for jumps and insane tricks. But New Zealand manufacturer UBCO has created a Smart looking utility bike that presents more like a state-of-the-art chook chaser. They kind of remind me of the Benzina Zero Duo scooters. The boxy design is built to attach all kinds of features like extra power supply, cargo decks, baggage racks, etc. and in addition to all wheel drive, these UBCO models are absolute workhorses build to withstand anything.
UBCO offer two models, the 2X2ADV and 2X2WRK, both bikes have basically the same specifications, except the ADV model is road registerable; with additional headlights, indicators, license plate brackets etc.
Cake OR
The Cake OR is a pretty awesome all-around bike – light weight, high performance and purpose built for simplicity and off road fun. The OR is the sport model of the Cake range and it comes with some pretty sophisticated Swedish manufacturing.
These bikes can only be ridden off road or on private property because they don’t come with the on-road extras making them eligible for road registration. These bikes are fast and have a decent riding range. The super modern design is very simplistic, Cake have only put the necessary elements on this bike to make it a capable off road adventurer. A seat, suspension, foot pegs, throttle, battery, tyres and a drive train – go!
KTM Freeride
Unfortunately you’re only likely to find a KTM Freeride as a second hand bike as they’re no longer available in Australia. I can speak from personal experience however, that these are AWESOME electric dirt bikes. Hopefully they come back to Australia soon, they have an aggressive marketing push overseas, so we suspect it will only be a matter of time before they’re back in the country.
The KTM Freeride has that real old school dirt bike look to them, similar to the Stark VARGS. Except you can’t go past those classic KTM design and engineering that’s built on years of competitive riding. The only electric dirt bikes KTM has available in Australia are for kids, the SXE 3, SXE 5, 12E Drive and 16E Drive. Why do the kids get all the good toys?
Electric Motion
The French manufacturer technically produces trial motorcycles, however, their Escape and Escape R model provide somewhat of a crossover into dirt bike territory we think are worth mentioning. Mainly because they are very easily accessible to Australian riders.
The Escape and Escape R were built with trials sophistication in mind and is an off-road riding master. The 2023 model builds on previous years with TKO maps, regenerative braking, traction control, control over power modes and really sleek lightweight design. Since the electric bike was introduced into trial competitions internationally, they have been topping the podiums again and again.
Stealth Electric Bikes
The only Australian manufacturer offering an electric dirt bike, but again, this one isn’t strictly a dirt bike manufacturer. The Stealth Electric Bikes are where the line between mountain biking and motocross get real cloudy, however, they do make some of the most badass bikes out there.
The Stealth H-52 ‘Hurricane’ is the light weight, high-power electric dirt bike variant of their B-52 ‘Bomber’ hybrid electric bike. This bike is a purpose built MX machine with all the fight and none of the noise you would expect from a high performance dirt bike. We’re stoked to see an Aussie manufacturer producing some beasty looking bikes, we’re itching to get our hands on one.
Segway eBike
Remember Segways? Yeah, THOSE Segways!
They have entered the dirt bike game with a pretty impressive compact and lightweight electric dirt bike that looks like it would be a whole lot of fun. Offering two models, the X160 and X260, these medium size electric dirt bikes are meant for fast treks and narrow trails. They also come with an adjustable seat height which kind of suggests it would able to be ridden by both teens and adults. For safety reasons however, the bike has an adult-only age recommendation.
The premium X260 models offers a top speed of 75 km/h, 120km range from a full charge and an impressive 250 Nm of torque, the Segway eBike has become a pretty popular sellar to young Australian riders. And with an agreeable price 6,499 – teenage me is kind of jealous that these kinds of options are available.
Electric Dirt Bikes vs Gas Dirt Bikes
That wraps up just a few of our favourite electric dirt bikes currently available in Australia. But as we like to do here at AEMC, we like to weigh up the pros and cons of electric bikes vs gas powered bikes. Now when specifically looking at dirt bikes there are a few key points we have to look at.
Noise
It’s one of the oldest complaints in the book. We rode dirt bikes as kids, and our parent’s rules were no riding before 10am on weekends and we had to be finished by 5pm. Our neighbours were quick to let us know how annoyed they were at the sound of dirt bikes screaming through the bush every weekend. We had all the space in the world to go nuts, but those two and four cylinder bikes were noisy as hell. Nobody who lives in a rural area wants to have that peace and quiet disturbed by a couple of dirt bikes, and fair enough.
The near silence of an electric dirt bike means you can ride as much as you want without pissing off your neighbors – unless they are within 50 meters of where you are riding. Electric dirt bike engines make a much quieter winding noise which is generated from the motor, the belt/chain and the tyres hitting the dirt. Think of a louder remote control car – perfect for rural living. Plus (and we’re not condoning this) if you’re riding in an area you’re not supposed to be, having an electric dirt bike really helps not getting caught, because they can’t hear you a km away.
Servicing and maintenance
Mile for mile, electric dirt bikes are cheaper to service and maintain. There are less parts in electric engines and therefore less to go wrong. There are your typical brake pads and tyres of course, but engine services are few and far between. That being said – the brand you buy and how hard you push it will ultimately decide the longevity of your bike. Some of the Chinese bikes are cheaper to buy upfront – but with limited support and more examples of major errors – they may not be the better value bikes longer term.
While the costs to service might be lower for gas powered bikes. At the moment you are for more likely to find a small engine bike mechanic than you are to find one that’s certified to work on electric motorbikes. This is a problem that will solve itself in time as adoption of EV technology becomes the new normal.
