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.
Surron X Bike (Black Edition)
The latest most updated version of the Sur Ron X Bike. Save up to 500 with free shipping for our lowest price of the year. Free shipping is a limited time offer.
Also this bike is offered with the 38ah battery upgrade. The upgraded battery will give you a few extra miles of range and uses the Samsung 35E cell instead of the standard Panasonic PF cell.
This has the X-controller with Regen breaking and quieter operation. 80amps of power. Programming instructions can be found (here)
The Surron X bike is the same as the original Sur-Ron Light Bee with the added above features. The most significant upgrade is its state of the art sine wave controller which makes it quieter and more powerful with much smoother throttle response.
( Click Here for a Close Up)
Incredible Battery
On any electric bike, you should take a good look at the battery since it is by far the most expensive part of the bike. Lightweight power dense batteries are not cheap, and if they are cheap they are probably not safe or reliable. The Sur-Ron has a gigantic 60v 32ah pack which is 2000 watt hours. To give you an idea how much range to expect it has 4x the capacity as most of today’s production bikes.
The battery consists of panasonic PF cells (or Samsung 35e for the 38ah version) cells i in a well built case that slides in and out of bike, a microprocessor based battery management system and extra goodness.
Awesome Engineering
Every detail of this bike is thought out and no expense is spared when needed to make a reliable high performance off road machine.
It has one of the best constructed battery packs ever offered in a small EV.
The Surron is designed for serious off road riding and we have done tests with many drops that confirm the suspension system on the Sur Ron is rock solid.
The Surron comes with an 8 inch travel for both front and rear suspension.
Upgrades Available
Surron Gates Belt Kit Upgrade is now available installed by our shop (See on This Upgrade), and pairs great with the Moto Kit in mind, but still works without.
Super Moto Kit Swap is 17 Smooth Tire install upgrade that is ideal for riding on smoother terrain. Ideal for Moto racing, this kit lowers your Sur-Ron a little due to the smaller size, but don’t worry you’ll have the same top end speed. If you want both sets of wheels, purchase a Separate Moto Kit Here. If you want both drivetrains, the belt kit is available here and the stock drivetrain is available here.
We at Luna take our flagship products serious and we have many upgrades for this bike including a Super Moto Tire upgrade, Sprocket upgrades, and
OVERVIEW
The SurRon Storm Bee Electric Dirt Bike’s are officially here. of which Ampd Brothers is now the Australian Partner and Distributor of the world’s most renowned electric motorcycle brand, Sur-Ron!
Boasting a suave reputation, the Sur-Ron Storm Bee Electric Dirt Bike means serious business and serious competition. It’s not hard to see why this world wide phenomenon is taking on the likes of the conventional petrol dirt bikes fiercely. but take note this beast is not for the faint of heart.
Take to the trails with Storm Bee, which comes as standard with a Jaw dropping 22.5KW Mid Motor which will lay down 520nm of serious dirt! Some say this Dirt Bike is comparable to a conventional 250cc combustion engine bike a nd makes for the perfect ride for enduro trails, mx tracks, farm work vehicles, weekend recreational riders and even for serious pro riders.
Conquer all trails sand, hills, dirt and more with ease on the Surron Storm Dirt Bike. Now with a 48AH Sony VTC Cell Removable Battery and a seriously tough aluminium construction, this is a bike that will not only combat rust but it also charges in record time of 3-4HRS with the included Fast Charger!
Boasting multiple model’s in the Storm lineup. theres guaranteed to be a model that suits your riding requirements.
Storm Models:. MX. 18/21 Wheels with Mud Tyre ASR BERS. Enduro. 18/21 Wheels with Mud Tyre ASR BERS Lights/Indicators Road Registrable
ASR (Active Slip Reduction)The Surron Storm Bee is fitted with active slip reduction systems that is independently developed by Surron. It is a multi-level adjustable system that can be adjusted easily during your ride to adapt to any road or terrain condition to obtain maximum grip at all times making cornering safe and secure.
BERS (E-Braking Energy Regenerative Systems)A multi-level adjustable energy regeneration system that provides more range to your battery pack whilst also reducing braking pressure on your bikes disc brakes.
Note: Surron Storm Bee’s are shipped in fabricated steel crates and will require proper tools to remove the bike from this crate.
Storm MX Model Features:
- 90V/48AH Sony VTC Battery
- Taco Dashboard Display
- Top Speed 110km/h. Off Road Private Property Motorcycle
- 10KW Mid Motor. Peak 22.5KW Output
- 18/21 Wheels Mud Tyres
Battery
Features
Display
Construction
Wheels Tyres
Inclusions
Disclaimer. Range achievable varies on ride conditions, loading, motor use and many other factors. Range Calculations should be used as a guide only and are based off consistent travel at low speed in ideal conditions.
Here at Ampd Brothers Electric Quality and Assurance means a thousand words, thats why we stand behind all our products with our extensive Nation Wide Warranty!
Plus with over 30 Dealers and Stockists Nation Wide, you’ll be sure to get the support you need!
Warranty Periods:. 2 Year’s on 2023 Ampd Bros Electric Bikes (1 Year on Batteries) Sold from December 1st 2022 onwards- 1 Year on Pre 2022 Electric Bikes, Stacyc, Surron, Scooters Skateboards- 6 Month’s on Products Sold as Ex-Demo or Ex-Display items- 3 Months on Refurbished or Repaired Products- 3 Month’s on any Parts Accessories
For info on Warranty Click Here
Domestic Australian Shipping
We Ship FREE in AUS for orders over 100! For orders under 100 a Flat Rate of 8 will Apply. options and express services are available at the Checkout. This includes Free Delivery on all E-Bikes, Skateboards Scooters (under 50kg)!
Free Shipping Exclusions: Any Orders under 100 or Oversized Items Over 50kg will incur a 199 Freight Fee to WA, TAS NT. Items in particular to this surcharge are Sur-Ron Motorbikes Sumo KAA Speed Fat Boy Scooters.
Fee’s will also apply to Australian Remote Locations. Eg. Broome, Macquarie Island, Lord Howe, Thursday Island, Kangaroo Island, Russel Island, Rottnest etc) and we reserve the right to cancel any order to such location or adjust shipping fee’s where necessary, we recommend Contacting Us for a Quote if you believe you may be subject to such charges.
Delivery Times vary from 2 ~ 14 Business Days (Excludes Public Holidays Peak Periods). Remember. Large and Bulky items require more manual handling and may not arrive on estimated delivery day provided by couriers as these dates are based on Small Items.
Additional Fee’s May Apply for Missed Deliveries. Please Ensure you ship to an attended address to avoid any missed delivery.
All orders are packed and shipped securely boxed and items such as bikes, scooters or SurRon motorcycles will require some assembly and/or fitting. refer to our assembly page for assistance, or contact your local dealer to book in for assembly (Assembly fee’s may apply).
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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