Power
With the cost of fuel as it is, it’s nice to be able to just plug in your bike to a power socket – no more trips to the fuel pump. It’s incredible how low the cost of powering an electric dirt bike is compared to a gas powered bike. Electric dirt bikes will typically have a battery capacity between 2 – 7 kWh. Even with the rise in electricity – that means a full charge is going to cost you between 1.20 to 4.20. That’s a damn site cheaper than 6.5 litres of petrol (14 at today’s current rate). However, the one thing we will admit defeat on is recharging dirt bikes on trips. If you’re out on a camping trip with your mates for a weekend and your battery is empty, it’s not as simple as refuelling from a Jerry-can. You would either have to have access to power at the camping site, a petrol powered generator (which sort of defeats the purpose in our opinion), a solar powered generator, or a pre-charged battery option to charge from. All somewhat limited options at the moment but something that will no doubt become more abundant as we’re forced to move from petrol vehicles.
Did we cover your favourite electric dirt bike in this article? We’re keen to hear more about your experiences and favourite brands.
The Best Electric Dirt Bikes of 2023
Remarkably, only one of them went for the Dirt-E joke.
The motoring world is going electric. And it’s not just fancy, 1,000-horsepower, six-figure electric trucks. Electric motorcycle options have been increasing over the past few years. And even the relatively humble and underpowered dirt bike segment now offers a proliferation of emissions-free options — and we’re here to help you separate the battery-powered wheat from the chaff.
Why You Should Get an Electric Dirt Bike
Helps Save the Planet: Smaller motorcycles are far from the most fuel-thirsty vehicles. But electric dirt bikes still reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and every little bit helps.
Less Maintenance: Electric motors require far fewer moving parts. That means more time riding and less time (and money) replacing parts. You also don’t need to buy things like oil.
Less Noise: Electric dirt bikes do make some noise, but they make less than internal-combustion dirt bikes — noise that can diminish the enjoyment of being in nature for riders and those nearby.
Accessible to New Riders: Like electric cars, electric dirt bikes do not need a manual transmission. This may disappoint some riders looking for a traditional feel. But it’s also way easier to manage while off-road.
Torque: Electric dirt bikes tend to have a lot of torque, and it comes on instantly. This helps them accelerate rapidly and feel quick in everyday riding.
What to Look For
Street Legality: Like combustion dirt bikes, many of them will not be street-legal. And you may live in a municipality that will confiscate and crush them if you try to use them for that — electric or not. There are dual-sport electric dirt bikes (lighter than adventure motorcycles), which can also be used as commuter bikes. But make sure you clarify that before buying.
Battery Range: Range is a significant drawback to any electric vehicle. You want to ensure you have enough range to do the amount of riding you’re planning. expensive electric dirt bikes will have range that can exceed what most drives can handle physically. But that may be costly.
Battery Charging: A nother important factor beyond range is how long it takes to charge the battery. Shorter is better. Manufacturers may offer accessories that improve charging speed. Some dirt bikes can instantly swap in a newly charged battery and return to the trail.
How We Tested
Gear Patrol writers and editors are continually testing the best electric dirt bikes on a variety of terrains to update this guide looking at features like comfort, ease of use and riding characteristics. Our testers have spent time riding the Zero XF and the Cake Kalk INK so far; however, we’ll be updating this guide as we continue to test more models.
Zero’s FX isn’t a one-trick pony; it’s good at a little bit of everything. It’s fast but torque-heavy up front. For comparison, it’s nimble but still about 50 pounds heavier than KTM’s 350EXC-F. And it’s quiet, which anyone who’s ridden a dual sport before knows has distinct advantages and downsides. (Upsides include not disturbing nature as you ride through and saving your eardrums; cons include being unable to announce yourself to other riders on the trail or cars on the street.)
The FX’s ride is very smooth — from city streets to rutted-out trails and even completely off-road in the ungroomed wild. The tires grip well on city streets, even after a light rain. The FX can reach a top speed of 85, but I rarely found myself pushing it above 65 — this is a great cruising bike built for the trails as much as it is for the road. The acceleration feels torque-y until you get the hang of the feeling; I’d recommend starting in Eco until you get a feel for how the bike handles, experienced rider or not.
The profile is lean and mean, just as advertised. Your tester is 5’4” and weigh 110 pounds, and she could handle and maneuver this bike with relative ease, although she did make sure to get comfortable on the bike on uncrowded trails before taking it to the streets. Zero says the charging time is 1.3 hours, but I found it to be much longer than that. the bike was delivered to me with an 80 percent charge, and it took more than two hours to get it full. The range is 91 miles which is a solid day’s ride, but unless you have the means to give the bike a good overnight charge, you’ll be SOL the next day. And that 91-mile range is in the city — if you’re riding on the highway at 70 mph without starting and stopping, it drops to 39 miles per charge.
We’ve been fans of Swedish manufacturer Cake — and Stefan Ytterborn’s helmet/eyewear/apparel brand, POC — for years. Founded in 2016, Cake has consistently put out smooth, innovative electric bikes that offer both gorgeous looks and purpose-built function.
The Kalk class of offroaders, however, is much more about play than work. The street-legal Kalk INK picks up quick thanks to 252Nm of electric torque, while reliable suspension (200mm of travel) and beefy dual-sport motorcycle tires help you keep the shiny side up from the road to the trails.
- Removable battery charges from 0 to 80 percent in two hours, 0 to 100 percent in three
- Three ride modes and three braking modes adapt to your style and environment
- Not exactly the cushiest seat on the planet (or this page)
- You must come to a full stop to adjust ride and braking modes